Titus 2:11-15 “What Makes Godly Living Possible?”

When the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God for salvation to everyone that believes[1]  comes into the lives of people, then a real change of life is to be expected. 

Sadly, it must be said that one meets many people who have had some kind of religious experience, but in the long term it appears to have made no difference. 

Some have grown up in a Christian home, they had been baptised as infants and yet they have never come to Christ themselves. Others have been baptised in the hope that this would make them a Christian. They were never thoroughly instructed concerning the purpose and meaning of baptism to begin with.   Others  have accepted Christ by  walking to the front of the church, praying the sinners prayer and then,  having been pronounced  by  a pastor  or counsellor  that  they had thereby become a Christian,  feel after a while that there  is no change happening.  Whatever your Christian conversion experience may be, if  it did not reverse the direction of your life, and  if it does not presently transform  you, then you are not likely to be converted at all. 

Our contention from Paul’s letter to Titus is that the receiving of the gospel of Jesus changes your life.    

The gospel had come to Crete, an island of morally degenerate people (cf. 1:12). In the midst of this moral mess, people became followers of Jesus. Their lives began to change.  Churches were planted. Godly elders were installed in the church (1: 5-16). These qualified elders were to teach the church and watch over the church, for there were many corrupting influences, directed by the archenemy of the church, Satan who seeks to destroy the young church at all times[2].   New converts had to be instructed in the faith they now embraced.  This teaching and training was to be done at many levels. Older men, older women, young men and young women had to learn to live this new life in accordance with the gospel they had embraced (2:1-10).

We now come to the climax  of this little letter in 2:11-15.  It provides the theological basis for the practical instructions given in vv.1-10,  as  the apostle Paul affirms his conviction concerning  the ability and the power of the gospel to save and  to  change all kinds of people (even the worst[3]) for good:  “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ[4], 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

SALVATION : The Grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people (v.11)

Follow the logic of Scripture now as we pursue this text.  Why can people change? How can older men, older women, younger men and younger women, caught in the vicious patterns of sin – how can they change? How can they not be slaves to sin? How can they be free from sin?   It all begins with this great truth that  "the Grace of God  has appeared .  What is this Grace of God?   It is not a magic wand; it is not a formula; it is not a thing. The grace of God has appeared in the form of  a person, a Saviour. His Name is Jesus Christ.  In the next chapter, in 3:4-7 this powerful  experience of God’s grace  is clearly explained. The work of salvation is applied to us  by the  Triune God: The Father (2:11), the Son(2:13;3:4), the Holy Spirit (3:5).  

But to whom is the grace applied?

This part of the text needs to be understood in its context i.e. following the logic of 2:1-10. This text does not teach that all people will be saved. There is, of course   a sense in which the church is called to proclaim the grace of God in the hope that all will be saved.  But Paul is not teaching universal salvation here.  The better translation (in context)    is  probably,  “the grace of God has  appeared, bringing salvation to all kinds of people… i.e. the grace of God  comes to all kinds of people irrespective of, gender, race (yes , even Cretans can be saved!), age  or social class. In heaven we will find a ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Rev. 5:10; 7:9). Not all will be saved, but God will have for Himself a chosen people from all kinds of people.

Grace for Living

Now that Paul has  established the doctrine of salvation  for a  chosen people of God, he goes on to  explain how  that salvation ( the act of having been justified by grace  cf. 3:7)  now expresses itself in an ability  to please God   through sanctified living…

12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Here  we see  that the grace  God not only saves (and justifies) all kinds of  people  from sin, but we also see that  the grace of God is  involved in our sanctification.  The grace  that has appeared  does not leave us as we are, but  it  also  trains us (Gr.paideuō –instructing, educating). This  word is most often applied to children, and so  it  means to train by the use of discipline. It sometimes has the force of chastisement. Hebrews  12:5-11 best  conveys the  idea of  God’s grace-based training.  So, grace is our teacher. Grace is our instructor. What does the grace-based  training of  God  teach us?

