Lesson for February 1, 2023
The Book of Titus
Chapter 3:1-15
Verses 1-7
“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people.For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Believers are to have respect for the governmental rulers. Rulers is the Greek word “arche,” which means those in authority. Authorities is the Greek word “exousia,” which means those who have rule or jurisdiction in any area. There are many types of authority in life, and we are to adhere to all rules and regulations. This is part of the Laws of Divine Establishment. In the local church, to be subject to rulers means to recognize the spiritual authority of the pastor-teacher.
The pastor is to be continually teaching doctrine previously learned (remind them), in order to solidify the principles of Bible doctrine in their minds. It is the responsibility of the pastor to remind the members of his congregation, those who are believers in Jesus Christ, that authority in the Church is Jesus Christ as its head. The pastor-teacher is Christ’s appointed representative for teaching accurate Bible doctrine. He is to also remind believers of the authority of the Word of God.
To be ready for every good deed. They were to be reminded to produce divine good works. The production of divine good is a sign of both spiritual maturity and stability, according to II Thessalonians 2:16-17. Divine good works will be rewarded, according to II Corinthians 5:10. Grace is the basic concept of divine good, according to II Corinthians 9:8.
To be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people.To slander means to injure the reputation of someone by the sins of the tongue. (Psalm 34:13; James 3:1-12) Of the seven worst sins mentioned in Proverbs 6:16-19, three are sins of the tongue. Since the sins of the tongue can destroy a congregation, it is the duty of the pastor to warn against them. (II Timothy 2:14-17)
Contentious is the Greek word “amachos,” which means to be quarrelsome. It means believers are to refrain some doing or saying things that cause arguments and controversy. The Greek word for gentleis “epieikes,” which means patient, tolerant, and understanding. The Greek word for consideration is “prautes,” meaning to have a relaxed mental attitude toward others – to “live and let live.”
For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.Every human being starts at the same place spiritually. Everyone is born spiritually dead and separated from God with a sin nature. The sin nature causes people to be disobedient to God’s laws. At one time or another, everyone will be deceived by Satan and his world system. We have all succumbed to our own desires and pleasures. Some people spend their lives doing harmful acts, full of jealousy, with a hateful attitude toward others and life in general.
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy. Kindness is the Greek word “chrestotes,” which means generosity and emphasizes the perfect character of God in designing a plan for mankind based completely on His grace. Therefore, the perfect love of God for us provides a salvation solution based solely on grace, apart from any human merit.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
It was Christ’s kindness and love for mankind that caused Him to voluntarily become a human and provide the salvation solution to spiritual death, in accordance with God the Father’s plan. Paul reminded Titus that it was not on the basis of human good works (righteous acts or deeds) that people are saved, but on the basis of the grace of God. Mercy is grace in action and the Cross is the ultimate demonstration of God’s grace in action.
By the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. The Greek word for washing is “lutron,” which is used as an analogy for salvation. The connotation of washing is established by Ephesians 5:26-27. Jesus used the same concept in John 13:9-10, where it means salvation. When you are saved by a simple act of faith alone in Christ alone, God gives you a “spiritual bath,” by cleansing you from the curse of Adam’s original sin, spiritual death. By the washing of regeneration and the renewing by the Holy Spirit is an illustration of salvation by grace.
Regeneration is a new birth, a spiritual birth from above (from God). It is the “new creation” of II Corinthians 5:17. It is a brand-new nature, something that did not exist prior to faith in Christ. (John 3:1-16; I Thessalonians 5:23; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:1,5) At the point of salvation, the Holy Spirit makes us new creations in Christ, and this is the renewing. (II Corinthians 5:17-19)
Whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. The moment we believe in Christ as Savior, we are permanently indwelt by God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has a number of ministries related to believers at salvation. Regeneration, which makes us new creations in Christ, is but one of those ministries. (John 14:26; I Corinthians 2:12)
So that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Upon faith in Christ, believers are justified (declared righteous) and placed into permanent union with Christ by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This union guarantees us a share in Christ’s inheritance because we become Royal Family of God. Believers are not only heirs of God; they are joint heirs with Christ and Royal Family of God. Being in union with Christ is unique to this dispensation of the Church Age. (I Corinthians 12:13; II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:10-11; Galatians 3:26)
The hope of eternal life is total confidence that when you personally believed in Christ as your Savior, God gave you eternal life as free gift. (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9) We possess eternal life the very moment we trust Christ as Savior and we are secure in Him, forever. Hope is the Greek word “elpis,” which means confident expectation. (John 5:25-26; 11:25-26; 14:6; I John 5:11-13)
Verse 8
“This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.”
Speak confidently means to confirm, to establish, or to verify. The reason for speaking Bible doctrine accurately and confidently was so that believers in Crete would be careful to engage in divine production. Careful means to be in a state of thoughtful concentration.
The Greek word for good is “kalos,” which means honorable. Divine good is the result of loving Jesus Christ, which is honoring to God. When you have love for Jesus Christ, it is not only honorable in its expression to Him, but it is beneficial as far as other people are concerned, as His love will overflow into the life of others (good and profitable for men).
Verse 9
“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are useless and worthless.”
The Greek word for avoid is “periistemi,” which means to turn oneself around so as to avoid something. The Greek word for foolish is “moros,” meaning stupid or dull. Controversies means concepts that are contrary to sound doctrine. Genealogies is a reference to mythological Jewish and Greek stories. Strife and disputes about the Law in the day in which this was written refers to arguing about the Law of Moses.
The Law of Moses had been fulfilled in the Person of Christ and was no longer a valid method for living the spiritual life. Strife and disputes about the Law were unprofitable and worthless to the Christian life, as they are today. Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Verses 10-11
“Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning,knowing that such a person has deviated from what is right and is sinning, being self-condemned.”
Divisive is the Greek word “hairetikos,” which means heretical or causing division. It is used for anyone who creates divisions in the local church because they teach false doctrine, which is heresy. Biblical heresy is therefore defined as a believer or an unbeliever who rejects or distorts the truth of the Word of God as a result of being deceived by Satan or his ministers. Rejection after warnings means the pastor has the right to ask anyone embracing or teaching false doctrine to leave the church after a first and second warning.
Deviated means to change entirely, to be turned aside from the right path, or to be turned aside from truth. It is a word that goes with heresy, a person who chooses false doctrine over accurate Bible doctrine and therefore becomes a troublemaker and a promoter of divisions within the church.
Verses 12-15
“When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them.Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unproductive. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.”
Titus, the trouble-shooter, was going to return to Paul at Nicopolis and be replaced by Artemus and Tychicus. Apollos and Zenas were visiting Crete for some on-the-job training with Titus. The Greek word for good is “kalos” again, which means honorable (as in divine production).