WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.280 Like I said, I just want to really set the context of the letter before we jump in to our verse-by-verse study. 00:00:05.379 --> 00:00:09.839 And the first thing we want to do is understand the characters of the letter. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:15.120 Who's actually involved here as it relates to this letter to Titus? 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:22.580 So let's first talk about the author, whom we're told in verse 1 of chapter 1 is the Apostle Paul. 00:00:22.580 --> 00:00:29.960 Paul wrote this letter, but there is some mystery around the time that he wrote it. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:45.240 There has been some effort to try to take the pastoral epistles in particular and fit them within the timeline of the book of Acts that tells the story of the early church and focuses so much on Paul's ministry. 00:00:45.579 --> 00:00:55.159 But the overwhelming evidence, not only biblically but extra-biblically, suggests that there were two imprisonments for Paul. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:00:59.500 You'll remember that Acts 28, it ends with Paul in prison in Rome. 00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:01.240 He had been in prison for four years. 00:01:01.619 --> 00:01:08.659 When we study the book of Philippians, we see that Paul truly believed that he was going to be released from that imprisonment. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:11.099 He didn't believe that he was going to die at that particular moment. 00:01:11.299 --> 00:01:19.780 He was prepared to die, but he told the Philippians that he believed that the Lord was not going to make that the case, that he would be released from it. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:26.599 When we understand that he wasn't actually in a dungeon in Rome at that particular point, whatever their version of a dungeon would be, 00:01:26.599 --> 00:01:28.259 he was just on house arrest. 00:01:28.339 --> 00:01:31.659 He had some freedom to move about and to do some things there in Rome. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:36.599 It becomes clear that Paul ultimately ended up being released from that imprisonment. 00:01:37.259 --> 00:01:38.659 And from there, he traveled. 00:01:38.759 --> 00:01:49.379 It seems that he traveled on a few more missionary endeavors for maybe four, five, six years before he was incarcerated again under the reign of Nero. 00:01:49.379 --> 00:02:00.039 And then in the process of that incarceration, he was actually legitimately imprisoned and ultimately beheaded for his faith and martyred. 00:02:00.739 --> 00:02:08.680 It was during this time frame in between the two imprisonments that Paul and Titus at some point journeyed to Crete, 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:13.579 probably started a few churches there sometime in the mid-60s. 00:02:13.580 --> 00:02:18.920 And Paul wrote this letter to follow up with his colleague. 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:28.040 And special consideration needs to be given to Paul's age and circumstance when we evaluate the content and the style of the letter. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:35.020 Paul recognized that the apostolic age of the church was coming to an end. 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:43.120 And the pastor or epistles are written from the perspective of a man who knew his days were numbered. 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:50.719 The apostles' doctrine, as far as I mean apostles, as in all the apostles, what we have contained in the New Testament, 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:54.240 had already been thoroughly recorded in other books. 00:02:55.700 --> 00:03:03.760 Titus, having traveled extensively with Paul in his ministry, didn't need an explanation of doctrine or of particular practices. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:05.340 He already knew those things. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:14.419 And Paul trusted Titus regarding those issues, which is why he left him in Crete to lead these churches and to help establish them. 00:03:15.459 --> 00:03:22.359 This letter should be understood, really, as a summary challenge to a young companion 00:03:22.359 --> 00:03:27.379 to which the baton of church leadership was about to be passed. 00:03:27.379 --> 00:03:29.780 Donald Guthrie said, 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:42.400 Titus contains the natural and human expressions of the apostles' own reflections about the future of the work he is obliged to delegate to others. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:47.640 Most of you know that my dad has pastored for over 40 years. 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:54.560 And beginning January 1st, he transitioned out of a role of lead pastor at Promised Land Baptist Church 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:58.800 and now is on staff as an assistant pastor at Laurel Baptist in Charlotte. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:03.680 And in the process of the last three years, he didn't know he was going to end up at Laurel, 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:09.200 but he knew that his time, he could sense that his time as a lead pastor was coming to an end, 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:14.140 either through retirement or transitioning to a different form of vocational ministry. 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:16.800 And over the last three years, you know what he's done? 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:19.300 He's prepared his church for that moment. 00:04:20.280 --> 00:04:21.800 He's preached through the pastoral epistles. 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:29.439 He's tried to disciple leaders in the church to be prepared to lead the church through a temporary absence of a pastor, 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:30.600 a lead pastor in the church. 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:33.500 He's tried to prepare them for his departure. 00:04:34.760 --> 00:04:36.300 That's what Paul's doing here. 00:04:36.760 --> 00:04:39.140 When he writes to Timothy and he writes to Titus, 00:04:39.280 --> 00:04:42.980 he is writing from the perspective of a man that knows his days are numbered. 00:04:43.420 --> 00:04:46.420 He knows that the ministry of the church and the care of the churches 00:04:46.420 --> 00:04:50.600 are going to have to be passed on to the next generation of church leaders. 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:57.379 And what we see happening and unfolding in this letter is the final statements, in a sense, 00:04:57.379 --> 00:05:06.540 of what he believes these young preachers and pastors must remember as they lead these churches forward. 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:12.040 This helps us understand the urgency of tone in this letter. 00:05:12.899 --> 00:05:16.459 Much of Paul's counsel is written in the imperative mood, 00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:23.560 which challenges anyone who would take a casual or passive approach to church doctrine and church practice. 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:25.620 Because there are many people who would say, 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:26.639 I don't care about doctrine. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:27.540 That's boring. 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:32.819 Or who cares about the way the church is structured and the way that things are carried out in a church. 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:37.139 I just want to go and be a part of the things that are scheduled if it's convenient for me. 00:05:37.180 --> 00:05:41.560 No, this letter, the urgency of this letter, challenges that type of spirit. 00:05:42.019 --> 00:05:44.459 It challenges Christian passivity. 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:53.779 It challenges those who would demean doctrine and who would demean the necessity of helpful church practice and polity. 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:55.560 Just look at a few examples. 00:05:55.899 --> 00:05:57.539 Look at verse 13 of chapter 1. 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:00.379 In regards to false teaching, Paul says, 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:05.060 Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:06.099 There's urgency there. 00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:08.459 Look at chapter 2 and verse 15. 00:06:08.459 --> 00:06:11.680 At the end of this section on discipling, he says, 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:13.639 Titus, declare these things. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:16.979 Exhort and rebuke with all authority. 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:20.259 Don't let anyone disregard you. 00:06:21.659 --> 00:06:23.159 Chapter 3 and verse 8. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:28.039 The saying is trustworthy and I want you to insist on these things. 00:06:28.659 --> 00:06:34.259 So that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:36.060 There's urgency in this letter. 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:39.899 Here, Titus, don't mess around. 00:06:41.060 --> 00:06:42.379 Do these things. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:43.639 Preach the word. 