10/25/2011
Levi Lueck
Sunday School – Titus
Part I – TITUS’ CHARACTER – Who Titus is, what he did, who he was associated with…
1. –HE WAS MISSED WHEN NOT PRESENT – MAKE POINT ABOUT MY GOSPEL / CHRIST’S GOSPEL
2Co 2:12 ¶ Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2 Corinthians 2:13 – I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
- Is there someone in this church that you miss when they are not here? Do you let them know that they are missed?
OR
- Are you one of the people in this church that could care less who shows up or not? The Church is ONE BODY – what if your arm or leg went missing? That would be devastating!
2. - HE PROVIDED COMFORT TO THOSE IN NEED
2 Corinthians 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
-When others were in tribulation and distressTitus was a blessing and a comfort to them and he received a blessing back from those whom he comforted. This is what we are supposed to be to our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
3. 2Co 7:13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
2Co 7:14 For if I have boasted anything to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
2Co 7:15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
– Titus was refreshed and received great joy to see the condition of the Corinthian church improving. Instead of the carnal Corinthian church still rolling around in the mire they were starting to mature and Titus was overjoyed to see the church growing up.
- Are you a refreshing individual or are you stinky? Could the same be said of the improvement in your spiritual lifeor is it stagnate? Would others consider your company refreshing or would they have rather gotten shot in the face with a squirt gun for their refreshing?
- Titus had INWARD AFFECTION –
Passion - a strong feeling that arises by something that you see; passion is outward.
Affection – An abiding love for something you hold dear to you. Affection does not require the presence of the object that is loved; passion does.
- Titus loved the church dearly and was the same spiritual man around them as he was when he was away from them.
4. 2Co 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
- Titus considered ministering a blessing and saw the job through to the end – he was a FINISHER
2Co 8:16 ¶ But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
2Co 8:23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
- Titus had true love and care for the church
- Paul knew he couldn’t perform the tasks of the ministry by himself – PARTNER, FELLOWHELPER – AND Titus was willing and able to help Paul minister to the churches and was happy to do it.
5. 2Co 12:18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
- Contrary to the philosophy of today’s ministers Titus did not make gain of others. Titus was not a con-man, he wasn’t trying to get the last few dollars out of a poor family that couldn’t even afford to pay their light bill. Today the preachers have this doctrine that if you give money to their ministry to help the work of God (WHICH is just a their way of saying if you fill my pockets so that I can buy a bigger better jet and my fifth mansion in Tahiti) if you give them money God will bless you financially, which is very hypocritical for someone who preaches prosperity yet doesn’t seem to be prospering despite his $2000 suit and leer-jet.
walked we not in the same steps?- Titus was following in the footsteps not only of Paul (who was following Christ) but Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus said -Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
WE HAVE MANY REFERENCES TO MEN LEAVING AND FORSAKING PAUL – TITUS STAYED TRUE TO THE LORD AND TO HIS PARTNERS IN THE MINISTRY – Let us learn from his life how we can be better Christians.
OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT TITUS CHARACTER
Galatians 2:1-5;2 Timothy 4:10
IN TITUS; NUMEROUS EXHORTATIONS TO GOOD WORKS, NUMEROUS REFERENCES TO THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST, INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN A PASTOR FOR THE CHURCH TO HELP IT GROW AND BE PLEASING TO GOD.
PART II – TEXT OF TITUS
CHAPTER 1
1:1
Tit 1:1 ¶ Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
- Paul served God even when He was unsaved, but he did it ignorantly and in unbelief. Now he is serving the Lord Jesus Christ whom he persecuted
- 1 Timothy 1:12 ¶ And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me,for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
- So Paul’s enabling by God was based upon his faithfulness even when he was without Christ…
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
- So though Paul was serving God Philippians 3 says that the things that he did were GAIN TO HIM – NOT GOD. He counts his past as dung and is pressing toward the mark serving God.
…and an apostle of Jesus Christ,-The qualifications for an apostle are found in Acts 1:21-22
- An eyewitness of Jesus earthly ministry from the baptism of John, His resurrection and until he was taken up in a cloud and ascended to the right hand of God…
…according to the faith of God’s elect…– There are different groups of elect in the Bible: this however is GOD’S ELECT is Jesus Christ which is a reference back to:
Isa 42:1 ¶ Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Romans 8:33 – Who shall lay anything to the charge of GOD’S ELECT…
V.1 - and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
CROSS REFERENCE
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
- After you HEAR the word of truth you must ACKNOWLEDGE and BELIEVE the truth.
