Titus 3 : “Practical Christianity 101”

We now come to the final chapter of Paul’s letter to Titus. 

Essentially we see Paul continuing  the  trail of thought which  he  started in  2:1, focusing  on the importance of teaching and  the formation of a sound knowledge platform:  “But as for you, teach what  accords with sound doctrine…”; 2:6 “… urge the younger men…”; 2:7 “In your teaching show integrity, dignity and sound speech that cannot be condemned…” ; 2:15 “Declare these things, exhort, rebuke with all authority… “, and then in  3:1 ”Remind them…”, "insist  on these things"... (3:8).

Paul  and Titus had been on the island of Crete, and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ had come to many Cretans. These Cretans  were  then  to be assembled into local churches  where they were to be taught to think differently about many things. Cretan society, we saw in 1:12 had gone seriously backwards. The Word of God, when  it is believed and received and applied,  reforms   a society.   

The apostle Paul now addresses the matter of  Christian citizenship (3:1-2). When looking back, we can see that Paul  addresses three primary spheres of living with regard to  sound doctrine and duty  (i)  1:5-16 In the church  

(ii) 2:1-15  In the home 

 (iii)  3:1-11 In the world.

Titus 3    addresses the matter   of  Christian citizenship, Christian living in the world.

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

The first  two verses  describe  seven  qualities  of  a  Christian  citizen.

I am going to state them and then make  a general statement

1.     The Christian  citizen is submissive to rulers and authorities. Christians are called to respect rulers  and  authority  (cf. also  Romans 13:1-7)

2.     The  Christian citizen is obedient,  particularly the rule of law.  Unless  laws are kept, life becomes chaos.

3.     The Christian  citizen  is ready for every good work.

4.     The Christian  citizen speaks evil of no one  (lit. he  does not blaspheme anyone)

5.     The Christian  citizen avoids quarreling. The Greek word is 'amachos', which means, ‘not a fighter’. They are not  argumentative  and  aggressive. This does not mean that the Christian citizen will not stand for the principles which he/ she  believes to be right, but that  they will allow to others the same right to have their convictions. (See article 21 Chapter 21  of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith   on  Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience)

6.     The  Christian  citizen is gentle. The word is 'epieikes', (also used in 1 Tim 3:3). This word means  to be   equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing,  not insisting on the letter of the law, expressing a considerateness that looks humanely and reasonably at the facts of a case [1]  (Vines Expository Dictionary).

7.     The  Christian  citizen  shows perfect  courtesy towards  all  people. The word at the center is 'praus', which generally  translates as meekness. It is not a word  that is easily translated, but essentially it  refers  to being  able to  exercise  restraint even while one is able to demolish one’s enemy. Christ was meek.  

Christians living by the power of the indwelling Christ ought to be the best citizens of the state. This is not because they are mindless followers, and blind to the injustices of their governments. NO! They are the best citizens of the state, because they contribute positively to society. The love of Christ constrains them.  They are a prayerful people. They are honest, diligent and willing to contribute to the general welfare of society.   I learned from another source  that the  Cretans, by way  of  contrast,  were notoriously turbulent and quarrelsome and impatient of all authority. Polybius (c. 200 – c. 118 BC)  a  Greek historian, said of them that they were constantly involved in "insurrections, murders and internecine[2] wars." [3]

What we were and no longer are (vv. 3-8 )

Paul stops here and reminds Titus that the gospel has made a tremendous difference. Qualities like these are possible only for the man or woman in whose heart Christ reigns supreme.

3:3 "For we ourselves were once"... just like those Cretans. So we can't walk around pointing the finger. We were once...foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures,passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others  and hating one another.

Converts to Christianity were once no better than their pagan neighbours. So, when Christians  are tempted to boast about  their  moral superiority, they quickly need to remind themselves  about  what they once were (1 Cor.  6:11).  Our  ability to  be good  should not make us proud; it  should make us supremely grateful.  And so when we look at others, living the pagan life, we do not regard them with contempt. We say, "There but for the grace of God go I.” That statement is incidentally attributed to  John Bradford (1510–1555), an English Reformer and  a pastor at St Paul’s.  He was imprisoned in the Tower of London for alleged crimes against Mary Tudor. He was burned at the stake on 1 July 1555. He said this apparently when he once saw a  criminal on the way to the gallows: "There but for the grace of God go I."

How did we change?

We changed  because  the grace of God our Saviour appeared in our lives.

