Through the Scripture - Titus 1:1-4 - The Greeting

I will introduce Titus to you before we begin to study it

Titus was written by the apsotle Paul to Titus. Titus was saved under the leadership of Paul and was placed into a new role in this letter.

Paul inserted Titus into a role that would carry the truth of God’s word on his back in an Island named Crete

Now the people of Crete were already saved, they already had heard of jesus Christ, they had already mad a confession of faith.

The issue was that the people at Crete didn’t follow Gods commands any longer.

They had fallen away from the truth of the word because the would rather have what feels good and looks good.

SO Titus was sent there to set them straight and to appoint Bishops and deacons so that it would not happen again.

Titus 1:1–4 NKJV

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Paul's greeting, Paul often times refered to himself in his greeting as “bondservant” or “slave” , how come?

Paul considered himself as a lowly, somewhat worthless man.

He was nothing without Jesus Christ

Now think of Paul, he wrote the biggest part of the New Testament, he faithfully did the work of the Lord

But he was as a bondservant to Christ.

So as a slave what gives Paul the authority to teach?

See Paul continues in verse 1 by saying, it is “according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with Godliness”

Godliness comes through being Holy and the only way to be Holy is to be saved.

So Christ completes us and makes us whole again

He makes us whole by saving us and redeeming us even though were sinners

So Paul's authority came only through his faith in Jesus Christ.

Nothing he did gave him the authority to speak the gospel, nothing he did h=gave him the authority to teach these followers such as Titus.

So why is Paul’s hope in jesus Christ?

In verse 2 Paul said

Titus 1:2 KJV 1900

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Because Jesus Christ has promised eternal life to Paul and all believers he can have hope.

Let me ask you this

excluding God or Jesus Christ as an answer, who do you trust more than anyone?

See Paul could trust in the promise of God

God had promised upon faith in Jesus Christ that the saved would rise up into eternity with him

We can be thankful, God has promised us this same miraculous promise

So Paul continues talking about God in his introduction

Titus 1:3 KJV 1900

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

So Christ has given us his promises and in time he has proven his promises true and given them to us

Can you imagine a time when you asked God for something and didn’t get it immediately?

For me I can think of many times when I asked but didn’t receive instantly

many Christians who are young in their faith begin to disregard God when this happens.

“Lord why didn’t you answer my prayer”

SO often it is because we were to impatient

If we think God’s timing is best then we have to let things happen in his timing

but that doesn’t mean we stop asking either

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV 1900

Pray without ceasing.

Why do you think God wan’t us to keep praying if we know he heard us the first time?

To prove our faithfulness to him

We must fall to our knees

Did you know that praying isn’t always talking?

Sometimes the best thing we can do, is just have silent time with the Lord.

Titus 1:4 KJV 1900

To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

So finally Paul essentially asks for blessings upon Titus as he begins this journey and acknowledges that these things only come from the Lord

Why do you think that Paul’s introduction was so important?

Paul’s introduction never was something to lift him up

It was never anything that gave him credit

Paul wanted his reader (in this case Titus) to know that this was from the father

This word was from jesus Christ.

Application

For us this is pretty simple, Paul considers himself small but made Jesus big

Why? because he knew that his hope was not going to be found in the things of this world or in anything other than Christ

If your saved today stop finding hope in the things of this world, only find hope in the one who has given you an eternal promise, and always keeps his promises

If you aren’t saved, or maybe everyone thinks you are but you know the truth in your heart.

It isn’t to late to rely on the blessed hope of Jesus CHrist

It isn’t to late to seek forgiveness and to come to a personal relationship with him.