A True Servant of God (Titus 1:1-4)

Background

Letter is written to Titus, a Greek who came from Antioch (). He had become a convert of Paul’s, and was a close associate of his in church-planting initiatives.

Paul writes to Titus, a young pastor in Crete, about how to continue the work of the Lord by establishing the church in Crete with godly patterns.

Titus had much to overcome: Judaizers among the churches (1:10,14; 3:9), and Cretans who were morally backwards (1:12). But by establishing order in the churches, and spurring the members on to godliness in teaching and conduct, such a task could be accomplished.

History indicates that Titus was successful in his gospel ministry, for his name is honored highly in many villages, churches, and monasteries today.

The Island of Crete

The island of Crete was the center of Europe’s oldest civilization, called the Minoans, who were a very wealthy people who faded away in the 1400’s B.C. By the time of the New Testament, Crete was an island of many towns nestled among mountains (which run the length of the island) and coastline.

Crete was also home to a large Jewish community, that existed there from back in the 2nd century, B.C. Some of those Jews took part in the Day of Pentecost (). It is likely churches were started in Crete before Paul’s journey, maybe even back to the 30’s A.D.

When Paul went to Rome as a prisoner, his ship took shelter from a storm at the Fair Havens (). Paul may have visited again after his imprisonment, and at this point he would have left Titus to establish the churches ().

The Cretans were obsessed with worship of Zeus, and other pagan worship. In many cases, the pagans would call these “deities” Savior. Their mythology also had stories of Zeus as a liar, and he is depicted as one that pursued many illicit activities by deception of others. Because of these things the themes of God as Savior and God as Truth are incredibly important to a Cretan culture.

Outline of Book

I. Greeting (1:1-4)

II. Paul’s Charge to Titus (1:5-16)

A. Appoint Elders (v. 5-9)

B. Deal with False Teachers (v. 10-16)

III. Paul’s Charge to the Church (2:1-15)

A. To Older Men (v. 1-2)

B. To Older Women (v. 3)

C. To Younger Women (v. 4-5)

D. To Younger Men (v. 6-8)

E. To Servants (v. 9-10)

F. The Basis for Service (v. 11-15)

IV. Paul’s Charge for Effective Witness (3:1-11)

A. Humbly Walk in Grace (v. 1-7)

B. Continue in Good Works (v. 8)

C. Deal with Difficult People (v. 9-11)

V. Conclusion (3:12-15)

Questions Before This Study

What are some issues in the church at large today? Why do you think they exist?

What ought to be the priorities of the church?

How do we interact with American culture today?

+ Now, we’ll watch a video giving us a short overview of the book of Titus from the Bible Project.

A Common Truth Leading to Godliness (v. 1)

Paul shares he is an apostle and bondservant “according to the faith of God’s elect” and “the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness.”

Paul shows here his two main purposes in this letter: (1) sharing the faith with the island of Crete and (2) building up the community of believers in that faith.

Sharing the Faith

Paul is concerned that the “salvation (that) has appeared to all men” () is sent forth in Crete.

Everything that he is going to write about, whether that be the order of the church leadership, the relationships within the church, or the way Christians ought to conduct themselves in the community, it is all about ensuring that the evangelistic witness of the church isn’t hampered by disorder, failing relationships, and bad citizens.

When Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica in , it says the gospel came in power and the Holy Spirit, as they knew what kind of men

Building Up Believers

Paul also desired that believers acknowledge the truth. This is done by living out the truth of the gospel with their lives.

Because Crete was so immoral and debased, there had to be a stress on personal morality so that Christians would stand out in their daily lives. It is no different than the way it is today.

When Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica in , it says the gospel came in power and the Holy Spirit, as they knew what kind of men Paul and his associates were. Yes, the Spirit must work and the power of God is the final say in every salvation. Yet, the life that we live can aid or make difficult the receptivity of the Gospel in a person’s heart.

I think it is very important to remember that key fact. We ought to be the kindest, respectful, and polite people that people know. By our words, actions, and social media, we must keep this thought in our mind: “Does this glorify Jesus Christ and help the advance of His kingdom?”

One final thought on this verse: if these two principles were the guiding force of Paul’s life as a servant of God, what must ours be? It is about priorities. We can either choose to follow our culture of busy-ness and self-obsession with entertainment, career, and the like, or we can commit to channeling the place God has put us to share our faith and build up believers.

