Titus 2:11

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,” – Titus 2:11

Titus 2 has so far focused on what Titus needs to teach the four groups of people in terms of what their behaviour should be and should not be.

Old Men – sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;

Old Women – be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things

Young Women – love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands

Young Men – sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you

Bondservants – be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things

We have seen the “what” we are to be, and now Paul begins to unpack the “how”, how are we able to be the above?

“For the grace of God“

Grace is the key! This is the favour, the gift, given by God. “The triumphant note in Paul’s gospel is that men and women do find victory over sin, that the Christlike life, once revealed in flesh and blood, may be duplicated in every Spirit-motivated man or woman. Every command from God is accompanied by His “grace”—the power to fulfill His purposes” – SDABC Titus 2:11

“that brings salvation”

The purpose of this gift, this favour is to bring salvation! Grace therefore must have the power to free us from sin. Because sin is what has brought my separation and ultimately my death. And so for grace to bring salvation, it must solve these two problems, namely by dealing with sin in my life. Grace must have the power of transformation.

“has appeared to all men,”

It has come and is available for all. Only by the grace of God can aged men (Titus 2:2), aged women (v. 3), young women (vs. 4, 5), young men (v. 6), Titus (vs. 7, 8), and slaves (vs. 9, 10) each fulfill the responsibilities of his particular status in life. This word “appears” would seem to have a connection to the manifestation of Jesus and humanity now finally having a clear understanding of God’s plan of salvation.

In the next verse, we find out more clearly how this grace works.

An application:

As an “overseer”, Lord, thank you for providing this Grace! This grace, this gift that brings salvation. I humbly, but enthusiastically ask to receive this gift, this gift of salvation. Let it start the work of transforming me! Amen.