"Teaching us, that, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world." -Titus 2:12 [KJV]
We read in Esdras of three young men, who wrote of the strength of different subjects. The first chose Wine; the second, the King; the third Women and Truth. He fully demonstrated, that truth is superior to all the charms of women and the power of a king. “As for truth, it endureth, and is always strong; it liveth and conquereth for evermore. And all the people shouted, and said, great is truth, and mighty above all things” (1 Es. 4:38, 41.)
Surely, so it is with the truth of God’s grace. The stoutest rebels have been conquered by it: the most mighty kings have fallen before it. Whom it conquers, them it also teaches. When it has brought the heart to yield to its sovereign power, it captivates the affections by its sweet influence, and regulates the life by its salutary rules. There is a most vile spirit gone forth, and prevails. Out of a zeal for holiness, and a pretence for perfection, the doctrines of grace are exploded; the God of grace is blasphemed; and, in order that men may not live like beasts, they are taught the pride of devils, which consists in rejecting and denying the truths of God’s grace.
This teaches us. Who? Us, who bow to the sovereignty of God, to submit to the righteousness of His Son, and accept salvation as a free gift of free grace, without our works having the least hand in procuring it, or entitling to it. It teaches us not to labour in the fire of nature’s zeal, to establish our righteousness before God; but to deny all ungodliness—every thing which is contrary to God’s nature and will; and worldly lusts—seeing no happiness in indulging them, seeking no comfort from gratifying them; we deny ourselves and deny them, as contrary to our holy faith and heavenly hope. God’s grace, or His free favour, and unmerited love in Christ, teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly; aiming to discharge every duty to God, our neighbours, and ourselves, faithfully, conscientiously, and perfectly: but not to be made righteous thereby; not to entitle ourselves to God’s favour, but to glorify God, Who hath made us righteous in His Son; and to honour Him in our lives, Who has reconciled Himself to us by His Son.
This text, like a two-edged sword, cuts both ways: it cuts down the vain confidence of self-righteous pharisees: it lops off the unscriptural hope of licentious Antinomians; “Such as walk after their own lusts, ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness” (Jude 4.) In their heads they have the notion of truth, while their hearts are strangers to the influence of grace. “From such turn away” (II Timothy 3:5.)
-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)
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