Gtcotr/ws022719
This
evening we will begin our study of the Book of Titus. We know very little about
this man except from what we read by the Apostle Paul. We know that:
·
Titus
was a Gentile – Galatians 2:3
·
Titus
was won to the Lord by the Apostle Paul – Titus 1:4
·
Titus
traveled with Paul as a disciple of his – Galatians 2:1
·
Titus
being in Jerusalem must have raised the issue of circumcision among Gentile
converts which was settled by Pastor James – Acts 15
·
Titus
continued to represent Paul and minister for him – 2 Cor 8:23
·
Titus
was a personal comfort and emotional strength and support to Paul when things
were difficult in ministry – 2 Cor 7:6
·
Paul
was concerned about Titus and his well-being – 2 Cor 2:13
·
Paul
was so happy to find that the Church at Corinth had received Titus and that
Titus was happy to be refreshed by them – 2 Cor 7:13
·
Paul
defended Titus to the Church at Corinth – When I sent Titus, “Did he take
advantage of you?” – 2 Corinthians 12:18
·
Titus
was left by Paul on the Island of Crete to do a specific service of setting
things in order and ordaining elders in every city – Tit 1:5
·
Before
the Apostle Paul’s martyrdom in Rome, Titus was either sent or he went to
Dalmatia and was absent from that event – 2 Tim 4:10
In
all, Titus is mentioned by name 14 times in the NT and has a book preserved in
the Canon written to him and bearing his name. The letter from Paul to Titus
was most likely written in about the year 63/64AD from Greece. Titus was at
this time in Crete, a large island in the Mediterranean between Syria and
Malta, boasting itself of 100 well known cities.
Titus
had his work cut out for him. Paul warned him:
Titus 1
12 Even one of their own men,
a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars,
cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.”
13 This is true. So reprimand
them sternly to make them strong in the faith.
Titus 1 NLT
1 This letter is from Paul, a
slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ…
·
Slave
– bondservant by choice; devoted to another in disregard of own’s own
interests; servant; attendant in a servile position.
o
Understood
from the writings of Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy 15:12-18.
o
The
Greek word, doulos, is spoken 114 times in the NT.
Matthew 20 NKJV
27 “And whoever desires
to be first among you, let him be your slave (doulos)
28 just as the Son of Man
did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many.”
·
Apostle
– Messenger; Someone sent forth with a message; An Ambassador.
o
John 13:16 “Most assuredly, I
say to you, a servant (doulos) is not greater than his master; nor is he who is
sent (apostolos) greater
than he who sent (pempo) him.
o
2 Corinthians 8:23 If anyone
inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning
you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers (apostolos)
of the churches, the glory of Christ.
o
Philippians 2:25 Yet I
considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker,
and fellow soldier, but your messenger (apostolos) and the one who
ministered to my need.
o
There
is 1 Apostle of God; 12 Apostles of the Lamb; Many Apostles of the Holy Spirit
and of the Church.
Titus 1 NLT
1 ¶ This letter is from Paul,
a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim
faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows
them how to live godly lives.
2 This truth gives them
confidence that they have eternal life, which God — who does not
lie — promised them before the world began.
3 And now at just the right
time He has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the
command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.
·
At
just the right time …
o
God is a
right time God!
o
God
revealed His Word …
§ Manifested His
message
§ Make known His Good
News
o
Which
we announce to everyone
§ Through preaching
§ By public crying
§ Declaring the
proclamation
o
And
I have been entrusted with the preaching of the Word
o
By
the command of God
§ Under the mandate of
Theos our Sotare
Paul,
writing to Titus, lays a foundation of truth that clearly establishes:
1.
Teaching people to know the truth shows them how to live a godly
life.
2.
Teaching people the truth gives them confidence they have eternal
life.
3.
God’s Word is the Truth! We have no other power …
We
have been entrusted by God to Proclaim the Word
·
Not
issues; events; experiences; motivational platitudes; or testimonies can do
what the Word can do.
·
Dr.
David Shibley, a modern-day Apostle of the Holy Spirit sent to the Front-Line
Shepherds in this World strongly advises us by saying: “Your testimony is not the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.”
Your
testimony may open a person’s heart to receive the Gospel but only the Gospel
can save … always proclaim the Word of God, it is the power of God to save!
(Romans 1:16)
One
of the last things the Apostle Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy, was
a strong command to:
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the
word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and teaching.
Paul sent Titus to Crete at just the right time and entrusted him
to preach the Word of God which would show people how to live godly lives.