3:4–8 "But when the goodness and loving-kindness  of God our Saviour  appeared..(lit. when the kindness [Gr. chrestotes]  and the love  for man [ Gr."philanthropia" ],   the Saviour  our God  appeared ...")

What then makes us good church members, good members of our home communities and what makes us good citizens?  It is God in Christ, by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit that makes the difference.

Observe the following  theological basics, contained both in  2:11-14 and   3:4-7 

·       The Author of  our salvation: God our Father (2:11,3:4)

·       The  Agent  of  our salvation:   Jesus Christ  our Saviour  ( 2:13 ;  3:6) 

·       The Applier of our salvation:  "The washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit".

·       The thinking  that  by our  own agency  we may obtain  salvation is denied in v.5:  “he saved us  not because of works done by us  in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…”

This gracious  salvation  applied to us  has  the following effects:  

·        Justification:  "So that being justified by His grace …” By this act we are declared righteous  before God. “There is therefore now no condemnation…” Rom.  8:1. This happens by the ‘washing of regeneration  and  renewal by the Holy Spirit.’ 

·       The hope of eternal life …we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Heaven, eternal life is before us.

·       The application of salvation:  "Those who have believed in God may be careful to devote  themselves to good works."  In the meantime , how are we to live ?  Well this is the point of  Paul’s letter  to Titus, isn’t it?

What about those who disagree and contradict our convictions?

9 ...But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

People who want  argue for arguments sake  should be admonished once or twice and then ignored. We are warned not to engage in useless discussions.   Paul advises that the contentious and opinionated  people should be avoided. The word for such a person is  literally  ‘heretic’ (Gr. hairetikos). A heretic is  a person who has made their  own ideas the test of all truth.

Greek philosophers loved talking about the latest ideas. Just that. The Jewish Rabbis spent their time building up imaginary genealogies for the characters of the Old Testament. The Jewish scribes spent endless hours discussing what could and could not be done on the Sabbath, and what was and was not unclean.

There is a danger that a person may think themselves  religious because they  talk about religious  issues. Well, let’s face it.  It’s  much easier to discuss theological questions than to be kind and considerate and helpful at home, or  to be diligent and honest at work. There is no virtue in theological debates, when the simple tasks of the Christian life are waiting to be done. Such discussion can be nothing other than an evasion of Christian duties.

That is not to say that there is no place for Christian discussion,  but  when  discussion  does not end in practical action, it  is actually  and literally just a waste of time. 

FINAL GREETINGS (Titus 3:12-15)

As usual Paul ends his letter with personal messages and greetings.

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

·       Of Artemas we know nothing at all.

·       Tychicus was one of Paul's most trusted messengers. He was the bearer of the letters to the Colossian and the Ephesian Churches (Colossians 4:7; Ephesians 6:21).

·       Apollos was the well-known teacher (Acts 18:24).

·       Of Zenas we know nothing at all. Here he  is called a nomikos. That could mean one of two things: He could be a converted scribe (a student of the law of God)  or he could be a  converted lawyer.

Paul's last piece of advice is that the Christian people should  learn  to practise doing good  -  to live  like a fruitful believer. This is what much of the letter is about.

Lastly we com to the final greetings. Here, as in every letter, Paul's last word relates to  grace: “Grace be with you all!”   We have  received grace. We  live by grace. Amen!

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[1] Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words ( p.262)

[2]  Internecine:  Mutually destructive; most often applied to warfare. Characterized by struggle within a group, usually applied to an ethnic or familial relationship.

[3] The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. W.Barclay; Westminster Press,’75; p.258.            

Titus 2:11-15 “What Makes Godly Living Possible?”

When the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God for salvation to everyone that believes[1]  comes into the lives of people, then a real change of life is to be expected. 

Sadly, it must be said that one meets many people who have had some kind of religious experience, but in the long term it appears to have made no difference. 

Some have grown up in a Christian home, they had been baptised as infants and yet they have never come to Christ themselves. Others have been baptised in the hope that this would make them a Christian. They were never thoroughly instructed concerning the purpose and meaning of baptism to begin with.   Others  have accepted Christ by  walking to the front of the church, praying the sinners prayer and then,  having been pronounced  by  a pastor  or counsellor  that  they had thereby become a Christian,  feel after a while that there  is no change happening.  Whatever your Christian conversion experience may be, if  it did not reverse the direction of your life, and  if it does not presently transform  you, then you are not likely to be converted at all. 

Our contention from Paul’s letter to Titus is that the receiving of the gospel of Jesus changes your life.    

