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Do
good works
INTRODUCTION Titus
like Timothy, was one of the young converts who worked with the Apostle
Paul, they traveled and suffered with him, as he planted churches on his
missionary journeys. In Athens we should consider Paul as the chief Servant and
Minister of God, an Apostle, while these young men were evangelists, and
it were, vice-Apostles working under his direct command. Paul sent these young men who co-labored with him, as
apostolic delegates to do special work in different places. Titus
was a Greek (Galatians 2:3), regarded by Paul as his partner and fellow
helper (2
Cor. 8: 23), his brother (2 Cor. 2:13), and as his son (Titus 1:4).
Galatians
2:1 tells us that he went up with Paul to the church at Jerusalem and was
involved with the other Apostles. He
was apparently in close touch with the church in Corinth and worked there
for extended periods (2 Cor. 8:16-18,23; 9:2-4; 12:18). According to 2
Timothy 4:10 he was with Paul at Rome, and then went to Dalmatia.
Paul worked with him establishing churches in Crete, a large island
in the Aegean Sea and apparently left him there to carry on the work. Titus’
character was obviously very different from that of Timothy, and he seems
to have been stronger and more mature physically and spiritually.
Accordingly, Paul did not seem very concerned about his welfare and
ability to deal with the problems he was faced with, as he was concerned
with Timothy. Paul
wrote three pastoral letter to two of his spiritual sons Timothy and
Titus, and these two young men, converts of Paul, represented Paul in
different churches. Timothy
was instructed to appoint elders in Ephesus and to organize that church
along godly principles, while Titus was instructed to appoint elders in
Crete, and organize those churches along godly lines. In
these letters Paul gave three basic commands. First,
both Timothy and Titus were told to guard the faith. Second,
they were told to guard the flock by teaching them sound doctrine. Third,
they were told to guard the church against false prophets. In
this letter to Titus, Paul dealt with the kind of men that should be
appointed as elders, and how elders should discharge their duties.
These letters therefore have been the supreme guide for men of God
who minister to the brethren, and who want to be faithful to the will of
God. These three letters
comprise a handbook for godly men who want to discern what is in the mind
and heart of God, who want to walk in the way of Christ, and who want to
understand how the church must function. We
know without a shadow of a doubt therefore how the church should function,
the qualifications that men who want leadership should meet, how the
leaders of the church should behave, and how the members of the church
should behave, and the duties enjoined on each.
When
the church elects ambitious and even apparently capable men to lead the
church of God, but who do not meet the God instructed qualifications, and
who do not behave in the way he instructed in these three Pastoral
Letters, the church has no one to blame but itself.
Any
deviation from these guidelines in this handbook is bound to lead to
disaster for the church and for the people of God.
Sadly over the last two thousand years the church has not followed
these instructions from Paul to Timothy and Titus, and corruption has
resulted. As
we look at these instructions we note that Titus 1:5 declares that the
churches in Crete needed order and a sense of direction.
Accordingly as one writer noted: “
He was to see all the cities -furnished
with good pastors, -to
reject and keep out the unmeet and unworthy, -to
teach sound doctrine, and instruct all sorts in their duties, -to
set forth the free grace of God in man's salvation by Christ, and -with
all to show the necessity of maintaining good works by those who have
believed in God and hope for eternal life from him.” This
was a formidable task, and the nature of the problem that he was told to
resolve was a tough one. Paul
discussed and characterized the people that Titus would have to deal with
in three ways, and he made sure that Titus understood that everybody
testified and agreed to the nature of these Cretan people. Titus 1: 13
states that “This testimony is true”. Note
first that Crete is an island about seventy five miles south of Greece and
was inhabited by people who descended from the ancient tribe of the
Philistines, the old enemies of Israel during the reign of Saul and David.
These people were then and still remained great sailors and
Pirates. Fighting and
lawlessness was a prominent feature of their existence. One
of their own prophets, says Paul in Titus 1:12, described the Cretans as:
That
was the environment in which Titus was labor, and Titus was told to rebuke
them sharply, so that they would be sound in the faith.
Obviously, according to verses 15-16, the national character was
evident in the church, and there were people in the church whose minds and
consciences were corrupted, who professed to know God but their deeds
showed that they had denied him. One
writer remarked that: “The
world had invaded the church instead of the church invading the world”.
