The Adornment Of Grace

Titus 2:1-10

 

The gospel of the grace of God teaches all to whom it is revealed that salvation is by grace alone; and it teaches us how to live in this world for the glory of God. Grace teaches all who experience it to live graciously, to live in such a way that they will, by their actions and attitudes adorn the gospel. Our object in living as we do is not to impress men, but “to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” In Titus 2:1-10, the Holy Spirit by Paul tells both the man who preaches the gospel and the people who hear and believe the gospel how to adorn the gospel. This is both our personal responsibility and our privilege. It is the desire of all who know Christ. We are to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” That is to say, - We are to set forth in our lives, as well as in our doctrine, the beauty, glory, and attractiveness of the gospel of Christ. If we hope to persuade men and women to believe the gospel we preach, we must show them, by our lives, the beauty of the gospel. If we would honor Christ and his gospel in the eyes of men, we must have our lives regulated and governed by the gospel.

 

Doctrine -- It is the responsibility of every pastor and preacher to adorn the gospel by faithfully preaching it. "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine" (v. 1). Every preacher has a mandate from God; and every preacher’s mandate is the same. All who are sent of God as his messengers to eternity bound men and women are sent to preach the gospel, to constantly declare those “things which become sound doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:1-5). The doctrine we must preach is the doctrine of grace, which is the doctrine of Christ. Those things which become sound doctrine are those things that are consistent with and honoring to the gospel (Sovereignty, -- Substitution, -- Satisfaction, -- Ruin by the Fall, -- Redemption by the Blood, -- Regeneration by the Holy Spirit, -- Total Depravity, -- Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, -- Irresistible Grace, -- Perseverance of The Saints).

 

Application -- Gospel preachers are also responsible to pointedly apply the gospel to the daily affairs and responsibilities of men and women in this world. It is a pastor’s responsibility to faithfully teach people how to live in this world for the glory of Christ, applying the Word of God to every area of life. And it is the responsibility of God’s saints to personally obey the gospel, applying it to every area of their lives. I realize that many people prefer to ignore this fact, but it is a fact nonetheless - God almighty does interfere with people’s lives. If the God of glory is pleased to open the windows of heaven and drop his saving grace into your heart, he will take over. He insists on it! Christ will either be Lord of all, or he will not receive you at all. This is what we are taught in verses 2-10. Here is a word from God for just about everyone: Aged Men (v. 2), Aged Women (vv. 3-4), Young Women (v. 5), Young Men (v. 6), Pastors (vv. 7-8), Servants (vv. 9-10). Here the Spirit of God calls all who believe the gospel of the grace of God to adorn it, to show forth the beauty and grace of the gospel in all things for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).