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:44.839 Be faithful. 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:45.860 Lead the churches. 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:47.079 There's urgency here. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:49.500 Let's look at the recipients as well. 00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:53.019 Of course, you know, Titus is the primary recipient. 00:06:54.019 --> 00:06:56.800 And when you think about Paul's companions in the New Testament, 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:02.040 Titus might not be the one that immediately comes to your mind. 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:08.860 There isn't a single passage that carefully describes who Titus was. 00:07:09.460 --> 00:07:13.700 But if you examine all the little mentions about him in the New Testament, 00:07:13.840 --> 00:07:14.900 and you bring them all together, 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:23.460 what you'll discover is that Titus was an incredibly faithful Christian and pastor. 00:07:23.459 --> 00:07:29.219 His relationship to Paul was very similar to Timothy's. 00:07:29.919 --> 00:07:35.459 He was a young believer that was probably personally led to Christ and discipled by Paul. 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:37.419 You see that in verse 4 of chapter 1. 00:07:37.659 --> 00:07:40.419 To Titus, my true child in a common faith. 00:07:41.099 --> 00:07:42.799 It's the same thing he said about Timothy. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.920 These are not merely colleagues. 00:07:46.139 --> 00:07:49.100 There is a discipling relationship that has occurred here. 00:07:50.340 --> 00:07:54.079 And though Titus isn't mentioned by name in Acts 15, 00:07:55.020 --> 00:07:58.740 Galatians 2 tells us that he was a Greek Christian 00:07:58.740 --> 00:08:02.879 who traveled with Paul and Barnabas to the Jerusalem council. 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:05.160 Do you remember that in Acts 15? 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:07.060 You remember there's the controversy in the church 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:11.759 where the Jewish converts were saying these Gentiles need to be circumcised. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:16.360 They need to commit to certain Jewish things before they can really truly be saved. 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:20.060 And the apostles gathered together in Jerusalem to confront the heresy 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:24.639 and to set the record straight that no, salvation is by God's grace. 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:27.899 It's apart from all works that don't matter. 00:08:29.159 --> 00:08:33.240 Galatians 2 says that Titus traveled with Paul and Barnabas there. 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:34.919 And not only was he present, 00:08:35.179 --> 00:08:38.779 but he became their prime example of a Gentile believer 00:08:38.779 --> 00:08:41.120 who was truly converted to the faith, 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:44.000 who had the Holy Spirit of God resting on his life, 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.220 and yet he was not circumcised. 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:49.679 And they essentially say, here's exhibit A. 00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:53.220 Look at Titus, which made him uniquely qualified 00:08:53.220 --> 00:08:57.419 to deal with the Jewish heresies that were existent on Crete. 00:08:58.299 --> 00:09:00.940 It's a fantastic character in the Bible, 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:02.480 but it doesn't just end there. 00:09:03.419 --> 00:09:06.799 Titus was an apostolic delegate from Paul. 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:09.939 He was sent by Paul to Corinth, 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:13.299 to Dalmatia, and of course, Crete. 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:15.899 You can read all about it in 2 Corinthians. 00:09:17.219 --> 00:09:19.779 Titus was known for his faithfulness, 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:21.399 his dependability, 00:09:21.839 --> 00:09:25.459 and his competence to assist churches 00:09:25.459 --> 00:09:29.000 with mounting theological and moral issues. 00:09:29.459 --> 00:09:31.379 And here's the bottom line about Titus. 00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:37.840 The fact that most of his ministry was carried out in Corinth and Crete 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:42.480 shows that he was a strong, patient leader 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:47.720 who was especially skilled at strengthening struggling churches. 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:50.159 And I'll put that in context for you. 00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:53.740 If there was a church that we are aware of in our area 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:56.620 that the pastor left or retired or resigned 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.179 or whatever the situation may be, 00:09:58.179 --> 00:10:01.299 and there wasn't someone already prepared in place 00:10:01.299 --> 00:10:02.839 to kind of step up into that role. 00:10:03.739 --> 00:10:04.959 And I was familiar with the church. 00:10:05.719 --> 00:10:07.159 And they said, will you help us find a pastor? 00:10:07.219 --> 00:10:08.579 I might would call a few friends of mine 00:10:08.579 --> 00:10:09.500 that might would be interested. 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:12.319 One of the questions my buddies are going to ask 00:10:12.319 --> 00:10:14.599 is what is it that you know about the church? 00:10:15.239 --> 00:10:17.659 What's the truth about the church? 00:10:18.359 --> 00:10:20.219 What's the issues that are going on there? 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:22.159 And I may know of a few issues, 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:24.099 and I'll describe the issues to them. 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:28.759 Now, let's say that it's a church like Crete or a church like Corinth. 00:10:29.259 --> 00:10:34.259 I say, well, there's some pretty severe sexual immorality going on. 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:36.639 They are spiritually arrogant people. 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:39.879 They care a lot about their own giftedness, 00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:41.340 and they're not very servant-hearted. 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:43.259 They're not very loving toward one another. 00:10:43.420 --> 00:10:46.820 They're faithful to the gospel, but they're not very loving. 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:52.139 You know, they've allowed some kind of heretical theology to come into. 00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:54.460 It's going to be a bit of a fight, to be honest with you. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:57.340 Most pastors run away from that. 00:10:57.419 --> 00:10:59.699 That's enough for them to say, yeah, I don't want anything to do with that. 00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:01.139 I don't have the energy for that. 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:05.080 Titus ran to that situation. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:09.879 In fact, 2 Corinthians tells us not only does he run to it, 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:17.480 but his love for Christ's church was far greater than his fear of church hurt. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:20.179 2 Corinthians 8, 16. 00:11:20.179 --> 00:11:25.219 Thanks be to God, Paul writes, who put into the heart of Titus 00:11:25.219 --> 00:11:28.620 the same earnest care I have for you. 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:34.299 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:40.679 he is going to you of his own accord, knowing the issues in Corinth. 00:11:41.239 --> 00:11:45.399 Paul says, Titus isn't going to you begrudgingly because I asked him to do it. 00:11:45.459 --> 00:11:46.599 This is not a favor for me. 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:47.679 No, he loves you. 00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:48.979 He wants to come to you. 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.680 He's not running away from your issues. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:51.800 He wants to help you. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:55.860 His love for Christ's church was far greater than his fear of church hurt, 00:11:55.960 --> 00:12:00.220 which brings us to an important question as we just think about this person of Titus. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:03.860 How does your love for Christ's church compare? 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:08.340 Because our tendencies is to be the opposite of Titus. 00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:11.639 Whenever we experience issues or whenever we experience hurt 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:14.500 or things don't go exactly the way that we want them to go, 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:17.659 our first inclination is to find another place. 