Biblical Elders | Part 6 | Salvation to All

Notes

Opener

“What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could "be like gods […] And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” – CS Lewis Mere Christianity

“During the New Testament era, a majority of the residents of the city of Rome most likely were either slaves or of slave origin” – James Jeffers.

This was because Slavery in Rome was a path to Citizenship. Most slaves in Rome would be set free by the age of 30 and if they had a Roman Citizen as a master they would inherit Citizenship when set free. In fact setting your slaves free became a well established and popular thing to do. Ceasar Augustus in 4 AD put the 30 year old minimum on it so too many people were not becoming citizens too fast.

Actively in Rome at the time of Christ slaves accounted for 2 to 3 million of the 7.5 million inhabitants of Italy. This made it what historians like James Jeffers call “a slave society”. Although it ratio goes down outside of Italy.

So when we look at this passage today we are stepping into a world that is different in some significant ways then are own but also similar in some others. But understanding this background I think will be eye opening as we look at the impact of the Gospel.

How does the Gospel impact a fallen world?

How does the transformative Gospel exist amongst what CS Lewis called the “the long terrible story of man”?

Main Text

Titus 2:9–15 (NASB95) 9 Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. 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, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. 15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

PT 1 | The Bible Does NOT Affirm Roman Culture

I want to give both a biblical and historical picture of slavery and what it was at this time in the Roman Empire. Crete was a strategic island in the Roman empire.

Slavery in Israel

There were rules around slavery in the Old Testament Law that God gave to Moses. For an Israelite it was voluntary, temporary, and still protected your rights. It was not this generous for conquered nations.

For example:

- You could only serve a term. You would be set free on the 7th year or a year of Jubilee: 50th year (after 7 7s). Now you could choose to permantly be a slave at the end of that seven. But what was supposed to happen was your master would set you up to succeed by giving you the tools you needed to. He had saved roughly 50% the cost of a hired hand during that seven years and should be able to help you.

- If you ran away it was illegal to return you. In other words…. Those who mistreated their slaves by law lost their slaves and that was supported by the law and the community. This was quite different than Rome.

- Perhaps most importantly man-stealing or kidnapping was illegal. And not just illegal it was a capital offense. You would get the death penalty.

With Slavery being temporary and undergirded by elements of volunteerism although you really did lose your freedom. You were property in many senses this kept Israel from having a slave economy. They had been rescued out of slavery and they were supposed to have compassion in this area and it was important for Israelites to protect their freedom.

Slavery in Rome

Slavery in Rome was quite different. As I mentioned before it was a slave economy at least in Rome and Italy. It was less prevelant in other areas.Roughly 10% across the empire probably because it was less advantageous across the rest of the empire. But what undergirded the institution of Slavery in the Roman Empire was an elaborate class and status system. Most of the power and wealth was concentrated at the top of this class system. I know we talk in our day about the top 1% and those in Washington and man hasn’t changed. The love of money is still the root of all evil. Nevertheless there was no large middle class in italy. That wasn’t a thing. Most people were poor peasant tenant farmers. They leased and worked a 5-10 acre of land which is about the size of the greenspace this church is on. But at the top you had 300 families that made up the senate. You had a very wealthy class of people under that. Then rounding out the rest of the upper class was a group slightly less prestigious.

Add to that not only did they have slave master relationships but they also had Patron / Client relationships. And everyone fell into this in some capacity.

“A client, who was a Roman with less power and status than his patron, was expected to show honor to his patron, and to support him in any political action the patron took. The patron in turn owed his client legal protection and at times financial assistance.” – James Jeffers

So when someone was a slave and they were set free they would enter this Patron-client relationship. And since they were now a Roman Citizen then you could see how owning and freeing slaves increased your influence and power in the Roman Empire. But even Patrons would have Patrons… they would be in these relationships as well. And there was this complex hierarchy or web of relationships that went all the way up to Ceasar himself. And this is interesting if you were an Imperial Slave you would have higher status then many free Roman Citizens. Felix, whom Paul appears before, was once an imperial slave and once free was able to operate in the middle tier of the upper class of the Roman Empire.

But Paul is talking to certain set of slaves in Rome that is much lower on this spectrum. But not the lowest. At the very lowest were the slaves who had to work the mines. And this was cruel and probably the most like what American slavery saw. It was cruel and one could often had a short life. One notch up from that were the slaves who worked along side poor peasant farmers or for rich land owners in the fields. This group had it much better the slaves in the mines but would be worked twice as hard as poor peasant farmer. And then lastly is the class of slaves Paul writes to in the New Testament. These slaves had it much better than the slaves in the field and much much better than the mines. These are the ones who worked in the city. They may have domestic household responsibility or be responsible for the trade of their master.

