January 4, 2015
Evening Service

Titus 1

 

            We had our introduction to Titus this morning, but just a reminder, Titus was a gentile, fellow laborer in the Gospel, with Paul.  Paul wrote this letter about the same time he wrote I Tim.  Around 66-67AD.

 

Tit 1:1-16  Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;  (2)  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 

·         This is as far as we got this morning. 

(3)  But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 

·         We think of the great commission;  Mat 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 (4)  To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.  (5)  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 

·         Paul’s salutation to Titus.

·         The reason for the letter, explaining why Paul left him in Crete.

·         Set in order the things that are wanting.

·         And ordain elders ( into the offices of Bishops, and Deacons.) In every city as I had appointed thee.

Then Paul gives the same qualifications that he gave to Timothy.

(6)  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.  (7)  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;  (8)  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;  (9)  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 

·         Basically men above reproach, and of good report.

(10)  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 

·         And of course he is referring to the Jews, who were unruly, and trying to deceive the people with the doctrine they were teaching.

·         Trying to convince the people that they had to keep the Law of Moses, and also circumcision which was the sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham.  It wasn’t part of the gospel God gave Paul to give to the people.

·         We saw this morning that Titus was with Paul, and Barnabas when they went to Jerusalem for the first council meeting.  He knew and help distribute the letter to all the churches they visited.  And circumcision, and keeping the law of Moses was not included in it.

(11)  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 

·         Teaching the wrong gospel, for the sake of capitol gain.

·         Remember Paul told Timothy;  2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

 

(12)  One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 

·         Remembering that Paul is instruction Titus to choose future leaders of the church.  And he is warning Titus that neither these false teaching Jews, nor even some of the native Cretans, are worthy to be chosen.

·         He must careful and choose the right men.  Not because they are leaders in the community, or have a lot of money, but they must possess the attributes I have mentioned.

(13)  This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;  (14)  Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 

·         Remember the final charge he gave Timothy.  “Preach the word, be instant in season, and out of season, reprove, REBUKE, and exhort with all long suffering,”.

·         Stand up to these people and let them know that they are wrong.

·         We no doubt should do the same thing to those teachers that are teaching fables, and commandments of men, rather than the commandments of God.

(15)  Unto the pure all things are pure:

·         Unto the pure, ( the ones who have been taught, and have received the truth of the gospel the Apostle Paul had taught).  This gospel freed the Christian from all the untruths that the Jewish teachers were trying to put forth.   Like, ( Touch not; taste not; handle not; forbidding to marry.) 

·         Listen to Paul speaking of these Jewish teachers that would try and put Christians under the O.T laws;  1Ti 4:3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  1Ti 4:4  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

·         This is the idea Paul is trying to get across.  Jesus said, “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”  Accepting the true gospel sets you free from the burden of the law, that even the Jews could not keep.

 

but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.  (16)  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

·         We close this first chapter with a description of these false teachers.  Letting us know that since they won’t accept the true gospel, they deny the Lord in their works, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

 

Remember what we discussed this morning.  These men, false teachers, and unbelievers, are not part of the ones elected.  When you are of the elected by God, after He calls you by His gospel of grace, then the good works will follow.  Those who do not have the works have never been called by God.

 

Almighty God, help us to fulfill our calling unto a sanctified, and holy life for You.