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:19.779 Or maybe we stop attending so regularly. 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:22.039 Or we stop giving regularly to the offering. 00:12:22.199 --> 00:12:23.259 Or whatever it is. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:25.860 We stop going to the classes or the groups or whatever it is. 00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:27.919 We get offended by somebody or whatever happens. 00:12:28.199 --> 00:12:29.100 Not Titus. 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:32.220 His love was so great that he ran to the problems, 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:34.480 knowing that it was going to be a struggle 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:36.980 and that he was going to have to deal with real people. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:40.100 People ask all the time. 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:42.940 When I see them that don't belong to our church, 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:44.700 they ask, how's things going with the church? 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:46.500 And I love the question on one hand 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:48.639 because it encourages me that people care. 00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:51.399 And I think the most helpful answer is 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.840 things are going really well 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:54.980 and we're also people 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:57.000 who have issues. 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:59.220 because we all are. 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:02.620 Titus didn't run away from that. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.059 No, he loved the church. 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:05.379 That's the kind of person he was. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.120 And Paul says, 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.980 he's my partner and fellow worker 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:10.320 and he's my true child in a common faith. 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:12.840 But this letter isn't just addressed to Titus. 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:15.620 It's also for churches. 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.879 Paul's letter was indeed personal. 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:22.620 That doesn't mean it was private. 00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:26.840 In fact, it was never intended to be confidential. 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:29.860 It was addressed to Titus, 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.779 but the letter was copied 00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:34.220 and was read to the churches in Creed 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:37.620 as necessary apostolic teaching 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:40.039 given by the Spirit of God. 00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:43.419 Again, Donald Guthrie says, 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:46.539 in contrast with the other Pauline letters 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:48.399 which are addressed to churches, 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:50.740 all three pastoral epistles 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:52.620 are directed to individuals 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:54.740 and many of the injunctions 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:55.820 are clearly personal. 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:58.500 Yet much of the material 00:13:58.500 --> 00:14:00.100 appears to be designed 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:01.240 for the communities 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:03.160 to which Timothy and Titus 00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:03.940 were ministering. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.460 Thus, they are generally thought 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:08.320 to be quasi-public epistles. 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.060 Here's why that matters. 00:14:11.400 --> 00:14:14.320 The early church treated this letter to Titus 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:16.400 not as a unique keepsake 00:14:16.400 --> 00:14:18.820 of Paul's personal correspondence. 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:21.460 Like you might go to the museums 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:22.520 in Washington, D.C. 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.519 and you might find a set 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.699 of personal correspondence 00:14:24.699 --> 00:14:26.159 between some historical figures 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:26.720 of our nation. 00:14:27.059 --> 00:14:28.019 That's not why the church 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:28.779 kept this letter. 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:31.319 Scribes very carefully, 00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:33.019 meticulously, 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:34.279 from its delivery 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:36.299 began to copy it 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:38.259 and transmit it 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:39.939 and share it 00:14:39.939 --> 00:14:41.399 with churches in their area 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.480 and eventually this letter 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.279 began to spread 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.919 to other places around the world 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:46.059 so that other Christians 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:48.579 could see not a writing from Paul 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.980 but so that other Christians 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:52.560 could see the Word of God. 00:14:53.300 --> 00:14:54.780 The only reason for the church 00:14:54.780 --> 00:14:56.360 to take that kind of care 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.980 in personal correspondence 00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:59.820 is if they truly believed 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:01.900 that it was inspired Scripture. 00:15:02.660 --> 00:15:04.320 Which means that Titus 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:06.020 was not simply for Titus. 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:08.200 It was for churches 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:10.340 given by God 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:13.180 for churches both then and now. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:14.740 And that's reason enough 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:16.060 for us to take it seriously. 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:18.000 That's the characters. 00:15:18.239 --> 00:15:18.959 Quickly, let's look at 00:15:18.959 --> 00:15:20.759 the circumstances of the letter. 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:23.119 There's no indication 00:15:23.119 --> 00:15:25.639 that Paul ever journeyed to Crete 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:28.199 in his missionary journeys in Acts 00:15:28.199 --> 00:15:30.299 but according to verse 5 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.019 in chapter 1, 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.779 clearly he and Titus 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:34.059 had gone there at some point 00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:36.379 and probably had established 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.139 a few churches. 00:15:37.819 --> 00:15:38.799 It's also likely 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.579 that there were already 00:15:39.579 --> 00:15:40.819 some other Christians there 00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:43.199 based on some Cretans 00:15:43.199 --> 00:15:45.500 being present in Jerusalem 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:47.379 on the day of Pentecost. 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.200 I think it's safe to assume 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.419 that some of them were converted 00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:51.200 and went home 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:53.360 and began maybe some small churches. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:55.360 So there's Christians there 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.700 at least at the point 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:57.659 that the letter was written. 00:15:58.860 --> 00:15:59.720 The congregations, 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:00.480 as I said before, 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:02.159 were young church plants. 