·       To renounce ungodliness and worldly passions (negative)

·       To live self -controlled (note  2:2,5,6), upright and godly lives  (positive)

·       Redeem us from  all lawlessness

·       Purify us

Paul affirms that those who have become recipients of the grace of God  are trained (this can be a challenging experience)  by God  in this present age.  This training means   that  we are developing the ability  to persevere, endure, discern (i)  what is not good and (ii) what is good, by way of contrast. We are trained to love the world and the things of this world less. We are  trained  to control ourselves in all aspects of living, and thus we can  live godly lives in this present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great  God and Saviour, Jesus Christ…”.

It is very important that we keep the goal in view. Many  people give up on the Christian faith,

(i) because they do not train and 

(ii) they do not keep the end in view. 

It is  questionable  that  such people (notwithstanding the fact that many appear to be greatly gifted)  had received  saving grace in the first place.

I want  you to see that true salvation is a package deal. When you are saved, you persevere. That is the logic  of our text.  While training and perseverance are words that speak of personal commitment, we need to remember that they are preceded by the grace of God -  by enablement. 

I can train  for this Christian race, I can run in this Christian race, I can endure  this Christian race, BECAUSE  I am graciously enabled to do that. Not everyone endures (just as not everyone endures the Namib desert dash or a marathon). We see this in the pastoral epistles. Phygelus  and Hermogenes turned away from Paul (2 Tim. 1:15)  Hymeneaus  deserted  Paul ( 2 Tim. 4:9) and Alexander the coppersmith did the cause of God great harm ( 2 Tim. 4: 14,15). One of my constant prayers is that I may endure, that I may run and finish the race  by the grace of God.  I believe that it is a prayer that God hears  and answers. Careless Christians  beware!

By means of enduring this training, by means of living a God – centered life, while waiting for Christ’s coming ( whether by our death or  by His  visible appearing)  we    become  a people “purified for His own possession, who are zealous for good works.”  Our sanctification, the work  of God in our souls  leads to  purification. But it is ultimately all by His grace. Grace is the Christians starting point, and he ends the race by grace. We enter heaven  being entirely purified by the shed blood of Christ.

THE THREEFOLD TASK OF THE PASTOR- TEACHER  (Titus 2:15)

15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. Here Paul lays before Titus the threefold task of the Christian pastor and preacher. 

·       Speak these things! (Gr.  tauta lalei) It is a task of proclamation.  There are some things about which argument is not possible and on which discussion is not relevant. There are times when the preacher must say: "Thus says the Lord." When it comes to the doctrine of salvation, this is what  your preacher  must declare to you. 

·       Exhort! (Gr. parakaleō)  Offer encouragement.  Any preacher who reduces his audience to bleak despair has failed in his task. Men must be convicted of their sin, yes, but they must be helped to see  that their case is not  hopeless; they must be led to the grace of our Lord Jesus  Christ, that grace  which is greater than all their sin. 

·       Rebuke!  Use  conviction. The eyes of the sinner must be opened to his sin. The Christian message is not a drug to send men to sleep; it is rather the blinding light which shows men themselves as they are and God as he is.

Do all this  with a sense of your delegated  authority. Paul says to Titus, “Remember that this message is not yours. It is God’s Word.”  Don’t tone the message down. It is after all a message of hope for those who  will hear. They must hear.  Their eternal destiny is at stake.

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[1] Rom 1:16

[2] 1 Peter 5:8 ; Revelation 2&3

[3] 1Timothy 1:15,16

[4]  one of the texts affirming the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ

Titus 2:1 - 10 "Good Teaching… Good Living… Discipling a whole Church and Nation"

We have previously seen in Titus 1 that Paul had instructed Timothy to ensure that biblical elderships were being   instituted in the churches of Crete.  

The general moral life of Cretans was deficient, to say the least (1:12). This would have affected the churches, since their members were drawn from this community. They needed biblical elders, men who with their wives and families would   set a biblical standard and example of a Christian household before the community.  

