Titus 2:14

Gave himself. Paul here describes the work of the Son of God as He fulfills the office of “Saviour” (v. 13). Christ’s role as Saviour and Mediator for lost man was not thrust upon Him by the arbitrary will of the Father; Christ “gave himself” as a voluntary sacrifice for His wayward creation (see on John 10:17, 18; Acts 3:15). In the person of Jesus Christ, God revealed the love of the divine Father. Though His sons and daughters suffer the consequences of moral and physical transgression, God has manifested His love by sharing with man the pain caused by sin. Christ’s gift cancels all doubts regarding the supreme splendor of God’s love to those who have disobeyed Him. From the inception of sin God has experienced the pain of unrequited love. Christ’s life on earth is cause enough for the praise of the redeemed throughout eternity. Angels stand silent in wonder that man’s only obligation consists in accepting this matchless love of the Saviour and in returning to the family of God.

Redeem. Gr. lutrod, “to set free,” “to rescue.” For the related noun lutron see on Matt. 20:28. Compare Ps. 130:8. God’s plan is to restore in lost men the original image in which they were created. Sin will not be overlooked, but eradicated. The process of sanctification consists of the grace of God acting upon the fully dedicated will of man, so that every trace of sin may be completely removed from the life (see on Rom. 3:24; 5:1; 6:19). To deliver man from the alluring power of sin and to lead him into habits of righteousness demands nothing less than the power of God. Because of sinful habits etched deeply within his life man has no other resort than to grasp the rescuing hand of God for complete deliverance. Yet, though the whirling worlds respond instantly to the directions of God, man, the climax of all creation, often limits the power and designs of God by his rebellious will.

Iniquity. Gr. anomia, “lawlessness.”

Purify. See on 1 John 1:7, 9; 3:3. No mere Jewish ritual or ceremony will suffice here (cf. Acts 15:9). The result of man’s rescue from sin by the grace of God is a life cleansed of every evil thought and deed.

Peculiar. Gr. periousios, “chosen,” that is, by God for Himself. In Old English the word “peculiar” designated what had become a personal possession.

The Christian church is the successor to Israel as God’s special agent for the communication of the gospel (see on 1 Peter 2:9). The same mission, privileges, and responsibilities that literal Israel had were transferred to spiritual Israel (see Vol. IV, pp. 35, 36).

Zealous. The Christian church, while awaiting the second advent, will also fulfill the mission once assigned to the Jewish nation of revealing, in word and deed, the principles of God’s government.