John 3:16-21
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Reflection
The “world” spoken of in verse 16 is the rebellious world of God’s imagebearers. God loved rebels, fools, and idolaters so much that he gave his only Son, Jesus, to rescue them. Regardless of their identity or actions, everyone the Father gives to Jesus will be saved (John 6:37–40; 10:14–18). There is no other way. There is no greater love.
Eternal life is defined in the Bible as knowing God and his Son (17:3) —a participation in the life and intimacy of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To enter eternal life is to enter into the everlasting and ever-blessed life of the heavenly age to come. Through Jesus this promised age has already arrived, and when we put our faith in Jesus we are ushered into the initial stages of that eternal life.
Titus 2:1-10
2: But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Reflection
Godly behavior is not the gospel itself; rather it “adorns” the message (Titus 2:10), putting on display to the world the beauty of Jesus’ character. The gospel’s attractiveness is not seen through showy religious rituals but through integrity, humility, kindness, self-control, patience, and consistency of character. These are the beautiful fruits that grow in the lives of those who rest in the hope of the gospel. This section of Titus is intended to contrast the lives of true believers with those of the false teachers described in 1:10–16.
Paul’s list of gospel “fruit,” combined with his lists in other letters, such as Galatians 5:22–23 or 1 Corinthians 13:4–8, makes plain that grace is not an excuse for sin. Godliness is not merely an option for Christians; it is essential. The rules do not change, but the reasons do; love for the God of grace becomes the primary motivation of the Christian life. Gospel change is from the inside out, not from the outside in. If the heart is healthy, fruit will come.
Psalm 92:12-15
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Renew your mind in the gospel of his grace, and pray that God would use it to produce good fruit in your life today.