Be careful to maintain good works

In the previous chapter wrong doctrine was denounced, and now sound doctrine and its effects are described. The things that adorn sound doctrine include the behaviour and manner of life of its adherents. This affects all in the congregation including aged and young men, aged and young women, and servants. A recurring theme is sobriety, which means taking great care in all areas of life not to give outsiders wrong impressions of the gospel or of the Lord’s people. Whether in the home, or in the assembly, or at work, the believer must seek to demonstrate that his life in Christ is attractive and advantageous. The grace of God in Christ has appeared and should have taught all how to live in this present world: ‘a peculiar people, zealous of good works’, 2. 14. Also, we look forward to the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our Saviour to rapture His own and to reign in the world. All who associate themselves with Him and have this hope should live lives that commend Him and the doctrines they profess to believe.

During the time of waiting for His return we have a responsibility to obey those set up by God to rule over us. Before our conversion we may well have been a problem for the state, but since we have experienced the love of God our Saviour we obey magistrates and indeed hold ourselves ready to exploit every opportunity to engage in good works, without which our professed faith may be thought to be dead.

Having been made heirs of the hope of eternal life we look forward with anticipation to enjoying this life in heaven, but here and now it is necessary to show to others the blessings we have in Christ. These things are ‘good and profitable unto men’. Some might seek to destroy this testimony by foolish questions and strivings about the law, but these are distractions to be avoided, as are those who peddle them.

The Epistle closes with greetings from Paul, ‘Greet them that love us in the faith’, and a plan that Paul should meet up with Titus, Zenas and Apollos in Nicopolis where he had decided to stay over the winter period. Great fellowship would be enjoyed no doubt; a sweet foretaste of fellowship soon in glory!