(Titus 2:11-1411For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11‑14).)
It was intended, when the series of papers bearing this title was commenced, to have gone through the sum of the
New Testament witness upon the subject; but the last paper completed only the testimony of the Gospels and the Acts, leaving the large field of the Epistles and the Revelation unentered on. The limit of a very few pages, so far as the present publication is concerned, necessarily now leaves this amongst the many lapsed purposes of man's heart, while " the counsel of the Lord it shall stand;" and His truth, amidst all earthly changes, remains unchanged and is eternal.
The statements of this striking passage have their own direct and independent force relative to the hope that is designed by our Lord to animate His people's hearts. But their true bearing can hardly be seized when insulated from the important connections in which they are found. Like every part of revealed truth, the hope of the Lord's coming as presented in Scripture is intended to be pre-eminently practical. The subject may be taken up as an intellectual study, and you may get artistic groupings of its various aspects. In Scripture it is always presented either as stimulating the responsibilities, or encouraging the patience, or animating the expectations, or, as here, forming the character of those who, whatever their relative condition on earth, are redeemed by Christ to have a common home in heaven. It is never given as a picture of the imagination.
The homeliest exhortations as to the conduct of old men and old women, the behavior that is becoming in young women and young men, and the warning of servants against insolence and filching from their masters-and these all gathered by the gospel from a people whose national characteristic was that of incorrigible lying, and who are described by one of their own poets as " evil beasts and slow-bellies"—these introduce to our attention the wondrous declaration, " That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:10-1410Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:10‑14).)
This is a wonderful summary of the living practical character of Christianity, traced downward from its source, displaying its moral transforming power in men, and issuing in eternal association in glory with Him whose appearing in grace has made salvation ours.
First of all it is stated that the grace of God, which brings salvation to all men, has appeared. It is not restrictive in its character, i.e., to Jew or Gentile. The grace is salvation-bringing to all men; and in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ it has appeared. " Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." in Him it was embodied and presented; and it brought the salvation to all men, which was needed by all. But the special point here is that as there has been a living personal appearing of the grace, there will also be a living personal appearing of the glory also. Our faith and hope are alike in God, and both are linked with the first and second appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. He who brought the grace will bring the glory too. " Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many [the essential basis of salvation]; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation:" [i.e., for final deliverance or glory.]
Next there is presented the power of Christianity in its subjects, as they are viewed in this world intermediate to the reception of the grace and their attainment of the glory. The first necessity of our souls is salvation-deliverance from the guilt and condemnation under which we lie as sinners against God. Hence that touching expression of grace, " God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It is the grace of God that " brings salvation." But grace is transformative of the character also, and conforms in affections and aims to Him by whom it comes. It disciplines the soul in the ways of God. It teaches the denial of all impiety and worldly desires. It emancipates from the domination of the world and its evil principles, by the introduction of the claims of another Lord to the subjection of the soul. Still it is the grace that teaches this, and teaches it on the ground of a necessary conformity to the character of Him in whom the grace has been displayed. " He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." It teaches us " that we should live soberly [with due restraint as to our own desires], righteously [in uprightness as regards the claims of others], and piously [in all that regards our relationship to God] in this present age." Grace teaches this, because the glory is coming; and our moral habits are to bear witness, both to the one and to the other. They are to bear witness to the grace which has brought us deliverance from all that enslaves the men of this present age; and to the glory which is about to be manifested, which will introduce us to the associations of the age to come: " Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
I will now only briefly notice some of the passages relating to this blessed hope which, under other circumstances, might have been unfolded in their special connections. In Rom. 8:21-2321Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:21‑23) it is presented in connection with the redemption of the body from the power of death, and the creation's participation in the believer's glory. " The creation itself also shall he delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." In 1 Cor. 1:7,87So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:7‑8) there is a specialty in connection with the possession and exercise of the gifts of the Spirit in responsibility to Christ, that can only be indicated and left. " So that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." Chapter 15 of the same epistle presents it in connection with the resurrection of the believer and the establishment of the kingdom of God and Christ's supremacy. " For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet." (Ver. 21-25.) In Philippians it is connected with the obtaining of " the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." And the apostle says, " For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Chapter 3:20,21.) In Colossians it is the issue in glory of the position in grace which presents us as risen with Christ. " If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God: set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Chapter 3:1-4.) In Thessalonians its various aspects are interwoven with the whole position of the Christian from the first hour of his conversion to God, through every responsibility and every trial until that solemn moment is reached, " When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power: when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (2 Thess. 1:7-107And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑10).) The first chapter of the First Epistle presents this hope in connection with the preaching and reception of the gospel. " For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." (Ver. 9, 10.) Chapter 2 Connects it
with the final joy of uninterrupted fellowship between the apostle and his beloved converts. " But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy." (Ver. 17-20.) Chapter 3 gives the object and issue of all pastoral anxiety and labor on account of the sheep of Christ. " And the Lord make You to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." {Ver. 12,13.) Chapter 4 presents this hope in connection with sorrow on account of departed friends, and brings in the special revelation of (what is now technically called) " the rapture of the saints." " But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (Ver. 13-18.) Chapter 5 gives the believer's moral position in the world in the prospect of " the day of the Lord," which will bring judgment upon the world. The whole passage should be read, concluding with verse 23. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Second Epistle presents the righteous judgment of God upon the enemies of the gospel, and glory to those who have believed. This is specially in connection with the kingdom of God, as well as the truth of the First Epistle. This is seen in the First Epistle, chapter ii. 12. " That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory;" and also in the Second Epistle, chapter i. 5. " That ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer." Chapter 2 of the Second Epistle unfolds the apostasy and the man of sin, and the delusions of the last days of the history of Christianity on earth, until " that Wicked (one) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." (Ver. 8.)
(Concluded from page 192.)