When people are converted from a life of sin it takes time for them to let the Word of God sanctify their thoughts and actions. We see this clearly in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Here  were a people saved from all sorts of immoral backgrounds (1 Cor. 1:26; 6:9-11). The antidote to unruly, undisciplined, worldly behaviour in the church is a biblical eldership. Elders, by doctrinal teaching and by personal example progressively teach   the church to reflect a true Christian character.  

Titus himself is an example of such a man.

IT ALL BEGINS WITH SOUND  TEACHING (Titus 2:1)

1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. This whole chapter begins and ends with the importance of teaching sound doctrine to this morally deficient community. We must begin with the mind. The Holy Spirit has given us an inspired book so that we may read, meditate, think and be challenged about the way in which we live!  The end to which God instructs the mind is to change the heart. If we hope to change a sinful community it all begins with teaching them sound doctrine, and in Paul's  instruction to Timothy  it all starts with the older men. 

What to teach Older Men (Titus 2:2)

2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 

They must be sober-minded (Gk.  nephalios lit. sober), meaning that they should  not over indulge in alcohol.  The point is that when a man has become a senior  he ought to have reached a level of self- control in matters of indulgence, particularly  with respect to alcohol consumption.  

They must be dignified (Gk. semnos).  He must be serious in the right way, not at all meaning that he should display no joy. Not at all! He is a man who knows that he soon will leave the society of men for the society of God, and he lives in anticipation of that. 

They also must be self- controlled (Gk. sophron). Over the years they acquire wisdom, strength of mind which governs their mind and emotions. They are not easily swept away by everything that comes their way. These three words taken together relate to the fact that an older man should have learned what can only be called the gravity of life.  The years should bring their wisdom. One of the truly tragic things in life is to see an older man, an old fool who has learned nothing from life.

There are three further characteristics according to Paul that older men should have cultivated  by the time they reach the senior years: 

They ought to be  sound (Gr. hugianō lit. to be healthy ) in faith:  The years must teach  Christian men  not to trust God less but to trust Him more. 

They ought to be (sound)  in  love (Gr. agape): They should  be possessed by the love of Jesus. God help older men that they should not become fault-finding, censorious, unteachable, resentful,  bitter tyrants in the church. The years with Jesus should bring a gentle, firm, patient, loving wisdom that gets alongside  the younger generation, and bears  with them. 

They ought to be (sound) in steadfastness (Gr. hupomonē lit. ‘a remaining under’ - better translated as  patient endurance).   The years of faithful endurance under the gentle yoke of Jesus should temper a man like steel, so that he can bear more and more. This is  God’s will for older men. 

Older men, how are we doing?

2.  Older Women (Titus 2:3-5)

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women…

Older women need to see that the display of their godly character, cultivated by years of walking with Jesus, studying His Word, having been engaged in sacred things for many years really helps and encourages the younger women in particular. What great value older women add to the church! Many displays of over- zealousness  and bitter arguments and jealousy  and touchiness and  intolerance by younger Christians with poor perspectives  in the congregations  can be dealt with by the wise counsels of the older women and men.  How many church fights would be avoided if there were many more godly, older and wiser people in each congregation?  

In particular older women must not be slanderers (Gr. diabolous). It is a chief trait of Satan. It is one of his names.  It also is a common trait of fallen human nature, and perhaps particularly of the female nature. People love to slander and to hear of people being slandered. It’s the stuff that newspapers thrive on. At any rate, the Bible teaches us not to do that.  

Also, like the older men they must not be slaves to wine.  

Positively, they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women…  There is nothing like the experience of the older to guide and encourage the younger.

3.     Younger Women (Titus 2:3-5)

Older women  are  encouraged  to teach and  train  younger women  to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.  Marriage and family life in any age is a  very challenging task, and what a blessing it is when an older  woman  can give a young wife  dissolved in tears and lacking perspective  some encouragement.  There is in one sense no greater task, responsibility and privilege, no greater career or calling  than that of creating  a safe home  for one’s family. Every nation is dependent upon the health of its homes. Wives and mothers by God’s design have a particular role here. Older women, who have been through many  of life’s lessons have seen these things  and they  are a treasure house of knowledge, support and encouragement. The general weaknesses of the young women in terms of lack of self- control , purity, kindness and submission to their husbands  is  helpfully addressed by the older women as they mentor their younger sisters. Please note that the glory of God is at stake here … that the Word of God may not be reviled… The behaviour of Christians affects the way in which the world perceives the gospel.