Of course, when this happens, as expected the church always has a problem. Titus
had a big job of dealing with people who acted like animals, fighting and
griping at each other, spending their time in silly controversies,
quarrelling, lazy gluttons, easy-going and pleasure loving.
Don't
laugh, or feel superior, because we were all once like that, says Paul.
See Titus 3:3. Note
that God did not reject these people but provided someone to help them,
and to set things straight. It
was in this less than perfect church, with all the negative
characteristics, that Paul would find men who were qualified and gifted by
the Holy Spirit, who had given evidence in their lives and service in the
church, that they were ready to learn and to be led by God, following
faithfully his word. All
was not lost. God can transform men. Anyone involved with sin or who do
not meet the guidelines of God need despair.
The honest of heart and the willing can be changed and transformed
into effective servants and ministers of God.
They can be changed by God and do good works, once they are
prepared to receive “ sound
doctrine”,
and “do
good deeds”. THE TEXT
Verses.
1-6.
Paul identifies five groups of people and exhorts Titus to have
them turn away from hypocrisy. He
is to speak the things that are proper and sound doctrine, telling them to
live godly lives, which is required by true Christianity. He
is to exhort the older men to be models of virtue in their spiritual walk,
showing that they had given up the national sport of drinking, and were
now dignified, sensible and not foolish. They were to demonstrate that
they had a healthy faith, understood who God was, and loved him and their
fellows with all their heart, understood that the circumstances of life
were designed by God; they were to be steadfast and enduring and always
trusting in God. The
older women should show Christ-likeness to the young women, so that they
could see how God operated in the life of a godly woman.
They were not to be malicious gossips, spending their time
slandering other women. They
were not to waste their lives but should teach what is good, encouraging
young wives in sound doctrine, and doing nothing to bring discredit to the
church, but instead to have people realize that Christianity had led women
to better lives. The
younger women were to learn to love their husbands and their children, to
live pure lives in a defiled society, to enrich their homes and produce
righteous men and woman for the next generation, to be obedient to their
husbands and be the bedrock of the family. The
young men were to be exhorted to be sensible, to be led in their emotions
and passions to the Holy Spirit. Note
that Paul made it clear that actions speak louder than words. They were
all to live lives of purity and to do the things that God wanted them to
do. Their lives should reflect the purity of children of God, and to make
the corrupt Cretan society see how they should behave. Verse
7-8.
Paul now tells Titus what he should do and how he should behave.
He should be an excellent example, and not just someone who exhorts
others to do the right thing. His
good deeds were the best way to teach. By
his actions everyone would see his virtues and graces bestowed by God, and
this would teach the brethren and make them understand what the important
things were in life. They would see an actual example of integrity, and how one
should live in order to save lives. Those
that were opposing him would not find anything to criticize in his
doctrine or in his life, and they would be embarrassed into silence. Clearly
then ministers of God must remember that their enemies are always watching
and these enemies will always try to find holes in their doctrines and in
their behavior. Servants of God must make sure that they can be no
justifiable criticism against them. Believers
must remember that those who are in Christ will be persecuted. Note the
word “persecute” means to “pursue”. Living godly will bring
persecution, slander and suffering. There might be physical intimidation, which is happening all
over the world in this century, as many are dying for Christ, subjected to
social injustice and all manner of evil speaking.
It
is to be noted that godly believers who live according to Christ are
increasingly coming under attack from the courts, schools, institutions of
higher learning, and even from organized religion. The
minister’s life therefore says Paul, must be strict, grave, sound,
sensible, dignified and open to any examination. The
following verses 9-10
give instructions as to the duty of servants. Servants must, as one writer
puts it: “ must know and do the duty to the earthly masters, but with an eye to their heavenly one”. The
duty results from the will of God. They
may serve men but the service does not mean and can never mean that this
service is contrary to Christ’s will.
