09 The Final Words (Titus 3:9 - 15)

Alex Townsend
The Epistle of Paul to Titus
The Final Words
Titus 3:9 - 15
03 June 2018

The purpose of believers' living is to adorn the doctrines of God. We can do this by living in right relationships.

False teachers - shun them. Right doctrine is the foundation of right living, so it must be protected. If we are not studying the truth of the Scriptures ourselves, we will be led astray by something else.

Factious men - avoid them. When division arises in the church, the testimony of unity is weakened. As Jesus says in John 13:35, "by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." True unity is fellowshipping over the truth.

Fellow servants - help them. Paul sends others to take Titus' place in Crete, because he knows they are men strong in the Scriptures. We can also help other fellow believers, especially when we are strong in the Word.

Faithful friends - serve them. Engage in good deeds to meet the needs of fellow believers. We witness to God's saving power when we love the church.

Paul ends his letter to Titus by praying for the grace of God. And it's true that this is the most important thing.

08 He Saved Us (Titus 3:3 - 7)

Alex Townsend
Series in Titus
He Saved Us
Titus 3:3 - 7
4 March 2018

Most people live unaware of their dire spiritual condition. But God nonetheless pours out on us grace through salvation.

Who is it that offers this salvation? He is God eternal, merciful, gracious, and righteous. The God who offers salvation is the one God of everything, existing in three persons. It is he that chose to save us.

What is our condition? It was that of living in rebellion and sin - until Christ saved us. Remembering who we were fuels our thanksgiving, and commands our obedience, because it brings to mind our total dependence on God. It also helps us understand unbelievers, because we were once as they.

What is the salvation that God has worked? It is an everlasting covenant with believers, founded on God's mercy, and not our works. Salvation was planned by the Father, accomplished by Christ, and applied by the Spirit. The result is freedom to serve Christ, having been made a new creation, and heirs of heaven.

07 Reminders For Our Relationships (Titus 3:1 - 2)

Alex Townsend
Series in Titus
Reminders for our Relationships
Titus 3:1 - 2
14 January 2018

Because we forget, the Bible is full of reminders. In Titus 3:1 - 2, Paul reminds Timothy of four things to help good relationships.

Remember to have reverence for authority. Since it is God who has ordained authority, we should be upstanding citizens. Our call is to obey human law, unless it contradicts God's law.

Remember to be ready for every good work. We are to do good to those we have relationships with, and anticipate opportunities to serve.

Remember to rid ourselves of wrongful speech. "Speak evil of no one," and refuse to malign or gossip. Because speech is the overflow of the heart, we need the refreshing of the Spirit.

Remember what right relational living entails. It is to speak with gentleness and kindness, not harsh or edgy speech. We are to be characterised by warmth, rather than abrasiveness. Christ is our example, who showed kindness even to the unkind.

Let us work hard to grow in this picture of holiness, and become more like Christ.

06 The Beauty of Saving Grace (Titus 2:11 - 14)

Alex Townsend
Series in Titus
The Beauty of Saving Grace
Titus 2:11 - 14
1 October 2017

The simple message of Christianity is that God saves sinners. Nothing displays God's glory like salvation in fallen men.

Saving grace justifies us (v. 11). The word is a legal term which means 'to declare righteous.' Because the eternal God has died for us, we have a right standing with Him.

Saving grace sanctifies us (v. 12). Sanctification is a progressive growing in christlikeness for all believers. We have been given a new nature which desires to put off worldly desires and to live "sensibly, righteously, and godly in this present age."

Saving grace gives us the hope of glorification (v. 13). Our great hope is putting off this body of sin; in being made perfect on that day Christ takes us home.

Saving grace gives us eternal security (v. 14). We are purified for "his own possession." Christ gave Himself to pay the price of our sin, and to deliver us out of this age.

How we will respond to saving grace? Let us repent if we have not been living in light of our great salvation, and worship God for his great gift.

05 Adorning The Doctrines of God, Part 2 (Titus 2:9- 10)

Alex Townsend
The Epistle of Paul to Titus
Adorning the Doctrines of God, Part 2
Titus 2:9-10
23 July 2017

If we say that God is our Saviour, we need to demonstrate a saved life. Unless our lives witness to the change in us, the gospel we present will appear very shallow. Having seen this happen in Crete, Paul instructs Timothy how believers are to behave instead.

We are to be submissive (v. 9a). For those who were bondslaves, Paul instructs them to honor their masters in everything, and this extends to the employee-employer relationship. We are to respect and serve our employers so to be a good witness for Christ. We are to be committed to excellence; to be well-pleasing (v. 9b). We are to serve to the best of our ability, not for the sake of reward, but to live in a way pleasing God. We are to be respectful, not argumentative (v. 9c). This means not talking back, or behind others' backs. We are called to be honest, not pilfering (v. 10a). This prohibits stealing goods, but also extends to telling the truth completely, and not wasting company time. We are to be loyal, showing all good faith (v. 10b). Although out of vogue in our culture, loyalty means sacrificing one's desires to stick by, and stay true: to work, family, friends, spouse, and the local church. It means staying where God has planted you.

If we want the gospel to be taken seriously, let us take our public lives seriously. They have more weight than we think.