God; but in works they deny Him, being

abominable, and disobedient,

and unto every good work reprobate' (Titus

`Speak thou the things which

become sound doctrine ... in all things

shewing thyself a pattern of

good works' (Titus 2:1,7).

`The grace of God that bringeth salvation ... teaching us that ... we

should live ... looking ... zealous of good works' (Titus 2:11-14).

The last reference is another parallel with Ephesians 2:9,10.  The grace

that saves us teaches us to `live ... looking'.  The redemption that saves us

has a twofold object, viz.:

To redeem us from all iniquity.

To purify us unto good works.

This new creation has a characteristic walk.  Exactly what the walk

involves is outside the province of doctrine to explain; all it does is to state

the fact and leave it to the practical section to develop, and this it does very

thoroughly.  In the doctrinal view there are but two walks known to God, the

walk related to the old creation (Eph. 2:2,3), `in time past ye walked', and the

walk of the new creation (Eph. 2:10), `unto good works ... that we should walk

in them'.  Between these two walks, what miracles are to be found; dead,

quickened, raised, seated!  No attempt is made to alter the walk, but God makes

a new creature.  Life is not altered by the walk; the walk but expresses the

`For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of

disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in

them' (Col. 3:6,7).

`As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him'

(Col. 2:6).

What is the meaning of the expression `before ordained' in this section?

Does it teach that, after salvation, every word and action is fixed by

predestination?  That in

the sphere of the new creation the believer has no responsibility?  If so, why

reward for service?  Why suffer loss?  Why exhort a believer to `walk worthy' if

all is ordained beforehand?  Evidently the apostle did not entertain such an

idea, for he says:

`Walk in love ... let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of

these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience'

(Eph. 5:2-6).

The words `before ordained' translate the Greek word proetoimazo.  `I go

to prepare a place for you' (John 14:2), `The preparation of the gospel of

peace' (Eph. 6:15); `They that were ready went in' (Matt. 25:10).  `The third

time I am ready' (2 Cor. 12:14): these are examples of hetoimasia and hetoimos.

The word hina, translated `that', may be rendered `in order that', and the

passage stands as follows:

`For good works, which God prepared beforehand, in order that we should

walk in them'.