Through the Bible - Titus

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began... To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee... (Titus 1:1–5)

A short letter packed with doctrine, written to a young pastor left among wicked people to set things in order and raise up leaders.

A Letter About Doctrine

We've spent the last couple of weeks going through the pastoral epistles—1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—and tonight we finish these three letters. Titus, like Timothy, was another young man Paul brought into the ministry and left out in the middle of nowhere to oversee and pastor a church. Though the letter is short, it is packed full of important things in doctrine.

Doctrine is a word that I believe is largely lost in the church in America today. You could visit a new church every day of the week and be hard pressed to visit all the churches in Southern California in a year. They're all espousing some kind of truth, but you will not always find the Word of God taught and doctrine given forth. One of the great blessings of Calvary Chapel over the years is that wherever you go, you know you will get the Word of God simply taught—typically from unlearned and untrained men, but men who have been with Jesus. It's a blessing to see how the doctrine of God goes into open hearts and transforms lives, and those lives in turn reach others with the gospel.

Set in Order and Appoint Elders

The Lord has given a commission to go and make disciples—to invest in people, train them, and teach them the Word, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever He commanded. Paul left Titus on the island of Crete to do exactly that: to rightly divide the word of truth, ordain elders in every city, and raise up churches in those communities. The elders were the overseers, like the pastors of those churches. The two main themes of this book are appointing elders and setting things in order.

The people of Crete were so notorious that we still use the term "Cretans." Paul even says in verse 12 that they are liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies. They were wicked—but wicked just like any other person. Crete was like Escondido, except in the middle of the Mediterranean. They were no different than people anywhere else, because the heart is desperately wicked. Man is not evil merely because society conditioned him; man is wicked because he has a wicked heart. And these Cretans needed the Word of God, which is able to transform.

How many of you have been transformed by God's Word in a miraculous way? I've had the chance to hear some of your testimonies, and it is nothing less than a miracle. It wasn't some self-help program. It was God's Word that transformed you through and through, and continues to do so. We're not perfect. We may be miles ahead of where we were ten years ago, but we're nowhere near perfect. Even Paul said in Philippians 3 that he had not attained nor been perfected, but pressed on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of him.

Created for Good Works, Saved by Grace

We've been created for good works, but we're not saved by our good works. It's not our righteousness; it's the work Jesus did on our behalf. I think the most succinct gospel verse in the whole Bible is 2 Corinthians 5:21:

God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in Christ.

Jesus had lived a perfect life, yet God put all of my sin and all of your sin upon Him. He treated Jesus on the cross as if Jesus had lived your life and my life, so that He could treat us as if we had lived Jesus' life. That is truth that transforms, and truth people need to hear. That's why Paul traveled in all three missionary journeys bringing this glorious gospel—but he knew he was just one man, so he trained others and appointed them to appoint still others.

A Servant First

Notice how Paul begins this letter. In other epistles he says, "Paul, an apostle." But here he says, "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ." This idea of servant leadership is something Paul exemplified. It wasn't his own invention—Jesus taught it: if you want to be great in the kingdom, become the least, the servant of all. Peter and John taught it too, because they received it from the Lord.

I love that Paul put servant first. Every single pastor I've worked under or alongside—at Escondido, Costa Mesa, Murrieta, or wherever—is a servant first, always willing to do whatever needs doing. I have no doubt that if we lived a day with Paul, we'd see he was a servant above measure. Even in those opening words, "Paul, a servant of God," there's an exhortation to Titus and to us: you too ought to be a servant. As Paul told the Corinthians and Ephesians, imitate me as I imitate Christ.

The Promise Made Before the World Began

Paul wrote according to the hope of eternal life, "which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." Do you realize God promised you eternal life, and He made that promise before the world began? As we saw in 2 Timothy 1:10, that mystery is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Before the world began there was no man and no sin, but God knew He would create man and that man would sin. So before it ever happened, He made provision. He spoke of it as early as Genesis 3:15, of the seed of the woman who would bruise the serpent's head. But this was something God did outside of time, now made manifest by the appearing of our Lord. In a world of shifting sand, where you can be on the mountaintop one second and flat on your face the next, what a blessing it is to have the hope of eternal life. We will all suffer here on earth, but we have a hope God has promised—and since God promised it, it will come to pass. All the promises of God are in Him, yes and amen.

Manifested Through Preaching

God, who is all-powerful and all-knowing, with so many "omni" attributes we couldn't do justice to with words, has chosen to reveal this great promise through preaching. Paul told the Corinthians it was "the foolishness of preaching." When you consider how grand and glorious God is, this is a rather foolish method—but it is the method He chose, and I believe it brings Him the greatest glory, because He uses earthen vessels to show forth His power and grace.

Why You Were Left Here

Paul tells Titus plainly: "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." Sometimes we wonder how we're supposed to do something. I remember being at camp with Josh, about to baptize six kids, and neither of us knew exactly how. We just did it the way it had been done to us. Titus was to do the same—do what he had seen of Paul. Take careful note of how the Lord leads and trains you, because discipleship is more caught than taught, through spending time with people.

