Charles Ellicott Commentary Titus 2:12

"instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;" — Titus 2:12 (ASV)

Teaching us.—Literally, disciplining us; educating us by life’s sad experiences. God’s grace is truly a stern discipline of self-denial and training for higher things.

Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts.—More accurately, to the intent that, having denied, and so on. The object of the loving discipline of our Father in heaven is that, having done with those things in life that are offensive or dishonorable to God, having put aside as worthless all inordinate desires for the things of this world—all those things that exclusively belong to this life and have nothing to do with the life to come—and having denied all this, we should live as righteous people the remainder of our lives here.

We should live soberly, righteously, and godly.—In these three terms, the blessed life our Lord would have His people live on earth is summed up:

1. “Soberly,” which applies to ourselves: living wisely and temperately, always keeping mastery over our passions.
2. “Righteously,” which applies to our neighbor: living justly and honorably, having due regard for our duty toward them.
3. “Godly,” which applies to our God: living piously, always remembering to live as in the presence of the Eternal.

In this present world.—Or, in the present course of things. The Apostle adds these words to his summary of the life Christians should lead to remind them that the present world was merely a transitory, passing scene, and that another and different “course of things” was near. This leads him to another point: the manifestation of the “grace of God” in the first coming of the Lord in humiliation (Titus 2:11) teaches us to live our lives in expectation of the second manifestation of His glory in His second coming in power (Titus 2:13).

We must—in this great passage contained in Titus 2:11-14—bear in mind that a twofold epiphany is spoken of. The first is the manifestation of the “grace of God”—that is past (it was the first coming and the earthly life of Christ). The other is the manifestation of the “glory of God”—that is to come. This glory will be shown at the second advent when the Lord comes in glory with His holy angels. The first epiphany (manifestation) in humiliation is an ever-present reminder to us to live in continued expectation of the second in glory.