How do we balance the powerful secular influences constantly battering our minds, with our spiritual calling? Paul encourages Titus, a partner to get a good grip on himself and the message.
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Timeline of the New Testament
Snapshot
- Objectives
- Introduction
- Salutation
- Rouse the Responsible
- Reprove the Reactive
- Reject the Rebels
- Discussion
Objectives
- To understand the relationship between faith and godliness
- To learn principles of Church leadership
- To apply godliness to various roles
- To live a life of faith and knowledge of the word coupled with godliness
Theme Verse
Titus 1:8,9 He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.
Introduction
- Paul highlights the balance of “godliness” and “good deeds” with “grace” and “faith”.
- Titus was one of Paul’s closest fellow workers who, like Timothy was dispatched by Paul to alleviate threats and strengthen various churches.
- Titus was a non-circumcised Gentile (Gal 2:3). He accompanied Paul to the Jerusalem council.
Advice to leaders
- knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, Titus 1:1 –Paul’s Salutation
- 7 For the overseer must be above reproach 9 holding fast the faithful word Titus 1:7,9 – Leader/overseer
- teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain…. by their deeds they deny Him, Titus 1:11,16 – Rebel
Advice to leaders
- bringing salvation to all men…to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11,14 – Jesus
- 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, Titus 2:7 – Titus
Advice to all believers
- I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds Titus 3:8,9 – All believers
- 14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful… Greet those who love us in the faith. Titus 3:14,15 – All believers
Salutation
Titus 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, 3 but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior
Titus 1:1-3 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life which God.. manifested, even His word..
Good deeds do not result in salvation, they result from salvation
Rouse the Responsible
Paul’s common advice includes engaging in good deeds, sound words, pure doctrine, dignity, etc. He provides specific advice to:
- Leaders
- Older men
- Older women
- Younger women
- Young men
- Employees
Older Men
Titus 2:2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
Leaders
Titus 1:6 if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
Older Women
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children Ch 3
Younger Women
young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Ch 2
Young men
Titus 2:6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
Employees
Titus 2:9 Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not [e]argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
Double Grip Reprove the Reactive
- Titus 1: 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,
- Titus 2:15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Reject the Rebels
- Dishonest Gain
- Deception by Deviation
- Denial by deeds
- Defiance by disputes
Reject the Rebels Dishonest Gain
Titus 2:10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
Reject the Rebels Deception by Deviation
Titus 2:14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
Reject the Rebels Denial by Deeds
Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.
Reject the Rebels Defiance by Disputes
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
Titus 3:10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
Recap – Theme Verse The Double Grip
Titus 1:8.9 He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.
Double Grip Recap
- Engage in good deeds to have knowledge of the word
- Rouse the responsible
- Leaders – manage self, family
- Older men –temperate, persevering
- Older women – respectful, teaching, encouraging
- Younger women – love, submission, work at home, pure
- Young men – sensible
- Slaves: go with flow, pleasing, honest, submissive
- Reprove the reactive
- Reject The rebels
- Dishonest Gain
- Deception by Deviation
- Denial by deeds
- Defiance by disputes
Good deeds are not an automatic result of salvation, they are a conscious engagement of a focused activity
Double Grip Discussion
1.Why do many people seek but not achieve godliness?
2.Why is knowledge of the word a result of godliness and not vice-versa?
3.What is Paul referring to by meaning good deeds – in various scenarios
4.What is the significance of the “double grip”. Share examples on how you can accomplish it?