Titus

This book was written by the Apostle Paul to his protégé, mentee, Titus who he had left in Crete for the purpose of setting things in order. Titus 1:5 “5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,”

Paul the apostle wrote to Titus, a trusted Gentile co-worker, and his true child in the common faith. When Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to discuss the gospel with the apostles, they took Titus along with them as an example of a believing Gentile who had not been circumcised (Gal. 2:1–3). The apostle also used Titus to deliver a difficult letter to the Corinthian church (2 Cor. 2:3–4, 13; 7:6–16) and to collect the church’s gift for the poor saints in Jerusalem (8:16–24).The circumstances of the writing of Titus are similar to those of the first letter to Timothy. After his first Roman imprisonment (A.D. 60–62), Paul returned to the East for missionary work. Apparently after Paul and Titus had evangelized Crete, Titus was left behind to set the churches in order, appointing elders in every city (Titus 1:5 “5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,” ). Paul probably wrote this letter on the way to Nicopolis from Crete around A.D. 63–65. Just as in the first letter to Timothy, Paul warned against false teachers and issued instructions to various groups regarding proper Christian behavior. Furthermore, he instructed Titus to join him in Nicopolis whenever a replacement arrived (3:12).

Titus is mentioned or referred to over 12 times in the New Testament. This is a very fascinating picture of the man and his ministry that can be drawn from the references.

When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter, Titus was working in another difficult field: Crete. This island, 160 miles long and 35 miles wide, lies in the Mediterranean southeast of Greece. This small island had been the center of a great culture but the Cretans had become known in the ancient world as a depraved, difficult, and troublesome people. In this letter Paul quotes the poet Epimenides, who about 600 B.C. observed that “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons” (1:12). In contrast to God who cannot and will not lie. Titus 1:2 “2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,” , .2 Timothy 2:13 “13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” , Hebrews 6:18 “18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.” , Numbers 23:19 “19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

By Titus being left to minister to such a people as the Cretians who barbarous, liars, and heathens it really should make us appreciate even more the message of Titus 2:11–12 “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,”

This was a young church, with many new converts to the faith and with that came some issues that needed to be addressed and dealt with and set in order. Order in the Church is:

Sound Doctrine

Structured Discipline

Salvation Described

Special Designation

Serving Diligently

In the coming week I will be unloading and unpacking these themes.

In order for the church to be effective and efficient to carry out the mission set before us we must have order. God is not a God of confusion, but of order. 1 Cor. 14.33, 40. This order began with creation Gen.1.1-3 light came first. God created man first. Gen. 1.26, I am not going to get into all the theological reasons for that. The order is that a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The order is that a man leaves to join the wife does not leave first to join. When God had Moses make tabernacle there was an order in which the priests or the people could enter in. There was a process to get to the holiest of holy places. Exodus 40. In the Ten Commandments that I finished up last week there was an order to that. The First Commandment was to have no other gods before or besides the Lord God who have brought you up from Egypt and slavery. Unless you commit to and believe the rest of the nine will have no place in your life, and your life will be out of order.

Since the original sin of Adam and Eve all of humanity has been out of order, and we have been trying every means necessary to put our lives back in order. We have tried, education, science, knowledge, astrology, therapy, psychology, government, politics, horoscopes, medication, religion, relationships,(coveting, conqueror, protector) power, prestige, possessions, fame, fortune, drugs, alcohol, AI, and whatever else they think or feel will float their boat.

Philosophers say-think your way back into order.

Science says invent your way back into order.

Legislators say legislate your way back into order

Politicians say spend your way back into order.

The government says socialize your way back into order.

Jack Daniels and Jim Beam say drink your way back into order.

Mary Jane says smoke your way back into order.

Psychiatrist – say talk your way back into order.

Money-says buy your way back into order.

Demonstrators say-shout your way back into order.

Rioters say-fight and wreck your way back into order.

Industry say-work your way back into order.

Religion says-do good works to get back in order.

Satan says- there is no way to get back in order.

Jesus Christ say- My Father sent to set your life in order.

Jesus say I am the way to order in your life

I am the truth to have order in your life.

I am the life to live to have order in your life.

The Apostle Paul left Titus in Crete to set things in order, God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to set our lives in order. You see my beloved brothers and sister we were like the old nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty-

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,

all the kings horses and all the kings men

could not put Humpty Dumpty back to together again.

They tried to push him up They tried to pull him up They tried to patch him up Couldn't put him back together again.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen into corruption, Jesus lifted us to Soincorruptible.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen to a child of wrath, Jesus lifted us to become child of God.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen dead in sin, Jesus lifted us up and made us alive unto God.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen into workers of iniquity, Jesus lifted us up so that we could perform good works.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen into abomination, Jesus lifted us up and made us blames and holy.

Like Humty Dumpty we had fallen to a deceitful heart, Jesus lifted us up and gave us a new heart.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen to become and enemy of the cross, Jesus lifted us up to have peace with God.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen without Christ, Jesus lifted us up to be in Christ.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen without a promise, Jesus lifted us up to the promise.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen without hope, Jesus lifted us up with a hope.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen far from God, Jesus lifted us up to be near God.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen without strength, Jesus lifted us up to strength.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen await judgement, Jesus lifted us up to wait for rewards.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen without God, Jesus lifted us up to be with God.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen into entanglement, Jesus lifted us up to freedom.

Like Humpty Dumpty we had fallen and could not get up, Jesus lifted us up.

Like the old hymn “Love Lifted me”

1 I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me– Now safe am I.

Refrain: Love lifted me, Love lifted me, When nothing else could help, Love lifted me; Love lifted me, Love lifted me, When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.

Yes we all had a great fall and broke all the Ten Commandments of God. So God sent His Son set us back in order. Jesus Christ lived a perfect, because we could not, He was the perfect substitute, the perfect sacrifice, the God-man. Because of our fall and we became broken, Jesus Christ is the one to put us back together again. What wall were you sitting on and now have fallen, and trying get back up again and fix yourself.

Conclusion/ Action

PRAYER

LORD WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME TO DO?LORD SPEAK AND I WILL TRUST AND OBEY

Firm in the Faith-Keep on Loving, Obeying, Trusting, and Serving, Be Faithful to God.

Fallen from the Faith- You are no longer like us used to Loving God, Obeying God, Trusting God, Serving God, you are no longer Faithful to God- You have become like the people that Lord spoke to the Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah 2:13 “13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.” God is ready to forgive and cleanse you. 1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Far from the faith. Never loved God, never obeyed God, never trusted God, never served God, never been faithful to God. God has a word for you: Isaiah 1:18–19 “18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. 19 “If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;” Isaiah 53:5–6 “5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”

Next Steps

Confess you sins and get back to following Jesus in a local church

Repent believed the Gospel, Baptism, church membership.

In person meet me next door, after worship.

Online text “Next” to 833-614-8827

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