The gospel had come to Crete, an island of morally degenerate people (cf. 1:12). In the midst of this moral mess, people became followers of Jesus. Their lives began to change.  Churches were planted. Godly elders were installed in the church (1: 5-16). These qualified elders were to teach the church and watch over the church, for there were many corrupting influences, directed by the archenemy of the church, Satan who seeks to destroy the young church at all times[2].   New converts had to be instructed in the faith they now embraced.  This teaching and training was to be done at many levels. Older men, older women, young men and young women had to learn to live this new life in accordance with the gospel they had embraced (2:1-10).

We now come to the climax  of this little letter in 2:11-15.  It provides the theological basis for the practical instructions given in vv.1-10,  as  the apostle Paul affirms his conviction concerning  the ability and the power of the gospel to save and  to  change all kinds of people (even the worst[3]) for good:  “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 Saviour Jesus Christ[4], 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.

SALVATION : The Grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people (v.11)

Follow the logic of Scripture now as we pursue this text.  Why can people change? How can older men, older women, younger men and younger women, caught in the vicious patterns of sin – how can they change? How can they not be slaves to sin? How can they be free from sin?   It all begins with this great truth that  "the Grace of God  has appeared .  What is this Grace of God?   It is not a magic wand; it is not a formula; it is not a thing. The grace of God has appeared in the form of  a person, a Saviour. His Name is Jesus Christ.  In the next chapter, in 3:4-7 this powerful  experience of God’s grace  is clearly explained. The work of salvation is applied to us  by the  Triune God: The Father (2:11), the Son(2:13;3:4), the Holy Spirit (3:5).  

But to whom is the grace applied?

This part of the text needs to be understood in its context i.e. following the logic of 2:1-10. This text does not teach that all people will be saved. There is, of course   a sense in which the church is called to proclaim the grace of God in the hope that all will be saved.  But Paul is not teaching universal salvation here.  The better translation (in context)    is  probably,  “the grace of God has  appeared, bringing salvation to all kinds of people… i.e. the grace of God  comes to all kinds of people irrespective of, gender, race (yes , even Cretans can be saved!), age  or social class. In heaven we will find a ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Rev. 5:10; 7:9). Not all will be saved, but God will have for Himself a chosen people from all kinds of people.

Grace for Living

Now that Paul has  established the doctrine of salvation  for a  chosen people of God, he goes on to  explain how  that salvation ( the act of having been justified by grace  cf. 3:7)  now expresses itself in an ability  to please God   through sanctified living…

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 Saviour 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.

Here  we see  that the grace  God not only saves (and justifies) all kinds of  people  from sin, but we also see that  the grace of God is  involved in our sanctification.  The grace  that has appeared  does not leave us as we are, but  it  also  trains us (Gr.paideuō –instructing, educating). This  word is most often applied to children, and so  it  means to train by the use of discipline. It sometimes has the force of chastisement. Hebrews  12:5-11 best  conveys the  idea of  God’s grace-based training.  So, grace is our teacher. Grace is our instructor. What does the grace-based  training of  God  teach us?

·       To renounce ungodliness and worldly passions (negative)

·       To live self -controlled (note  2:2,5,6), upright and godly lives  (positive)

·       Redeem us from  all lawlessness

·       Purify us

Paul affirms that those who have become recipients of the grace of God  are trained (this can be a challenging experience)  by God  in this present age.  This training means   that  we are developing the ability  to persevere, endure, discern (i)  what is not good and (ii) what is good, by way of contrast. We are trained to love the world and the things of this world less. We are  trained  to control ourselves in all aspects of living, and thus we can  live godly lives in this present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great  God and Saviour, Jesus Christ…”.

It is very important that we keep the goal in view. Many  people give up on the Christian faith,

(i) because they do not train and 

(ii) they do not keep the end in view. 

It is  questionable  that  such people (notwithstanding the fact that many appear to be greatly gifted)  had received  saving grace in the first place.

I want  you to see that true salvation is a package deal. When you are saved, you persevere. That is the logic  of our text.  While training and perseverance are words that speak of personal commitment, we need to remember that they are preceded by the grace of God -  by enablement. 

I can train  for this Christian race, I can run in this Christian race, I can endure  this Christian race, BECAUSE  I am graciously enabled to do that. Not everyone endures (just as not everyone endures the Namib desert dash or a marathon). We see this in the pastoral epistles. Phygelus  and Hermogenes turned away from Paul (2 Tim. 1:15)  Hymeneaus  deserted  Paul ( 2 Tim. 4:9) and Alexander the coppersmith did the cause of God great harm ( 2 Tim. 4: 14,15). One of my constant prayers is that I may endure, that I may run and finish the race  by the grace of God.  I believe that it is a prayer that God hears  and answers. Careless Christians  beware!