A Common Hope in Eternal Life (v. 2)

Paul goes on to say the foundation of this kind of godly life and faith rests in the hope of eternal. It is faith in a God who cannot lie.

What are some of the lies we see in our world today?

In Cretan culture, lies and lying were part of everyday life. Even the gods were liars.

Such dishonesty and uncertainty in things can pave the way for feelings of isolation, hurt, and fear.

Yet, the Christian offers a hope in eternal life provided by a God who cannot lie.

Unlike the lying gods of the ancient world of Crete, or for modern times Allah, whom the Koran says is a deceiver, our God is one who it says “cannot lie.” Because of His nature, He cannot lie. Being full truth, there is no lie in Him or from Him at all.

Numbers 23:19 NKJV

“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? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

“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? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” - Numbers 23:19

“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? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

How do we know we can place our hope in Him? Well, we know hope is found in a person, and that person is Jesus Christ!

As reads, “But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

More than that, we are also sealed by the Holy Spirit. Hear these words from - “ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

So, in a world of lies, we can rest in the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ!

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

A Common Word to Proclaim (v. 3)

In verse 3, Paul then says that at just the right time God manifested His word through preaching, and that Paul was given divine command to preach the Gospel.

Obviously, we are not all called to be preachers like Paul, but there is a lesson to be gleaned for us today: we have a common word, the Gospel, to proclaim.

The Right Time

The passage says, God “in due time manifested His word through preaching.”

It is as if Paul is saying, “at just the right time, God revealed the Gospel message through the preaching of the Word. Think about it; the time in which Jesus came was just the right time in history- He came at a time in which the spread of the Gospel through preachers would be best poised: the Roman roads led all over the known world, and the time called Pax Romana allowed for a peaceful propagation of the Gospel; the Jewish religious system had devolved completely; and the Greek philosophers of the day reached great heights, but were missing the Truth at the end of the day. The time was just right.

Just as true as it was for Paul in his sharing of the Gospel, so it is true of you today. You are here at the right time and place God wants you to be to share His Gospel.

As Mordechai told Queen Esther in , deliverance for the Jews will come from another place, but who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? You are the best positioned person to reach your friends, your family, your neighbor; God knew that and has you where you are for a reason!

The Right Method

Not only do we have the right time to proclaim; we have the right method by which to proclaim: God’s Word.

Paul also shares in verse 3 that the Word is manifested when it is preached, when it is proclaimed.

Again, you may not be a preacher, but we can all share the Word. We can all proclaim it.

Sometimes, well-intentioned people try to be the trendiest and most dynamic in their presentations of the Gospel. You don’t have to have the most polished, articulate, and beautiful Gospel presentation. The Bible itself says it has the power, if you’ll just use it!

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” -

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

“The Word of God is like a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.”

“The Word of God is like a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” -C.H. Spurgeon

The Right Motivation

So, we see that we have the right time and the right method. We also have the right motivation.

Paul said that he was preaching “according to the commandment of God our Savior.” He had been given divine instruction to preach the Word to the Gentile world.

In like manner, we are given a divine command to share the Gospel with the world: the Great Commission.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The New King James Version Chapter 28

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” -

A Common Faith in the Savior (v.4)

A Faith Which Builds Camaraderie

Paul calls Titus a “true son in our common faith.” Perhaps he led Titus to Christ or had a mentor-protege relationship, or both.

The point we do know, though, is this: Paul, a Jew, called Titus, a Gentile, his son in the faith. A common faith in the Savior will create relationships that are deeper than our natural relationships.

When the church begins to share life with one another and love each other, a church becomes a family, and camaraderie is established.

Later on in Titus, we’re going to see how these kind of relationships will look between the older and the younger.

But let me take a moment to pause and give an immediate point of application: discipling others and mentoring them in the Christian walk is a huge part of the Christian faith. As one who has had and still has young men I disciple, I can tell you it will grow you and encourage you more than you know. Passing on the faith is vital; let us take a lesson from Paul and Titus this evening.

A Faith Which Empowers for Service

Paul concludes this greeting to Titus by saying, “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”

This common faith ensures that we receive all these things from the Father and Son by the work of the Spirit in our lives.

Because of this common faith, all are empowered for service in the Kingdom. There is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, all in Christ. In the right sense of that verse, we understand this common faith empowers us to live out the faith and share it with others.

As we conclude this evening, let us strive to follow the example of Paul, this true servant of God. Let’s remember we have a Common Truth, a Common Hope, a Common Word to Proclaim, and a Common Faith in the Savior. Let’s pray.