Gospel-Driven Godly Living (Titus 2:11–14)

The book of Titus was written by Paul to his travelling companion, Titus. Paul had made his way to the island of Crete, where he co-laboured with Titus in ministry. When Paul needed to depart for other missionary endeavours, he left Titus to continue the work on the island.

The context of this letter involves false teaching that was emerging in Crete. False teachers were propagating unsound doctrine, motivated more by financial gain than by faithful ministry. These teachers were not helping the believers, prompting Paul to write this letter to address the situation.

Paul assigned Titus several tasks. First, he was to establish godly leadership in the numerous churches across the island by selecting qualified men of upright standing and moral conduct who were above reproach in the community. This would stand in contrast to the false teachers’ influence.

In chapter 2, Paul addresses four groups within the church: elderly women, older men, young men, and young women. After focusing on these groups, Paul explains what is at stake—the glory of Christ and the gospel itself. As v. 10 indicates, believers must “adorn the gospel of God our Saviour.”

Paul presents three crucial gospel truths that believers in Crete needed to understand in order to live lives that honour Christ rather than bring shame to his name.

Paul begins by reminding these believers, who were living among a pagan nation, of a fundamental truth: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.”

The people of Crete were known for being lazy, evil, and gluttonous—like inhabitants of a tropical paradise where one might be tempted to eat grapes by the beach all day. Paul reminds them that as believers, they cannot continue living this way because of the reality of what God has done for them.

The word “grace” refers to God’s unmerited favour and kindness toward humanity. When Paul speaks of grace appearing, he is referring to Christ’s incarnation—the moment when God himself came down to his people. This truth is echoed in 3:4: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness.”

This verse teaches us about the incarnation of Jesus Christ. As John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The apostles were able to testify because they saw, touched, and experienced Christ firsthand.

Of all the religions in the world, Christianity is unique in that God comes down and appears to his people. All other religions require people to reach up and find God, but Christianity reveals a God who descends to save his people.

Christ appeared to save us from the penalty and consequences of our sin. This is the fundamental gospel message we must continually meditate upon: In this present age, while living among an ungodly culture, God’s Son came to take the penalty of our sin so that we might live differently from those around us.

Grace is not to be taken lightly. It is God’s lavish love toward us—his unmerited favour shown to people who by nature deny him, oppose him, and reject everything he stands for. Yet grace came. We are no longer under God’s wrath or judgement because of this grace, and this should motivate us to live lives that do not bring shame to the one who gave us salvation.

The second truth Paul emphasises is found in v. 12: “training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”

Paul reminds us that Christ prayed, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world” (John 17:15). Believers remain in this sphere of life, in this world, but grace has a cause and effect. When grace enters a human life, it produces an outward transformation.

The word translated “training” is used in the present active tense, indicating ongoing instruction. This same word appears in 2 Timothy 3:16, where Scripture is said to be “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

While the Holy Spirit is not explicitly mentioned in this verse, his work is implied. The Old Testament promise in Ezekiel 36:24-27 describes God’s future work:

This describes the Holy Spirit’s work in the believer’s life. In Galatians 5:22, self-control is listed as a fruit of the Spirit—particularly relevant since the people of Crete apparently lacked self-control across all demographics.

Paul structures his letters similarly throughout. After presenting the gospel, he explains how believers should respond. The gospel that appeared in v. 11 has consequences and effects. Because of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, grace trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions while enabling us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.

This grace does not make us idle; it transforms how we live among pagan nations and unbelieving people. Christianity is not practiced only among believers—we are surrounded by those who reject the gospel and embrace ungodliness. Yet this gospel enables us to live godly lives.

Scripture consistently teaches that, once someone becomes a believer, they must “abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9). Grace enables believers to fight sin through the Holy Spirit’s power. Attempting to live a godly life without dependence on the Holy Spirit and his word leads to repeated failure. How much more impossible is it for unbelievers to live righteously apart from the Spirit’s work?

Paul provides a third gospel truth in vv. 13-14: Believers should always be looking forward to Christ’s second coming. Grace has come and is working in our lives in the present age, but we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

The motivation for continuing to live holy, godly lives that please God is the anticipation of Christ’s return when he will break through the clouds to set us free.

Two significant aspects of Christ’s return deserve attention:

First, Christ’s coming marks the end of all sin. First John 3:2–3 states: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

This anticipation of Christ’s return accomplishes two things: It will rid us of all remaining sin in our flesh, and it should motivate present purification. The hope of Christ’s return should encourage believers to say, “Christ is coming. He is pure and holy. We cannot remain as we are and become complacent Christians.”

Imagine a world without sin, without hurt—this is the anticipation believers have at Christ’s return.

Second, Christ is bringing rewards when he comes. Second Timothy 4:8 expresses this truth: “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

When Christ returns, he will bring rewards to every believer who has placed faith in him. He will also eliminate the fight against sin that characterises the believer’s life—the daily battle against indwelling sin that Paul describes when he says we must “die daily.”

As believers, we must understand that Christ has come as the personification of God’s grace to us. He came to bring salvation, and because that salvation has come, it causes us to act differently among a pagan nation. While we fight sin by God’s power to be holy and godly, we are waiting for his return, which will fix everything in our broken world.

For those who have proclaimed Christ as Lord and Saviour, are you using the grace God has given you for his glory and honour? Remember that what is at stake is people either honouring or shaming God through how they live. May we ask God to help us live godly lives among the pagan nations surrounding us in our day—lives that adorn the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For those who have not made Jesus Christ their Lord and Saviour, this transformed life is impossible without him. Without a Saviour, you have no salvation, meaning the pending wrath of God and the consequences of your sin await you. You will receive your just reward from God, which is eternal punishment away from him.

God’s grace has appeared, bringing salvation to save you from your sin. You cannot become a good person by your own efforts. Only by grace can you live a godly life that pleases God. Through that grace-enabled life, you can look forward to Christ’s return. When you look into the sky and he comes through the clouds, you will see your Saviour whom you have been waiting for to set you free from the completeness and bondage of sin.

May God help us, in light of these truths, to purify ourselves and glorify him in the midst of the pagan nation among which we live.

AMEN