Titus 2:11-14

The sphere of the Apostolate to claim all Life for God, through His Grace, and for His Glory

11 14. The first of the two Evangelical outbursts of that -spring of living water" in St Paul's own heart which kepd his life and teaching always green and fresh. It corresponds with the passage in 1 Timothy 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:12, where see note, but is (as we should expect from St Paul's less close and tender relation to Titus) more general. Coming to the end of the plain practical counsels for men and women, old and young, whether free or slaves, he -goes off at a phrase," one which he has used several times, but the full significance of which he now allows himself to dwell on -our Saviour God."

Upon this he enlarges fervently, bringing out of it at the same time the true springs of holy living for all alike; these are, as the General Thanksgiving of the Prayer Book puts it, (1) the grateful appropriation of the -inestimable Love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ," (2) the thankful realisation -of the means of grace," and (3) the joyful anticipation -of the hope of glory"; all three being really but one Christ Jesus, for us, and in us.

Thus (1) Titus 2:11. The grace of God appeared in Christ, -who for us men came down from heaven" bringing salvation to all. (2) Titus 2:12. It guides us daily to -true repentance and His Holy Spirit" that we may -live a godly, righteous and sober life." (3) Titus 2:13. So living we look for the appearing again with power and great glory, -when we shall be made like unto Him." In other words, Titus 2:14 He gave Himself for us, -that we may dwell in Him and He in us," a people for His own possession now and evermore.

-Live your creed," says St Paul, -adorn your doctrine, as indeed you well can. Work from Life; let doctrine inspire duty. This isthe doctrine of our Saviour God; God the Father Almighty, who made all men and hateth nothing that He made, really did, as a past fact of history, manifest His love by sending His only Son to redeem all men; that love really does as a present fact of experience give us the life of His Son through His Spirit; that love really will as an equally certain fact in the future manifest the glory of His Son as God, and give us the fulness of Divine Life, the fruition of His glorious Godhead. And the Father's love is the Son's; He gave Himself to redeem us, He gives Himself to purify us, to possess us, that we may be zealots for the ideal, the Divine, life, whose glory is "my Father worketh hitherto and I work." Claim, then, all life for Him."