Titus

This is a letter from the apostle Paul to Titus. Bishop of the church of the Cretians. Paul here states that he believes in acknowledging truth. That truth being after godliness. The definition of godliness is belief in God and reverence for his character and laws. If we say we believe in God and ignore what He has to say to us, then we are not living in truth and godliness.

It was never meant even before the creation of mankind that we be lost and die in sin. God created us to live eternally. This promise is given to all and not just a chosen few. The thing is that only a few will receive this because many reject the gospel and the promise of eternal life. There are a few ways that we can reject this promise:

1. By not believing it
2. By not repenting of sin and accepting the gospel
3. By believing it in the beginning but not going on to live by the teachings of the word. This is Christianity in name only but not in the works of true faith. This could also be believing in God with the mind only and not allowing Him to place His Holy Spirit within our hearts that we may live a godly life. The devil believes in God. It takes more than just believing God exists. That does not save the soul. Salvation and eternal life comes when we accept Jesus Christ into our innermost being. This is done by repenting (turning from sin) and believing in Jesus for salvation.

An important part of salvation is repenting of sin.  Sin cannot enter the Eternal Kingdom of God.  Sin will destroy the soul and cause the soul to enter hell at the point of death.  Jesus came to remove that sin, to save us from sin and forgive us from sin.

The law of God points out what sin is.  The law of God says we are guilty of that sin.  Jesus came to pay the penalty the law says has to be paid because we have sinned.  The penalty of sin is death.  Jesus died.  When Jesus suffered death He paid for breaking the law of God but the only thing is that Jesus did not break the law of God so He shouldn't have had to die.  That is why His death can count on our behalf.  To receive this though one has to believe it and accept it.  God is not going to force this on us.  We first have to believe that we have sinned and have broken the law of God, then we have to repent and be willing to turn from sin.  Then we have to believe that Jesus has the power to forgive and give us victory over sin.  Then are we saved and can inherit eternal life.  Our bodies will still die a natural death but our spirit and soul will live forever in eternity.  Just as Jesus rose from the dead, we will also rise and receive new bodies than can never die. 

This is why I do not like to see the preaching of the word of God become last in importance in our church services. When I hear someone say, "The service was so good that the preacher didn't get to preach." That does not appeal to me much. I'm not against the Holy Spirit taking over when we are sure that it is a move of God and God does not want the preacher to preach in that one service. That is okay; but to continually have praise and worship, testimony and special singing and only give 5 minutes to the preaching of the word on a regular basis would rob the people from hearing what God places on the heart of the minister. The word is what cleanses and changes the heart. The word is what corrects and teaches us. The word is what makes us to be able to resist sin and live godly. If we just rely on feel good music, how are we going to live the rest of the week on the job when there is no gospel music playing. Sure we can read it at home but how many people do? 

Notice how Paul always stresses two people but united in purpose. God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Bishops are to ordain the elders of the different churches. Here are the requirements for the elders.

Blameless to me means, no sin that is not under the blood of Christ. In other words no continuing sin that He has not repented of. An elder should not be one that has not been born again and received God's gift of salvation. He should have only one wife. His children should be under obedience and not troublemakers.

The bishops also is to be blameless, a faithful steward. Not hot-headed, short-tempered, a drunk, or consumed by the lust for money.

An elder and bishop should love to be hospitable, friendly, kind, fair, honest, sober in mind and temperate.

Temperate means not to over indulge in anything that it become excessive or he should not be obsessed with something that takes up all his thoughts and energy apart from the calling God puts on his life.  For instance, a little golf once in a while may be okay but what if golf is so important to him that he neglects what God calls him to do.

The importance of sound doctrine cannot be stressed enough here. To forsake the word and controversial doctrine to keep from offending anyone is not going to save one lost soul or keep the saints from being unfaithful to God. We have to preach, teach and live the word of God. We must not add to it the doctrines and commandments of men but we also must not ignore it. Lack of doctrine is the biggest thing lacking in our modern churches.

This is the type that will creep in if we ignore sound doctrine. As long as the word remains within our hearts and is taught vigorously, unruly,  vain talkers or deceivers will have not strength among us.

Those that teach things people want to hear, do so for financial gain.

Fables, commandments of men, jokes, philosophies, legends, quotes, quips etc that are not the word of God attract crowds sometimes but they do not feed the soul.

There was a division among them at times whether one had to be circumcised in order to complete their salvation in Jesus Christ. It was unbelief to believe that the blood of Jesus wasn't enough to save the lost but they also had to be circumcised in order to be really saved. This was adding to the gospel.

We can also take away from the gospel by teaching that once you are saved, nothing you can do will cause you to be lost. This is also wrong. Jesus came to save us from sin, not save us in our sin. If we return to sin, we must repent again. We can't go back into the sin, He saved us from and expect to be saved. It is what we are today that counts, not what we did at an altar ten years ago. If we accept Christ and then depart from Him and ignore His word, how can we be saved from sin and inherit eternal life?

At the same time, if we repent of sin and accept Christ for salvation, how can we make our salvation even more secure by doing an outward act like circumcision to make us more saved? It would be similar to making periodical animal sacrifices for sin when Jesus already made the biggest sacrifice by giving Himself to die on the cross. We would be insulting Him to go back to the law of animal sacrifices to cleanse from sin. Now we are cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no other way.

If we return to the sacrifices of the law we are being disobedient and opposite to true good works. If we because lawless, disobedient and return to sin after we are saved, we also become abominable and reprobate to any good work. It works both ways.

Chapter 2

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