4.     Younger Men (Titus 2:6)

6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. The duty of the younger men is summed up in one sentence, but it is a weighty issue for them. They are to be self- controlled (Gr. sophron- this is the 3^rd time this word is used). Youth is a time of danger.   Hot headedness, recklessness, lack of experience, bad  influences all   are a reality. In youth there are far more opportunities to make disastrous decisions. For that very reason, the first thing at which any young person must aim is being in control of oneself.  "He who rules his spirit is greater than he who takes a city" (Prov. 16:32). When young energy is combined with self- control something really great comes into life. 

5.     About Titus  Himself  (Titus 2:7-8)

7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.  Paul pauses here to reflect on Titus' own life. If Titus' teaching is to be effective, it must be backed by the testimony of his own life. He must be a model of good works. In his teaching he must display integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. He must have a sound life and a sound message. The duty laid on Titus is the tremendous task, not of simply talking to people about Christ, but of showing Christ to them.

6.     A Word about slaves  (The Christian  Employee)  (Titus 2:9-10)

9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.

In the early Church many Christians were slaves when Christ found them. It is significant to note that the Lord Jesus did not change their immediate situation but He changed their eternal destiny.  We need to be constantly reminded that this world is not our heaven. In this world we prepare for heaven. The real issue for living in this world is not,  ‘how can I get out of  this situation’, but ‘How can I bring most glory to God in this situation’? The Christian slave  was called  to glorify God  by serving  with real  integrity  and dignity  so that their masters (who were used to being  argued with and stolen from)  would be well pleased with them. The Christian slave (employee) should not be argumentative, but submissive and   humble in a dignified way. He should not be a thief but honest and true   in his service.   He does not think that his Christianity gives him a special right to be undisciplined. In the end his  mission was to be a witness to Jesus. His faith teaches him how to serve.  

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL (Titus 2:11-14)

Is this teaching for real? Is it possible to live like this? Can older men, older women, younger men and younger women, can Titus himself, can slaves rise above their circumstances  in a corrupt world  with very different viewpoints and values?  It is possible, says Paul:  11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

This we will consider in our next sermon 

Titus 1:5-16 Biblical Eldership – God’s Antidote to Chaos in the Church

There is not much information about the missionary work on the island Crete in the Acts of the Apostles.  Acts 27 gives us a very brief indication of a visit to Crete, but no real information.   But from Paul’s letter to Titus we learn that Paul and Titus had been involved in missionary activity  here, which  had  led to church planting on the island of Crete. When Paul departed from there  he left  Titus behind to  continue the work, appointing elders (1:5), before coming back to him in Nicopolis[1] (3:12).   

Paul wanted Titus to complete the work of organising a biblical leadership there before coming back. And so, in this first chapter we read firstly about (i) 1:5-9 what sort of qualifications such an elder should have,  and in  (ii) 1:10-16 something about the necessity  of having  such an eldership in place. 

1.     Qualified elders  for  the church in Crete 

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you- 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

A careful reading of Titus 1 helps us to see that the church in Crete needed a biblical model of leadership, a credible role model  for the Cretan church and society.  Crete, like  the rest of the world needed urgent spiritual revival and reformation. Their self- assessment was less than flattering. This society had grown seriously backwards. “One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."(v.12)  Imagine living in a society like that? I wonder what Paul would have said about Namibia? They were religious, influenced by Jewish mysticism(1:10), but  it was not a religion that  drove  men and women to a God honouring holiness (see  the assessment of v.16). 

