The Great Salvation God Offers

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

There are few passages of Scripture that summarize the scope of God's great plan of salvation as this passage does. Paul speaks to Titus of the great salvation the grace of God makes available to all people.

Tragic, indeed is our awareness of only fractions of God’s salvation for us through Jesus Christ. Some see Jesus only as the savior of the soul. For them he is spiritual funeral director whom they will need when death comes and they are ushered out into eternity.

The book of Titus emphasizes that our salvation has for the past, rich implication for the present, and glorious prospects for the future. We need to recognize and respond with gratitude to this great salvation that has appeared in the coming of Jesus.

Agape

Orginally printed in the bulletin on December 23, 2007