Titus 2:1-5 “But as for you,
speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that
the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in
patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in
behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that
they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to
be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that
the word of God may not be blasphemed.”
Notice that holiness and good
character are proper for sound doctrine.
If we do not walk in holiness, the gospel or the word of God will be
blasphemed. People will say that the
grace of God is just an excuse to sin and fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Titus 2:6-8 “Likewise, exhort the
young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to
be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity,
reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be
condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to
say of you.”
Even though the grace of God has
forgiven the sins of our entire lifetime, we are to show ourselves to be a
pattern of good works. When we walk in
holiness, an opponent of God’s grace will have nothing evil to say of us.
Titus 2:9-10 “Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be
well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not
pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of
God our Savior in all things.”
We are supposed to adorn or put on
the doctrine of God our Savior in our behavior.
This means walking in love and holiness.
We demonstrate the kingdom of God, which is within us, through our
outward actions.
Titus 2:11-15 “For the grace of God
that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the
blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who
gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify
for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak
these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”
The grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men. Jesus
paid the penalty for sin for every person.
This grace of God not only forgives our sins, but teaches us to deny
ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously and godly in the
present age. It says that Jesus gave
Himself for us for two reasons. First, that He might redeem us from every
lawless deed. That is the forgiveness of
our sins before God. Second, He also
wants to purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good
works. That is holiness and walking in
love toward others.
Grace seems to be coming to the
forefront of teaching in the body of Christ.
Oddly enough, it is very controversial.
One side seems to wrestle with the idea that Jesus paid for the sins of
our entire lifetime and that we are made righteous by a free gift of grace. The other side seems to struggle with
teaching about holiness, saying that is putting people back under law. As we read the epistles of Paul, he clearly
addressed both sides of the issue.
Most churches and Bible schools
teach by topic. The pastor or teacher
will choose a topic and pick verses from several different books of the Bible
to prove his/her point. It is very easy
to get things out of balance by doing this.
We also tend to shy away from verses or passages we don’t like or don’t
understand. As we teach verse by verse through books, I
believe it helps keep things in balance and keeps verses in their proper
context.
Keith Oliver
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