Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 18

Paul Gives Titus the Qualities of a Sound Church Part 8

Titus 2:14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. KJV

Paul finalizes this preaching/teaching to Brother Titus and to we true believers today and of every era and generation of what our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ actually dedicated, devoted, and determined Himself to do for every one of His 'new creations' (2 Corinthians 5:17) that He made by shedding His Blood and dying on the Cross for our sin with these words, "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14) (KJV). When Paul writes, 'Who gave Himself for us', he means that He (Christ) died for sin in our place that we would not have to die an eternal death, that being, everlasting seperation from God the Father in hell and the lake of fire as it is written of such with these words, "And I saw a great white throne, and Him sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And a place was not found for them. And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell delivered up the dead in them. And each one of them was judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire." (Revelation 20:11-15) (MKJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill said concerning Christ giving Himself for us, "Not another, or another's, but Himself; not merely His own things, but His own self; not the world, and the riches of it, not gold and silver, and such like corruptible things, as the price of redemption; not the cattle on a thousand hills for sacrifice; not men nor angels, but Himself; all that belong to Him, all that is near and dear, His name, fame, credit, and reputation; His time, strength, and service: all the comforts of life, and life itself; His whole manhood, soul, and body, and that as in union with His divine person; which He gave into the hands of men, and of justice, and to death itself, to be a ransom price of His people, and for a propitiation and sacrifice for their sins, to be paid and offered in their room and stead: not for all mankind, but for many; for us, for all the elect of God, for the Church; and who are represented when He gave Himself, or died for them, as ungodly, sinners, and enemies: this was a free and voluntary gift, and is an unspeakable one; who can say all that is contained in this word 'Himself?' it is an instance of the greatest love, of love that passeth knowledge; God, because He could swear by no greater, swore by Himself; and Christ, because He could give no greater gift, nor any greater instance of His love, gave Himself."

When Paul writes next these words, 'that He might redeem us from all iniquity', he means that Christ Blood washes and cleanses us eternally from all our sins (past, present, and future) at the very moment of our new birth (John 3:3-8), yet as we sojourn and pilgrim here on this earth, we get dirty with sin, but as the Apostle John wrote we get cleansed by His Blood constantly and continuously when we confess our sins to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9). The English word 'iniquity' is translated by the Greek word anomia meaning llegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: - iniquity, transgression of the law, unrighteousness. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave His life on the Cross to pay our ransom from the slave master (the devil) as slaves of sin and buy us unto Himself as slaves to righteousness (Romans Chapter 6). Here is what John Wesley had to say about Christ redeeming us from all iniquity, "That He might redeem us - Miserable bondslaves, as well from the power and the very being, as from the guilt, of all our sins." When Paul writes, 'and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works', he means that it is Christ Himself who is in the process of growing us into spiritual maturity by His grace and through our study of His Holy Word. The English word 'purify' is translated by the Greek word katharizō meaning to cleanse (literally or figuratively): - (make) clean, purge, purify. The little English phrase 'a peculiar' is translated by the Greek word periousios (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning being beyond usual, that is, special (one’s own): - peculiar. In other words, it is the Blood of Jesus Christ that makes us clean in God the Father's sight, for He sees us just as He sees the Lord Jesus Christ, yet it is Christ grace by which we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9) that makes us into the peculiar or special one's on the earth, not by any thing in us that is good or deserving of this title or label, but solely because of and by the grace of God are we now 'new creatures' and actively interested and enthusiastic about doing things that please our Lord Jesus Christ because we love Him.

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about Christ purifying unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works, "All mankind are filthy and unclean by nature, in all the powers and faculties of their souls; nor can they cleanse themselves from their impurity of flesh and spirit, by anything that they can do: Christ has a peculiar people among these, a Church whom He loves, and for whom He has given Himself, that He might sanctify and cleanse them from their sins; which He has done by shedding His blood for them, and washing them in it, which cleanses from all sin, and He has purified them unto Himself, for His own use and service, for His pleasure and delight, and to His glory; that they might be a proper habitation for Him now; and that they might be made ready for Him, to have the marriage between, Him and them consummated; and that they might be presented to Himself a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, and be with Him, both in the new Jerusalem state, into which nothing that defiles, or is defiled, enters, and in heaven, to all eternity. Now these people, for whom Christ has given Himself, and whom He has redeemed and purifies, are a 'peculiar people'; for whom Christ has a peculiar love, in whom He takes a peculiar delight, and to whom He grants peculiar nearness to Himself, and bestows peculiar blessings on them, and makes peculiar provisions for them, both for time and eternity; these are Christ's own, His possession, His substance, what He has a special right to by His Father's gift, His own purchase, and the conquest of His grace; and they are a distinct and separate people from all others, in election, redemption, effectual calling, and in Christ's intercession, and will be in the resurrection morn, at the day of judgment, and to all eternity; and they are, as the word also signifies, an excellent and valuable people; they are Christ's portion and inheritance; they are His peculiar treasure, His jewels, whom, as such, He values and takes care of. The Syriac version renders it, 'a new people'. And they who are redeemed and purified by Christ, through the power of His grace upon them, become a people 'zealous of good works'; not in order to their justification and salvation, but in obedience to the will of God, and to testify their subjection and gratitude to Him, and for His honour and glory, and for the credit of religion, and the good of men, These not only perform them, but perform them from principles of truth and love, and with a zeal for the glory of God, and the honour of His Gospel; and with an holy emulation of one another, striving to go before, and excel each other in the performance of them."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…