The book of Titus contains a recurring theme that could perhaps be summarized
by reworking a too common Christian cliché. Instead of: “ Christianity is a relationship, not a religion”, Paul’s epistle emphasizes the point that Christianity is a relationship that begets true religion. Paul has already instructed Titus concerning your average Cretan and quasi-Christian false teacher (1:16) “They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” In light of these tendencies and the pastoral/overseer calling of Titus, Paul is equipping his disciple to “exhort and rebuke with all authority” (2:15). By means of this letter, and in particular, our passage today, Titus is better prepared to identify and cultivate the fruit of salvation among the churches of Jesus Christ. To accomplish this end, Paul models a two stage approach: 1st) To proclaim the truths of our great salvation (the Gospel). And 2nd) to propel godliness among the believers by calling them to action consistent with their confession. Out lives as Christians (in the words of Matthew Henry) are to be “..beautified with salvation.”