Daily Devotional Sunday 30th October 2022
by William Moody
Titus 2
Teach Sound Doctrine
2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound1 doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants2 are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 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.
15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Footnotes
[1] 2:1
Or healthy; also verses 2, 8
[2] 2:9For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface (ESV)
Paul after teaching about how different sections of the church should behave (v1-10) now gives the reasons why their lives should be different.
They live in the present age sandwiched between two crucial events, the coming of the grace of God (v11) and the return of Jesus (v12).
The appearing of the grace of God could refer to the first coming of Christ to die (see John 1 v14-17). In Jesus, grace (God’s undeserved favour) comes to sinful men and women. This grace enters and becomes real in someone’s life at the moment of rebirth. This grace transforms someone’s life and it is by remaining focused on God’s grace in Christ that the believer is trained and empowered to live a very different life (vv12).
The other great motivation for godly living is the knowledge that soon the believer will see Christ returning (v13). It is knowing that we will meet this Christ of total purity, which should motivate the believer to live a pure life.
Does the knowledge of God’s grace coming to you and the fact you will meet Christ soon cause you to live a holy life? We need to dwell on these truths.
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