Jim's Jots and Tittles. . .

How to Live

In Titus 2:11-13 Paul sums up salvation, how to live in this life, and the glory of Christ's return.

We do not have a problem with verse 11 where he writes about the grace of God bringing salvation to all men--we understand the forgiveness of sins.

And we do not have a problem with verse 13, where we are looking forward to the blessed hope and the return of Christ.

Our problem is with verse 12, where we have instruction on how we are to live in this life concerning ungodliness and worldly desires.

Paul, in a very practiced way, says to live this daily life sensibly, righteously, and godly. This is the way one is to live in order to be prepared when Christ returns.

Sensibly is from a Greek word that speaks of a sound mind that has good judgment. It refers to our physical senses, our self-control and moderation.

In 2 Timothy 1:7 this word is translated discipline or wise discretion.

This is speaking about how we live our daily Christian life--what kind of life do we present to others?

In Ephesians 4:31-32, Paul describes a Christian's daily life--"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

And in Colossians 4:6 Paul writes--"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person." This takes discipline and self-control!

Righteously refers to doing right. It is an attitude of lawfulness. It weighs right and wrong and is in agreement with that which is right. It refers to one who acts uprightly rather than seeking to please oneself.

In 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 Paul writes, --"Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals. Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God."

And in 1 Peter 2:20, Peter writes--"...but if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God."

And thirdly, Paul writes that a Christian is to live godly in this present age. Thus the Christian is to live in such a way that it reflects favorably and shows respect for the authority of God and His word. The Christian shows respect for God because as Paul wrote in Romans 5:8--"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

—Jim Hunt