GODLINESS IS EMPOWERED BY GRACE

Passage: Titus 2:1-14

Key verse: 11-12

NIV

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.(A) 2 Teach the older men(B) to be temperate,(C) worthy of respect, self-controlled,(D) and sound in faith,(E) in love and in endurance.

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers(F) or addicted to much wine,(G) but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women(H) to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled(I) and pure, to be busy at home,(J) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,(K) so that no one will malign the word of God.(L)

6 Similarly, encourage the young men(M) to be self-controlled.(N) 7 In everything set them an example(O) by doing what is good.(P) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.(Q)

9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,(R) to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior(S) attractive.(T)

11 For the grace(U) of God has appeared(V) that offers salvation to all people.(W) 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,(X) and to live self-controlled,(Y) upright and godly lives(Z) in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing(AA) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,(AB) 14 who gave himself for us(AC) to redeem us from all wickedness(AD) and to purify(AE) for himself a people that are his very own,(AF) eager to do what is good.(AG)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Teach Sound Doctrine

2 But as for you, teach what accords with (A)sound[a] doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, (B)sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 (C)Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, (D)not slanderers (E)or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, (F)pure, (G)working at home, kind, and (H)submissive to their own husbands, (I)that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge (J)the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be (K)a model of good works, and in your teaching (L)show integrity, (M)dignity, 8 and (N)sound speech that cannot be condemned, (O)so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 (P)Bondservants[b] are to be submissive to their own masters (Q)in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, (R)but showing all good faith, (S)so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

11 For (T)the grace of God (U)has appeared, bringing salvation (V)for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and (W)worldly passions, and (X)to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in (Y)the present age, 13 (Z)waiting for our blessed (AA)hope, the (AB)appearing of the glory of our great (AC)God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 (AD)who gave himself for us to (AE)redeem us from all lawlessness and (AF)to purify for himself (AG)a people for his own possession who are (AH)zealous for good works.

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Footnotes
  1. Titus 2:1 Or healthy; also verses 2, 8
  2. Titus 2:9 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Titus was to lead the church in Crete by setting a good example for others to follow and by teaching the word of God. Paul says that Titus must teach the older men and women to live commendable lives in Christ. The older women, in turn, are to encourage the younger women to be good wives and mothers. At the same time, the younger men were to be taught self-control in order to overcome their pride, lustful desires, and ambition. Titus was to take his teaching seriously, and it was to be evident by integrity and well-chosen words. Paul says that slaves must demonstrate the power of God’s word to their masters through their obedience and good behavior. The same is true for those of us in the workplace today.

How were all these people supposed to do this? How can we overcome the world and our sinful natures to live such godly lives? The answer is in the grace and glory of Jesus. When we reflect on the cross of Jesus and how he purchased our redemption through his blood, we want to honor him with our lives. When we think of the new life we have received in him, we never want to go back. Even more, when we contemplate the glory of the risen Christ and how he will share that glory with us, we want to reflect his glory even now. It is the grace and glory of Christ that purifies our lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, purify our hearts and souls.

One Word: Grace is the fuel for godliness