Now, don't think of verse 5 only as Paul writing to Titus. Think of it as God writing to us: I have left you here on earth that you would set in order the things that are lacking and disciple others, just as you were discipled. Sometimes we look around at a world spinning out of control—a nation filled with anxiety, bombarded by media and information—and we cry, "Jesus, why don't You come back and take us out of here now?" But the Lord says, "I left you there to set in order what is lacking and to disciple others." The work isn't finished as He sees it; if it were, He'd call us home. The fact that we're still here means the work isn't done. So let us get to work.

Qualifications for Elders

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre... a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught... (Titus 1:6–9)

Looking around Crete, Titus might have said, "Nobody fits this description." And he'd be right—by nature nobody does. These are not our natural tendencies; they are the fruit of the Spirit, evidence that God has done a work. We need to keep our eyes wide open for individuals filled with the Spirit. Remember Acts 6, where the apostles told the church to find seven men full of the Spirit. How do you tell? Not by a name tag or a T-shirt. The only way is by the fruit. When you find someone blameless, a good steward, not self-willed, not soon angry, hospitable, holding fast the Word and able to use it rightly—that's your overseer.

Paul warns that there are unruly, vain deceivers in the church—people who are deceptive and full of vanity, sitting there every Sunday. They need believers who know the Word and can challenge them, so that iron sharpens iron. But sometimes their mouths must be stopped, because they subvert whole households, teaching things they ought not for greed's sake. Paul even quotes one of their own prophets: "The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies." We need to walk circumspectly, eyes open and ears attentive.

Professing but Denying

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Titus 1:16)

Many people, especially in our nation, profess to know God, but their works deny Him. They name the name of Jesus, but their lives show they don't really know Him. This is one of my concerns about very large churches—not to rip on them, but people can hide there. Someone can come in, even get involved in service, and never have anyone get close enough to see how they really live. That's why smaller fellowships and home groups matter, because it's there things become apparent.

It's very easy to put on a mask at church. I remember growing up, before we came to Calvary Chapel, we'd get yelled at the whole way to church—a fight in the car the whole way—and the second we pulled into the parking lot, "Now, you kids be good," and we'd open the door and everybody was happy. So it's not enough to watch someone at church; we need to see how they live at work, at home, at play. Are they people of integrity and self-control? That's the value of real community in the church, where if one part suffers, the whole body suffers.

Sound Doctrine for the Older Men

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. (Titus 2:1–2)

When we hear "sober," we think of abstaining from alcohol, because we come from a prohibitionist nation. But the word really means abstaining from any controlling influence. Paul told the Corinthians he would not be brought under the power of anything. The controlling thing could be alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling, gluttony—anything. What is the dominating passion of your life? Is it God, or something else? As Hebrews 12 says, lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, that we may run with endurance.

The older men are to be grave, or reverent—honorable and worthy of respect, men who could say with Paul, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." There are areas in my life where I could say that, and other areas where I couldn't yet. They are to be temperate—self-controlled, able to curb their desires and impulses. The flesh remains after salvation, and we're all in that battle, but the one walking in the Spirit is temperate.

They are also to be sound in three things: faith, love, and patience. Sound in faith means a healthy, well-exercised faith. We live in a society obsessed with exercising our muscles—do we exercise our faith? "Trust" might be a better word than "faith" today, because people have faith in faith, faith in angels, faith in all sorts of things. Do you trust God with everything? Sound in love means a healthy, self-sacrificing agape love. And sound in patience—a word none of us in America really like. People say, "Don't pray for patience," because the testing of our faith produces patience. But you'll get trials anyway. The question is whether your trials produce patience or bitterness. It all has to do with the heart.

Sound Doctrine for the Older Women

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. (Titus 2:3)

The older women are to be reverent and honorable, a pattern the younger women can follow. They are not to be false accusers—not slanderers or gossips. The word in the Greek is diabolos, from which we get "devil," the accuser of the brethren who gossips to God about everything we do. The devil is a gossip, and gossip is devilish. Paul pulls no punches, because God wants us to walk in righteousness. They're not to be given to much wine—not forbidden to drink, but not under its influence. And they are to be teachers of good things.

Discipling the Younger Women

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:4–5)

The younger women are discipled by the older women—it's not natural, it must be instructed, and lived as an example. "Love their husbands" uses phileo, a tender, affectionate love. In the Love and Respect series we did, Emerson Eggerichs noted that nearly every husband knows his wife loves him, but ask him, "Does she like you?"—"Not this week." I know my wife loves me, but there are times I wonder if she likes me today. The older women are to teach the younger to have a tenderhearted affection for their husbands and, with the same word, to love their children—to be loving, kind, and friendly to them.