At any rate – a society becomes that which it worships.  If a society worships idols, false gods, that worship will govern the culture of that society. If a society worships the true God, that worship will deeply influence and pervade its culture. [2]  Western culture with its  permissive values has  continued to flourish for a while on the residual moral principles taught by Christianity, on  what the Christian philosopher  Henry Van Til (nephew of Cornelius van Til) called,  “borrowed capital”[3].  But Western Christianity is down and out and a re-evangelisation and reformation of Europe is desperately needed. I want you to see God’s answer through the apostle Paul.

Paul’s answer to the reformation of a society, following the proclamation of the gospel begins with the church and within that church the appointment and presence  of   a biblical eldership. The Reformation of the church begins with its leadership. Believe me, the devil knows this and he will resist and oppose every effort to undermine this principle. I speak from experience, but more than that, I speak with biblical authority  on this matter.

Biblical eldership is needed  to  institute biblical reform  that leads to a process  whereby the church is continually reformed according to the Word of God. A healthy church is one that is led by a healthy eldership, producing healthy sheep. Such a church is  salt and light  to its community.  It affects its community and it exports   itself. That is  how the  16^th century Reformation  exported itself. Look at the list of formidable men and elders that led the reforms in many churches!  Satan, who is never slow to respond has led many counter reformations and has  used false shepherds and elders  to sow destruction.  

What are the marks of a biblical elder?  Paul  gives Titus a list which is  very similar to that in 1 Timothy 3. We can summarise the  characteristics of a biblical elder  in three  categories 

(a) He knows God’s Word  well. He is a teacher of God’s word, promoting sound teaching, refuting false teaching.   He is a discipler. 

(b)  He provides   a good example in his domestic life 

(c) He displays sound personal character.

a.1:5,9:  Elders (note the plural!) maintain the standard of God’s Word through sound teaching and by refuting of false doctrine. Clearly it is not enough to see people converted.  People need to be discipled. That is what the Great Commission in Matthew 28: 18-20 requires. Doing evangelistic ministry without discipleship is like giving birth to babies without feeding them. After people are led to Christ, and assembled into the church, the elders make sure that the flock of God is well taught and defended in the context of a corrupt culture. Everyday our people have questions on how to live a godly life in the context of many challenges. Elders must be prepared to give them biblically  sound answers. By their sound, diligent and perseverant teaching,  the life of the member  is changed  and thereby society is changed by the gospel,  one person at a time.    

The gift of the pastor elder is a substantial gift to the church. In Ephesians 4  Paul tells us that Jesus manifests His rule and His care over the church through  the gift of pastor- teachers.  They promote godliness in the church, helping people to grow in grace and maturity.  Thus elders create clarity out of doctrinal chaos. They produce mature disciples that are not  affected by every wind of doctrine blowing their way.  

b. 1: 6-8 Elders must  have  a sound   domestic  life:  Cretans in their  church and society (the two affect one another)    were  affected  by vices  listed in vv. 10-12 … lying, evil, lazy. So what is the solution? Appoint elders. Through them teach and disciple the church by means of   God’s Word… and through their own example that taught Word is strengthened.

This is what elders are to be like: they are to be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. Elders set the spiritual  standard in the church. And for this they need to practise what they preach in their own homes.   If they do not do this in their homes, how will they lead the household (the home) of God (cf. 1 Tim 3:5)?   Elders need to be (v.6) faithful husbands, characterized by marital and sexual fidelity. Elders need to be faithful parents,  whose children are respectful of them. “His children are believers” ( Greek: tekna exōn pista), which could also be translated as  ‘faithful’.” Whatever the case is, it's clear that they are children who are “not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination”. While they are under the roof of their father they are submissive and respectful.

Elders’ homes are models of peaceful, godly homes in a chaotic society.

c. 1:7,8 – the elders character: not arrogant, not quick tempered, not a drunkard, not  violent, not greedy for gain; hospitable, a lover of good, self- controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.  The character of an elder is described in terms of what he is not (5 negatives) and what he is (6 positives).In these matters the elder is to be above reproach or blameless (second time this is mentioned).  What does it mean to be above reproach? It certainly cannot mean ‘sinlessly perfect’, for in that case we could have no elders.   It means to be a person of integrity with respect to these areas that Paul lists.  Here is a man who is not generally known as arrogant or quick tempered or a drunkard… etc. He is generally hospitable, he loves  what is good, he is self- controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.  

