“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:11-13)
This majestic passage sets forth two great truths. It tells us of God’s expectations of us – to live self-controlled and godly lives in this present age. But it also reveals Paul’s estimation of just who Jesus is. He is our “great God and Savior.” This exalted confession of Jesus’ true nature has been building in this small epistle. Throughout this letter, Paul has been saying that both God is our Savior (1:3; 2:10; 3:4) and that Christ is our Savior (1:4; 3:6). So which is it? Is Christ our Savior or is God? Here in Titus 2:13 Paul explains that Christ and God are One and the same. Jesus is our God and Savior. The apostle Peter uses the very same title of Jesus in 2 Peter 1:1. And Paul himself gives a similar exalted view of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-19. There Paul described Jesus as the One who existed before creation, as the Creator, and as the One who upholds and will redeem creation.
Now, please understand. Paul is not saying that Jesus, the Son and the Father are the same person. No, Paul would agree with John (John 1:1-3) that the Father and the Son consist of the same essence or nature. They are both Deity. But they are two distinct personalities within the one being of God – as the Holy Spirit is a distinct personality. Therefore, when we say that “Jesus is God,” we are saying what He is. But when we say that “Jesus is the Son,” we are saying “who He is.”
In the Scripture, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit perform different roles. The Father plans, the Son executes, and the Spirit reveals. The Father planned creation, but it was the Son who did the actual creating. “Through Him (the Son) He (the Father) made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2). The same is true of redemption. The Father planned our redemption, but it was the Son who actually came to earth, bore our sins upon the cross, and suffered the Father’s wrath and judgments against them. And it will be the same with judgment. Jesus said that the Father Himself judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father (John 5:22-23).
Why was this teaching of Jesus’ Deity so important to Paul? Our salvation hangs upon its truth. Unless Jesus is truly God, he cannot endure the everlasting fire of God’s wrath nor fully satisfy God’s infinite thirst for justice (Romans 3:24-26). Only God can save us.
REFLECTION
- If God’s wrath burns forever (Luke 3:17; Revelation 14:9-11), then how can Jesus extinguish its flames for those who believe – unless He is truly God?
- If Jesus is who Paul says He is, then how serious must we take His words?
- As God, Jesus is worth of our complete faith and our absolute obedience.