The Grands Letter (Titus/GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on August 6, 2026 6:13 am (CST)
Dear Grands,
Titus 2:11-15, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”
It’s not clearly attributable to any one individual, yet someone, somewhere, once cited “Grace” as an acronym for “God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense.” And, yes, it’s always been expensive!
Redemption means “buy back,” and what was lost to mankind due to sin was bought back in and through the crucifixion of our LORD Jesus Christ. He forgave our sins and purchased us for Himself by the way of sacrificing the life of the LORD Jesus Christ on the cross.
When we look to Jesus on the Cross of Calvary and ask His forgiveness for our sin, He guarantees that forgiveness. Simultaneously, He instructs us “to deny (terminate) all ungodliness and worldly desires,” (known as “repentance”).
Verse 13 is almost all uphill: “…looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus…” In the vernacular of today’s world, “He took our bullet, so we could live!” Still, it’s not thoroughly automatic. When the Apostle Paul said, “…looking for…” redemption, he tied with it “purify for Himself a people…” In other words, we “exchange” our sinful selves for Jesus’ self-sacrifice on the cross for our sins. I’m a broker for Christ: believe me; that’s a positive idea!
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6)
Today is someone’s “Day of Salvation!” Have you had anything to do with it?
Heartily in Christ,
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
United States of America
“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom
