Setting Things Right

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Setting Things Right

False Teachers in the Church (Titus 1:5,9-16)

April 14, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • Titus 1:5, Titus 1:9–16

In Short, the book of Titus is about setting things right. Paul is writing to Titus to set right what was left undone in the Cretan churches (Titus 1:5).

The first problem Paul addresses within the churches of Crete was their many false teachers (Titus 1:10-16) :

* Unqualified Teachers

* Dishonest Teachers

* Immoral Teachers

* Apostate Teachers

Paul's solution to this problem is for Titus to appoint elders within the churches (Titus 1:5). The churches of Crete seem to have preached the Gospel and gathered believers but were full of controversy and dissension because they didn’t have elders.

Elders are to be appointed to an official position within the church so that they can lead the church by:

* Holding to the faithful message

* Encourage the congregation with sound teaching

* Refute those who contradict sound teaching

In other words, the primary role of an elder is to teach and enforce sound doctrine.

Christians In the World

May 26, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • Jeremiah 29:7, Hebrews 4:15, Titus 3:1–3, Titus 3:9–11

Christians live in the tension of living FOR the Kingdom of God while living IN the Kingdom of the World. Titus 3:1–2 "Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people." While here, we have a social responsibility to the government and the people in the society. Christians are called to live in obedience to authority (to the ability that you can) and to be ready for good works. We should live peaceably in this world by avoiding slander and fighting and showing kindness and gentleness. Jeremiah 29:7 "Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive." Jeremiah's words to those living in exile apply to the church today as it also lives in exile. The Christian's citizenship is in Heaven, not this world. However, Christians should pray for this world and help it to thrive. This is a ministry of compassion. Titus 3:3 "For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another." Paul isn’t giving excuses for the behavior of people in the world. But he wants us to remember that they are deceived just as we once were so that we have compassion. Just as Jesus sympathizes with us in our weakness, we should also sympathize with the world in their weakness. When we live at peace with each other and at peace with the world, we show others that there is a better way to live in Christ and in the Kingdom of God.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

May 19, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • Titus 3:4–8, Jeremiah 31:33

In Jeremiah 31:33, it says, “this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the LORD’s declaration. ‘I will put my teaching [Torah] within them and write it on their hearts.’” The Holy Spirit is the agent of the New Covenant. Titus 3:4–5a "But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy." Our salvation is not by righteous works, but through Jesus's blood. God was merciful in sending Jesus, but God’s mercy is carried out through regeneration by the Holy Spirit. It is through this regeneration by the Holy Spirit that we are saved. Salvation is God's work through an interplay between the 2nd and 3rd person of the Trinity. Titus 3:5–7 "…he saved us…through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life." When you are loyal to Jesus (justified, atoned), the Holy Spirit cleanses and changes you (is poured out on you) according to Christ’s work. The Holy Spirit comes upon you with power to wash away not just your sins, but to make you something that you were not before. The Holy Spirit directs us to walk in God's ways. The Holy Spirit has come upon us to save us, to change us, to give us hope. And therefore, Paul says we should be careful to do good. Now that we have been cleansed by the Holy Spirit, we are to walk in righteousness. Titus 3:8 "This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone."

Salvation Spelled Out

May 12, 2024 • Dan Southwick • Hebrews 12:1–11, Titus 2:11–15, Matthew 28:18, Exodus 19:3–6

Titus has been charged with the mission to institute order to the church in Crete. Paul reminds him that the only proper worldview is God’s worldview. All information and every decision must be grounded in Scripture and in the gospel. Paul reminds Titus that he must look back at the foundation laid by Christ, through which he gets endowed with his authority. He also reminds him that difficult circumstances can be endured by looking forward to the hope we have in Jesus’ return. Jesus is the Grace of God and our Blessed Hope. Upon His return, the day of the Lord will end and salvation will be complete for those who follow Jesus. Paul makes clear that salvation of God’s human creation is accomplished by Jesus alone. He is the One who redeems and purifies. Jesus calls us to Himself and disciplines us so that we progress in sanctification. Our only job is to respond to Him with a believing loyalty. It is that sincere love and devotion to Christ that causes us to obey, to engage in the disciplines, and to be zealous for good works. That is the complete view of salvation. It is accomplished only by the work of Jesus as our atoning sacrifice, but it doesn’t leave us forgiven in the grave. It raises us to new life in which our devotion necessitates obedience to Christ in our mission.