When they do their duty well this will work to the glory of God and
to the credit of Christianity, even in the eyes of unbelieving masters and
a corrupt world. Servants
must never behave in such a way as to bring dishonor to their
Christianity, but must in fact adorn it, letting their light shine among
men and thereby bring glory to God. Behavior
and actions therefore which are inconsistent with the gospel will not help
the world. Inconsistent friends damage the gospel and can even blaspheme
it. We
must remember that people are always looking for an excuse to reject the
gospel, and we should never ever give them one. Titus
was to insist that the people: -live
spiritually healthy lives, -avoid
dishonoring or blaspheming the Word of God, -ensure
that the false prophets and enemies of Christ are put to shame, and -
in their godly living reflect the truth of Christ, so that others might
come to know that Jesus is Lord and Saviour. Verses
11.
This verse answers the question as to why it is possible for people to
live godly lives despite the level of corruption in the surrounding
society and despite their status in the community. The
grace of God is the reason. Jesus
Christ has come. This
grace of God has appeared, and like a powerful light has brought light
into a world of darkness, sin, shame and guilt.
The Word of life has come to men. When
Jesus came, the grace of God, Jesus, had come to bring salvation to all
men. The gospel of grace is for all men, not just for some men. God is not
willing that any should perish. He
has sent his grace to you, and you have the opportunity to receive it.
It is free to all and with it comes the command that believers are
to disciple all nations and preach the gospel to every creature, without
exception. Only
Jesus can save us. With salvation has come things that must be obeyed, and
it has rules to which we must pay attention.
All those who receive it and believe it, must walk in its light,
and in everything adorn it. Verse
12.
The gospel of salvation teaches us just like a parent teaches a
young child. It has precepts
and commandments, and it directs believers on what to avoid and what to
do. It provides the correct
ordering of a godly life. The
gospel teaches us that we are to renounce ungodliness and have nothing
more to do with it. The ungodliness and worldly lusts are in our past. It belongs
there. It should never be in our present or in our future. God had given
us the Holy Spirit, and we therefore have the power not to live in
ungodliness and to obey worldly lusts. Godliness
means sober living, righteous living under the control of the Holy Spirit.
This means that we have denied or renounced the things of the world, a
position that is more than just avoiding the things of the world. Christians
recognize that there is that direct duty owed to God, and therefore the
religious duties and ordinances that he has laid down are followed.
One writer puts it this way: “
Praying to him, praising him, and meditating on his word and works.
This is godliness, looking and coming to God, as our state now is,
not immediately, but as he has manifested himself in Christ; so does the
gospel direct and require. God in Christ we must look at as the object of our hope and worship. Thus must we exercise ourselves to godliness, without which there can be no adorning of that gospel which is according to it, which teaches and requires such a deportment.” Verse
13-14.
We are freed from the power of sin, and we look forward to the
blessed hope, which is the appearing of the Lord Jesus in all his
glory. Sober, righteous, and
godly living prepares us, and we look toward the accomplishing of our
hope. We live in fact knowing
that our citizenship is in heaven, and we look for Jesus' second coming,
to remove the curse and the presence of sin forever and reward his
servants. The
gospel is set up in such a way that this blessed hope automatically stirs
up all believers to live godly, thanking God for the opportunity he has
given them by his grace. Believers know that the coming of Jesus will confound,
terrify and confuse their enemies, for at that time they really receive
justice for their many wrongs committed. Paul
told Titus to remind the believers that Jesus had given himself for two
purposes. These two purposes are most important. First,
Jesus had to sacrifice himself to redeem us from every lawful deed.
This means that when we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, he comes
to us personally and gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit, and in that act
sets us free from the power of Satan and from the inclination to follow
the way of this world. His
redemption set thus free from sin, lawlessness, and death. The
next purpose for Jesus' death is to purify our lives, so that we would
fulfill all the requirements of being a peculiar people, specially picked
out by him, and now so transformed that we would be zealous to do good
works. Clearly
then as one writer puts it: “
All the problems, all the heartaches, all the struggles we are having are
designed by God to purify us from the values and the philosophies of the
world.” With
this, men we must behave in such a way that we show and demonstrate that
we are denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, always living soberly,
righteously, and godly in this present world. Note
that redemption from sin and sanctification of our nature go hand-in-hand
and therefore we are made a peculiar people, purified by the Spirit. No
one therefore who has truly accepted the gospel can live a wanton,
immoral, and iniquitous life, indulging in vain conversations.