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:04.039 They were being tested 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:06.120 by heretical theology 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:08.220 and they were being tempted 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:11.000 by an immoral Cretian culture. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.980 Paul eventually moved on from Crete 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:16.039 but he leaves Titus behind. 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.519 That's the circumstances here. 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:19.159 And he leaves him behind 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:20.419 with a particular task. 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:22.220 Here's Titus' task. 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:25.460 He was to set things in order, 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.419 verse 5, 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.399 he's to set things in order 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:31.059 so that the gospel of Jesus 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:32.100 would be proclaimed, 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.600 the apostles' doctrine 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.879 would be preserved, 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.000 saved, 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:38.740 and fruitful Christians 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:41.259 would reflect the kingdom of God 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:43.059 to which they belonged. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:45.439 And the letter is a follow-up 00:16:45.439 --> 00:16:46.100 to Titus 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:47.720 to challenge him 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.399 and encourage him 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:48.820 in the work 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:50.519 that he was left there to do. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.120 The circumstances on Crete 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.159 were no different than our own. 00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:58.639 We too are constantly embattled 00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.960 with heretical theology. 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.040 Maybe, 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.960 perhaps even more so today 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:05.059 where information moves so fast 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.000 and you can get on YouTube 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.140 and find people 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:08.160 with millions of views 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.120 on a YouTube video 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:10.079 and you really have no idea 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.720 where they came from 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.480 and very quickly 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.840 you can get sucked 00:17:12.840 --> 00:17:14.360 into a heretical theology. 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.620 We're inundated with that. 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.640 They seem to be friendly 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:19.360 to our cause 00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:20.579 but when we really dig down 00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:22.319 they're not full of good works, 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.680 God-glorifying works, 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.400 but evil works. 00:17:26.600 --> 00:17:28.259 Just like the churches on Crete, 00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:29.720 we need to be diligent 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:31.180 to set up structures 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:33.400 that will help us continue 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:35.279 to proclaim the gospel, 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.519 preserve sound doctrine, 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:40.460 and produce faithful disciples. 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:41.740 It's the circumstance. 00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:44.120 Let's quickly overview the contents 00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:44.740 and then we'll pray. 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:47.200 Here's the theme. 00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:50.319 The theme of Titus 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:53.140 is the inseparable link 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:55.279 between faith and practice, 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:58.339 between belief and behavior. 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:01.180 And this truth is based, 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.799 according to the ESV Study Bible, 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:04.480 this truth is the basis 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:06.620 for its critique of false teaching 00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:08.600 as well as its instruction 00:18:08.600 --> 00:18:09.620 in Christian living 00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:12.259 and qualifications for church leaders. 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:15.539 The structures in Titus 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:16.360 aren't the goal. 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.460 The structures in Titus 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.759 are the means 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:22.400 to accomplish the goal, 00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:24.100 which is gospel fidelity 00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.500 and good works 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:25.519 and good works 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.619 that glorify the Lord. 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:28.419 And the bottom line in Titus 00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:30.819 is that belief affects behavior. 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:34.059 Doctrine produces devotion. 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:38.059 And the primary assertion in Titus 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:40.599 is that the Christian gospel 00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:43.279 is the only foundation 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:44.599 for consistent 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:46.419 and lasting devotion 00:18:46.419 --> 00:18:47.399 to God's glory. 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:49.700 Now that doesn't mean 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:51.240 that non-believers 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:52.860 aren't concerned 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:53.700 with behaviors 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.000 that we would categorize 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.700 as good works, 00:18:55.780 --> 00:18:56.860 but it does mean 00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:58.400 that the inevitable result 00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:00.660 of genuine faith in Christ 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.940 is a life 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:03.019 that is marked 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:05.620 by consistent good works, 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:06.860 by sanctification 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:08.280 that does not lead us 00:19:08.280 --> 00:19:09.560 towards worldliness, 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.980 but leads us away 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.820 from worldliness. 00:19:12.540 --> 00:19:14.200 That's the point of the letter. 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:17.019 The Cretans were facing ideologies 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.059 that in some sense 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:19.799 looked like love for God, 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.779 but ultimately 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.960 did not produce godly works. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.500 And the responsibility 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.660 of church leaders 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:28.180 is to confront such heresies, 00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.920 proclaim the true gospel 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.019 that produces godly behavior 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.120 through the work 00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:33.900 of the Holy Spirit. 00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:35.779 Let's look at how this is represented 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:37.259 in the book itself. 