“Economically, socially, and with regard to freedom to determine their future, these slaves were better off than most free persons in the Roman Empire; most free persons were rural peasants working as tenant farmers on the vast estates of wealthy landowners.” Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Phm). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Now it is important to realize that they were the property of their master. This didn’t mean you had it good per say. In Rome your master had a lot of power over you:

- He could have you put to death

- It was illegal to harbor a runaway slave (exact opposite of ancient Israel)

- And there were slave catchers and traders

- Many slave masters could be cruel to their slaves

But it is too this group, the household slave, that Paul is writing.

Slavery in The New Testament

Now before we look at Paul’s words here I want to look at what he says elsewhere in a few places to get a wholistic idea.

In both the Old and New Testament “man stealing” “kidnapping” is condemned. It was worthy of a capital crime and look at what company Paul puts it in in 1 Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:9–10 (NASB95) 9realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,

What we see in our day with sex trafficking is this. The Bible finds it on par with murder. Similarly this is what was happening with the slave trade that existed in early American history.

Exodus 21:16 (ESV) 16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.

This was a highly offensive practice in both Old and New Testament.

But Paul had other things to say about slavery as well. In 1 Corinthians 7 he says this:

1 Corinthians 7:22–23 (NASB95) “For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.”

So the Bible doesn’t affirm Roman culture. It doesn’t affirm many of the screwed up things the world is doing. But it does find a way, in as much as it doesn’t compromise the Law of God, to work and live in harmony in that culture.

PT 2 | The Gospel First

The Gospel would turn the world upside down. For the Christian Paul would throw out the entire Roman way of thinking in regards to class and status:

Galatians 3:28 (NASB95) 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

In Roman and Greek culture this statement is unimaginable. But this is where the freedom is. Because it is Christ who defines you ultimately you can operate in Rome with a greater purpose in mind. Paul thought one could still honor the Gospel of Grace and Freedom while operating in this fallen world, this “long terrible story of man.”

So it is with that thinking we step into Titus chapter 2 and Paul instruction to household slaves:

Titus 2:9–10 (NASB95) 9 Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

Paul’s primary concern wasn’t social reform. To be quite honest I don’t think Paul saw Rome as worth saving. Romans absolutely. But Rome… no way. All that is in the world is fading away. Paul was primarily focused on winning souls and the people of God living godly lives. This meant household slaves needed to be hard workers and have good attitudes. This isn’t affirming the institutions or practice of Rome. By know means. But this is how a godly person who is in that possision lives. And of course as Paul would say elese where if you can get your freedom get it and don’t sell yourself to men.

The Gospel Can Be Honored regardless of The World

You may be in a marriage where you are married to a non believer or a person who is disobedient to the Gospel. You may be in a job you can’t leave because of financial responsibility for your family. You may be in government service and locked into a contract. Christian become Christians in jail and are in much more restrictive positions then any of the afformentioned people of Rome. Becoming a Christian doesn’t free you from those things. And even though those things are hard. We can adorn the Gospel by having a good attitude, respecting authority, working hard and walking in integrity.

So the Bible doesn’t affirm Roman culture. It doesn’t affirm many of the screwed up things the world is doing. But it does find a way, in as much as it doesn’t compromise the Law of God, to work and live in harmony in that culture. These things are hard for us to here.

The Early Church Was Weak

I had a dear brother, who had to gain his citizenship in the US, the other day make a comment about America being the best country. We have something in mindframe and thinking that tends to result to fighting things we don’t like. America was born out a revolutionary war. We fought a bloody war that cost half a million people their life to free America from the hoarers of slavery that cost over half a million of slaves their lives over a 100 year period. And I am, other than the loss of life, thankful for that. The Gospel was catalyst of the abolition of slavery and the Bible is the author of the principles undergirding our constitution to this day that all men are created equal endowned by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. And those are things worth defending.

But the early church wasn’t America friends. It was weak. It was small. And by in large it made up the class of people that had absolutely no power. Yet God used the weak things of this world to shame the wise and powerful. God used this weak church to turn the world upside down. And friends is that not the message of the cross?