Through this man’s behaviour and his household’s example, God is giving the church a living  example of His truth lived out.  Such people who live well are a gift of God’s grace to us. They teach us that this can be done.

Therefore, understanding this we need to pray for our elders. I can assure you that there is no elder who does not feel the heat of the spotlight of passages like I Timothy 3 or Titus 1.  

Now, just for perspective, the elders life is the normal life that God requires of every man  and woman and family in the church. It’s just that it has to start somewhere.  The goal is to get the entire congregation looking like this! So don’t just look at your elders. Look at yourself.  Every Christian family ought to be  a  model  and  an  agent of reformation for this broken world in which God has placed you as salt and light.  

Elders take the lead  in presenting  virtuous  character  in a chaotic society.  

2.      So, why are such Elders are needed for the church in Crete  and the world?

      The answer is contained in the  the text below ...

10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

This might as well be a statement of our world and society. This is a reflection of Namibian society. How will our society be cured from its many ills?

1.     The primary answer is  the preaching of the Gospel. Thank God that the grace of God has appeared to this end (cf. 2:11)

2.     But it is also clear that  the  preaching of the gospel which leads to conversion is  not the end. It is the beginning.

3.     This  beginning leads to people  being assembled into a body called the church. In this church there are leaders and  role-models  called  elders. Elders lead the transformation and reformation process of the church and society.

4.     What are Elders for? Elders are for conveying God’s truth and confronting error. Look again at v.9.  “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”  Elders are God’s role models  of domestic and  personal  integrity. They lead by example.  They lead the charge against the rot and the chaos. They bring stability into the community.  

And so Paul wants Titus to  find  these kind of elders for  the Cretan church, and by doing so  he  wants a  seed for  true Reformation planted in the  the church. If that is  what elders are for, will you not pray for  your elders?  Realize how vital they are to the health of your congregation. A  congregation will not rise above the spiritual levels of the elders of this church, and  so pray that  our elders  (present and future)  remain a growing  people in Christ so that the church and society may truly benefit  from their godly example.  

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[1] located in the western part of the modern state of Greece

[2] Christianity and Culture : Lectures given at the Pensacola Theological Institute, July 23-27, 2001, Lecture I: What is Culture? By Dr. John M. Frame Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy  Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, FL

[3] From a paper given by me at  the  Sola 5 conference,  Livingstone,  ZAMBIA (2011), “ The Historical Outworking Of The Cultural Mandate Expounded And Illustrated In Western Civilization “

Titus 1:1-4 "A Mind-blowing Introduction"

I want to spend a few weeks with you in this valuable little pastoral letter from Paul to Titus. In the course of the last two years I have   preached through   the first and second epistles to Timothy, and it is my desire to complete this little triad, which is sometimes known as the Pastoral Epistles.Titus is mentioned thirteen times in the NT. He is mentioned 9 times alone in 2 Corinthians[1], where Paul refers to him as “my brother Titus” (2:13) and “my partner and fellow worker” (8:23).

This letter was written between A.D. 62–64, during his ministry to the Macedonian churches (see 2 Cor. 8 &9), from either Corinth or Nicopolis (cf. 3:12). Most likely, Titus served with Paul on both the second and third missionary journeys. Titus, like Timothy (2 Tim. 1:2) had a special relationship with Paul.  Paul calls him ‘my true child (lit. my legitimate son) in a common faith’. In 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul reports that Titus had gone to Dalmatia— a very beautiful part of modern Croatia.

