GEMS FROM THE ENDINGS
OF THE EPISTLES
Part XVI: Gems From
The Ending Of Titus, A. D. 63-66
(Titus 2:11-3:15)
I.
Introduction
A.
The epistle
of Titus was written by the Apostle Paul possibly from Macedonia around A. D. 63-66
after he had been released from his first Roman imprisonment (Bible Know.
Com., N. T., p. 434, 761).
B.
Paul
wrote this letter to guide Titus in his ministry to believers on Crete, an
island that was known for its decadent culture of deceit, abuse and laziness
(Titus 1:12). Paul urged Titus to direct
Cretan believers to be mindful of their salvation from such sins that they
might live godly lives that were marked by good works.
C.
We thus
view Titus 2:11-3:15 that focuses on this theme for our insight, application
and edification:
II.
Gems From The Ending Of Titus, A. D. 63-66; Titus 2:11-3:15.
A.
Culturally,
the people of the Island of Crete were known for their deceitfulness,
abusiveness and laziness as acknowledged by the testimony of Crete’s poet
Epimenides (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Titus 1:12).
B.
These
characteristics marked many of the Cretan believers as evidenced by Paul’s
admonitions to Titus that he charge such believers to live godly lives in
contrast to their flawed culture, Titus 2:11-3:15:
1.
Paul
had left Titus on the island of Crete “to consolidate the work there” (Ibid.,
“Introduction To The Letter Of Paul To Titus: Titus,” p. 1723).
2.
In then
closing his epistle to Titus, Paul reminded him that God’s grace that brought
salvation from sin and hell to believers in Christ had appeared to all men,
instructing believers that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts they were
obliged to live “self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,”
Titus 2:11-12 ESV. This way of life
contrasted sharply with Crete’s decadent culture!
3.
In
addition, believers in Christ were waiting for the blessed hope and the
glorious appearing of their great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself
for them to redeem them from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people
for His own possession who would be zealous of doing good works, Titus 2:13-14
ESV. Again, such a way of life clearly contrasted
with Crete’s degenerate culture!
4.
Paul
commanded Titus to declare these truths, to exhort and to rebuke with all
authority, not letting anyone in the local churches disregard his directives,
Titus 2:15 ESV. In other words, Paul was
seeking to get Titus strongly to call Crete’s believers to resist the
temptation to align with their decadent culture both theologically and by way
of their lives.
5.
This thrust
of living a changed life in view of Christian beliefs is repeated in Titus
3:1-15 (as follows):
a. Paul told Titus to remind Crete’s believers
to submit to the civil authorities and to be prepared to perform every good
work, Titus 3:1 ESV. They were to
slander no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle and to show perfect courtesy
to everyone (Titus 3:2 ESV).
b. The basis of such transformed living was the
spiritual positional change that occurred in the Cretan believers when they trusted
in Christ for salvation, Titus 3:3-7 (as follows):
i.
These believers
were once foolish, disobedient and wayward, slaves to various passions and
pleasures, passing the time in malice and envy, hated by others and hating each
other, Tit. 3:3 ESV.
ii.
However,
when the goodness and lovingkindness of God their Savior appeared, God saved the
Cretan believers not because of the works they had done in righteousness, but due
to God’s own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy
Spirit, Titus 3:4-5 ESV.
iii.
God
richly poured out this salvation and its blessings on Crete’s believers through
Jesus Christ their Savior, that being pronounced righteous by God’s grace the
believers on Crete might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life,
Titus 3:6-7 ESV.
c. Based on these truths of the Christian
faith, Paul insisted that Titus teach the Cretan believers that they must be
careful to devote themselves to good works opposite the foolish controversies,
genealogies, dissensions, quarrels about the law and divisiveness that were typical
of their sinful culture, Titus 3:8-9.
d. In fact, intentionally divisive people who
professed to know Christ after the second admonition were to be avoided as
warped, sinful people, Titus 3:10-11.
They were thus to be excommunicated from the church.
e. Even Paul’s closing salutation again emphasized
the need for godly works, Titus 3:12-15.
Lesson: Due
to the sanctifying nature of Christ’s salvation, God calls us believers to live
godly lives of good works.
Application:
Based on our sanctifying salvation in Christ, may we heed God’s call to live
godly lives of good works.