Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you (Titus 2:15).So, what is it that Paul is so ardent about? He tells Titus to "declare", "exhort", and "rebuke". Not "get along" terms. These are war terms. He follows it with "Let no one disregard you", a universal war term, so to speak. What is so important to Paul that he calls for rebukes, exhortations, and declarations without mercy?
Okay, this will get interesting, but, first, let's look at context. The chapter starts with Paul telling Titus, "As for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). What accords with sound doctrine? Older men are to have a certain character (Titus 2:2). Older women are to have a certain character (Titus 2:3). Older women are to train younger women (Titus 2:4-5). Titus (and, it is assumed, the older men) is to train younger men for self-control (Titus 2:6). Titus himself was to have a certain character so as to lead by example (Titus 2:7-8). Interestingly, Paul then tacks on servants and the character they should have (Titus 2:9-10). Why is all this "what accords with sound doctrine"? That's where we get to the passage at hand.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 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 (Titus 2:11-14).What is the sound doctrine in view throughout this passage? It starts with the appearing of the grace of God. There is a purpose to this appearing. What does the Bible say is the purpose of the grace of God? Well, it brings salvation. We were all pretty clear on that point. But it has a second purpose as well. That is to train us "to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
Now, wait a minute! That sounds a lot like that evil, anti-Christian concept, "works". I mean, we all know that "by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph 2:8-9). It is the great distinction between Christianity and other religions. Not saved by works. Good news! We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. That's great! And it's true. But it is not a grace that is alone through a faith that is alone. Paul says that the purpose of grace is twofold: 1) salvation -- we get that -- but also 2) renouncing ungodliness. The purpose of grace is to save and to sanctify, to declare us clean and then make us clean. As James says, faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).
To the constant question, "Are we saved by grace, or is Christianity a religion of works?", the answer is "Yes!" Paul told Titus that grace appeared bringing salvation. Saved by grace. Beyond that, however, the grace of God trains (that's the word Paul used) the saved to godliness, self-control, and purity. Thus, if one is not becoming godly, one is not under grace. We are not saved by becoming godly, but we are indeed becoming godly because of grace. And, if we had bothered to read the next verse from Ephesians 2, we would have seen just that there, too. "For" (the reason for the statement about saved by grace through faith) "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10).
What is really important at the end of all this discussion is that we keep the ultimate end of grace in mind. Why does the grace of God provide salvation and sanctification? It is "to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works." For Himself. If you think you can earn salvation by works, you're missing the point. If you think that you can achieve good works by your own effort, your missing the point. If you think that God simply wants us to be good, you're missing the point. And if you think that we are saved because God just loves us so much, you're missing the point. We are His workmanship. We work out our salvation because He is at work in us to will and to do His good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13). And we are redeemed, saved, and sanctified for Him. On this Paul tells Titus to go to war. "Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
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