Chronologically, the letter to Titus predates the second letter to Timothy. At this stage  we find Titus  on the island of Crete, where Paul left him behind  to strengthen the work (1:5).At the close of this letter we will see that Paul requests Titus to come to him  at Nicopolis (in Achaia, a province  in Greece. Artemas or Tychicus (3:12) will be sent to replace him and to take over the ministry there. Paul, the gifted apostle certainly was the spiritual director of the mission to the gentiles, using young men to provide temporary leadership in places where mature Christian leadership was lacking. Many of Paul’s young men were sent on short assignments. The reason is clear. Christian leadership in new and difficult places is daunting. The enemy’s resistance to the work of the gospel of God is fiercest where  Satan is been driven out. This work is akin to a soldier fighting on the front lines. To keep them from burning out they were withdrawn while others are sent in their place. It is good  for young men to be tested  in doing  spiritual battle before they are assigned to become  elders and gatekeepers  of  a church.

So Crete is where Titus is now.  Crete is the 5^th largest island in the  Mediterranean Sea. It has a surface area of 8,336 sq.km,  260 km’s  long, and  60 km’s  at its widest.

In Acts 27:7–9,12,13,21 we  read  that Paul had visited here  briefly  on his journey to Rome. He returned there for ministry and later left Titus to continue the work in Crete, just as he left Timothy at Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3), while he went on to Macedonia. The letter was probably   written in response to a letter or a report from Titus concerning matters in Crete.

With all that in mind we proceed to the opening words of this epistle. Paul often writes  in long sentences[2],  adding  clause upon clause, as he pours out his heart on paper. The first four verses are written like this: 1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Saviour…”

We really need to get over the long sentence structure (forbidden in English writing) and look deeper at what is moving Paul here to speak in this way.  One is under the impression that this man is so overwhelmed by the thought of God and the ministry that he has been given by God, that he finds it hard to find a full-stop! It really is a mind-blowing opening statement when we take  cognizance of all that  Paul says here. Let’s take a look:

1.     Paul’s  credentials: A bond servant of God and an apostle of  Jesus Christ

“Paul a servant (doulos – bond servant ; lit. a permanent  slave) of God”.  The prophets of the Old Testament frequently used this description of themselves in relation to God.  In the OT  there were  2 kinds of slaves.  Slavery in Israel was a temporary institution. After a period of time, servants or slaves were to be freed. It might be at the end of their payment of a debt; it might be at the end of a seven-year Sabbath cycle; or it might be in the year of Jubilee.  Slaves were not to be permanently held in Israel.  But there was a second kind of slave, one who voluntarily and permanently committed himself to his master. He was called a bond-servant. Paul begins this letter by saying “I am a bond-servant of God.”  He is committed to the permanent service of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“…and an apostle of Jesus Christ”.  The term apostle (apostolos) in itself is essentially unspectacular. It means messenger boy. A messenger boy, though he bears an important message has no an intrinsic authority. The authority that he bears is the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was called to this service in Acts 9.

As we reflect upon the credentials of Paul we are struck by his humility. Though he represents the King of kings, he takes no power and no glory to himself. I am a bond slave and a messenger boy. I say this as the Namibian church  finds herself  in the horrible grip of  many so called apostles, so called men and women  of God, so called prophets  who live for their own glory and pockets and who  live  to  boost their own egos and who  draw men and women after themselves,   but  portray none of the character credentials  portrayed hereby the apostle Paul.  Paul is a servant and he is an apostle. He is nothing in himself and yet he has the greatest message for the whole world. That is, I say, mind blowing. One of the great temptations for  preachers  is that  they  forget  these godly models,  Paul and John the Baptist, men  who  know their place and yet know that they have a message unequalled to any other.    

2.     Paul’s  Calling 

Here is what Paul’s  servant and apostolic ministry is all about : the proclamation of  saving faith, sanctifying truth  and   a sure  hope:  

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ ...for the sake of  the faith of  God’s elect and their  knowledge of the truth,  which accords  with  godliness,  in  hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began, and  at the proper time manifested in  His word through the preaching with which I have been  entrusted by the  commandment of God our Saviour.”