One writer properly exhorts: “ Let us see then that we do good, and have zeal in it; only looking that zeal be guided by knowledge and spirited with love, directed to the glory of God, and always in some good thing. And thus of the motive to the duties directed, from the end of Christ's death.” TITUS 3:1-10 Verse
1. Paul then continued to remind Titus that he had to show
these pleasure loving, easy going, lazy gluttons, who had a strong and
fierce sense of independence, that they should submit to and obey everyone
that was in authority over them. These people had a reputation of being
“ornery”. They had a reputation of detesting Roman rule.
As a matter-of-fact one of the early Christian Church writers
wrote: “Cretans
are notoriously turbulent, quarrelsome, opposing all authority, involved
in insurrection and murder…” It was important for believers to understand
that magistrates and simple rulers, are appointed for the good of
everyone, and they were to be obeyed in everything that was honest and
lawful. The liberty of the believer must be guided by Scripture.
They are times when believers are to obey God rather than men, even
though there will be consequences that might not be pleasant.
But generally believers are to accept the power and authority of
civil rulers. Verse
2. The believers in Crete were not to falsely hurt anyone with
their tongue. They must not be tale-bearers misrepresenting others.
They were not to malign anyone. They were not to blasphemed God,
the authorities or the rulers. They were not to disrespect rulers simply
because they were not Christians. They were not to be contentious, wrathful or
violent, ready to fight and injure others. They were to be reasonable, and
operate within the established laws, not just looking at the letter of the
law, but at all the facts; remembering that people suffered from many
weaknesses. They were to be slow to anger, not regarding people's words
are actions as always been hostile to them. They work to do develop and
demonstrate a mild disposition, be easily entreated.
These virtues which involved showing consideration, were to be
shown to all men, commoner and ruler alike.
Note that meekness is strength under the
control of the Holy Spirit. It
is not to be confused with weakness. Verse
3. Paul makes us look at ourselves when he instructs
Titus to remember who he was, and what he was like before he came to
Christ. Remember that Paul
confesses that he was in darkness and guilt before God met him on the road
to Damascus. So he identifies
himself with the sinners that were still in sin, darkness and guilt.
We should do the same. In reviewing the eight sinful characteristics
of the Cretans, the Apostle Paul identifies how we were before we came to
Christ. Sadly some of us might still retain some or all of these sinful characteristics. The people just like ourselves in our past
were: -foolish or senseless -disobedient or hard hearted, resisting the
word and rebellious -deceived, by the arch deceiver Satan,
wandering from the true way because of the wiles of Satan -enslaved to multiple lusts and pleasures, in
other words hedonists, blinded and beguiled -spending time and indulging in malice,
enjoying hurting others -spending time envying others, begrudging
their prosperity and success -spending time hating others -being generally unkind and bad, or hateful,
in other words, deserving to be hated, odious. Verse 4. When we remember what we were like before God saved us, this remembrance instills four things in us, says one writer: 1. Gratitude for how God has changed us 2. Humility in seeing that it was His work that changed us 3. Kindness to others who are in the same place 4. Faith that God can change those in the same place today.” The Apostle Paul refers to the fact that it
was the kindness and love of God that we are saved.
It is God that saved us. This is this spring of everything, from
which everything flows. We did not and could not save ourselves. These
facts make clear that false teachings about the ability of men are
destructive and foolish. We were delivered from this miserable condition
when we did not have the strength to deliver ourselves. We are not saved
by works but by his mercy. This
mercy appeared when we were in rebellion and had walked a way from him. Verse
5. Paul pointed out that God the Father, because of his
kindness, sent his Son. He
acted. This was self-sacrificing love.
All things are therefore of God the Father, for he contrived and
began this work. It is God
the Father who so loved the world that he sent his Son to save men. None
are righteous, for there is no righteousness outside of Christ. One writer comments: “
The Father begins, the Son manages, and the Holy Spirit works and perfects
all. God (namely, the Father)
is a Savior by Christ, through the Spirit.” We are saved, our hearts cleansed by faith,
and washed from the defilement of sin by regeneration.
Here is where salvation begins. The washing of regeneration is inside and is
spiritual. Regeneration means
to be born-again, given a purifying nature with the dross and filth of the
flesh and sin taken away. This
is new life with hearts cleansed, washed, regenerated by the work of the
Holy Spirit. The worker in this is the Holy Spirit.
