Grace Has Appeared: Redeemed as Christ’s Own People
The ethical instructions are rooted in salvation: God’s grace has appeared, bringing salvation and training believers to reject ungodliness while they await the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ. Christ “gave himself for us” to redeem from lawlessness, purify a people for himself, and make them zealous for good works.
Where this fits in the story: the Greek wording of Titus 2:14 strongly recalls Psalm 130:8 LXX, where the Lord redeems Israel from all lawlessness, and the phrase “a peculiar people” reaches into the Sinai/Deuteronomy language of Israel as God’s treasured possession. Exodus 19:5–6 and Deuteronomy 7:6 stand behind the identity language; 1 Peter 2:9 develops the same people-for-possession trajectory.