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:40.100 Look at verse 1 of chapter 1. 00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:41.940 Paul, a servant of God 00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:43.980 and an apostle of Jesus Christ, 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:46.500 for the sake of the faith 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.519 of God's elect 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.720 and their knowledge 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.559 of the truth, 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:52.259 which accords with godliness. 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.400 In other words, 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.980 faith in Christ 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:57.259 and knowledge of sound doctrine 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:59.580 produces godliness. 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:02.100 When you come to Christ, 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:03.720 when you immerse yourself 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.580 in the sound doctrine 00:20:04.580 --> 00:20:05.160 of the Bible, 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:06.519 the inevitable result 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.700 will be godliness. 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.539 We see it from 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.519 the very first verse. 00:20:10.080 --> 00:20:10.779 Not only that, 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:12.879 we see that evil works 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:15.339 demonstrate one's alienation 00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.559 from God. 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.579 Chapter 1, verse 16. 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.440 Look at that with me. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:22.399 They profess to know God, 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:24.740 but they deny Him 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:26.660 by their works. 00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.480 In other words, 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:31.359 our behavior exposes 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:33.839 the true nature 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.759 of our beliefs. 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:38.039 And one of the things 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.960 that comes through 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:40.900 strongly in this letter 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:43.160 is that if you claim 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.740 to know and follow God, 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:47.299 but you have no interest 00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.940 in living in obedience 00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.640 to God, 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.819 you're not interested 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.599 in the six things 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:52.539 that we've covered earlier 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.319 that are all rooted 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:53.920 in the Scriptures. 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:54.879 You don't really have 00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:55.519 a lot of interest 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.519 in doing those things, 00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.680 but you want to say 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.779 that you belong to God. 00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.579 My friend, 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:01.099 you're not a Christian. 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:04.179 You're not a Christian. 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:07.480 Because faith in Christ 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:09.000 and sound doctrine 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.699 from the Bible 00:21:09.699 --> 00:21:12.059 will inevitably produce 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:13.500 good works 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.839 through the work 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.379 of the Spirit. 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.519 That's the urgency 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.559 of Paul's writing. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.259 Don't let the heresy 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.939 seep in 00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.899 because the heresies 00:21:21.899 --> 00:21:22.959 won't produce godliness 00:21:22.959 --> 00:21:23.719 which shows 00:21:23.719 --> 00:21:24.480 that you've lost 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.119 the gospel. 00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:26.119 And if you've lost 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.759 the gospel, 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.259 then what's the point? 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:30.899 He says, 00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:31.740 sound doctrine 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:34.040 confronts cultural norms. 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:36.780 Look at verse 12 and 13 00:21:36.780 --> 00:21:37.900 in verse 1 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.700 in chapter 1. 00:21:38.780 --> 00:21:39.440 We read it a while ago. 00:21:39.540 --> 00:21:40.160 One of the Cretans, 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.440 a prophet of their own, 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.060 said Cretans 00:21:42.060 --> 00:21:43.080 are always liars, 00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:44.460 evil beasts, 00:21:44.600 --> 00:21:45.280 lazy gluttons, 00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:46.060 and this testimony 00:21:46.060 --> 00:21:47.600 is true. 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.880 Now look at chapter 2. 00:21:50.340 --> 00:21:50.860 We won't read 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:52.040 all of the first 10 verses. 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:53.060 We'll just pick 00:21:53.060 --> 00:21:53.820 some parts around. 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:55.019 Teach what accords 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.820 with sound doctrine, 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.360 verse 1, 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.800 because older men 00:21:57.800 --> 00:21:58.920 are to be sober-minded 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:00.120 and dignified 00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:00.899 and so on. 00:22:02.139 --> 00:22:02.979 Then the older women, 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:03.379 likewise, 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.000 verse 3, 00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.739 are to be reverent 00:22:04.739 --> 00:22:05.199 in behavior 00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:05.799 and so on. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.519 They're to train 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.079 younger women 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.939 to love their husbands 00:22:07.939 --> 00:22:08.519 and so on. 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.139 Self-controlled, 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:09.459 pure, 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.259 working at home. 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.379 Younger men 00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:12.339 are to be self-controlled, 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.479 so on and so forth 00:22:13.479 --> 00:22:14.139 as it goes. 00:22:15.139 --> 00:22:16.339 There's a stark contrast 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.619 here that Paul is painting. 00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:19.619 Here is how the world lives. 00:22:20.239 --> 00:22:21.179 Here is the fruit 00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:22.959 of Christ's work 00:22:22.959 --> 00:22:24.819 in a believer's life. 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:27.599 Let me give you 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:28.240 some examples. 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:31.220 This isn't very different 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.879 than our own day. 00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:34.439 Our culture says 00:22:34.439 --> 00:22:36.139 that the idea 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:37.339 of male headship 00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:38.039 in the home 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:40.399 and wives primarily 00:22:40.399 --> 00:22:41.439 as homemakers 00:22:41.439 --> 00:22:43.259 is oppressive, 00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:44.639 demeaning, 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:46.079 and abusive. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:49.099 The Bible says 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.599 right here 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.740 in verses 3 and 4, 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:52.200 older women 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.660 are to so train 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:54.359 the young women 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.440 to love their husbands 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.160 and children, 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.960 to be self-controlled 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.500 and pure, 00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:00.240 working at home, 00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:01.900 kind, 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.339 submissive 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:04.359 to their own husbands 00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:06.140 that the word of God 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:07.120 may not be reviled. 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.319 What's the point here? 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.680 It doesn't matter 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:11.279 what the cultural ideal says. 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:12.759 Christianity 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.500 will always stick out 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.880 in the crowd. 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:17.599 It will always look different. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.019 And we'll get there 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.720 in a few weeks. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.400 Paul's point is not 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.400 that women can't work 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.180 outside the home. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.240 His point is that 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.220 according to the scriptures 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.360 and God's design, 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.740 their primary role, 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.140 their primary concern 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:31.620 is to care for their homes 00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:33.519 and to care for their children. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.420 Well, that flies in the face 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.880 of cultural ideologies today. 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.519 And at some point, 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:41.039 we're gonna have to come 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.900 against this truth 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:42.940 and we're gonna have to consider, 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:44.200 am I gonna go along 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.079 with what I feel like 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:46.819 is best in the cultural ideologies 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:47.680 or am I gonna come 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.240 to the scriptures 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.640 and I'm gonna be obedient 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.700 to what the Lord says 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.920 produces good works 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.500 through the work 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.180 of the Holy Spirit 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:53.780 in my life? 00:23:55.560 --> 00:23:55.800 You say, 00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.460 well, I thought Titus 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.460 was gonna be an easy book. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:24:00.000 It might not be that easy for us. 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.780 How about another one? 00:24:03.100 --> 00:24:03.580 Have you ever heard 00:24:03.580 --> 00:24:04.520 of quiet quitting? 00:24:05.580 --> 00:24:06.759 It's a buzzword today. 00:24:07.520 --> 00:24:07.900 Essentially, 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:08.860 quiet quitting 00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:10.220 is an employee 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:10.960 of a business 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:12.700 who only does 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.560 the bare minimum 00:24:13.560 --> 00:24:14.259 necessary 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.700 to maintain their job. 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.440 they refuse 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.299 to actually go 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.299 above and beyond 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.200 anything that they've asked 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.600 to do. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.059 We're told this culture 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:22.720 says that this type 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.440 of behavior 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.299 is encouraged, 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.360 it's probably good 00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:26.340 for your mental health 00:24:26.340 --> 00:24:28.880 and this degradation 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:30.220 of any kind 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.279 of power structures 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:31.980 in our culture 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.920 says that your boss 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.799 doesn't deserve 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:35.120 for your hardest work, 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.220 so just do whatever 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:36.860 you gotta do 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.519 to get a paycheck 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.200 and move on. 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.519 What does the Bible say? 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:43.240 Look at chapter 2 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.960 and verse 9. 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:45.839 Bondservants, 00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.339 this is really 00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.139 slaves and masters. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.019 I think it applies 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.619 to our work. 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.359 Bondservants are to be 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.160 submissive to their 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.759 own masters 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.819 in everything. 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.779 They're to be 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.420 well-pleasing, 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.879 not argumentative, 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.180 not pilfering. 00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.379 That means thieves. 00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.180 They're not to steal 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:01.740 from their business. 00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:02.480 They're not to steal 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.980 time from their business, 00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:05.960 but showing all good faith 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.799 so that in everything 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.519 they may adorn 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.400 the doctrine of God 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:09.900 our Savior. 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.720 And here's the point. 00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.759 The issues mentioned 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.379 in Titus 00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.539 are not merely 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.879 behavioral qualities. 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.339 They're characteristics 00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:22.200 of Christ's kingdom people. 