Titus 2:11-12 (NKJV)

Bible Commentary

Titus 2:11-12 is a Bible passage that teaches us how to live a godly life.

The Apostle Paul speaks of the grace of God that brings salvation, which has appeared to all men. He is speaking of Jesus Christ. Jesus was lifted up high on the cross as a symbol of God’s sacrificial love for all of us.

The word “appeared” in the Greek means: to shine upon, become visible or known. We all have the opportunity of the light and life of salvation because of Jesus Christ, and if we accept that opportunity and become a disciple of Christ, the ongoing salvation of the Holy Spirit resides in us teaching and admonishing us daily.

It’s important to note the order in which the instruction is stated in Titus 2:12, “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

Before we can live righteous and godly lives, we must first deny ungodliness and lusts which exist in the world. They surround us—in the things we see with our eyes, hear with our ears, and feel with our emotions.

They come at us in many different ways. Think of it as an airsoft game, where multiple teams and players form a strategy against you and your team.

At some point, you have to leave the bunker in order to carry out your own strategy. We’ve all got to leave home for our day-to-day needs, and when we do, we will encounter ungodliness and worldly lusts of one kind or another.

When we first become a soldier of Jesus Christ, we might not see them like this, but the longer we walk with Christ, the more we are able to identify ungodliness and worldly lusts.

The Apostle Paul tells us that when we encounter these things, we should deny them. The word “denying” in the Greek means: disavow, reject, or refuse.

This sounds simple, but the lusts and ungodliness of the world can be very alluring and powerful. We might see, hear or smell something beautiful and not see the harmful effects of pursuing it, or receiving it.

This might remind us of Eve in the Garden of Eden when the devil tempted her with the forbidden fruit. She only saw what was on the surface, which was luscious and beautiful. She didn’t see the harmful effects of what would happen when she ate it.

Unlocking the Truth – A Fresh Word

That’s what trust is all about. If we trust God enough to abstain from the ungodliness and worldly lusts like He instructs us, then He spares us from the devastating effects of them. But if we instead forge ahead after what seems like luscious and pleasant fruit, then we pay the consequences.

But how do we know what is acceptable and what is not acceptable to God?

1)   Pray for wisdom and for help.

2)   Walk closely with Christ and hide His Word in our heart.

3)   Experience—from the wrong choices from our past or someone else’s.

4)   Tune our minds into the mind of Christ within us.

5)   Close counsel with a godly friend or mentor.

So what should we do when faced with a very powerful and alluring temptation? We recognize it’s not right, but we feel powerless to turn away.

For me personally, this scripture gives me the strength to turn away, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) Ask the Lord for a fresh word that will help deliver you from the snare of the devil’s tricks.

Say it to yourself, but also speak it out loud. The Word of the Lord has power over the enemy (Matthew 4). We must hang on to it with everything we’ve got. God’s Word is our lifeline.

Keep in mind that it is not only the Word of the Lord, but it is our belief and dependence upon that Word that blows away the enemy of our souls.

We might only have a split second to make a choice. Either cave into the temptation, or push through using the infallible Word of God as our weapon, knowing that our rewards for obedience far outweigh the temporary, yet powerful, lusts of the flesh.

We must believe that what God has for us is far better than anything we’ve experienced in the world. If we don’t, we’ll hesitate to stand strong when we should, and the results could be disastrous.

Remember, God does not withhold the rewards of His kingdom. We are the ones who forfeit those rewards when we choose ungodliness because we think it’s the only “pleasure or fun” we’re going to get.

We must stand firm in faith, believing God and trusting that He wants to give us all we could ever want. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Enough said.

Study the Bible passage of Titus 2:11-12, and reject the ungodliness and worldly lusts so you can live righteously and godly in the freedom of the grace of Jesus Christ.