Titus 2:11-12 (KJV) – For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world

Salvation Is Entirely A Work Of God

Opening: A Sunday School teacher was testing her class to see if they knew how to get to Heaven. She said, “If I sold my house and my car, and all my possessions, and gave all the money to the Church, would that get me into Heaven?” The children yelled, “No!”. “If I cleaned the Church building every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?” Again the kids yelled out, “No”! The teacher smiled. “What if I was kind to all the animals, and loved all the little children and loved my husband, too – would that get me into Heaven?” Again the kids cried out “No!” Bursting with pride the teacher said, “Well then, how can I get into Heaven?” One five year old boy yelled out, “YOU GOTTA BE DEAD”!

There’s a lot of truth to that – but not like you think. You do need to die to go to Heaven. You need to die to YOURSELF. You need to give your life to Jesus. Then and only then YOU WILL NEVER DIE!

In many Churches, all you ever hear about is the Grace of God and salvation. Well, that’s a wonderful thing. Let’s start out talking about the Grace of God.

For the grace of God that BRINGETH SALVATION {sōtērios, adjective}

The way that sōtērios is translated in most versions of our Bible in our focal text is “brings salvation, bringing salvation, offers salvation, for the salvation”. The problem with this is that it makes the word look like a verb as opposed to a noun. Sōtērios is not a verb, but an adjective.

A VERB shows an ACTION or a state of BEING.
An ADJECTIVE describes a NOUN or a PRONOUN.

In English we would better render this as “the SAVING Grace of God”. It is GRACE that the word sōtērios is describing. The same adjective was used when Simeon saw Jesus after His circumcision. Simeon had been waiting at the Temple, because the Holy Spirit told him that the Messiah would be there (Luke 2:25). As Mary and Joseph came out, Mary with the Baby Jesus in her arms, that dear old man

WHO brings salvation? JESUS and only JESUS!

Luke 2:28-31 (KJV) took {Jesus} up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy SALVATION (sōtērios, adjective), 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

Holding that Baby Jesus, Simeon described Him as sōtērios, “The Salvation”. Simeon said that “The Salvation, that Child Jesus, was prepared by God “BEFORE THE FACE OF ALL PEOPLE”. Paul says something similar in Titus,

The Saving Grace of God hath appeared to ALL MEN

God has showed ALL MEN or EVERY PERSON His Saving Grace. God prophesied He would do this in the Old Testament. We were told:

Isaiah 52:10 (ESV) The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD.

God has revealed His Salvation to all, to whosoever will, and His Salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Gospel. All have seen. All have been told. All will be told. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ. This salvation is offered to anyone who will REPENT and CALL OUT TO JESUS.

Romans 10:11-13 (ESV) For the Scripture says, “EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM {in JESUS} will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches ON ALL WHO CALL ON HIM. 13 For “EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord WILL BE SAVED.”

You cannot save yourself. Jesus must save you. Jesus must fix you. And Jesus will. This is what GRACE is. You do not earn nor deserve your GRACE. GRACE is freely given to those who REPENT and GIVE THEMSELVES to Him Who loves you and gave Himself for you. Now, here is where many of the megachurch pastors won’t tell you.

Salvation saves you from eternal damnation, a Lake of Fire that will not extinguish. Salvation saves you from hell. But salvation does not just save FROM hell, but saves you TO GOD’S KINGDOM. HE is King, YOU are not! You are to walk with the God Who saved you in good works.

Salvation Changes You. You Enter God’s Family.
You Become God’s Child. You Are Accountable.

My problem with many local Churches today is that most Pastor and most Church members just want to hear about going to Heaven, and not going to Hell. It’s more than that.

The Saved Person is Born Again (John 3:3, 5-6; 1 Peter 1:23).
The Saved Person is a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15).
The Saved Person is a citizen of the Kingdom of God
(Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 2:19).
The Saved Person is a changed person (Colossians 1:13).
Grace BOTH saves AND transforms.

Titus 2:11-12 (KJV) – For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 TEACHING US {paideuō} that, DENYING ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world

Word Study: Saving Grace TEACHES US. The word translated “TEACHING” is the Greek paideuō, which means “to train or chastise so as to instruct a child”. Once you enter the Kingdom of God through Saving Grace, you become a child of God. Your Heavenly Father has sent the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scripture to teach you as His children. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 11:32 (LSB) when we are JUDGED, we are DISCIPLINED BY THE LORD so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

Hebrews 12:6-8 (LSB) FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE FLOGS EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” 7 It is for discipline that you endure; GOD DEALS WITH YOU AS WITH SONS; for what son is there whom [his] father does not discipline? 8 But if you are WITHOUT DISCIPLINE, of which all have become partakers, then YOU ARE ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN AND NOT SONS and not sons.

God trains His children. He takes a very personal interest with each child. God the Holy Spirit indwells every believer (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19). When Ananias and Sapphira lied to God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4), God took their lives. When the Church at Corinth defamed the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 11:29-30) “many were weak and sickly, and many slept the sleep of death”.

God will not long walk in the darkness with you, Beloved. Children of God belong in the Light with Christ.

