Titus 3:1-15

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. 12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

In chapter 3 of Titus the Apostle Paul instructs Titus to explain to his hearers the necessity of obedience to lawful authority and in general to manifest meekness and gentleness towards all classes of men (vs. 1-2). Next a reason is assigned why they should do this (vs. 3-8). Then Titus was instructed to avoid foolish questions, contentions, and strife about the law (vs. 9). Next there is instruction to reject a divisive man after suitable admonitions (vs. 10-11). Paul then directs Titus to come to him at Nicopolis, and to bring Zenas and Apollos with him (vs. 12-14) and he closes with the customary salutations (vs. 15).

The verses that stand out to me today are Titus 3:3-4 "For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared," Paul is reminding us that our own past sins should lead us to be patient and merciful towards others. We can't forget were we have come from. Simply put, Paul provides another motive for good works by explaining the rationale for the Christian life. The believers were supposed to treat others the way God in His grace had treated them when they were involved in the ungodly activities noted in this verse (see Rom. 5:8). We can also learn from this passage that following a life of pleasure and giving in to every sensual desire leads to slavery. Many think freedom consists in doing anything they want. But this path leads to a bondage and addiction to sensual gratification. A person is no longer free, but is a slave to what his or her body dictates (2 Peter 2:19). Christ frees us from the desires and control of sin. The dismal picture of man's depravity is interrupted by one of the great buts of Scripture. How thankful we can be for these nick-of-time conjunctions that signal God's marvelous intervention to save man from destroying himself! Someone has called them God's roadblocks on man's way to hell.

I pray that you would experience the kindness of the love of God our Savior today.

Blessings,

Alan J. Schrader

Titus 2:1-15

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things- 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. 9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

In chapter 2 of Titus the Apostle Paul give Timothy various instructions as to his own method of teaching, showing what kind of doctrines he should instill, and what kind of instructions he should give to the various classes of his hearers. He was, in general, to speak only such things as became sound doctrine (vs. 1). In particular he was to instruct aged men to be sober, grave, and temperate - acting in a manner that reflects their age (vs. 2). Next the aged women are instructed to be a proper example to the younger females, and to exercise a proper care over them (vs. 3-5); the young men to be sober-minded, (vs. 6); Titus himself, who evidently came under the class of young men, was to be an example to them in all things (vs. 7-8); and servants were to be instructed to perform their duty to their masters with good fidelity (vs. 9-10). The duty of giving these instructions is then enforced by a reference to the nature and design of the gospel. We learn that Grace, that brings salvation, has appeared to all mankind, and its design is to make all holy who embrace it, and to teach all to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (vs. 11-15).

The verse that stands out to me today is Titus 2:14 "who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."  The verse states that Jesus gave Himself to "Redeem us". Redeem means "to purchase" our release from the captivity of sin with a ransom. With His death on the Cross, Christ paid the price to release us from the bondage of sin (see Eph. 1:7) to which every unbeliever is a slave (see Romans 6:6, 7, 17, 20). God's purpose in redeeming us is not only to save us from hell; He also wants to free us from sin so that we can produce good works that glorify Him (see Ephesians 2:8).

I pray that you would be purified from sin's influence as you grow in Christ.

Love in Christ,

Alan J. Schrader