The Pulpit Commentary — Titus — Section 31

Vere. 11-13.-The grace of God the true ground of all samtification. Th1, apostle now sete forth the real foundation on which thie exhortation to practical dnty on the part of eervante, and, inueed, of people of every age and sex, is baeed. I. THE GRACE OJ" Goo. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation t.o all men hath appeared." 1. This grace is from God, as it., eternal Fountain,from which it flows to men. (1) He was not made gracious by the work of the Son, for he was the God of grace from the beginning. The work of the Son only manifested it (John iii. 16). (2) The grace is from the Son as well as the Father. Grace is in every conceivable way connected with the Person of the Mediator in Scriptnre (1 Cor. xvi. 23; Gal. i. 6; 1 Thess. v. 28). The Father and the Son are one in the rreeness or their love to man- kind. (3) Grace is also connected with the Holy Ghost, who is called ,. the Spirit of grace" (Heh. x. 29), because be applies it and seals us to the day of redemption. Thus ~race bas its origin in the Father, its manifestation in the Son, ite end in the Holy Ghost. 2. The nature of this grace. (1) It is the free gift of God to mankind in the gospel of Christ. It is thus opposed to the idea of merit in man. Works, therefore, do not procure our salvation. (~) The grace must necessarily be worthy cf the character of God. (a) The gift is worthy, for it ie his own Son. (b) The end is worthy, for it is his own glory and man's salvation. (c) The instrumental conditiou is worthy, for it is faith. 3. The scope of this grace. "That bringetb salvation to all men." (1) It ie the only thing that can bring salvation to mnn. He cannot be saved by worke, nor by philosophy, nor by man. (2) It has a wide scope. It "bringeth salvation to all men." (a) This does not imply that all men will eventually be saved, for Scripture expressly asserts the very contrary. (b) The connection of the passage explains the universality of the reference: "Servants, be obedient to your masters, that you may adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour; for bis grace is for slave and master alike." There is no respect ot persons with him. (c) It signifies that grace is the only means by which salvation is possible for the racP of man. 4. The manifestation of grace. (1) la the Incarnation. (2) In the work of Christ. (3) In the energy of the Holy Spirit. "The darkness is past; the true light now shineth" (1 John ii. 8). II. THE EFFECTS OF THE GRACE OF Goo. "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should "live soberly, righteously;and godly in this present world." 1. This grace first manifests itself by teaching, just as the first thing in creation was light. It must begin with teaching, and the Spirit of God is given "to teach us all things" (John xiv. 26). The original word implies the idea of a dieciplining process, Affected by the grace of God to correct the inherent naughtiness of the heart. 2. The grace of God works toward the rejection of evil, for it teaches us" to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts." (1) Tho denial is in heart and deed. It involves lhe denial of self (Luke ix. 23). (2) It is the repudiation of ungodliness in heart and life. (a) Ungodli- ness includes impiety, blasphemy, and infidelity. (b) It includes all living without relation t.o God, whether we are blasphemers or not. Thus a man may be ungodly who seeks bis own pleasure, or distinction, or happiness in the world. (c) It implies the deeper enmity of the heart to God (Rom. viii. 7). (3) It is the donial of worldly lusts; including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and vain glory of life-" all that is in the world "-which embody the enmity to God. Thus it denies (a) sensual lusts (2 Tim. ii. 22); (b) the inordinate d-re of worldly things, which may be lawful in themselves. 3. The grace of God produces certain positive effects. "We should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this prewnt world." (1) It secures the due regula- tion of individual life. "Soberly." This refers to the duties we owe t.o ourselves. (a) Jn keeping a fair balance of judgment intellectually; (b) in keeping a due mastery over our passions-" a sobriety in Apeech, in behaviour, in apparel, in eating and drinking, in recreations, and in the enjoyment of lawful satisfactions. (2) It secure~ the faithful discharge of o.11 duties to our fellow-men. "Righteously." Justice is an exact virtue, which can be easily measured, and is therefore the basis of commercial and civil life. A single failure in justice makeR a man unjust. Therefore it is most necessary we should give our neighbour his due, and not compromise ourselvea by TITUS. D  THE h:l'l8TLE TO TITUS. (cu. 11. 1-15.