Titus

Chapter Introduction

In the previous chapter, Paul said to Titus that this message was for the old men, the old women, the young women, the young men and even the bondservant.  Men and women of the Lord were called to a code of conduct that was very much different from that of the world.  We are called, without exception, without excuse, without all our self-justification.

Right at the end of chapter 1 Paul said, “Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority.”   Then he said, “Let no one despise you.”  This was a message to the Cretans not to despise Titus for doing what he was called to do.  It was also for Titus to know that when he was despised, it changed nothing.  Paul wanted Titus to live his life consistent with what he preached so no one could bring accusation or charges against him.  Then, those that didn't agree with what Titus was teaching would come to realize their problem wasn't with Titus so much as it was a problem with God.

As we start this last chapter, we’ll see Paul continue to build on the picture.  The old man was encouraging the young man; coaching him and passing along his wisdom.  Paul was a pattern and an example.  Titus was to follow that and become one himself.  Paul was a man of high calling, calling Titus to that same place.  Titus was to be a leader and to train other men to be leaders.  He was to be sound in doctrine and train other to also be so.  Titus was to be obedient, temperate, loving, humble and he was to teach others the same.

As Paul gave this instruction to Titus a contrast developed.  It was a contrast of the world to the kingdom of God or a contrast of the citizens of this world against the citizens of heaven.  On one side were the insubordinate, abominable, disobedient and reprobate, on the other those who submit to God, who are obedient, reverent, and temperate.  It's a contrast of conduct because the conduct is what is visible to us; it's what we can see.  Conduct is a measure of what is in the heart.

That's the overall purpose of this entire letter.  There should be a consistency throughout the life of a Christian.  The words, deeds, attitudes, character, morals are all consistent in that they reveal a pursuit of righteousness and holiness. The entire life of a believer is to honor God by reflecting His values.  Crete was apparently full of people who said they were Christian; yet, there was little evidence of it.  Our world is full of people who make that same claim with their mouth but their life looks like something entirely different.

Paul, the old man, continues to coach Titus, the young man, as they look at this contrast of conduct.

Titus 3:1-2

To the entire congregation

Paul said remind them.  This isn't a one time, "oh by the way remember this."  This is to be ongoing.  Titus was to keep reminding these people because Paul knew they needed constant reminding, as we all do.  The Cretans had a reputation of being particularly hardheaded and maybe a little wayward.  I think that makes them a lot like us.  We need reminded of these things continually to counter our rebellious and hard-hearted nature.

In these bodies we will never arrive at some place of obedience where we can relax our guard.  We are on a journey that won’t end until we get glorified bodies.  At that time and place, it was Titus's job to remind the Cretans.  In this place and time, it is my job to keep reminding you.  If we weren't constantly reminded, our conduct would stray.  Our sinful nature is like a strong magnet that this constantly pulling you back.  It's like going up the down escalator.  You have to keep moving or you end up back where you started or worse.  We would slip back to their old behavior.

Good conduct means we submit to the authorities in our life.  We obey God first and the authorities of the world next.  We are to be ready for every good work.  If you remember back to the end of chapter, one of the false teachers was disqualified from any good work.  Their works were tested and found inadequate, inconsistent and reprobate.  The word was adokimos, disqualified.  There was an appearance of authenticity but when tested it was found to be fake. Christians are to be eager for every good work.  These works are authentic and consistent with their lifestyle.  When Paul says we are to be eager for every good work.  He means our works are done in cooperation with others in matters that involve the entire community.

In the Roman Empire these Christians were meeting behind closed doors and worshiping.  They were clearly different from others.  Rome looked on with concern and skepticism.  They were wondering what these Christians were about.  Were they against Rome?  This made it critical that Christians were involved in the community and worked in cooperation with non-believers.  As a Christian, our faith is on display by the works we do. 

Believers were not to speak evil of anyone.  This is speaking things with the purpose to harm another’s reputation.  The attempt to harm another this way, brings harm to the name of Christ.  We are to be characterized as peace-makers, gentile and showing humility.