The Cross is Weak

That what looked like a man dying on a cross. A man put to death by this powerful Roman Empire and mockingly calling him the King of The Jews, dying a slaves death, yet actually establishing the Kingdom of God. Yeyt Actually breaking the back of a far more powerful kingdom, the domain of darkness, the prince of air, the devil. A weak act so powerful that it would break death itself.

And I would submit to you that there is only one place you will ever find true freedom in every sense of the Word and that is in the Kingdom of God when the Lord Jesus returns and only those who will be saved will be those who put faith in Jesus and what He has done on that Roman cross. And to the Christian who suffers and dies under the hand of a powerful earthly entities, like Paul himself would do, they could never ever take away from that person what Christ gives so generously at the cross.

John 1:12–13 (NASB95) 12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

PT 3 | We are God’s Possession

The slave was the possession of His master. The Christian is the possession of His!

Titus 2:11–15 (NASB95) 11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. 15These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Salvation to All Men

The first thing I want you to see in this passage is that what God does. He brings salvation to all men. Not some men. But all mankind.

Rome benefitted a small group at the top. But God died for the slave in the mine field just as much as he died for Cesar.

1 Timothy 2:3–4 (NASB95) 3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

You see the Gospel was not limited by the guards at Cesar palace not the destitution and terrible circumstances of the poor and the afflicated. In fact Remembering across the Roman Empire most were poor tenant farmers James could say:

James 2:5 (NASB95) 5Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

The Gospel was for all. And in Christ it does away with a value based system of power and wealth.

Jesus said

Mark 9:35 (NASB95) 35Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

Luke 4:18–19 (NASB95) 18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

For Paul is wasn’t just that Rome had gotten it wrong. The “long terrible story of man” wasn’t just a failed experiment to be learned from and improved upon. Not at all. “The long terrible story of man” was from the devil. It had bought his lie and was under his domain. Paul’s struggle wasn’t with Rome. It was with the devil. So objective moral evils that called a Christian to violate God’s law had to be entirely dismissed:

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bbringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,[1]

Looking Forward To Christ

And even though we live in a fallen messed up world still we were to look for something better:

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of bour great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,[2]

God’s Possession

And finally I want you to see this. We are God’s possession, not the worlds, not Romes, and certainly not the devils despite any circumstances around us:

Titus 2:14 (NASB95) 14who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

The cross does this my friends. It does this through the power of redemption. Every human being has 3 things in common:

1. You are created in the image of God. Man, woman, child. From this nation or that. From this ethnicity or that. You are an image bearer of God.

2. You are a great sinner. You have sinned against a holy God. And too much has been given much is required.

3. You have a loving God who died for you to “redeem us from every lawless deed”.

Redeemed!

This is the word “λυτρόω”…. Darrel Johnson says:

“So, what we need to keep in mind is that when first-century Greeks or Hebrews heard the words, “ransom,” “redeem” and “redemption,” they immediately thought of someone paying a price necessary to free property from mortgage, animals from slaughter, and persons from slavery, even death. 6 And” — It Is Finished: Meditations on the Death of Jesus by Darrell W. Johnson https://a.co/12kVNvO

This friends is the word used here. It is no coicdence Paul is talking this way after talking about Slaves.

We have been redeemed from the bondage of this world so we must live to the glory of the Gospel that has freed us. We must live free from the bondage of sin. And the Gospel is not primarily concerned with Rome but it is concerned with that great spiritual battle against the puppet master of those kingdoms US and otherwise.

Now I didn’t say unconcerned. To much is given much is required. I don’t think we can use this as an excuse for apathy. If I have been given power and responsibility by God I need to use that to love God and love others. I can’t not lift my finger to do good when I have the power to do so and fall back on this as some excuse. But I don’t see earthly means as the primary way in which God is glorified. I understand that the cross itself is the power of God to salvation for ALL with out hindrance who BELIEVE. Me in the natural can add nothing to that.

So lets live with a thankfulness for our Great God and Savior who has purchased us for HIMSELF> I am His. You are His.

George Matheson’s celebrated hymn (1890):

Make me a captive, Lord,

And then I shall be free;

Force me to render up my sword,

And I shall conqu’ror be.[3]

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Tt 2:11–12). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. [2] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Tt 2:13). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. [3]Harris, M. J. (1999). Slave of Christ: A New Testament Metaphor for Total Devotion to Christ. (D. A. Carson, Ed.) (Vol. 8, p. 153). Downers Grove, IL; England: InterVarsity Press; Apollos.