Titus

The facts:

1. What two ways does Paul introduce himself?

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ

1. slave of father	2. sent by Christ

Here is a man on a mission. He has a boss, and has been sent to accomplish something.

2. What two parts does his apostleship and servanthood include?

A. for the faith of God's elect

B. and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness

Interpretation:

Here is our theme. God has sent Paul on a mission. These are his two tasks. If he fails to build these two things up, he has failed at his task, and if he suceeds at building up the faith of the elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, then he has succeeded. We can expect everything in this book, then to revolve around these twin goals of Paul, to build up the faith of God's elect, and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness.

Context:

What things threaten the faith of God's elect where Titus is and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness?

Rebellious, mere talkers, deceivers, those of circumc, teaching wrong thing for wrong reason, both minds and consciences corrupt, unable to do good. Who can sum it up? What sort of religion were these people into? Professed, but not acted out. What prevented them from acting it out? v15 They did not believe (have faith)! Aha! What is so important about that? To the pure (how) all things are pure (what things)? Pure in mind, and conscience. If mind not pure, neither is conscience. leads to profession denied by action. What is impurity of mind?

If we are going to understand this book, wouldn't we want to know what the faith of God's elect is, and what the truth is that when known leads to godliness? What are?

A. for the faith of God's elect

This is a man who received his job description directly from Christ and it only includes two parts. They must be pretty important stuff. "What's so important about the faith of the elect?" Let's define the faith of God's elect. Who are God's elect? What does elect mean? chosen God is not willing that any should perish. 2pet3:9 Restrict you to the NT. "Faith is substance of hope, and evidence of things not seen." What does that mean? Is there any action in this verse which must be believed but can't be seen? Is it possible to be the elect and not believe it? With what eternal result? Fairly important mission, eh? If the elect of God don't have faith, the whole thing is pointless. "When the son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

B. and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness

Here's part two of Paul's Christ-appointed job description. Apparently Christ is interested in having people on this earth who behave like Him (godliness). According to this verse what does Christ plan to use to bring that about? Knowledge of the truth--through Paul's ministry. Apparently there is some information that simply by knowing it, naturally leads to godliness. "What truth can we know that will lead to godliness?" Restrict yourselves to Titus.

The knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness is definitely a knowledge of the truth of God's grace. 2:11ff But how does that teach us to live godly lives? 3:3ff we were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another, but when the kindness and love of God appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things that we had done, but because of His mercy!

Who's explaining that to me. How does knowledge of the mercy of God enable me to engage in godly acts?

(If our godliness was our ticket into heaven we'd never become godly. We would be doing the right thing for the wrong reason all the time. Therefore the only thing that can teach us godliness is mercy!)

He saved (past tense) us through the washing of rebirth (believe it) and renewal (participate in it by what you know and do) by the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace (already), we might (now) become heirs having the hope of eternal life!

Fairly important goal, eh? If the elect don't grasp this particular truth, they are incapable of godliness.

Application:

Have you ever wondered why you could not do the good things you should do? There are two possible reasons. 1. You lacked the faith of God's elect. You didn't believe that God really wanted you and chose you! 2. You lacked a knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness. What is that truth? My performance is not the issue in my salvation. God's performance is, and His performance is perfect.

I don't know half-a-dozen people who really believe that. We are always playing little mind games with ourselves, and fighting against sin ourselves. We are rejecting the truth, and nothing we do then is pure!

Is there anyone here entering into belief today? Are you choosing to believe that God wants you today? Are you praising him generously giving You salvation? 1Jn 4:15: You cannot do good on your own, only if God is in You, and how do you get God living in You, acknowledge that Jesus is the son of God--confess it. We don't become like god by praying, "Fill me, fill me. or by struggling against sin. We become like God by acknowledging His saving mercy for us, for me, and letting him live in us.