Titus 3:3-7

We were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another, whether we realize it or not.  We can look at the contrast Paul provided.  We were once characterized by one list and now by another because the work of Christ.   We can’t let our good works make us arrogant about our standing with the Lord in the midst of an unbelieving world.  We are to be set apart and different, but with full understanding of who we once were apart from Christ.  To look at an evil, fallen world and its characteristics is to see our former self.

We can look at the disobedient and insubordinate and say, wow, that's a tough group.  I don't see how God going to do anything with them.  I'm not even sure it's possible?  Of course, it is because you and I testify to that.  We were the foolish, disobedient, deceived people who were serving various lusts and pleasures.  Every one of us can look back on our life and find some stuff we did and say, whatever possessed me?  Maybe it was a long time ago, maybe it was yesterday.  Some of it was after we were saved as the Lord began his work in us.  Why did I act that way?  Why did I do those things?  Maybe people used to look at you and say, Lord, is it possible you could save someone like that?  Is it possible that you could move them into your fold?  Do you truly have something higher for them?  

Maybe you used to be there, maybe you are there now.  It is by God's grace and the faith and strength He gives us that you may stand in submission to Him and be obedient to him.  We get no credit our self.

Don't ever make the mistake of thinking we deserve what's been given to us.  We just don't.  The bible is clear in several places.  We have no righteousness of own.  The only good thing in us is what's been put there by Jesus.  When we exhibit good conduct, it is just living out the change that has occurred on the inside.  Our conduct doesn't win us a prize, we get no points for doing what we are supposed to do. 

All this is initiated by God.  It was by His mercy He saved us.  And we experience this washing of regeneration.  This isn't baptism it's the spiritual washing that is represented by baptism.  The washing of regeneration is the change that occurs inside that moves you from insubordination, abomination and disobedience to submission, humility and temperate, growing in holiness and righteousness.  Baptism is another outward expression of an inward change.  The washing of regeneration is the inward change.  All this is at God's hand, not ours.

The Essenes and others associated the Spirit with purification.  This comes from Ezekiel 36:25-27.

When the work of salvation is done, the Holy Spirit is poured out on us.  And we become heirs; we inherit eternal life.  Our life then is a testimony of one who used to be in that place who is now walking with the Lord.  This gives glory to God.

Titus 3:8

This is a faithful saying.  It's the gospel.  God did this work.  He saved us, He changed us, and He empowered us by His Spirit.  These things, Paul said, I want you to affirm constantly.  We need to constantly remind ourselves of these things so that our response is always consistent with what we've received.  Remembering keeps us humble and submitted.  It keeps our priority straight.  It's just like that escalator.  The world is constantly trying to drag us back to its values, to the low and profane things.  But as Christians we are called to higher things.  Remembering keeps us moving forward, upward.  Remembering resists the effects of the world trying to drag us down.

We've received an amazing grace by the mercy of God.  And that drives us to humility, to fall face down.  God lavished his amazing love on us and our reasonable response is the desire to show that same love.  God' showed me mercy, I want to be merciful.  God was long suffering towards me, I want to be long suffering.  And on and on it goes because that's the right response.  These things are good and profitable.

That's it, they're good and profitable.  And sometimes we have to take that on faith.  It doesn't say you'll always understand it.  It doesn't say you'll always feel warm and fuzzy.  It doesn't say we'll always agree that it seems good and profitable.  But we take it on faith because it says it here.  It is good and profitable to conduct ourselves in a way that is consistent with our beliefs and the God we serve.  We are to engage in good deeds and avoid the controversies and the things that divide. 

Titus 3:9-11

Reject a man?  Wait a minute.  Aren't we supposed to be loving and full of grace?  Aren't we supposed to accept everyone no matter what?  No, this fellowship exists for the believers.  This is a place where the people of God come together to minister to each other, to edify each other and to grow in the Lord.  If there is one among us that is teaching or promoting bad things, we are to show them grace.  We are to correct them.  That's the loving thing to do.  If they refuse the correction, if they continue to oppose the bible and oppose good conduct, we are to admonish them a second time.  After that, biblically we are called to reject them.  They are warped and sinning.  Their very actions condemn themselves.  They are causing division and damaging the church.

