Salvation (4992) (soterios from soter = savior) is an adjective which refers to that which is pertains to the means of salvation = bringing salvation, delivering, rescuing. Soterion/soterios is used 5x: Lk. 2:30; 3:6; Acts 28:28; Eph. 6:17; Titus 2:11 Soterios describes the act of delivering or saving from great danger or peril and of healing, protecting and preserving. In the original Greek text here in Titus 2:11 "soterios" is an adjective meaning "saving, bringing salvation" and describes the effect of this grace as being beneficent and redemptive. Grace brings salvation (Ro 3:24-note, Eph 2:8, 2:9-note, 2Ti 1:9- note) but it doesn't stop there, for then grace empowers the believer for daily sanctification (See discussion of sanctification at the three tenses of salvation) Grace as used here by Paul refers both to grace to the guilty sinner (in Titus 2:11) and the gracious favor of God in its enabling power and effect, which is to be found alone in Christ (see note on this meaning of grace in 2Ti 2:1-note). Vine writes that it is Only as we live in the enjoyment of the power of this grace can we devotedly and faithfully discharge the service committed to us (in Titus 2:12). There is adequate grace to meet our every need. (cf "manifold [poikilos - variegated] grace" (1Pe 4:10-note] for "various [poikilos - variegated, multi-colored - same word in Lxx describing Joseph's coat of "many colors"] trials" (1Pe 1:6-note) (Vine) God in His mercy does not give us what we do deserve but God in His grace gives us what we don’t deserve and could never obtain without Him, so that now believers are empowered to do good works which we could not have done unless grace had appeared. All the other NT uses of soterios/soterion are recorded below (1) Luke 2:30 - Luke uses this word in his description of the encounter of Simeon and the infant Jesus, writing that "there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, "Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart In peace, according to Thy word for my eyes have seen Thy salvation (soterios) which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Thy people Israel." (Lk 2:25-32) It is interesting that in the Bible's first mention of "salvation," Jacob also stated that he was waiting "for Thy salvation (Hebrew = Yeshua from which is derived the name Jesus) I wait, O LORD." (Ge 49:18). Simeon, the namesake of Jacob's second son actually saw "Thy Salvation" in the Spirit (speaking of Simeon) in the Person of the baby Jesus. (2) Luke 3:6 - Luke again uses soterios in his description of John the Baptist's prophesy of the coming Messiah in which he declared that "ALL FLESH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD." (Lk 3:6) In both of these verses, Luke uses "salvation" as virtually synonymous with the Savior, a figure of speech known as a metonymy in which one uses the name of one thing ("salvation") for another thing (in this case "Jesus" or "Savior") of which it ("salvation") is an attribute. (3) Acts 28:28 - Paul speaking to the Jews during his house arrest in Rome declared to them that since they had rejected the offer of salvation, it would go to the Gentiles saying "Let it be known to you therefore, that this salvation (soterios) of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen." (Acts 28:29) (4) Ephesians 6:17 - The last use by Paul is in describing the Christian's spiritual wardrobe... And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Comment: The "helmet of salvation" speaks of the believer's assurance of salvation) (Ephesians 6:17-note) To all men - The Greek word for "all" (pas) means all without exception. The point is that Salvation is available to all but not all will receive (believe in) Jesus as Savior. In fact Scripture teaches that most will not. There is no suggestion here or anywhere else in the Bible that everyone will eventually be saved. Universal salvation is a lie. The heart of "God our Savior...desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1Ti 2:3, 4). Later in that same epistle Paul qualifies salvation writing that "the living God...is the Savior of all men, especially of believers." (1Ti 4:10) So of the "all", it is only believers who will be saved. Howard Zabriskie explains that... Although salvation has been bought for all men, all have not accepted it for themselves. By the death of Christ, God has provided salvation for all men and has made such provision as is necessary for the salvation of “whosoever will.” Christ’s death is a finished work in the matter of salvation, having procured redemption towards sin, reconciliation with respect to man, and propitiation towards God. Every barrier has been removed that has hindered