What message is a pastor supposed to give to parishioners? What should be taught? I’m glad to say that there are specific answers in Titus Chapter 3. We are to be good citizens within the city, country, area, neighborhood, company, or wherever we are, and in whatever we do. Without ever doing anything illegal, immoral or hurtful to others, we are, as it says in Verse 1, to be “subject to rulers and authorities, to obey…” If you owe taxes, pay them. If you work for a company, do a good job. Note Peter’s comment in 1 Peter 2:18 – “Servants be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.”
And there is more. We are, and this is difficult for many – we are “to speak evil of no one” (Verse 2). Gossip is eliminated, along with threatening words. But what about the person who damaged your reputation and/or took your spouse away? What about someone who harmed your child? What about the company (or church) that dumped you? Be caring and helpful; “ready for every good work,” even for and in relation to those who don’t like you and treat you badly. Incredibly we are to be “peaceable(and) gentle” as it continues in Verse 2, and “showing all humility to all men;” which is precisely the opposite of what this world tells us we should be.
It’s interesting that what we secretly, down deep inside, RESENT about others is often a characteristic within us that we don’t admit even to ourselves. And we can’t be righteous in our own thinking because Verse 3 notes that “we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” Some part of that list is who we have been, but by the power and love of God, we are being changed. We must examine ourselves though, for the human tendency is to paint over our sins and pretend we aren’t sinners. We go to the Lord for He is the One who will heal us.
If we truly belong to the Lord, a process will be occurring, as we saw in Verse 2 that will make us “peaceable, gentle…” and humble toward others. That’s because the “kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man(kind)appeared,” as it says in Verse 4. We had no hope of pleasing God but then Jesus Christ appeared and did what we cannot do. We are to – believe.
We do not please God by “by works of righteousness which we have done” (Verse 5). Isn’t it amazing? The whole world thinks you must pray in a certain way, assume a certain position, face in some direction, attend special religious ceremonies, sacrifice something important and/or perform certain works in order to become right with God. All of that falls far short of the truth. Pleasing God is accomplished “according to His mercy… through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Here’s what you should do:
Quit arguing inside yourself and with others about the nature of Jesus Christ and simply give yourself to Him. Mercy was “poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” That’s Verse 6. Just say this and mean it right now: “I trust in You, Lord Jesus. Please forgive my sins and make me clean inside. I give You my life; I place my faith in You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and let me know the peace that comes from God. In Jesus Name. Amen.”
That’s it and you can compare this experience with a debate about WATER, asking – is it wet? The way to find out is to jump into the water! And the way to find out if Jesus is God the Son who died for our sins is to place your faith in Him. It’s experiential. Giving our hearts to Him is as easy and natural as jumping into the water and it’s God’s choice for a fresh, new beginning.
And there’s even more. In Verse 7 we find that we are “justified by His grace.” Not by your works or good looks or friendly ways – it’s by the “grace,” the unmerited favor of God. “We… become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Have you ever secretly wished you could inherit an estate and become financially secure for life? Well, this is better than that. You are given the certain hope of eternal life through the Lord! He is with you and saves you, now and forever.
But here’s what some think is the catch – you have believed in God and it’s free! It didn’t cost you anything because Jesus Christ paid it all. But this is also true: You are intended to live a life that will be full of “good works” (Verse 8), pleasing to God. And if you think that you can’t do what you’re supposed to do, remember Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:7 – “We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” We are those “earthen vessels” that are given the “power… of God.” He not only calls us to “good works” but performs them in and through us. We can do it because He does it in us.
We glimpse this great truth in Verse 8: “those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.” Our function is to yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit of God who leads us in ways that are wholesome and effective. Jesus said in John 14:26, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” We will know what to do, what to say and where to go. We will WANT to do “good works” for He is in us and with us. And if it seems that you do NOT know what to do, PRAY, and He who loves you will answer your need.
In addition to the benefits for you and me, we note, as Paul concluded in Verse 8 of this chapter in Titus, that “these things are good and profitable to men.” Your life will acquire purpose and meaning – you will find that you are helping others. Instead of the negative attributes we will see in Verse 9, we now want to do something good that matters. God Himself is in us, enabling us to accomplish what is needed, now and forever. And what we MUST do becomes a delight.
Continuing in Verse 9, we learn that it is time to stop arguing with people about minor differences in doctrine or theology. The Holy Spirit is gently leading us to help one another into all truth, but it is to be done in His gentleness and with all the love that comes from God.
“Genealogies,” seen in Verse 9 and 1 Timothy 1:4, are not found only in Scripture, but are also in places like the works of Philo, Josephus and the Book of Jubilees, through which the Jews traced their lineage. The Gnostics were a group of cults that were especially active during the time this letter was written, stressing knowledge rather than faith in the Lord. They taught that matter was evil and were obsessed with both Greek and Jewish genealogies. Avoid such ideas.
Paul observed in Verse 9 that arguing with one another is a useless waste of time. He said in Verse 10 that we are to reject argumentative people if they continue to argue after we have told them we will not be a part of it. They are warped in personality. If they keep it up, don’t associate with them - their behavior ends in sin and serious consequences.
Note the people mentioned in Verses 12-13. "Tychicus" is seen elsewhere (Colossians 4:7, Ephesians 6:22, 2 Timothy 4:12) and so is "Apollos" (Acts 18:24-28, 1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4, 4:6, 6:12), but "Artemas" and "Zenas the lawyer" are only seen here - we know little about them. Human history does not know, but God does. If you feel obscure and forgotten, trust in the Lord, for He knows all about you and He will comfort, save, protect and lead you - forever.
Paul ends this letter with a reminder about good works. We are to meet the needs of others and greet those in the faith with love. God’s grace is lavishly given to those who love Him.
Father, we trust in You. Fill us with grace. Do Your work through us. In Jesus Name. Amen.