There is nothing profitable in division.  There is nothing profitable in foolish disputes.  The bible doesn't tell us what the exact nature of these disputes was.  That's God's perfect word.  The foolish disputes in Crete were probably not the same as the foolish disputes in your church, yet they are just as foolish, sinful and unprofitable.  Today, the foolish disputes might be arguments over what translation of the bible is right.  It might be whether wearing jeans to church is appropriate.  Many people would dispute over using a guitar for worship.  Folks dwell on these types of things to the point of causing division.  They take their side in the foolish dispute and many times have no real understanding of why.  And they'll argue to division while they think they are holding onto some religious principle.  They are in fact condemning themselves.  They show their priority is useless arguments and they spend their life at it instead of the things of the Lord.

The genealogies mentioned in verse 9 were the Jewish Rabbis who spent their time creating connections for the purpose of declaring some high standing.  These were just as foolish and useless as the foolish disputes.  They were claiming some righteousness because of who they were related to.

In the same way contentions were divisive.  We don't know what these contentions were about.  They are likely these things in our lives that God doesn't speak about in the bible.  Many hold strong beliefs regarding these issues.  An example of this may be Christmas trees.  The Christmas tree isn't a religious symbol.  It originated with the worship of false gods.  And many contend that a Christian should refrain from putting up a Christmas tree.  Others contend it is a harmless decoration used in the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  I would say both sides can be Christian and hold their belief.  If either side of this argues to the point of causing division, then they are condemning themselves.  Their contention becomes a sin and they are warped.

Other examples of these contentions might be Easter bunnies, tooth fairies, Santa Clause, trick or treating, long hair, tattoos and so on.  You can believe and practice these things as you see fit.  They don't put you in better standing with the Lord and if you make it a contention that brings division, it can become a sin.

Paul also said to avoid the strivings over the law.  These were the useless burdens placed on men in an effort to find or earn favor with God.  We seem to be capable of becoming legalistic about many things.

All these things; foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, were unprofitable and useless.  There is just no room for them.  All they do is cause division, set bad examples and eventually lead people back to disobedience and being insubordinate.  Ultimately, all this peripheral junk just detracts from real ministry.

Titus 3:12-14

Here we see the activity in the Christian movement.  Things were happening fast.  These men were moving around in an effort to minister in as many places as possible.  New churches were being born.  New leaders were being raised up.  And I think this was Paul's way of reminding Titus that he was part of something bigger.  Titus was a servant of God and right where God called him.  Others were going to other places.

At some point Paul was sending a replacement; either Artemus or Tychicus.  Then Titus was to go to Nicopolis and meet back up with Paul.  And Titus was to send Zena and Apollos on their way as their journey continued.  Once again, we see these real people working, moving and ministering in life.

This is almost a summary of the entire letter.  The people of God were to learn, learn to maintain good works.  Those good works were to meet very real and very urgent needs in the lives of real people.  And when that happened and they stopped to examine their fruit, they would find they were bearing fruit in the kingdom of God.  This was a call for God's people to be a good Testimony there in Crete.  It started with Titus.  Then Artemus, Tychicus, Nicopolis, Zena and Apollos would follow suit.  By their testimony, by their lives, by the words, others would see and learn.

Titus 3:15

And that's the book of Titus.  That's the message of the old man Paul to the young pastor Titus.  This letter was a call for leadership, sound teaching and good conduct.  It was a call to higher things for each person.  Paul was an example; leading in good conduct with sound teaching.  He was teaching Titus to be an example, leading in good conduct with sound teaching.  Titus was then to teach the church.  Remember the old men and women, the young men and women, .and the slave were all called to good behavior.  Each of us is called to higher things.  We all are to be an example because someone is watching you and learning from you.

Can someone look at your life and determine you are a person of character, of moral fiber, upright, holy and seeking after the Lord?

©2011, 2019, 2023 Doug Ford