Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
We live in a time in history when rapid changes are taking place. We have many more conveniences than we did before. Technology has completely revolutionized the world this writer grew up in. However, with all these changes social and political landscapes have changed as well. Morals have been redefined and nations are either at, or on the brink of war. Pandemics have threatened our health, lifestyle, and economic status. We live in an age of uncertainty.
Titus 2 reads as if it were written specifically for this present hour. As we face our present distress, we are instructed to look for our blessed hope. Yet, in mainline Christianity this hope is being undermined, and many churches that once held strong on the whole doctrine of God fail to identify what our hope is. Where the teaching from the New Testament that Jesus is coming to take up His church before all hell breaks loose on earth was once central, it is now being denied or worse, ignored in the pulpits of the churches that once held strongly to its truth.
I, for one, cannot explain fully this phenomenon that has robbed God’s people of the comfort God the truth has given us in His Word, nor why so many of my faithful Christian brothers and sisters fail to see what we once held to. I, myself, once bent to the tide against this doctrine, but beginning to doubt it, I searched and was convinced by the Scriptures.
The passage above speaks of the blessed Hope God has given to all who believe in Him. His grace has been presented to all men. Furthermore, there is only one Creator and way to a relationship with Him and that is at the foot of the Cross. Those who receive the Savior that God provides are called to avoid the enticements of this world and to live godly lives. This is not an easy thing to do when we are told what God says in His Word is right, is now considered wrong in society’s eyes and what God says is wrong is now proclaimed to be right. Further when we insist on holding up God’s truth, we are declared to be intolerant bigots, denied access to public forums, and subject to legal actions if we persist.
In addition to manmade hardships, is the adversity of life itself. Believers in Christ are not immune to the testings that are common to man. Things happen. Unthinkable things that leave us questioning, “Why, God?” And so, we are in need of that blessed hope of Titus 2:13.
One does not need to go far in the epistles of Paul to realize what this hope is. Romans 8:18-25 Gives us a full explanation: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation (hope) of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Our blessed hope, our earnest expectation is that God will end the misery and destruction we experience in this world and restore Creation to what it was before the Fall of man. At that time death will be no more but will be swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54). We will no longer face the possibility of the tragedy of being separated from loved ones but instead be reunited with them forever in the presence of the Lord.
While Titus 2:13 instructs us to look to this, our blessed hope, it adds that we also look to the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Again, Paul is clear in teaching what this appearing is. In 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Paul described how the living and dead shall rise and be changed putting off mortal bodies and putting on eternal everlasting ones when Jesus comes for His church.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 gives further details: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
As I read these words, I see the Rapture of God’s church. While there are those who will question when this takes place, they cannot call into doubt that it will take place. However, I am of the opinion that a careful reading of the two epistles to the Thessalonian believers is conclusive that this meeting in the air is before the judgments described in the book of Revelation.
I am not instructed here to dwell on all the things that are about to happen in this world. Surely, we at present, see only a shadow of what is to come. Instead, I am instructed to comfort myself and my fellow believers with this promise: Jesus is coming to take up His own. It may be soon. Halleluiah!
Even so, Lord Jesus, come.
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