Titus 2:14-15 14who gave himself for us in order to redeem us from every lawless action, and in order to purify for himself a chosen people, excited for doing good things. 15These things speak and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one look down on you.
As Paul often does in his letters, he bursts forth in praise of Christ and what Christ has done as our savior (1 Timothy 1:15-17). What makes salvation even possible is because Jesus gave himself for us. The phrase sums up the fundamental truth of the gospel and is expressed in the doctrine of atonement. The biggest display of God’s grace was seen on the cross of Calvary. Jesus died so that we might have eternal life (Mark 10:45; Galatians 1:4, 2:20; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Timothy 2:6).
There is a two-part purpose (hina) for Jesus’ sacrifice. The first refers to the past: redemption from wickedness. To redeem has the connotation of freeing from slavery or some type of bondage; in this case, we have been bought from slavery to sin or lawlessness (Psalm 129:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Romans 6:19). This freedom then makes possible the second purpose of purity. Paul uses covenantal language (lytrōsētai) to express the new relationship believers have as God’s own people (Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6; 1 Peter 2:9-10). The church fulfills the covenant God began as far as with Abraham passed on through Moses and the people of Israel. A change of heart through the purifying power of the Holy Spirit was a key hope in the new covenant (Ezekiel 36:25, 29, 33) and fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 9:14). This internal change of holiness will lead to outward acts of goodness. God’s grace will produce change in how people live.
Titus must teach this doctrine without shame or compromise and with full authority. This was the message most needed in the Cretan church and in the church today. Titus needed to be courageous with the authority he possessed by his calling and commission. To speak, encourage, and rebuke would not be easy, but Titus has the power of the Holy Spirit with him. He needed to correct those who were teaching the wrong doctrine and train the whole church in the truth of the gospel. This would require that his own life was filled with God’s grace.
God has provided all the church needs to fulfill its mission in the world. The challenge is how to live as God’s people in a world hostile to God’s purposes. Jesus prayed that his disciples might not be “of the world” (John 17:14). How should Christians live in the world but not be influenced by the evil in it? The only effective way is by letting God’s grace change us from the inside out.
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