Living Christian In ‘This Present World’ (Part 9)

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Living Christian In ‘This Present World’ (Part 9)

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How do we ‘live Christian’ in this present world? As the world around us becomes a more difficult place for Christians to live, learning how to ‘live Christian’ takes on more importance. We invite you to read the introduction to this series for some historical background to Paul’s letter to Titus.

Titus 2:11-15

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

We left off at verse 12 in our last study and promised we would investigate what Christians should look for in this new part of our series. Paul gives us that information in verses 13 and 14 ..

… looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

The word “looking” comes from the Greek prosdechomenoi, which means “to receive to oneself, wait actively and expectantly, look .” This follows immediately after Paul’s statement about living “godly in the present age.” Even as we are focused on how to live in this present age, Paul calls on Christians to be waiting actively and expectantly for the “blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

“The verb has an atmosphere of expectancy about it, and a readiness to welcome the person looked for and expected.” Kenneth Wuest, Word Studies In The Pastor Epistles, Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1952

Kenneth Wuest, Word Studies In The Pastor Epistles, Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1952

The Greek for “blessed hope” is makarian elpida. The word makarian means “happy, blessed, in an enviable position.” The word elpida means “confident expectation, trust.”

The word kai (and) used in “hope and glorious appearing” is important to note. It’s used as “an epexegetical kai, thus defining ‘the blessed hope’ as being ‘the glorious appearing” (Thomas Lea (2012). New American Commentary Vol. 34: 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, B&H Publishing Group). Wuest and other Greek scholars point to Granville Sharp’s rule .. “which says that when there are two nouns in the same case connected by kai (and), the first noun having the article, the second noun not having the article, the second noun refers to the same thing the first noun does and is a further description of it.” Wuest translates the verse portion as “that blessed hope, even the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”

The words “glorious appearing” are epiphaneian tēs doxēs (the appearing of the glory). The word epiphaneian means “fitting manifestation.” You have probably heard the transliteration of the word into English as “epiphany.” The pagan Greeks used the word for the glorious manifestation of their gods. Paul used the word to describe the “appearing of the glory” of Jesus Christ. That is what Christians are waiting to see .. Jesus in all His glory!

This appearing of the glory is attached to what looks like two names, but is really one Name: “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” The Granville Sharp’s rule for Greek grammar also impacts the reading here. Paul is referencing Jesus Christ as “our great God and Savior.” The phrase tou megalou Theou kai Sōtēros (of the great God and Savior) includes the one definite article before the first noun, followed by kai (and) without the definite article before the second noun. Christ Jesus (Christou Iēsou) is both God and Savior.

Using the word “great” for God is reminiscent of Old Testament references to God:

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. Deuteronomy 10:17

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. Psalm 48:1

Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst! Isaiah 12:6

You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them—the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts. Jeremiah 32:18

Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure. Daniel 2:45

Jesus Christ is our Great God and our Savior, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” This continues Paul’s theme in this paragraph that began with “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” The salvation that has appeared to all men is because Jesus “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” That is why Christians should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age.

Jesus Christ:

gave Himself for us
that He might redeem us
from every lawless deed
and purify for Himself His own special people
zealous for good works

The word “purify” is katharisē and means “to cleanse, make clean, make pure.” That is a strong theme throughout Scripture and it what the Lord Jesus has done for His people through His death:

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:12-14

In light of all that Jesus did for His people, is it any wonder that Paul would call on Christians to:

deny ungodliness and worldly lusts
live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age

It should be no wonder at all. Christ has redeemed us from every lawless deed and has purified us for Himself. Out of that special relationship comes our zealousness for good works. The word “zealous” is zēlōtēn and means that we “boil over with passion.” We are “deeply committed.” We are “enthusiastic.” Thus the word “zealot” for a person who feels deeply about a cause. Interestingly, the word comes from zéloó which means “jealous.” It means “to bubble over because so hot.” The idea is of burning with zeal. To burn with zeal is to be jealous for something or someone. In our context, Paul wrote that Christians should be “zealous for good works.”

