Titus
Titus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 4 viewsPaul identifies as the slave and "sent one" of God, for the propagation of truth according with godliness, and promised to eternal life.
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“Paul’s Pedigree & Purpose”
“Paul’s Pedigree & Purpose”
Brief Intro:
Despite relatively recent scholarship calling Paul’s authorship in question, this letter, the third of three “Pastoral Epistles” (including 1 & 2 Timothy), is historically, literarily, and canonically established as inspired through Paul.
Most commentators believe Paul to have been released from prison following the account in Acts 28, whereby he continued God’s mission work in the region surrounding the Mediterranean, and subsequently planted the Church in Crete (the 5th largest island in the Med). Later, evidently in large part due to the gross and worldly culture on Crete, Paul assigned his longtime fellow minister, Titus, to strengthen this Church.
The general timeline seems to place this letter in the mid-60’s AD. Shortly thereafter, Paul was again imprisoned, leading to his execution.
Theme:
Titus 2:11-14
(ESV)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 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.
I. Paul’s Pedigree (1:1)
A. “Servant” of God
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 87.76 δοῦλος, ου
87.76 δοῦλος, ου m: one who is a slave in the sense of becoming the property of an owner (though in ancient times it was frequently possible for a slave to earn his freedom)—‘slave, bondservant.’ λέγω … τῷ δούλῳ μου, Ποίησον τοῦτο, καὶ ποιεῖ ‘I say … to my slave, Do this, and he does it’ Mt 8:9.
When Paul speaks of himself as a slave of Jesus Christ or of God in Ro 1:1, Ga 1:10, and Tt 1:1, the term δοῦλος focuses attention primarily upon his belonging to Christ or to God. There are probably also important positive overtones, since in some languages of the ancient Middle East a phrase meaning ‘slave of the king’ or ‘servant of the king’ had become the title of an important person in the government. For a discussion of certain further implications of the term δοῦλος, see the discussion at 87.81.
Paul is not here condoning the institution of worldly slavery. He does recognize the reality of slavery in the socio-economic system of the then-civilized (Roman) world. To have ignored this social caste would have disregarded a huge percentage of the known world of his day.
Within this reality there were good and bad masters. Masters of good and kind character were known to treat their slaves so well that some chose to commit themselves to a lifetime of loving and dedicated service. Obviously, slaves owned by evil and cruel masters gladly desired freedom!
NT Christian ethics of our modern era should undeniably, and unequivocally, deny the legitimacy of slavery, and stand against its’ practice, world-wide.
However...
The perfect character of our righteous and holy God assures an attitude, posture, and practice of such grace and kindness to His slaves that no earthly freedom could ever compete! To be a slave of God then, offers a more advantageous, blessed, and privileged position than any so-called “free” person living under the bondage of their own fleshly desires!
To be a slave of God is also to be His beloved child and privileged ambassador of glory and grace. Let us never be ashamed or apologetic regarding an unequivocal slavery to our Heavenly Father! To be so would be to despise the absolute sovereignty of God.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
B. An Apostle of Jesus Christ
A messenger or sent one.
Privileged only upon the position and authority of the One who sends.
In this sense we see that this ambassador may only be permitted to extend the message he/she was given; NOT a message of their own!
We clearly read here that Paul was a messenger, sent by Jesus Christ; therefore bringing the exclusive message given by Christ.
II. Paul’s Purpose (1:1b)
A. For the faith of God’s elect
Faith is the God-given vehicle by which we receive the grace of God to salvation.
Faith also expresses the body of truth and belief that specifically mark and identify the Body of Christ.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
3. God’s elect - God’s chosen people whom He chose.
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
4. Our knowledge of the truth - the full revelation of God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
5. Accords - “in relation to”, “a marker of a relationship of similarity of process”.
Here we see the clear and direct relationship of the truth of Jesus Christ (our doctrine) reflected in the way we live!
6. Godliness - the PRACTICE of our OBLIGATION to our Divine Master.
Romans 6:12-13; 16-18; 20-22
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
III. Paul’s Promise (from God) (1:2)
A. The hope of eternal life
Hope - to look forward with confidence to that which is beneficial.
God, who never lies - His very existence is based upon His perfect integrity of character. He CANNOT lie.
Therefore, God’s promises are “the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.”
Promised before time began - in keeping, once again, with His “choosing us before the foundations of the world.”
Our hope of eternal life is also a strong motivation and accountability for living out the truth we receive. (our main theme in Titus!)
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
IV. Paul’s Proclamation (1:3)
A. Proper time - Our sovereign God ordains all things, in His perfect timing and way.
B. Manifests - ‘to make known, to make plain, to reveal, to bring to the light, to disclose, revelation
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 338). United Bible Societies.
C. Preaching - God’s ordained method of proclamation, despised by the world and entrusted to frail men who are called, equipped, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
D. Entrusted - this takes us back to Paul’s identification as an apostle. Yet, every child of God, a slave to our gracious Master, is also called and equipped to proclaim “the faith”.
E. God our Savior - clear indication of our Trinitarian confession!
V. Paul’s Protege (1:4)
A. True child in the common faith - as was Timothy. Both were captured by Christ through their direct relationship with Paul.
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
B. Titus had a history of faithful service under Paul’s ministry and mentorship, and was here undertaking the difficult ministry on Crete.
C. Grace and peace - The grace of God alone leads to salvation, which provides the peace of God. God ordained it, and Christ carried it out. May this be the spirit and nature of all our relationships!
