Titus 2:12 12teaching us in order that we may deny ungodliness and worldly desires and may live sensibly and righteously and godly in the present age,
God’s grace has the ongoing effect of teaching”us so that we may grow into Christ’s likeness. The participle teaching (paideuousa) is present tense that shows the ongoing activity of God’s grace that appeared in the past with Jesus Christ. Paul uses a different word for “teach” (paideia) here than early in 1:11; 2:1, 3, 7. This word has the connotation of training or instruction, often in a negative way through discipline. It was also used in the context of creating a civilized society. God’s grace will result in better relationships in community.
The purpose of this teaching (hina) is expressed in a negative and a positive way. Negatively, we must cooperate with this grace by saying “no” to the pull of the world around us. Deny (arnēsamenoi) can have a strong sense of rejecting or refusing to heed to something. Rejecting the grace of Christ shows up in ungodliness (asebeia), the opposite of godly (eusebōs) given later in the verse. This type of life rebels against God and shows up in worldly passions (epithumia). These passions are a manifestation of sin (Romans 1:24) and ultimately will lead to self-destruction. When the invitation of God’s grace is rejected, the sin-controlled self takes over, spiraling into further bondage, eventually leading to death (Romans 6:15-23).
Positively, a new life takes the place of the old (Romans 6:6; Ephesians 4:22-23). By allowing God’s grace in Christ to influence and change our lives, certain character qualities will result. Paul lists several of them here. Becoming self-controlled (sōphronōs), as Paul urges these Christians a number of times to become (1:8; 2:2, 5, 6, 12), can only truly happen when persons cooperate with the Holy Spirit and allow God’s grace to transform them (Galatians 5:23). The Spirit-led, self-controlled life will be evident also with righteous and godly living. This new life is characterized by right relationship with God, self, and others.
The cause of grace results in the effect of new life experienced in its fullness when the old life is rejected with the help of God’s grace. This salvation affects life now, in the present age. Salvation is a presence experience, as expressed in these statements from Paul: “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2) and “now . . . continue to work out your salvation” (Philippians 2:12).
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