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.599 They confront 00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.759 what is acceptable 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:27.079 in cultural ideas 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:28.319 because they mark 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.579 the lives of individuals 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.519 who ultimately 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.879 do not serve 00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:33.259 the kingdom of this world. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.720 And if you belong 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.379 to Christ, 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:37.460 you are a stranger here. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:39.319 You are not serving 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.900 this world. 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.780 You are serving 00:25:40.780 --> 00:25:41.500 His kingdom 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.600 and your life 00:25:42.600 --> 00:25:43.380 is to reflect 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.240 that kingdom. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.700 And Paul says 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.980 when the gospel is there 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:48.759 and self-doctrine is there 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.019 and the core values 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.259 are there, 00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:51.180 whatever it is, 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:51.880 the things that are 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.880 biblically based, 00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:54.080 when those things are there, 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.460 this is the kind of life 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.080 that it produces 00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:57.200 and it's going to fly 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.060 in the face of culture 00:25:58.060 --> 00:25:58.519 and the culture 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.040 is going to hate you 00:25:59.040 --> 00:25:59.480 for it. 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:03.900 we also see that good works 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:06.360 proceed from salvation. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:09.460 They do not produce salvation. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.279 Chapter 3, verse 3. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:13.599 For we ourselves 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.460 were once foolish, 00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:15.259 disobedient, 00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:15.960 led astray, 00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:17.319 slaves to various passions 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:17.920 and pleasures, 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.879 passing our days 00:26:18.879 --> 00:26:19.859 in malice and envy 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.779 and hated by others 00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:22.119 and hating one another. 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.879 But when the goodness 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.779 and loving kindness 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.500 of our God 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.779 and Savior appeared, 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.019 He saved us 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.619 not because of works 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.379 done by us 00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:30.960 in righteousness, 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.559 but according 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.460 to His own mercy. 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.619 So, lest you get 00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:36.299 the wrong idea, 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.000 these works 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.160 that Paul is talking about 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:39.399 do not produce salvation. 00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:41.960 They flow from a person 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:43.080 who has actually come 00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:44.580 and received the grace 00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:45.660 and mercy of Christ. 00:26:47.040 --> 00:26:47.980 The gospel produces 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:49.240 humility and patience 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.220 toward non-believers. 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.519 That's chapter 3, 00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:52.620 verses 1 through 3. 00:26:53.080 --> 00:26:54.280 We see gospel fidelity 00:26:54.280 --> 00:26:55.080 and good works 00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:56.320 require discipline 00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:57.740 and intentionality. 00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.060 That's chapter 3, 00:26:59.160 --> 00:26:59.880 8 and 9, 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.180 and verse 14. 00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:02.300 Look at verse 14 00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:03.400 of chapter 3. 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:05.080 Let our people learn 00:27:05.080 --> 00:27:06.400 to devote themselves 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.200 to good works. 00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:08.259 That means it doesn't, 00:27:08.340 --> 00:27:08.700 it's not always 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.380 going to come naturally. 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.519 You've got to care about it. 00:27:10.560 --> 00:27:11.200 You've got to keep it 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:11.720 in front of you. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.780 You've got to pursue it 00:27:12.780 --> 00:27:14.300 in your life. 00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.740 And the focal point 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.360 of all of this 00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:18.720 as we read a few moments ago 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.440 in chapter 2 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:22.640 is that Jesus' purpose 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.200 in coming 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.840 was to redeem us 00:27:24.840 --> 00:27:25.440 from sin 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:27.680 and make us eager 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.640 for good works 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:30.340 by making us 00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:31.740 His own people. 00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:32.800 That's the point. 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.860 Jesus didn't come 00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.540 to make us 00:27:35.540 --> 00:27:36.759 free to sin. 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:38.440 He came to make us 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.460 free from sin. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:42.099 He's redeeming 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.480 a people 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.480 for His own possession. 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.220 He's making them 00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.039 His kingdom people 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.220 and He's shaping them 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.920 to look like Him 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:49.539 in this world. 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.940 And they'll stand 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.799 in stark contrast 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.819 to the world 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.879 when they're focused 00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:55.460 on the true gospel 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.819 and the sound doctrine 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.379 of the Bible. 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:58.960 That's Titus 00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.480 in a nutshell. 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:01.839 But what about 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.339 the structures? 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.599 There's three structures 00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.319 that Paul says 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:05.879 if this is going 00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:06.559 to be preserved. 