The Titus Summary 1

Hi Sisters! Woohoo! We've finished the Titus Study with flying colors. Literally, I can say this was one of my favorite study, although I've loved them all in a special way. I was pleasantly surprised by the involvement and I a big thank you to my friend Constance for making a daily effort to write summary updates for everyone on Facebook. You are a gift and I love you sister.

For most of you, this is a time of holiday and spending quality time with the family. I will fully disclose that my husband and I no longer celebrate the holidays due to pagan traditions that are linked to them. We've instead started celebrating and honoring the Holy days according to the Bible. But for the people that still celebrate the traditions, I know this time of the year can be a busy and demanding time, but we keep hope and continue to stay grounded in the word of God. So do not be discouraged sisters, but rather choose joy by finding peace in Him.

Here is the first of three summaries on the Titus Study we just completed:

In chapter 1, Paul starts his letter like he always does by simply stating his credentials in a humble manner by acknowledging himself as simply a servant of God, then as an apostle of Jesus Christ and acknowledging of the truth which is godliness,

Then he states in Titus 1:2, " In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promised before the world began", I am reminded of this verse in numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

You will notice that in the new testament, the disciples would sometimes quote from the old testament, mind you, when the apostles wrote their letters, the only scripture that existed to them was the old testament.

Paul gave specific instructions to Titus to raise up responsible leaders, to rebuke vain talkers, to teach sound doctrine. Essentially denouncing the old practices of the Cretan people and to steer them towards righteous living in hopes of becoming peculiar people, zealous of good works.

He states specific qualifications for leaders in the church, which included being blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre. But a leader must be a lover of hospitality , a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate. Using sound doctrine to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Paul also went on to warn Titus about the the vain talkers and deceivers that must be stopped. He affirms that this deceivers are misleading people and homes for the sake of money. He confirms that one of their own prophet agrees that the Cretians are always liars, and evil and for that cause they must sharply rebuked so that they may be sound in the faith.

Paul then warns about the Jewish fables (fictitious tales) and commandment of men. Basically, these vain speaking leaders were corrupting the church by their own traditions and discrediting the truth, which is the commandment of God, but instead made up their own commandments and rules like the Pharisees. Paul states rebuke them sharply.

Chapter 1 ends with a quick summary about the leaders and their corrupt mindset. These leaders were professing to know God but Paul calls them out because they had a defiled mind. They professed they knew God but in works they deny Him with abominable things, being disobedient to God's commands but after their own traditions. I am reminded of this verse, which is from a similar letter Paul wrote to Timothy: 2 Timothy 3:5, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away".

As you read through just the 1st chapter of Titus, you should get a better understanding for Christ-like qualifications, for leadership qualifications and for contrary characters. You may have notice that some of what Paul referenced in his letter is relevant even for us today. Do you see how poor leadership can bring many people astray and lead them down the wrong path? it is extremely important we use the Bible as a guide to our life rather than traditions of men. I am reminded of these verses, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path". (Psalm 119:105) and Matthew 15:8-9, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men".

Let the Word of God be afresh and confirmed in our hearts. May the commands and traditions of men never overshadow the truth and Gospel of Jesus Christ in obedience to God the Father. May we be doers of the Word and not merely just hearers. May our light shine bright as we chase Jesus, and may the Holy Spirit convict us as we are made into His peculiar people, zealous of good work. Amen