DENYING ungodliness and worldly lusts

The person who tells me “I am a Christian”, but who lives in ungodliness and worldly lusts is either headed toward discipline, or lying about their relationship and headed toward hell. You cannot endorse sin and walk with God. He will not allow it. People say, “What about my free-will?” This is the question that I expect of children who were raised by overly permissive parents. The Kingdom of God is a KINGDOM, not a Democracy or even a Republic. We are not to follow the ways of this world. We are not to do anything that is ungodly, contrary to our Lord and his Scripture.

we should live soberly {sōphronōs}, righteously {dikaiōs}, and godly {eusebōs}, in this present world

IF you are saved, God expects and will work in you to create three characteristics. Let’s look at each of these. We are to live “soberly {sōphronōs}”, which means “of a sound mind”. A “sound mind” for a Christian means “to HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Paul told the Philippians:

Philippians 2:5-8 (LSB) Have this [way of] thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Though Jesus is Eternal God, He lowered Himself in order to save others and to fulfill the Plan of God. The “sound mind” is the person who imitates Jesus. Not the selfish world, but Jesus. We are to live for the glory of God, as good children would do. We are to be “RIGHTEOUS” (dikaiōs), to walk according to God’s standard. The Apostle wrote,

1 Corinthians 15:34 (KJV) Awake to “RIGHTEOUSNESS” (dikaiōs) and SIN NOT; for some have not the knowledge of God

The righteous person pursues God, not the world. We live to honor Him Who saved us. We are to be “godly {eusebōs}”, which means to honor God and His Statutes with your life.

What Is Our Accountability In The Church?

Paul told Titus (and all the Overseers):

Titus 2:1-2 But speak thou the things which become SOUND DOCTRINE: 2 That the AGED MEN be SOBER {nēphalios}, GRAVE {semnos}, TEMPERATE {sōphrōn}, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

The Pastor is to preach from the Word of God intentionally, so people can receive “SOUND DOCTRINE” {hygiainō didaskalia}, which is literally “teachings that promote good health or wellness”. Just as the body can be sickened by bad food, the soul can be sickened by bad teachings. The Pastor is to stay with the Word of God, not to divert into worldly speculation or vain philosophies. The Scripture says:

Colossians 2:8 See to it that NO ONE TAKES YOU CAPTIVE through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which DEPENDS ON HUMAN TRADITION and the elemental spiritual forces of this world RATHER THAN ON CHRIST.

And again,

1 Timothy 6:20-21 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent babble and contradictions of what is FALSELY CALLED KNOWLEDGE which some have professed and in so doing have DEPARTED FROM THE FAITH.

Word Study: Paul addresses the “AGED MEN” first. They are to be “SOBER {nēphalios}”, serious in their faith. They are to be “GRAVE {semnos}”, honorable in their character. They are to be “TEMPERATE {sōphrōn}”, possessing the mind of Christ.

sound in faith, in charity, in patience

They should be a stabilizing force in the Church. Loving, patient, trusting in Jesus. This is what God wants the elder believer to be.

Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be SOBER {sōphronizō}, to LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, to LOVE THEIR CHILDREN, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, OBEDIENT TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS, that the Word of God be not blasphemed.

The older men stabilize the Church. The older women model holiness. They teach the younger women to have the mind of Christ. They teach the younger women how to love their families.

Titus 2:6-8 Young men likewise exhort to be SOBER MINDED {sōphroneō} 7 In all things shewing thyself a PATTERN OF GOOD WORKS: in DOCTRINE shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 SOUND SPEECH, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

And the young men are also taught to have the mind of Christ. Do you know what I see when I look at these words?

It is not just the Pastor who is instructing. Every person is helping another to model Christ. Every believer is discipling another believer. Every believer is investing time in helping others become more like Jesus.

Titus 2:9-10 (KJV) [Exhort] SERVANTS (doulos) to be obedient unto their own masters, [and] to please [them] well in all [things]; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that THEY MAY ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR IN ALL THINGS.

In the ancient world – especially in Rome – slavery was widespread. The Apostle asked those who were SLAVES (doulos) not to run away nor to steal from their masters, but to serve the master well, to model Christ to the master. This is a shocking thing in our world today. But what the Apostle is telling us is that where ever you are, no matter what position you find yourself in, act as a Child of God. That concept is foreign in America today – but it should not be in the Church of Jesus Christ. We are children of Light and of Love. We are to live for Him, no matter where we find ourselves. If Christians did this, how much different would America be today?

In the Church, every believer should be pursuing the mind of Christ. We should all know what we believe, and why we believe it. God is honored when we obey Him. This is what God expects of us – to be obedient children.

We work together to help one another grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord. You Are Not Supposed To Be Like The World.

Titus 2:13-14 Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Jesus is coming back. When He comes, it will not be a “Secret Rapture”. The Bible is clear that Jesus is coming back. He is coming back for His Kingdom, His Church. He is coming back for His purchased possessions, His Children by faith.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 (NKJV) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Why did Jesus give Himself on the cross? To save us? Yes. But Jesus died to “redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a PECULIAR PEOPLE, zealous of GOOD WORKS ”. When Jesus comes back to Rapture His Church from this earth, He will bring the saints with Him who previously departed through normal means. When you pass from this life, dear Christian, you are “absent from the body, but present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). If you are a Christian, you will stand before Him one day and be judged as to how you lived for Him. Were you a “peculiar people”, or are you no different than the lost world around you? God expects you to live for Him. Are you? Or is your salvation but a sham?

Today is the day to examine yourselves with “fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Do you know Him? Do you love Him? Make sure before you leave here. You are either with Jesus – or with condemnation. May God guide you as you examine YOUR life.