this marvelous display of God’s grace. Thus, humanly speaking, man himself is the only hindrance to his salvation. By this explanation, the text of the American Revised Version, which is to be preferred, can be accepted and the position of the Universalist can be refuted. (The Discipline of Grace in Bibliotheca Sacra 93:370. April 36. p. 163) Hiebert adds that this phrase ("to all men") is descriptive of the universality of the salvation provided in Christ; it is adapted to and freely available to all men. No nation, tongue, class, or group was excluded. The atonement rendered all men saveable. This does not mean that all men will be saved, since its power actually to save is dependent upon personal faith. (Titus and Philemon, p57, Moody Press, 1957). What does genuine salvation look like? See the clear description in the next verse. How deceptive is it to say one is saved by "believing" and then fail to show no denial of ungodliness or worldly desires and no heart for godly living. Jesus warned that many would be deceived (Study carefully the sobering warning of Jesus in Mt 7:21,22,23-notes Mt 7:21; 22; 23). How dangerous is the cloak and garb of "religion". There are many "religious" men and women in hell today who "believed" and yet by their continual (this is the key word - believers still sin but not as a lifestyle) lawless behavior (cf 1Jn 3:9,10) they clearly demonstrated that there had never been a supernatural "circumcision" of their hearts (Col 2:11-note). The Grace of God in the form of salvation is so ordained that the one who receives it (better "Him", i.e., Jesus the manifestation of grace), turns from sin to serve the living God and seeks to live holy (cp 1Th 1:9-note), for grace includes not only the bestowal of righteousness (of Christ), but also a new heart, an inward transformation consisting of the breaking of the power of indwelling sin and the implantation of the enabling presence and power of the Spirit of Christ, Who liberates the believer (who learns to yield or surrender to the Spirit, cf being filled with the Spirit Eph 5:18-note; Walking by the Spirit - Gal 5:16-note) from the compelling power of Sin and provides the supernatural power to obey, to work out one's salvation. Kenneth Wuest comments on grace and law writing that To be under law (Ro 6:14-note, Ro 6:15-note, Gal 5:18-note) refers to an unsaved person who attempts to live in obedience to the law of God. To be under grace is to be a saved person who has been the subject of the surgical operation in which the power of the sinful nature has been broken and the divine nature implanted. The poet says Do this and live, the law commands, but gives me neither feet nor hands. A better word the gospel brings. It bids me fly and gives me wings. Wings in Scripture, speak of supernatural power. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans) Paul sets grace against works directly in opposition to one another so far as the means of salvation is concerned (Ro 11:6-note). But Paul is very careful to make plain that good deeds naturally issue from and are required by grace (Titus 2:11, 12). Grace! ’tis a charming sound, Harmonious to the ear; Heav’n with the echo shall resound, And all the earth shall hear. Saved by grace alone! This is all my plea: Jesus died for all mankind, And Jesus died for me.” --Poet unknown ><>><>><> Titus 2:11 What's Ahead? - American theologian Carl Henry gave a thought-provoking lecture with these three major points: 1. "The barbarians have come." Evil forces have entered the gates and are tearing down the values Christians embrace as true and good. Many thoughtful people believe that we are witnessing the moral collapse of Western civilization, and they are afraid. 2. "Jesus is coming." Christians have lived for 20 centuries with the hope that they will witness the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The darker the night, the brighter shines that hope. The barbarians may have won a battle, but they will not win the war. 3. "The church doesn't know whether it is coming or going." Many of those who claim to know God deny Him by their words and actions. A great number of Christians believe that the hands on the clock of history are nearing the midnight hour, but they don't know just how close. Whether our Lord comes today or in a thousand years, Christians must say no to ungodliness and worldly passions and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present evil age (Titus 2:11). Let's get our eyes off the barbarians, keep looking for the coming of our Lord, and live for Him today.-- Haddon W. Robinson (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. 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