Graces of the Heirs of Grace

The previous chapter reviewed importance of sound doctrine of the church, now we get to the importance of good works by Christians.

Graces of the Heirs of Grace

Chapter 3

1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,

This is hard sometimes, especially when you don’t care for those in charge - but as Christians we are to obey the laws of the land.

Titus is to remind them to willingly be subject to (be in submission to the rulers - kings and authorities or in our case Governors and municipal leaders – and those placed under them. Like it or not, G-d has placed them in authority over us.

Rom. 13:1 - Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

But, if the government is asking us to violate the word of G-d, do things against Him, we should obey G-d rather than man.

This principle is discussed in Acts when the Jewish council - local government - told them to violate G-d’s command- The priests and the council were concerned that their power and influence was being lost due to the teaching of Jesus

Acts 5:28 - 29: - saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

They must’ve felt guilty if they were concerned about the apostles bringing Jesus’ blood them - blaming them for His death.

It is our responsibility to be faithful to what the Lord has called us to.

to be ready for every good work - we need to be prepared to do whatever good work is required. Even cleaning toilets...

2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

Speak evil of no one - the Greek word here is blasphemeo - vilify, defame or speak evil of. We are not to blaspheme anyone…

We are to be an example of graciousness - what’s the saying - if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything.

We have the example of David - who would not speak ill of Saul because he was the Lord’s annointed

1 Sam 24:6 - And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”

This goes even for uncle joe...

We are to be peaceable - not a brawler, but seek to be a peacemaker.

Gentle - patient,

showing all humility to all men - or courtesy. Putting others before self.

3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

This is reflecting our condition Before Christ, NOT after we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures - we were deceived - we thought we were doing the right thing, the last part talks about being a slave to lust and sensual desires

living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another - unfortunately this can exist within the body and it shouldn’t.

The Greek word for malice here is kakia - means wickedness or naughtiness… sounds kind of like kaka…

The Greek word used for hateful is miseo (what does that remind us of?) - which means having malicious and unjustifiable feelings towards others. Seems like hating can make one miserable....

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

G-d, out of the goodness of His heart and love towards us, sent us a savior, toward man - which is the Greek word philanthropia… gentleness, kindness.

Jesus is also called G-d our Savior – which again places Jesus on the same level as G-d.

Titus 2:13 -looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

not by works of righteousness which we have done-

Eph 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

through the washing of regeneration

The washing of regeneration is another way of saying we have become a new creation -

2 Cor 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone isin Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

and renewing of the Holy Spirit, -

Rom 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

From the BBC: The Holy Spirit is the Agentin regeneration and the word of God is the instrument.

6 whom He poured out on us (the Holy Spirit) abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

All three persons of the G-d head are represented in vs 4-6.... G-d, Holy Spirit, Jesus.

-- KJV Commentary - God thought it, Christ bought it, and the Spirit wrought it.

7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

that having been justified - The word for justified here is dikaiŏō (dik-ah-yo-o) Which means Rendered innocent…

by His grace - as opposed to works -

As Paul has said in Eph 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast

become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Gal 3:29 - And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Paul is summarizing the previous 7 verses - We are to be subject to the authorities, ready to do good works, speak evil of no one, gentle, showing humility to all men. This is the witness of a changed life - we no longer live like we used to - foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving our selfish lusts, have malice and envy towards others.

As believers, we are to be careful to maintain good works - we need strive to keep our work ethic and personal life above reproach.

Avoid Dissension

9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

Paul gives instructions to Titus, like he did for Timothy -

1 Tim 1:4 - nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

2 Tim 2:23 - But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife

10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,

this must be where the 3 strike rule came from?

Matt 18:17 - And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

The point of being divisive is to create strife and division - not to edify the church. If after being disciplined by the church, we should refrain from association with them - They have made up their mind, and will not listen to church leadership due to pride or arrogance, and it is unhealthy for us to associate with them.

a divisive man is a heretic - a follower of a false doctrine

11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

From the BBC: Lest anyone think that such a person is not a serious threat to the church, the apostle castigates him as warped and sinning, being self-condemned. His behavior is a perversion rather than a version of Christianity. He is sinning by forming a sect or party. He is self-condemned because he stubbornly clings to his wickedness after being warned by responsible Christians.

KJV uses subverted instead of warped.. Greek meaning of the word means to change for the worse, pervert, corrupt.

Self-condemned - the Holy Spirit does not condemn - but rather convicts us. So the implication is they don’t have the Holy Spirit - at least as I read it.

As I used to tell our kids - friends are like elevators - they either bring you up or take you down.

Someone who has been asked to leave the fellowship, their desire is to take you down with them - that is their goal.

Final Messages

The next section is the conclusion of Paul’s letter to Titus, and he has some housekeeping items....

12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

Once they’ve arrived - Paul wants to see Titus, no doubt to catch up, and see how he (Titus) is doing. Continuing in the role of mentor...

We don’t know about Artemis, but Tychicus was used by Paul to relieve Timothy in Ephesus, (2 Tim 4:12) and was a trusted friend.

13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.

Zenas was probably a scribe who became a Christian. The JFB commentary says this: (an early church historian) Hippolytus mentions Zenas as one of the Seventy, and afterwards bishop of Diospolis. The seventy referring to the disciples sent out by Jesus in Luke 10.

Apollos - is the same one referred to in Corinthians, the orator from Alexandria.

Paul is asking Titus to send them on, meaning supply their needs so they can continue their trip.

14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

And let our people also learn to maintain good works --

From the KJVBC - The Cretan Christians are not only to conduct themselves properly, but are to engage only in honorable occupations and to make themselves practically useful to all the other believers.

From MH: “Let ours set up and maintain some honest labour and employment, to provide for themselves and their families, that they be not unprofitable burdens on the earth;” so some understand it. Let them not think that Christianity gives them a writ of ease; no, it lays an obligation upon them to seek some honest work and calling, and therein to abide with God.

to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.--

Meet urgent needs is generally thought to be referring to supporting the ministers of the gospel, and missions.

This is what is to differentiate Christians from the world around them.

Farewell

15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

A typical Pauline closing, almost identical to 1 & 2 Timothy, except here he add “all”, to include all of the church in Crete.

In conclusion, this quote from the BBC sums up this chapter,

“Instead of working merely to meet their own needs and wants, they should have the distinctly Christian vision of earning money in order to share with the less privileged (see Eph. 4:28b). This would save them from the misery of selfishness and the tragedy of a wasted, unfruitful life.”

How do we compare? We need to evaluate ourselves to see if we are contributing to G-d’s Church.

JVM provides this summary of Titus:

“In fact, Titus 1:5 is the key to the entire epistle: “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.” Titus was to set things in order in the churches in Crete.

In chapter 1 Paul says that the church is to be an orderly organization (see Titus 1:5). In chapter 2 he emphasizes that the church is to teach and preach the Word of God: “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). He says that the church must be doctrinally sound in the faith. And then in chapter 3 we see that the church is to perform good works: “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work” (Titus 3:1). In other words, the church is saved by grace, is to live by grace, and is to demonstrate her faith to the world by her good works.”