May 13, 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight for Bible study as we study Titus 2:11-15, a wonderful summary of our calling in Christ. Notes are attached. 

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

MAY 13, 2026

Titus 2:11-15

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.

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v 11 – “For the grace of God …”

more lit. “For the saving grace of God has appeared to all people …”

“saving grace,” not just grace

“has appeared” - the Gospel is an announcement of what God has done

“to all people” – or toward all people, the Gospel announcement is to all the world

v 12 – “Training us to renounce …”

more lit. “training us that, having denied ungodliness and worldly desires, we might live soundly

[sóphronós] and righteously and godly in the present age …”

The Gospel trains us, teaches us in changes to our life—this is the outcome of “saving grace”

“having denied”

This is prerequisite to the positive life results; we cannot do both

“ungodliness” – asébeia, its particular meaning is a lack of reverence unto God. Such a

lack of reverence leaves people feeling free to sin egregiously

“worldly desires” – or worldly passions. This does not mean “human” desires which may

be wholesome and God-given, but this means strong desires and inclinations that are

against the will of God

“soundly” – sóphronós, moderately, sensibly, soberly

“righteously” – doing what is right

“godly” – eusebós, devout, having a heart toward God and living unto him

v 13 – “waiting for our blessed hope …”

more lit. “Awaiting the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior,

Christ Jesus”

“awaiting” – prosdechomai, looking to, waiting expectantly, we would say “looking forward to

it!”

blessed – makarios; makar means blessed or happy; makarios means extremely or supremely

happy or blessed.

“hope,” in Scripture, refers to a certainty of expectation; it just hasn’t happened yet—again, the

way we say we are looking forward to something

“the appearing of the glory …”

“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will

repay each person according to what he has done.”—Matthew 16:27

2

“For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him

will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy

angels.”—Mark 8:38

10 “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white

robes, 11 and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who

was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into

heaven.’”—Acts 1:10-11

Many, many more Scriptures about Christ’s return

“our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” – recognizing the full divinity of Christ

v 14 – “who gave himself for us”—this love, this sacrifice is the heart of the gospel

more lit. “that he might redeem us” - lytróo means just that: to redeem, to buy back or to restore

by paying a ransom; this was necessary for our salvation and no proclamation of the gospel is

true that does not acknowledge what Jesus did and why

“from all lawlessness” – the condition we were in and the punishment for which had been

pronounced upon us

more lit. “and to purify for himself a special people, zealous for good works.”

“purify for himself” – this is Christ’s work in us; this is the main thing he is doing with us

right now. And yet, it is possible for Christians to hardly be aware of sanctification.

“ … that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified

by faith in me.”—Acts 26:18

For this is the will of God, your sanctification …”—1 Thessalonians 4:3

“… Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her,

having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present

the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she

might be holy and without blemish.—Ephesians 5:25-27

“special” – periousios, this is a wonderful word, only used once in the New Testament, and we

don’t really have an English word that is the equivalent (“Peculiar” once may have worked,

but now that has come to denote being odd—which we may be! But that is not the meaning

here.) It means specially chosen, particularly selected, personally treasured. Such are we to

Christ!

“zealous for good works”

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God

prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”—Ephesians 2:10

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory

to your Father who is in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”—Hebrews

10:24

“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”—Romans 12:11

This is the expressed will of Christ for us.

v 15 – “Declare these things …”

Paul’s charge to Titus—it extends to the Church and her work in Jesus’ name

Ministry and pleasing others are not always the same thing—there is no word here about trying

hard to make people happy.

disregard – periphroneó, to overlook someone, to “think all around them” and look past what

they are saying

Christ is not to be overlooked, and in the end, will be overlooked by no one. The gospel is to be

declared with boldness and clarity.