Titus 2:1-15 - Sober, Righteous, and Godly Living

Titus 2:1-15

Qualities of a Sound Church

1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Trained by Saving Grace

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 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.

15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

We are called to live lives that are sober, righteous, and godly.  This means having a sound mind that is self-controlled and sensible according to scripture and not society or worldly philosophy of the times.  To live righteously means we are to be upright and just or fair in dealing with others and not slanderous or irreverent in word and action.  Then to live godly means these things and more, imitating Christ and those who follow Him as our examples of acting and thinking as the Lord does with God-fearing piety as we aim to imitate Him.  Sound doctrine then is speaking with these character traits in mind as we are self-controlled in lives lived in worship as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-12) with reverence for God in all we think, say, and do in love.  This also means we live by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and not by what we see those around us do which contradicts scripture as we patiently endure all things (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4) in following Christ as we have been called to do.  We are to teach this doctrine to other disciples of Christ as Lord in the respective roles we find ourselves in by God’s design to not malign His name as we seek to live lives worthy (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) of our calling.  If we then pattern our lives after God’s word then this pattern of good works, which is a result of our salvation and not the basis of it, will show others how to worship and honor our Lord in turn.  Both our words and lives are discipleship tools given for us to wield with fearful awe of the responsibility entrusted to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.  We live our doctrine of integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, and sound speech to put to shame the slanderers who falsely accuse us of ungodliness when we live and speak rightly and righteously while we hold fast these words of life (2 Thessalonians 2:15, Philippians 2:14-16) to hold out and offer to others.  We serve to be well-pleasing slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18, 22-23) with spiritual fidelity to the doctrine we have learned to honor and glorify God with lives reflecting Him as we strive to be holy as He is (1 Peter 1:16) as ambassadors of the gospel we bring.  This is what God’s grace brings to us, salvation that leads to denial of ungodliness and worldly desires (1 John 2:15-17) as we seek to please God for this free gift of life earned by Jesus Christ on the cross for us.  This is why we are called to live lives that are sober, righteous, and godly as we await His return and hear, “well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21).”  We certainly do wait anxiously for His glorious return which is our certain hope which drives the way we live until that time.  We remember and ruminate over why He came and died for us to redeem us from our hopeless state under the penalty of our sin and strive zealously to put to death all remaining sin in ourselves (Romans 8:13) as we allow Him to purify us as His called and chosen people, the children of God in Christ which is the mystery of the ages (Romans 16:25, 1 Corinthians 2:7, 10, Ephesians 1:9, 3:8-9, Colossians 1:26-27) revealed to us in His work of redeeming grace!  Let us then respond with lives that willingly live soberly, righteously, and godly for His glory and our good and speak them to other believers as we have been entrusted to do (Matthew 28:20) in making followers of Jesus Christ.