THE BOOK OF TITUS
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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; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
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:
INTRODUCTION:
How does the world define success?
How do you define it?
What does it even mean to be successful? It does not matter whether you are rich or poor, educated or uneducated, saved or lost—everyone wants to be successful.
There are many definitions of success. For some, success is …
• making a lot of money
• getting a promotion at work
• making a lot of friends
• being needed by people
• becoming a community leader
• having degrees from the finest schools
• wearing the finest clothes
• driving the fanciest car
• owning the biggest house
And on and on.
But the important question that demands our attention is this:
How does God define success?
God’s definition of success does not depend on the external things that impress the men of this world.
When God thinks of success, He is thinking of faithfulness.
True success is the believer doing the will of God.
Are you doing His will, faithfully?
You can look to the life of Paul and see a striking example of a man who was successful—a man who had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and who faithfully served Him.
Paul always declared his relationship to God and the Lord Jesus Christ when writing a letter. He wanted no question about who he was nor about what his purpose was.
He was focused upon Christ and His glorious gospel that offered eternal life to men.
From the first to the last, Paul was the servant of God and the messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the purpose of these introductory words to Titus: to declare that he is God’s servant. This is an excellent passage on the ministry of God’s servant.
1. HIS GREAT CALL (v.1)
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;
God’s true servant is called to be a slave of God and an apostle or messenger of Jesus Christ. Note two striking points.
1. Paul says that he was a slave of God.
This is striking, for the last thing that a person wants to be is a slave to anybody.
Yet this is exactly what Paul claimed.
In fact, he proudly declared that he was the slave of God. What did Paul mean?
a. He meant that he was totally possessed by God.
God had looked upon Paul and seen his degraded and needful condition; God had seen Paul in the slave-market of the world, held in bondage by sin and death, the trouble and trials of life.
And God was moved with compassion toward Paul; therefore, God bought and purchased Paul.
Paul was now the slave of God—totally possessed by God.
b. He meant that his will belonged totally to God.
He was completely subservient to God and owed total allegiance to the will of God.
As Kenneth Wuest says, “His will was swallowed up in the sweet will of God.”
c. He meant that he had the highest, most honored, and kingly profession in all the world. Men of God, the greatest men of history, have always been called “the servants of God.” It was the highest title of honor. The believer’s slavery to God is no cringing, cowardly, or shameful subjection. It is the position of honor—the honor that bestows upon a man the privileges and responsibilities of serving the King of kings and Lord of lords.
⟹ Moses was the slave of God
So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.
He sent Moses his servant;
And Aaron whom he had chosen.
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant,
Which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel,
With the statutes and judgments.
⟹ Joshua was the slave of God
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
⟹ James was the slave of God
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
⟹ Jude was the slave of God
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
⟹ Christian believers are said to be the slaves of Jesus Christ
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,