How does Titus 1:2 connect with John 3:16 about eternal life? Setting the Scene: Two Verses, One Promise • Titus 1:2—“in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” • John 3:16—“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” • Both verses spotlight eternal life: Titus roots it in God’s timeless promise; John reveals the fulfillment of that promise in Christ. God’s Unbreakable Word • “God, who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2) guarantees the promise; His character ensures its certainty (Hebrews 6:18). • John 3:16 shows the same reliability: the Father’s love acts through the Son, proving His word true (Romans 5:8). • Eternal life is therefore fixed, not fragile—anchored in God’s nature, not human effort. Promise Before Time, Gift in Time • Eternity past: the promise was made “before time began” (Titus 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:9). • History’s center: God “gave” His Son (John 3:16; Galatians 4:4-5). • Result: what was pledged in the divine counsel manifests at Calvary and the empty tomb, bridging past promise to present reality (1 Peter 1:20-21). One Hope, One Way • Hope in Titus is inseparable from faith in Christ (Acts 24:15 with 1 Timothy 1:1). • John 3:16 clarifies the means: “everyone who believes.” • Parallel truths: – Source: God’s love and truth. – Means: personal faith in Jesus. – Outcome: eternal life, never perishing (John 10:28). Already Possessed, Not Yet Exhausted • Present possession: “has eternal life” (John 3:36). • Future fullness: “in hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2) points ahead to its consummation (Romans 8:23-25). • The believer lives between promise and perfect completion—assured now, awaiting the unveiled glory (Jude 1:21). Walking Out the Assurance • Confidence: God’s unlying nature secures the promise (Numbers 23:19). • Gratitude: Christ’s sacrifice embodies the promise (2 Corinthians 9:15). • Witness: share the certain hope, echoing Paul and John (1 John 5:11-13). • Perseverance: hold the hope “as an anchor for the soul” (Hebrews 6:19), knowing it was planned before time and purchased in time—for eternity. |
    |