Titus
3
Always Ready
Gtcotr/ws040319
Titus 3 NLT
1 ¶ Remind the believers to
submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always
ready to do what is good.
·
Remind the believers
…
o The known character
of the Cretans, and indeed of many Believers, necessitates a reminder of those
things we know, yet need be continually encouraged to do.
·
Submit and obey
o Obedience is doing
whatever is required by recognized authorities
§ Recognized
authorities are those whom God recognizes as being in authority over us.
§ Things quickly get
out of hand when we fail or refuse to recognize those authorities God
recognizes in our lives.
o Submission is the
Greek military term “Hupotasso” which means to arrange yourself in line under
the leader; to subordinate one’s self to another and line up according to rank.
o Submission is a
matter of the heart that allows us to yield our strength and support to the
recognized authority.
·
Always ready … with no need to
be further encouraged or instructed … to do what is good and right in the eyes
of God.
2 They must not slander
anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true
humility to everyone.
·
Must
not slander
·
Avoid
quarreling
·
Be
gentle
·
Show
true humility
3 Once we, too, were foolish
and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures.
Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
·
Once
we too … hated each other – This is expressive of the wretched fallen estate of
man before conversion in Christ.
·
If
we have been changed by God in Christ, we should do everything in our conscious
power to reflect that change.
4 But — “When God
our Savior revealed his kindness and love,
5 he saved us, not because of
the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our
sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
6 He generously poured out
the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 Because of his grace he
declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal
life.”
The Gospel
Message:
·
He saved
us – v.5
·
Because of
His mercy – v.5
·
Because of
His grace – v.7
·
Not
because of our righteousness – v.5
·
He washed
us – v.5
·
He poured
out the Spirit on us – v.6
·
He
declared us righteous – v.7
·
He gave us
confidence in eternal life – v.7
8 This is a trustworthy
saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in
God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and
beneficial for everyone.
·
Amen
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
·
Insist
that those who teach in the Church teach these things
9 ¶ Do not get involved in
foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about
obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.
·
Don’t
waste time on useless quarrels and debates about things that do not matter …
things that do not save the soul
·
Don’t
even get involved in these foolish discussions.
·
Stick
to the Gospel message
o Jesus didn’t save us
because of who we are, but because of who He is.
o Because of His mercy
o Because of His grace
o He saved us; made us
righteous; filled us; and gave us confidence that we have eternal life.
10 If people are causing
divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more
to do with them.
11 For people like that have
turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.
·
Correction
is an unfortunate responsibility of the ordained Church leadership.
·
Paul
told Titus to not put up with unruly and stubbornly opinionated people who
refuse to recognize authority and cause division.
·
As
a leader in the Church, warn them once or twice and then if they persist, have
nothing else to do with them.
12 I am planning to send
either Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them arrives, do your best
to meet me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to stay there for the winter.
·
It
was important to the Apostle Paul that Titus come to be with him in Greece
however, not before a replacement arrive to relieve Titus of his Apostolic and
Pastoral duties in Crete.
·
The
evidence of this verse shows the desire of Paul that the Church, or Churches,
not be without the leadership of a seasoned Bishop to oversee and instruct them
in their continued growth.
·
This
also lends credence to the consideration that some specific individuals and
gifts are most needed and best used in one specific location, as opposed to
another, and that this need might change.
·
Remember
we discussed the fact that these ‘good for nothing servants’, such as Timothy,
Titus, Artemas and Tychicus, served at Paul’s pleasure and considered him their
boss even though they were required to make their own way and provide for
others as well.’
·
These
things reinforce the fact that Church leadership is a Team.
13 Do everything you can to
help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given
everything they need.
·
The
Apostle Paul requested missionary support from Titus to aid Zenas and Apollos
with their trip.
·
It
is supposed that Titus would have need to raise the needed support from the
Churches he was leading in Crete.
·
Do
everything you can … See that they are given everything they need.
14 Our people must learn to
do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be
unproductive.
·
Assisting
and supporting others in the approved ministries of the Gospel assures us that
we will not be unproductive.
·
Our
people must learn to do good by meeting these needs …
15 Everybody here sends
greetings. Please give my greetings to the believers — all who love us. May God’s grace be with you all.