By means of enduring this training, by means of living a God – centered life, while waiting for Christ’s coming ( whether by our death or  by His  visible appearing)  we    become  a people “purified for His own possession, who are zealous for good works.”  Our sanctification, the work  of God in our souls  leads to  purification. But it is ultimately all by His grace. Grace is the Christians starting point, and he ends the race by grace. We enter heaven  being entirely purified by the shed blood of Christ.

THE THREEFOLD TASK OF THE PASTOR- TEACHER  (Titus 2:15)

15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. Here Paul lays before Titus the threefold task of the Christian pastor and preacher. 

·       Speak these things! (Gr.  tauta lalei) It is a task of proclamation.  There are some things about which argument is not possible and on which discussion is not relevant. There are times when the preacher must say: "Thus says the Lord." When it comes to the doctrine of salvation, this is what  your preacher  must declare to you. 

·       Exhort! (Gr. parakaleō)  Offer encouragement.  Any preacher who reduces his audience to bleak despair has failed in his task. Men must be convicted of their sin, yes, but they must be helped to see  that their case is not  hopeless; they must be led to the grace of our Lord Jesus  Christ, that grace  which is greater than all their sin. 

·       Rebuke!  Use  conviction. The eyes of the sinner must be opened to his sin. The Christian message is not a drug to send men to sleep; it is rather the blinding light which shows men themselves as they are and God as he is.

Do all this  with a sense of your delegated  authority. Paul says to Titus, “Remember that this message is not yours. It is God’s Word.”  Don’t tone the message down. It is after all a message of hope for those who  will hear. They must hear.  Their eternal destiny is at stake.

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[1] Rom 1:16

[2] 1 Peter 5:8 ; Revelation 2&3

[3] 1Timothy 1:15,16

[4]  one of the texts affirming the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ

Titus 2:1 - 10 "Good Teaching… Good Living… Discipling a whole Church and Nation"

We have previously seen in Titus 1 that Paul had instructed Timothy to ensure that biblical elderships were being   instituted in the churches of Crete.  

The general moral life of Cretans was deficient, to say the least (1:12). This would have affected the churches, since their members were drawn from this community. They needed biblical elders, men who with their wives and families would   set a biblical standard and example of a Christian household before the community.  

When people are converted from a life of sin it takes time for them to let the Word of God sanctify their thoughts and actions. We see this clearly in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Here  were a people saved from all sorts of immoral backgrounds (1 Cor. 1:26; 6:9-11). The antidote to unruly, undisciplined, worldly behaviour in the church is a biblical eldership. Elders, by doctrinal teaching and by personal example progressively teach   the church to reflect a true Christian character.  

Titus himself is an example of such a man.

IT ALL BEGINS WITH SOUND  TEACHING (Titus 2:1)

1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. This whole chapter begins and ends with the importance of teaching sound doctrine to this morally deficient community. We must begin with the mind. The Holy Spirit has given us an inspired book so that we may read, meditate, think and be challenged about the way in which we live!  The end to which God instructs the mind is to change the heart. If we hope to change a sinful community it all begins with teaching them sound doctrine, and in Paul's  instruction to Timothy  it all starts with the older men. 

What to teach Older Men (Titus 2:2)

2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 

They must be sober-minded (Gk.  nephalios lit. sober), meaning that they should  not over indulge in alcohol.  The point is that when a man has become a senior  he ought to have reached a level of self- control in matters of indulgence, particularly  with respect to alcohol consumption.  

They must be dignified (Gk. semnos).  He must be serious in the right way, not at all meaning that he should display no joy. Not at all! He is a man who knows that he soon will leave the society of men for the society of God, and he lives in anticipation of that. 

They also must be self- controlled (Gk. sophron). Over the years they acquire wisdom, strength of mind which governs their mind and emotions. They are not easily swept away by everything that comes their way. These three words taken together relate to the fact that an older man should have learned what can only be called the gravity of life.  The years should bring their wisdom. One of the truly tragic things in life is to see an older man, an old fool who has learned nothing from life.

There are three further characteristics according to Paul that older men should have cultivated  by the time they reach the senior years: 

They ought to be  sound (Gr. hugianō lit. to be healthy ) in faith:  The years must teach  Christian men  not to trust God less but to trust Him more. 

