Titus 2:11-15

2:11-14 | These verses demonstrate the timelessness of God’s grace. In the past, it appeared to all men when Christ was born into the world. In the present, His grace teaches us how to live godly lives. In the future, it will appear at the glorious return of Christ. For the believer, God’s grace is inescapable.

2:11-12 | God’s grace instills a desire to please Him in four ways: (1) by rejecting sin – that is, disowning ungodliness and denying one’s passions and lusts (2 Cor. 5:17); (2) by ruling self through sober living; (3) by respecting others through righteous living that mirrors one’s relationship with Christ (Matt. 25:40; Col. 3:23-24); and (4) by reverencing God with a disciplined devotion (1 Tim. 4:7-8). God’s grace should not be an excuse for sin but a motivation for holiness.

2:11 | the word translated appeared (epiphaneia) is the root for “epiphany” in English. It sometimes referred to the sudden appearance of a deity in Greek literature. The Greeks also used this word to describe what happens at dawn when sun dispels the darkness. At the birth of Christ, the epiphany of God’s grace – Jesus – suddenly burst into the world’s darkness, vividly revealing God’s nature and ushering in a new age.

2:13-14 | The believer’s sure and blessed hope is in the second epiphany – when Jesus will return to judge the earth and set up His kingdom (Matt. 24:27-31; 1 John 3:2-3). If Christ is going to appear in the future to purify His people from sin, then His people should be purifying themselves from sin right now and cultivating a life of holiness (1 John 3:3). Grace is not a license for laziness. Knowing that Christ has redeemed us should make us zealous to do good works while we await His return (1 Cor. 15:10).

2:13 | In the Greek, looking for conveys the idea of persistent expectation (1 Cor. 1:7). This verse also contains one of the most profound statements of Christ’s deity, identifying Jesus as the great God and Savior. In other words, Jesus is God, and He will return for His people (Ex. 15:16; Isa. 53:12; Gal. 1:4; Ezek. 37:23).

2:14 | God’s people are not saved by good works; they are saved for good works (Eph. 2:8-9) so that they might extend His love and grace to others.