I am reminded of Paul’s famous words to the Ephesians:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10

We are saved by grace through faith and not by works. However, we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand (in eternity) that we should do them (walk in them). Once we understand that Jesus did everything for us through His death and resurrection and that our salvation depends on Him alone, we should become zealous for the good works God prepared beforehand for us to do.

Our Blessed Hope

God is a rewarder of those who belong to Him. He calls on His people to do some difficult things in a difficult world (e.g. living righteously and godly in an unrighteous and ungodly world), but He also rewards us for doing those things. Whatever difficult time you are going through as a Christian right now does not compare with what God has for you in the future.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18

It’s interesting that Paul used the word “glory” in Romans 8 even as he did in Titus 2. Christians have a special “glory” (doxa) awaiting them in Heaven. Waiting expectantly for the appearing of the glory of Christ includes our own glory in Christ.

This is truly a “blessed hope” that we have in Christ Jesus and a powerful reason for us to ‘live Christian’ in the present age. We are blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

Speak These Things

Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Titus 2:15

Paul then wrote Titus to do four things:

speak these things
exhort
rebuke with all authority
let no one despise you

Paul knew from his experience as an apostle and a preacher of the Gospel on Crete that Titus would face opposition to his ministry. That opposition can often be fierce. Let’s look at those four things from the Greek:

Tauta lalei .. these things speak .. the word “speak” means to be talkative (chatter) .. Christians need to talk about these things with family, friends and people they meet along the way. It needs to be natural part of our conversation. ‘Living Christian’ means that your identity as a follower of Jesus Christ is known by other people.

kai parakalei .. the word “exhort” means “to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage” .. it comes from two words that mean “close beside” .. Paul wanted Titus to be close to people and call to them to obey the words of God. The word parakalei is similar to the word Jesus used for the Holy Spirit (paraklétos – helper, comforter) – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to yourremembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26) Paul wanted Titus to be helper, a comforter to Christians on Crete.

kai elenche meta pasēs epitagēs .. the word “rebuke” means “to expose, convict, reprove.” It is a strong word and demonstrates the process Paul gave Titus. First, talk. Second, exhort. Third, rebuke. That should also be our process in talking with people. We begin by talking, chattering, with people on a regular basis. We get to know them and they get to know us. That’s the top level of communication. Exhortation goes a layer deeper. Now we’re coming close to someone and giving them encouragement and guidance. Rebuking is a much deeper level. We are exposing someone’s guilt and convicting and reproving them of their sin against God.

mēdeis sou periphroneitō .. “No one you let despise.” Paul knew that the type of ministry he was recommending to Titus would cause problems for the young preacher and it was important that Titus not allow people to “despise” him for it. The word “despise” is periphroneitō and means “examine on all sides, look down upon, to despise.” The reason for that was not because it might hurt Titus’ feelings, but because Titus was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ‘Living Christian’ in this present age is not about us. It is about our representing Christ and preaching His Gospel. Whether people like us or not is of little importance. What is important is that they respect Christ and His teachings. That’s why Paul did not want Titus to let anyone despise him for his ministry of speaking, exhorting and rebuking. Titus was doing all of that in the “authority” (epitagēs – command fitting to the occasion) given him by the Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ.

This is similar to what Paul wrote to Timothy: “These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth” (1 Timothy 4:11-12).

The highest and purest motivation for Christian behavior is not based on what we can do for God but rather upon what God has done for us and yet will do. The false teachers on Crete assumed that their religious works earned them God’s favor. But Paul taught that only as we grasp the full theological significance of God’s grace can we eagerly do what is pleasing to him. Paul also reminded believers that they are waiting with hope and that as they attempt through God’s grace “to do what is good,” Jesus Christ will ultimately bring forth his rule of righteousness at his second coming.
Thomas Lea (2012). New American Commentary Vol 34: 1, 2 Timothy, Titus. B&H Publishing Group.

eBook

You can download a free eBook of Titus Chapter Two here. Please share with family and friends as God leads.

Next Time

Paul told Titus to remind Christians about several things and we’ll look at those in the next part of our special series, Living Christian in the Present World.

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Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts

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Living Christian In ‘This Present World’ (Part 9)