They ought to be (sound)  in  love (Gr. agape): They should  be possessed by the love of Jesus. God help older men that they should not become fault-finding, censorious, unteachable, resentful,  bitter tyrants in the church. The years with Jesus should bring a gentle, firm, patient, loving wisdom that gets alongside  the younger generation, and bears  with them. 

They ought to be (sound) in steadfastness (Gr. hupomonē lit. ‘a remaining under’ - better translated as  patient endurance).   The years of faithful endurance under the gentle yoke of Jesus should temper a man like steel, so that he can bear more and more. This is  God’s will for older men. 

Older men, how are we doing?

2.  Older Women (Titus 2:3-5)

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women…

Older women need to see that the display of their godly character, cultivated by years of walking with Jesus, studying His Word, having been engaged in sacred things for many years really helps and encourages the younger women in particular. What great value older women add to the church! Many displays of over- zealousness  and bitter arguments and jealousy  and touchiness and  intolerance by younger Christians with poor perspectives  in the congregations  can be dealt with by the wise counsels of the older women and men.  How many church fights would be avoided if there were many more godly, older and wiser people in each congregation?  

In particular older women must not be slanderers (Gr. diabolous). It is a chief trait of Satan. It is one of his names.  It also is a common trait of fallen human nature, and perhaps particularly of the female nature. People love to slander and to hear of people being slandered. It’s the stuff that newspapers thrive on. At any rate, the Bible teaches us not to do that.  

Also, like the older men they must not be slaves to wine.  

Positively, they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women…  There is nothing like the experience of the older to guide and encourage the younger.

3.     Younger Women (Titus 2:3-5)

Older women  are  encouraged  to teach and  train  younger women  to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.  Marriage and family life in any age is a  very challenging task, and what a blessing it is when an older  woman  can give a young wife  dissolved in tears and lacking perspective  some encouragement.  There is in one sense no greater task, responsibility and privilege, no greater career or calling  than that of creating  a safe home  for one’s family. Every nation is dependent upon the health of its homes. Wives and mothers by God’s design have a particular role here. Older women, who have been through many  of life’s lessons have seen these things  and they  are a treasure house of knowledge, support and encouragement. The general weaknesses of the young women in terms of lack of self- control , purity, kindness and submission to their husbands  is  helpfully addressed by the older women as they mentor their younger sisters. Please note that the glory of God is at stake here … that the Word of God may not be reviled… The behaviour of Christians affects the way in which the world perceives the gospel.

4.     Younger Men (Titus 2:6)

6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. The duty of the younger men is summed up in one sentence, but it is a weighty issue for them. They are to be self- controlled (Gr. sophron- this is the 3^rd time this word is used). Youth is a time of danger.   Hot headedness, recklessness, lack of experience, bad  influences all   are a reality. In youth there are far more opportunities to make disastrous decisions. For that very reason, the first thing at which any young person must aim is being in control of oneself.  "He who rules his spirit is greater than he who takes a city" (Prov. 16:32). When young energy is combined with self- control something really great comes into life. 

5.     About Titus  Himself  (Titus 2:7-8)

7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.  Paul pauses here to reflect on Titus' own life. If Titus' teaching is to be effective, it must be backed by the testimony of his own life. He must be a model of good works. In his teaching he must display integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. He must have a sound life and a sound message. The duty laid on Titus is the tremendous task, not of simply talking to people about Christ, but of showing Christ to them.

6.     A Word about slaves  (The Christian  Employee)  (Titus 2:9-10)

9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.

In the early Church many Christians were slaves when Christ found them. It is significant to note that the Lord Jesus did not change their immediate situation but He changed their eternal destiny.  We need to be constantly reminded that this world is not our heaven. In this world we prepare for heaven. The real issue for living in this world is not,  ‘how can I get out of  this situation’, but ‘How can I bring most glory to God in this situation’? The Christian slave  was called  to glorify God  by serving  with real  integrity  and dignity  so that their masters (who were used to being  argued with and stolen from)  would be well pleased with them. The Christian slave (employee) should not be argumentative, but submissive and   humble in a dignified way. He should not be a thief but honest and true   in his service.   He does not think that his Christianity gives him a special right to be undisciplined. In the end his  mission was to be a witness to Jesus. His faith teaches him how to serve.  

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL (Titus 2:11-14)

Is this teaching for real? Is it possible to live like this? Can older men, older women, younger men and younger women, can Titus himself, can slaves rise above their circumstances  in a corrupt world  with very different viewpoints and values?  It is possible, says Paul:  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 Saviour 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.

This we will consider in our next sermon