Note that this does not exclude the Father and the Son, for they
are all God, and the work of one belongs to all. But in the plan of salvation, it is through
the Holy Spirit that, as one writer puts it: “ we mortify sin, perform duty, walked in God's ways; all the acts and operations of the divine life in us, the works and fruits of righteousness without us, all are through this blessed and Holy Spirit, who is therefore called the Spirit of life, and of grace and holiness; all grace is from him. Earnestly
therefore is he to be sought, and greatly to be heeded by us, that we
quench not his Holy motions, nor resist and oppose him in his workings.” Verse
6.
God the Father did not act in a restrained and miserly fashion, but
freely and plentifully poured out the Holy Spirit richly on all those who
placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Once we accept Jesus Christ, at that moment,
we are empowered with spiritual gifts, so that we can function in any
society, even when it is immoral and corrupt. This removes any excuse we have to keep on
sinning. Verse
7.
All of these blessings and gifts, came about because of Jesus
Christ our Savior. He
purchased our blessings. Everything
comes through him, because he is our Savior, and by his sacrifice he
became our righteousness, our peace, and our Head. He is made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and
redemption. We are justified, that is, our sins remitted,
and we are accepted as righteous through the righteousness of Christ.
The guilt we had, and the punishment due to be given to us, was
removed, once we accepted Christ by faith.
We are now regarded as people who are righteous, because of the
righteousness of Christ. We
are declared righteous because of Christ and his grace. We are therefore counted as heirs of God and
we accordingly will live in eternity with him.
The believers hope of eternal life is certain.
We have an inheritance that is reserved in heaven, and that will
not fade away. Verse
8. The believers have a new life in Christ and have the
indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
They therefore should live a godly life, even in a godless society. Titus should speak confidently and earnestly
to the believers in Crete, to constantly remind them of these things, so
that they would get involved in good works, and bring honor and glory to
God. They would bring forth
the fruits of righteousness. They
must always maintain good works not just do them occasionally.
They should seek out opportunities to do good. This advice is good and profitable to all men,
including us. The ways of God
have not changed. Verse
9. Following in line with the fact that we should do
things that are good and profitable to men and that we should teach these
things, we should avoid unprofitable and worthless, waste of time
disputes. There are things that we can argue about that
will help absolutely no one. People
sometimes are fond of making inquiries into things just to boast of their
knowledge and show their intellect. These
things that are unprofitable or vain we should avoid discussing. Generally these things simply corrupt the faith, and hinder
good works, wasting people's time, and only satisfying people with itching
ears. Verse
10. Titus should beware of men who are false, whose interest is
in perverting and subverting the truth. One writer warns: “
Are we to pursue elaborate, extra-biblical theories? No! Focus on the
simple word of God. False teachers prey on our thirst for novelty- the
lust for the new thing.” Titus is warned to take stern measures against
those men who insist in going their own way. Of course he would recognize
that not every dispute is a foolish dispute. But stern action must be taken against those
who refuse to be recovered to the true faith, who are perverse,
self-willed, corrupt, who refuse the patient attempts to correct their
grievous errors. One writer comments: “ Upon continued obstinacy and irreclaimableness the church has power, and is obliged, to preserve its own purity, by severing such a corrupt member which discipline may by God's blessing become effectual to reform the offender, or if not be to relieve him the more inexcusable in his condemnation.” CONCLUSION The church of God clearly needs godly elders
appointed by the Holy Spirit, who are committed to faithfully exhorting
the believers in solid, sound doctrine and refuting those that are enemies
of God. The Word of God is to be used. Godly leaders are to feed and guide believers
and they should live godly lives in this corrupt society and be an example
to their flock. The godly leaders are to be prepared to
constantly remind their flock of the truth of God, to repeat over and over
again, the instructions of God, to show love and patience in this work. All believers live in a godless society.
They must remember the kindness of God our Saviour to them
personally. They should
remember God’s love for all men, which he showed by sending his Son to
die for us, and sending his Spirit to empower us.
The believers should therefore work tirelessly and patiently, until
Jesus comes, when eternal life will be ours. The call therefore is to engage in good deeds
until Jesus comes. It will not be so difficult to do this if we
have hearts full of thankfulness, and if we keep reminding ourselves that
we have been given sound doctrine, which we must use daily through the
power of the Holy Spirit. Remember what you are saved for.
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