(i)               “...for the sake of  the faith of  God’s elect”. Paul serves God by being a messenger of the gospel of Jesus. Those who hear are the eklektōn Theou - the elect of God.  They are the ones who have been given the gift of faith by God and they are the ones who are able to express their faith. Let’s say this again differently. Paul’s apostolic preaching and the response to that preaching is not the source of his hearers’ faith. It is a means.  The source of his hearers’ faith is God. God's choice/ election of them is the root of their response to God in faith. Paul is simply the messenger boy, the vessel which God uses.  And so Paul's purpose in ministry is to preach the Word of God in the full assurance that there will be a harvest of those that are called by God to believe- to have faith in Him. But that is not where the sentence ends. That is not where Paul’s calling ends.  

(ii)             He goes on to say that he is a servant and an apostle for the knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness.  Paul’s calling from God   includes not only the fact that He is used to call out the elect of God, but that they may grow in the knowledge  of God’s truth  as it is revealed  in the OT Scriptures, and finally by the appearing of Christ – the final Word of God (Hebr.  1:1-3). To put it simply, Paul is saying here, “my ministry, which is by way of this calling and commission which I have received, is aimed at producing a sanctifying knowledge in the people of God.”  Paul is not content to see mere converts for God. He wants to see converts transformed for godly living.  He wants to see evangelism plus discipleship. The gospel truth as it is in Jesus must   accord with godliness. This is not the last time in this book that Paul will insist upon the connection between sound theology and godly living.  And to what end? This is where the next phrase comes in.

(iii)           “…in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began…”  The end of all things, our faith, and our sanctification is this: …the hope of eternal life. This is the ultimate motivation for Paul's work.  Eternal life! God’s people are saved for eternity.   This is not just wishful thinking. Notice how Paul roots this particular thought in the character of God… in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began… . God never lies. What He promises He will do!  

So in his opening verses Paul describes  his servant ministry as an apostle in terms of bringing the full-orbed  message of the  work of salvation that begins with faith, and which continues  in living out that faith in this life  through  sanctified (or godly) living and which ends after our death  with eternal life… and thus his summary statement which follows: “and  at the proper time manifested in  His word through the preaching with which I have been  entrusted by the  commandment of God our Saviour.” A mind-blowing perspective!  

That, in a nutshell  is the work  of  Paul the servant apostle.  

And that is essentially the work of the ministry which we are called to imitate. The reason why  this ministry at Eastside Baptist  Church exists  is to

(i)  bring God’s elect to saving faith. We do this by faithful gospel centred preaching  

(ii)  help them to grow  in the knowledge of the truth which leads to godly living  while they live. We do this through expository preaching and discipleship classes 

(iii) keeping their eyes on the hope of their eternal reward. We preach and pray   in such a way that we can say with John Wesley that our people die well and in full assurance of the hope of heaven. Wesley knew that the secret to dying well was living well.[3] 

Are you praying for our common ministry to have this effect in our community? Are you praying for your preachers to be servant like messenger boys of the Word of Jesus? Are you praying that they will do their work fully in   preaching the gospel so that the elect may hear? And once they are converted that they may grow in the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness? Are you praying that we as Christ’s sheep will keep our eyes on our eternal hope and not just on our little, limited earthly retirement? Remember that life is a vapour, and soon you will appear before Jesus, and if you have trusted Him in this life you will be received into eternal dwellings.    

A closing Word

"To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour…”

Titus is a wonderful example of all that we have seen here. Having grown up in a gentile - pagan environment, he heard the gospel from Paul.  He now shares a common faith with Paul. He has received grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is one of God’s elect who truly hears, and therefore by faith in Jesus he is converted. Under faithful, diligent teaching and by the knowledge of the truth he grows in grace and godliness and very soon he becomes a useful co- worker with Paul.

The Christian life begins with grace and peace, but the Christian life ends with grace and peace, as well. Expect to see Titus in heaven.

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[1] 2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:6,13,14; 8:6,16,23; 12:18

[2] Ephesians 1:3-14 ,in the Greek is a famous   example.

[3] https://www.seedbed.com/dying-well-according-to-john-wesley/