They are to be discreet—of sound mind and self-controlled; chaste—pure, modest, and clean. Modesty is greatly lost today. It doesn't mean Victorian clothing up to the neck; it's the inward adorning of the heart. They are to be keepers at home, which the women's liberation movement detests, but God says these younger women should know how to keep the home and rule its inner workings. I read years ago that over 70% of girls getting married don't know how to cook a meal—not because home ec disappeared, but because the body of Christ hasn't instructed properly. This doesn't mean keeping the home is all they should ever do, but they should know how.

They are to be good—good-natured, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, and happy. That would be difficult without Christ, but when we do everything as unto the Lord and not unto man, it changes everything. The same is true for men working under a boss they dislike. I was reading Kay Smith's book Pleasing God, where she asked the ladies: if you spent two hours preparing a meal and cleaning the house, and your husband ate and walked upstairs to bed without a word, would you be angry? Many would say yes. But if you did it as unto the Lord, it doesn't matter, because God is pleased. That changes everything. They are to be obedient to their own husbands, in submission as Ephesians teaches, so that the Word of God is not blasphemed. This is a good witness the world needs to see.

Sound Doctrine for the Younger Men

Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned... (Titus 2:6–8)

There's that word "sober" a fourth time—a common denominator for everyone in the body. For the young men it also means putting a moderate estimate on yourself, not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought. Paul told the Galatians the same. The young men are to be a pattern of good works, an example like Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12. They are to hold sound doctrine, show gravity—dignity and honor—be sincere, and have sound speech that cannot be condemned. That's a witness: when someone comes against you, they have nothing to say, because you're above reproach. Just as in Acts, when the Sanhedrin forbade Peter and John to speak, they had to let them go because they could find nothing with which to charge them.

Servants and Employees

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. (Titus 2:9–10)

We don't have slavery today, praise God, but we do have employees and employers. Serve your employer well so you are a good witness. As Ephesians 6 says, don't serve with eyeservice as men-pleasers. Eyeservice means you have to be watched to do your job; instead, your manager should trust you to get it done. And don't be a brown-noser—the goody-two-shoes always asking for extra credit. Do it as pleasing the Lord, recognizing that whatever we do is as unto the Lord.

The Grace That Saves and Teaches

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11–14)

The grace of God has appeared to all men—not that everyone has heard, but that it is now available to everybody. Notice what grace does. First, it brings salvation. Second, it teaches us. God's grace is instructive: it teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly—the fifth time that idea appears—righteously, and godly in this present world. We turn away from what our flesh is attracted to and live for God here and now, while looking expectantly for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of Christ.

He gave Himself to redeem us from all iniquity. Redemption is not only about not going to hell; it also involves God transforming and sanctifying us, purifying for Himself a peculiar people, special and zealous of good works. Paul tells Titus to speak, exhort, and rebuke these things with all authority and let no one despise him—because this isn't the word of man, it's the Word of God. Even though women in our society say they need to be loosed from Titus 2, and employees want to steal from their employers, God says: this is My Word; speak it with all authority.

Subject to Authorities, Remembering Where We Came From

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived... (Titus 3:1–3)

We're to be submissive to authorities—mayors, governors, legislators, presidents. You might ask how Paul could say that. Consider the government he lived under: Nero, one of the cruelest, most wicked leaders Rome ever saw. Read the history books—Nero was gnarly. We have not seen a Nero, yet Paul still says be subject, be ready for every good work, speak evil of no one, be no brawler, and show all meekness.

Why? Because we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving lusts and pleasures, hateful and hating one another. We must remember where we came from. "Such were some of you," Paul told the Corinthians.

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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... that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4–7)

Paul closes by saluting various people. His point to Titus is this: yes, there are managers hard to work for and leaders we'd want to rise up against. Remind the people they were once wicked too—maybe once the cruel taskmasters, the mean and rotten employers themselves. But God transformed them, and He can transform others. We have the gospel to bring into this world because we were saved by the kindness of God our Savior, not by anything we did.

A Gospel Without Words

There are people in this world who are wicked, mean, and obnoxious—but such were some of us, and all they need is the great and glorious grace of our God. Living this pattern given in Titus—these practical, sound-doctrinal things—gives us a great opportunity to share the grace of God, because these things are the antithesis of the world. This is not how the world looks. When your life and mine look like this, it preaches the gospel without words and opens a door to share His grace.

Old men, young men, old women, young women—they don't make themselves sober, pure, and holy. It's not by our works of righteousness, but according to His mercy, God working these things out through us. So let us press on, laying aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, looking for the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Until then, He hasn't come yet—so obviously the work isn't done. Let us press on.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. I ask that You would plant these things in our hearts, and that by Your Spirit You would continue to transform me and my brothers and sisters here. Help us to look more and more like the image of Your Son—not just in our outward appearance, but in the way that we live. I pray that You would give us opportunity to share the truth of Your grace that has transformed us, Your grace that saved us, and Your grace that has taught us to deny earthly lusts and the wicked things of this world. Lord, Your grace not only saves us from hell, but sanctifies us for life here on earth and prepares us for heaven. We thank You for Your grace. Help us to be good examples of that grace wherever we go. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.