Titus 2:14

‘Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.’

But the One Who is coming is not just the mighty King and Judge, He is also the One Who gave Himself for us in order to buy us back to Himself (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19) and pay our ransom (Mark 10:45) by the offering of Himself. The word translated ‘redeem’ means ‘to pay a ransom’. He is the Redeemer, the One Who pays our debts so that we might go free (Colossians 2:13-14). He is our Saviour, the One Who brings forgiveness and will make us completely whole (see Matthew 1:21). He ‘gave Himself for our sins’ (Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 5:25; 1 Timothy 2:6), and ‘suffered for us, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God’ (1 Peter 3:18). For ‘to redeem us from all iniquity’ compare Psalms 130:8.

‘Gave Himself for us’, that is, on our behalf. He did it for us (compare 1 Timothy 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21). It was as a sacrificial offering (see Rom 8:3 ; 1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 10:14).

‘And purify to Himself.’ He not only redeems, He cleanses. See 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 John 1:7. Elsewhere we learn that this is partly accomplished through His word (Ephesians 5:25-26), and by turning from unrighteousness to righteousness (Isaiah 1:15-16). But it is primarily through coming to His light and through the shedding of His blood (1 John 1:7).

‘A people for his own possession, zealous of good works.’ And His purpose in all this is in order to produce a ‘people for His own possession’. A similar phrase occurs in Exodus 19:5 where it is used by God to indicate a treasure which He has set apart for Himself. These are to be His own people, His own treasure. They are the true people of God (2 Corinthians 6:16-18), springing as a refined remnant from the old (Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2-4), the new nation replacing the old (Matthew 21:43), the new branches of the true vine from which old fruitless branches have been cut off (John 15:1-6), the revivified olive tree (Romans 11:14-16), the new household of God (Ephesians 2:11-22), the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16). They are His jewels (Malachi 3:16-18). But note carefully why He has made them His own possession, a people set apart for Him. It is so that they may be zealous of good works, eager to participate in and constantly maintain good works. It is so that they may be the light of the world, bringing glory to God by what they do (Matthew 5:16).