Purity Through Grace
Titus 2:11-15
Introduction.
Recall Paul’s words in Titus 1:15 – “to the pure all things are pure.”
The Cretans were not a pure people (3:3).
Of course, who is a pure people?
Titus’s task is to get them to heaven, to help them become pure and to maintain that purity.
Titus is given a strategy for making the Cretan church pure.
Elders – “set in order the things that are lacking” (1:5).
Teaching – “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (2:1).
Example – “show yourself to be a pattern of good works” (2:7).
What is the source of that purity? God’s grace.
God’s grace manifests continually by teaching.
God’s grace manifested itself initially by sacrifice.
God’s grace is taught with authority.
Body.
Teaching (2:11-13).
God’s grace brings salvation.
This is eminently clear in the Scriptures.
We cannot be saved without God’s grace.
God initiated salvation through His grace.
We are “saved by grace” (Eph. 2:8).
It does not say “by grace alone” – important in this context.
God’s grace has appeared to all men.
It is not something reserved for an elite few.
This passage lets us know that everyone has the opportunity to be saved.
This includes the person who lives deep in the jungle or on a remote island.
Our job as Christians is to give people every opportunity!
This is buttressed by passages like 1 Tim. 2:4 and 2 Pet. 3:9.
Grace requires teaching.
Grace:teaching::faith:obedience.
Grace is not effective apart from teaching just as faith is not effective apart from works/obedience (James 2:14ff).
This teaching tells us to live soberly, righteously, godly.
This teaching brings hope to the saved for our Lord’s return!
We then can receive that crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8).
This is all thanks to His sacrifice.
Sacrifice (2:14).
You see, He gave Himself for us!
It was not something that was taken from Him (His life or His choice).
He voluntarily went to the cross for each one of us.
According to this passage, His reason is twofold: redemption & purification.
Redeem (λυτρόω) – release/liberate on receipt/payment of ransom; deliver.
“Redeem us from every lawless deed” – to liberate us, to set us free from sin!
The truth will make us free—grace teaches us the gospel that has the potential to make every free from sin! (John 8:32)
You see that word “might” – it shows that there is the possibility for redemption.
This is a great translation of the subjunctive mood used here.
This possibility is given to all men (2:11).
Purify (καθαρίζω) – to free from defilement/guilt of sin; to consecrate by cleansing.
“Purify for Himself” – something is purified so that it can be used.
This indicates a purification/cleansing for the Lord’s use—seen in OT.
We cannot be used unless we have been purified (1:16).
“His own special people” – this is the church.
KJV says “peculiar,” and when compared to the world, we are certainly peculiar.
No doubt the Cretan Christians were peculiar compared to their fellow Cretans (1:12).
As Titus was to be a pattern of good works (2:7), God’s people are to be zealous for them!
It is through His sacrifice that we have been redeemed and purified.
Authority (2:15).
Titus is to speak the things that are proper for sound doctrine (2:1).
Now we see how he is to speak them: exhort, rebuke, and with all authority.
Through exhortation (παρακαλέω) – instruction/teaching/begging/encouraging.
This is a positive way of teaching—positive reinforcement.
Most preachers do this these days, and it is often effective.
Through rebuke (ἐλέγκω) – conviction/refutation/expose/correct/chide/show one his fault.
This a negative way of teaching.
Negative does not mean bad in this context, but similar to negative reinforcement.
Many preachers these days neglect this side of preaching, but it is very important.
If we are not shown our faults, we are less likely to correct them.
Consider Nathan rebuking David in 2 Sam. 12.
With all authority (ἐπιταγή) – with an injunction/mandate/command.
In a scripturally organized congregation, the elders have authority within the bounds of Scripture.
The preacher has authority insofar as He preaches the word of God.
He is to do so with conviction and confidence so that no one despises him.
He cannot control how others feel, but he can always point to God’s word to show the truth.
If the preacher is doing his job properly, and people still despise him, they are really despising God’s word.
Conclusion.
Let us always recognize the true source of our purity.
Christ purified us through His sacrifice on the cross.
We were taught this by His grace – unmerited favor.
That teaching came with exhortation, rebuke, and the authority of God.
We are to become pure, but without His grace, it is impossible.
We will always be forever indebted to Christ who gave Himself for us.
We should also feel an extreme sense of gratitude toward the one who taught us the gospel.
Let us honor God through our own purity, remembering His sacrifice and the hope of His coming.
We are His own special people, if we have obeyed the gospel.
Let us be zealous for good works!