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
- God seeing that man would need redemption, Jesus Christ offered Himself as a payment for mans sin…
Revelation 13:8 –the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Some things that God cannot do:
Lie – Numbers 23:19; Die – He is eternal; Deny Himself – 2 Timothy 2:13; Look upon sin and iniquity – Habakkuk 1:13; Remember sins of those who trust Jesus Christ –He puts their sins out of reach Micah 7:19; Psalm 103:12; out of sight – Isaiah 44:22; out of mind – Hebrews 10:17
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
- So instead of sings wonders and miracles to confirm his word (Mark 16 – confirming the word WITH SIGNS following…) God now manifests his word through preaching – ARE YOU A PREACHER or are you on the sidelines???
4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
- SO the letter is to Titus and the relationship that Paul had with him was as a father and son relationship.
- Notice that the faith here is COMMON – If you are lost there is only one way to get saved; whether you grew up in church, lived in the world for 40 years, if you are black, Spanish, Asian, Indian or white we ALL have to get saved the same way; through Jesus Christ sinless offering for sins he performed in the cross.
Tit 1:5 ¶ For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
V.5 – This is the KEY VERSE in this epistle regarding Titus’ ministry and the reason for which Paul was writing to Titus.
- Crete is an island south of the Aegean sea and east of the Mediterranean sea.
- There were Jews that came to Jerusalem at Pentecost FROM Crete.
- Things that are wanting – there was some things that needed to be addressed to correct some issues at Crete and Titus couldn’t do it all himself; he needed the help of godly men.
- And finally notice that Paul doesn’t tell Titus to hold an election for the choosing of elders and bishops; it is the PASTOR’S job to ordain elders.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR SPIRITUAL LEADERS:
6 ¶ If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
- IF someone were to examine your life and evaluate it would they consider you blameless – if someone were to charge you with something would that charge stick, or is your reputation that of godliness and sound speech that cannot be condemned?
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
- You need to have knowledge of doctrine, but not just any doctrine; SOUND doctrine. In order to silence the opposing influence you need men that know the word of God and know how to handle matters properly according to the Bible. IF you don’t silence those who would speak things contrary to the Bible the church is in danger of being subverted to false doctrine and influence of the world. The church has enough issues to deal with trying to live godly, we don’t need anything extra to handle!
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy
lucre's sake.
- SO they of the circumcision who were Jews had some issues with trying to deceive others.
- Notice that it doesn’t say that it would be a pretty good idea to stop their mouth or that it is strongly suggested; in today’s churches many leaders are too effeminate and ecumenical to do anything about hereticks and deceivers.
The attempts to deceive other MUST be stopped. The mouths speaking things to snare other MUST be stopped because if they are not stopped the will keep chipping away at the foundation which is supposed to be the word of God. And NOTICE the reason for doing all of this is so their pockets will be filled with money; and that monet=y is FILTHY.
- 1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
The use of deceit is Satanic and will be the last thing Satan does before he is cast into the lake of fire:
Re 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
- Deceiving and being deceived is a sign of perilous times according to 2 Timothy 3:13
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore…suggest to them in a soft and unconfrontational manner that though God loves them they cant just lie to people… rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
- The reason for rebuke given here is that THOSE BEING REBUKED may be sound in the faith. Those that are supposed to rebuke them are commanded to hold fast to the word of God and sound doctrine so that the rebuke is handled properly.
- God does not like it when His children are turned away from truth – in Deuteronomy 13 God commanded the Israelites to kill the one teaching things contrary to what He said. In the New Testament we are commanded to put those men to silence.
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
- If you have been witnessing for any length of time you have met somebody that professes to know God; but that individual is walking into a bar while quoting judge not. You’ve met somebody that says, “I will be in church tomorrow morning,” as if they have to give an account to me on judgment day. You have met somebody that professes to be saved and serving God while smoking a cigarette and telling you they think you are “doing it the wrong way and you are too harsh and judgmental…”
- Let us not put Christ to an open shame by being hypocritical and professing to know God while we are doing things contrary to what His word says.
CHAPTER 2
Tit 2:1 ¶ But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
- Contrary to those who speak lies and intend to deceive people Titus is instructed to speak things that not only line up with the word of God, but things that will also help others to live right and be sound in the faith as we will see...
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much
wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
- I really thank God for men in this church and abroad that have set a godly example for me to follow. I daresay that any of you old aged men had a godly example in your life to follow which is why you are able to be an example to others.
- I thank God for women in this church and abroad that are modest and proper. I really get a blessing, even being a young man when I see well-behaved children that have been raised to be obedient to their parents and to God’s word.
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
- Notice the emphasis on proper doctrine so far. It is VERY important to God that we follow the scripture:
2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
V.17 – That the man of God may be throughly furnished unto ALL GOOD WORKS –
- Exhortations to GOOD WORKS will become something of a redundancy as we take a deeper look into Titus.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
1. Romans 1 says that all men have a God-consciousness and that through creation they understand that there is somebody bigger than them.
2. John 1 – That true Light lighteth EVERY MAN that cometh into the world.