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NASB | Titus 2:12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Titus 2:12 It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [lives with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age, |
Bible Question:
Titus 2:11,12: 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; How does grace teach (instruct or train) us? Can God's discipline and punishment be considered grace? WOS |
Bible Answer: Hi WOS, Great question! Part 1 – How does grace teach us? There are a couple of ways “grace” seems to be used generally in the Scriptures. There is the grace which seems to refer to all that God gives to us. Viewing grace in that way, I would answer that grace teaches as the best teachers do: By example: Rom 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace reigns throught righteousness, and if we are to have victory in our lives, it must be through righteousness. If we are attempting to achieve anything through unrighteousness, we deceive ourselves. Anything of eternal value will come through Jesus Christ, even as Jesus was the Father’s agent in bringing grace to us. By personalized assignments: Rom 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; God gives each of us a particular work to do, and empowers us to do it. As we set ourselves to the task, we gain in understanding by trial and error, and through constructive criticisms. By textbook teaching: Rom 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Rom 15:15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, By setting a standard, a goal: Heb 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; There is of course much more that can be said, along with what others have already written. But I think this passage in Titus may be speaking of grace in a more specific way, the grace that justifies us, as is written in Titus 3:7, or Eph. 2:8. Many translations agree with such as Young’s Literal Translation: “for the saving grace of God was manifested to all men” Thinking of your question in this way, grace teaches us by showing God’s way to us, demonstrating His righteousness in requiring the satisfying of the Law, demonstrating His love in providing the way of salvation, demonstrating separation from the world by saving us out of it. Again, there is more that can be said in this train of thought. There is a third way to think of this grace that brings salvation that comes to mind. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared (epiphaino) to all men,” Grace is a gift. What, or shall I say, Who, is the gift God gave to save us? Both Luke 1:79 and 2 Thess 2:6 refer to the ‘epiphaino’, appearing, or ‘shining forth’ of Jesus. And Jesus certainly teaches is in all ways that can be, by demonstration and example, by textbook instruction, by personal tutoring, by assignment, by empowerment. And again, there is certainly more that can be said about this. On Part 2, Can discipline and punishment be considered grace? I would personally leave punishment (as I understand it) out of this question, since punishment, or retribution, for my sin was received by Jesus. That is, unless you are refering to punishment as received from man, which I could consider as possibly discipline, or possibly persecution, or the trying of our faith. But for simplicity’s sake, I would ask, can discipline be considered grace? I do not see where Scripture equates grace with discipline, although I believe that because we have grace, we will have discipline, and so discipline is the outworking of grace, as demonstrated, for instance in Hebrew 12 as quoted by Steve. Or again, thinking of grace in the sense of all things that our given by God, then certainly discipline is a gift from God, something that He only gives to His children. Again, great question! Love in Christ, Mark |
Up | Down View Branch | ID# 182207 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for Titus 2:12 | Author | ||
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KTQ | ||
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galbro | ||
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Wild Olive Shoot | ||
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Machaira | ||
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humbledbyhisgrace | ||
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mark d seyler | ||
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thabang |