00:28:06.939 --> 00:28:07.679 Gospel fidelity 00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:08.779 that leads to good works 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.539 through the Holy Spirit. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.339 If this is going 00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:10.879 to be preserved 00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:11.480 in these churches 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.419 you need three structures 00:28:12.419 --> 00:28:12.980 in place. 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:13.879 One, 00:28:14.659 --> 00:28:16.019 faithful and qualified leaders. 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.579 That's chapter 1. 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:19.579 You need a plurality 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.119 of leaders, 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.759 elders and deacons 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:23.259 that are qualified, 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:25.000 that will serve the church 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.319 and preserve these things 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.480 to make sure the church 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.699 is heading in the right direction. 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:31.019 He also says 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:33.319 you need intentional discipling. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:35.039 Did you notice 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.879 in those ten verses 00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:36.720 in chapter 2 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:38.019 the older men 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:39.319 teaching the younger men, 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.419 the older women 00:28:40.419 --> 00:28:41.879 teaching the younger women. 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.359 That may not necessarily 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:44.240 relate to age 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.000 in every circumstance. 00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:46.079 It may just be related 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.460 to spiritual maturity 00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:48.539 in some circumstances. 00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:51.039 But the path forward 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:53.379 is intentional discipling 00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:54.399 with one another. 00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:56.200 That's a structure here. 00:28:57.159 --> 00:28:58.159 And then the third one 00:28:58.159 --> 00:28:59.899 is swift confrontation 00:28:59.899 --> 00:29:00.500 of error. 00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:02.299 We see it in chapter 1, 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:02.859 we see it again 00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:03.680 in chapter 3. 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.200 Deal with error. 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.180 Don't let it fester. 00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:08.039 Deal with it, Paul says. 00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:09.740 Let's wrap it up. 00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:12.779 The process of writing 00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:13.279 this letter, 00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:14.399 Paul ends up giving us 00:29:14.399 --> 00:29:14.960 a portrait 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:16.659 of a healthy church. 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:19.700 In Titus, 00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:20.400 a healthy, 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:22.060 God-honoring church 00:29:22.060 --> 00:29:22.620 includes 00:29:22.620 --> 00:29:24.660 foundational gospel doctrine, 00:29:25.660 --> 00:29:27.300 faithful church leaders, 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:30.779 functional Christian discipling, 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.940 felicitous handling of error. 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:34.100 I needed an F. 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:34.800 It means proper, 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:36.000 but I needed an F. 00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:36.440 So, 00:29:36.580 --> 00:29:38.240 felicitous handling of error 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:41.160 and fruitful Christian living. 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.640 In Titus, 00:29:43.800 --> 00:29:45.120 this is what a healthy church 00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:45.580 looks like. 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.359 Not a perfect church. 00:29:46.439 --> 00:29:47.220 No church is perfect. 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.439 Not until we get to heaven. 00:29:50.179 --> 00:29:51.199 This is a healthy church. 00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:53.159 One that glorifies God 00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:53.639 in this world. 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.339 It looks like this. 00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:54.899 You know what this 00:29:54.899 --> 00:29:55.619 reminds me of? 00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.740 This reminds me a lot 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:59.399 of gospel focus 00:29:59.399 --> 00:30:00.819 and Bible teaching 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:02.399 and gathered worship 00:30:02.399 --> 00:30:03.980 and discipling culture 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:05.179 and kingdom mission 00:30:05.179 --> 00:30:06.480 and pursuing holiness. 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:12.019 As we study this letter together, 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.039 I want to ask you 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.059 to do something with me. 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.879 Will you resolve 00:30:16.879 --> 00:30:18.659 with me 00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:20.720 to maintain 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:22.039 gospel fidelity 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:25.420 and devote yourselves 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.339 to good works? 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:29.519 Works that glorify the Lord. 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:34.240 Will you join me 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.659 in ensuring 00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:36.480 that our church 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.779 structures itself 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.720 in such a way 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:40.960 to help us 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.920 proclaim the gospel, 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.339 preserve sound doctrine, 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:45.899 and produce 00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:46.759 faithful disciples? 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:49.039 And perhaps 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:50.019 we can borrow again 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:50.599 from Edwards' 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.779 preface in this. 00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:54.180 Being sensible 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.980 that we are 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.519 unable 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:57.359 to do anything 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.319 without God's help, 00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:00.379 we do humbly 00:31:00.379 --> 00:31:01.059 and treat him 00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.960 by his grace 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:03.640 to enable us 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.559 to keep 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.380 these resolutions 00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:07.240 so far as they 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.860 are agreeable 00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:08.579 to his will 00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:10.279 for Christ's sake. 00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.840 That's what we can 00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:12.380 look forward to 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:13.079 in the coming months 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:14.019 as we study Titus. 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:15.019 Titus.