Titus

Chapter 3

(Tit 3:1) Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
(Tit 3:2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Speak evil of no man even the president of the United States. Some of us think we have the right to bash the president just because we don't agree with him on everything. This is not so. We can speak openly of the wrongs and evils in our society, yes but to call the president names, false accuse and be downright hateful is not the way a Christian is to react to the president. We are to pray for him that we may lead a godly peaceful life. We are to pray for him that he will be open to the voice of God in his decision making.

We are to obey all laws of our land except of course any laws that cross God's laws. God's laws have to come first. For instance if a law was passed that we could not openly speak of Jesus Christ then we would have to disobey that law because Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

We are not be be brawlers, troublemakers, gossips but to be gentle, meek and kind. Wise as serpents and harmless as doves is the words of Jesus to describe our walk.

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Tit 3:3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

We use to be like this before Jesus Christ saved us. We should not be like this after Jesus Christ saves us. If we find ourselves sinning again. Repent and do the first works.

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

(Tit 3:4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
(Tit 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

All that we may have done in our lifetime before coming to Christ whether good or bad does not matter. Jesus Christ takes away all our sin and removes all things we have done that are evil. If we have done good, built hospitals, fed the poor and gave to charity, those things will not save us if we do not come to Jesus Christ for salvation. Repenting of sin and coming to Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.

(Tit 3:6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Through our faith in Christ, all is given to us abundantly. God will give us just as much as we want. If we hold back and do not want all that God has for us, we will lack not because of God but because we are holding back.

I'm not speaking here of anything material such as money or riches. I'm speaking of the spiritual things that God gives those who obey Him and desire more of Him in their lives. We are as close to God as we desire to be.

(Tit 3:7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Justification means just as if we had never sinned. Isn't that wonderful. It doesn't matter what we did, it is what we are in Jesus Christ that counts. The past is gone and passed away. All things have become new. The slate is wiped clean as soon as a person comes to Jesus Christ and repents of sin.

(Tit 3:8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

If we live ungodly lives after we come to Christ, it will ruin our testimony before the lost world and bring reproach upon the gospel.

(Tit 3:9) But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Satan tries to get us off into other subjects to keep us diverted from the gospel which will save the lost and the truth of the word which will strengthen the believers.

(Tit 3:10) A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Many through the years have been accused of being heretics who were only standing for the original truth of the word. A real heretic is one who teaches something other than what the bible teaches. It also is one who uses the bible but twists the meaning into something other than what the writer intended to say. Others can take one verse out of its setting and push it out to teach his or her own pet theory. These are heretics. Heretics are not people who preach to return to the original teachings of the scripture.

(Tit 3:11) Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.......... Look for this in a worker for the Lord. Is he or she trying to draw followers after themselves and not Christ? Are they using Christ to teach a false doctrine? Do they show genuine love for people and not just an outward show? Sometimes this is hard to discover. Jim Jones use to give to the poor and was at one time in favor with some of the local officials because of his good works. We can't always go by a person's outward show. How they are in private is usually the real person. How do they treat their wives (husbands)?

(Tit 3:12) When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
(Tit 3:13) Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
(Tit 3:14) And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Looks like the people wanting to get by with sin and unfruitful works were present in Paul's time. These are necessary teachings for today's church. We would be more fruitful if we listened to what the Apostle Paul had to say to us.

(Tit 3:15) All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. <It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.>