TITUS LESSON 3


     We will begin this lesson in Titus 3:1 "Put them in mind to be
subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready
to every good work,"

     We have discussed before how God makes a person to be king, or
president, or in fact, governors, or lesser offices, for His purpose.
To go against the ruling government, would be saying that you cannot
trust God's judgement. The way to go up against them, is at the voting
stand. The only time we should go against the government is, if what
they ask you to do is against your belief in God. It is best to keep
the laws of the land and live peaceable lives.

     Titus 3:2 "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, [but]
gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men."

     We should not even speak evil against our enemy. We are not to
create trouble for ourselves, or anyone else. We are to be
peacemakers. The meekness, above, is really speaking of being humble.
The worldly man has a tendency to talk about others, thinking it will
make him look better, but Christians should do the opposite and build
others up.

     Titus 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."

     This is a perfect description of all of us, before we came to
Jesus. This is the way of the world, or the way of the flesh. Selfish,
unsaved people do all of the things above, because they are listening
to the lust of their flesh. Until we receive the pattern of the
perfect love of Jesus, we do not know how to love. I love the answer
Jesus gave when the disciples asked Him what were the most important
commandments. The following is the answer He gave them. Mark 12:30
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is]
the first commandment." Mark 12:31 "And the second [is] like, [namely]
this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other
commandment greater than these."  Hate is of the world, love is of
God.

     Titus 3:4 "But after that the kindness and love of God our
Saviour toward man appeared,"

     A companion Scripture to this is John 3:16  "For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  While we were yet
in sin, Christ gave Himself to save us. I Timothy 4:10 "For therefore
we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living
God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."
The kindness and love of God our Saviour toward men, is caught up in
one word, grace. "Grace" is unmerited favour from God to man.
Ephesians 2:4 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us," Ephesians 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"

     Titus 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;"

     Our own righteousness is but filthy rags. We could work forever
and the work would not make us righteous. We are righteous in God's
sight, because we are dressed in white robes washed in the blood of
the Lamb of God. We have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
We are acceptable to God, because Jesus made us acceptable, not by any
work we do. Revelation 7:13 "And one of the elders answered, saying
unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence
came they?"  Revelation 7:14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.
And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation,
and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb." Another type of washing that this could mean, is the washing of
regeneration mentioned in the following Scripture.  Ephesians 5:26
"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by
the word,"  This could be at water baptism, and the renewing of the
Holy Ghost could be at the baptism of fire of the Holy Ghost.

     Titus 3:6 "Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our Saviour;"

     We, Christians, are born again in Jesus Christ. We die to the
flesh, and are quickened in our spirit by the Lord Jesus Christ. We
know that Jesus promised the Comforter would come. The Comforter did
come. He is the Holy Ghost. He empowers us in our spirit to minister.

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

     Because He shed His grace on us, We are justified {just as if we
had never sinned}. Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are
ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." I Peter 3:7
"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge,
giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being
heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not
hindered."  All who are justified by Jesus will inherit life eternal
and be sons of God. I John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father
hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."

     Titus 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."

     This is just simply saying, we must walk in the salvation we have
received of God. Paul is telling Titus to keep reminding his people to
be working, until Jesus comes. This is not only profitable to God but
to man, as well.

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

     It seemed the Jewish Christians kept bringing up questions about
keeping the law of Moses. Paul tells Titus not to even get into a
discussion with them on these matters. It would just cause confusion
and strife. They would not accomplish anything, except they would
divide the people. Jesus warned over and over about studying
genealogies. This is as if one class of people are better than the
other. Look what John the Baptist had to say about genealogies in the
next verse.  Matthew 3:9 "And think not to say within yourselves, We
have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of
these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."

     Titus 3:10 "A man that is an heretick after the first and second
admonition reject;"

     A "heretic" is someone who does not accept the teachings of the
church and decides to make up his own doctrine. "Admonition" means
rebuke, or warning. This means, then, if you have warned him more than
once, then reject him.

     Titus 3:11 "Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and
sinneth, being condemned of himself."

     The word translated "subverted" could have meant perverted. It
seems this person has gone so far that it is not probable he will
change. Since he will not repent and change, he has condemned himself.

     Titus 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."

     It seems after Titus finished setting up the church at Crete,
Paul wanted him to return to him. Paul would send Artemus to this
church at Crete and Tychicus to Ephesus to minister in the church. It
seems Paul was concerned that they might not get the proper message in
their sermons, so he sent someone he had trained. This Nicopolis would
have been on the way to Rome.

     Titus 3:13 "Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey
diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them."

     Apollos was well known, he is the same Apollos that Priscilla and
Aquilla had ministered to. Paul might need a lawyer when he got to
Rome, but I hardly doubt that is why this is mentioned here.

     Titus 3:14 "And let ours also learn to maintain good works for
necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful."

     Ours, here, is speaking of the members of the church at Crete.
The good works spoken of, probably, is speaking of taking up an
offering for the travelers. They should be willing to help the
missionaries who came by their church. The main reason a person should
give, besides the necessity, is what it will do for their own feelings
knowing they have been of help in the ministry. They can participate
in the missionary endeavor, even though they do not go on the trip.
The workers, who do make the trip, are just one part of the work that
it takes to get them there. This way they could feel a part of the
work, too.

     Titus 3:15 "All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that
love us in the faith. Grace [be] with you all. Amen."

     This is a typical salutation from Paul. He includes all who are
with him. Paul knows and feels the love of the people in the churches
he had so much to do with. He knows their love stems from the fact
that directly, or indirectly, he had brought them the message of faith
in Jesus Christ.




































                          Titus 3 Questions


1.  Put them in mind to be subject to __________ and __________.
2.  Why does a certain person become an office holder?
3.  How can you go against the office holder, and still be within
    God's teaching?
4.  When is the only time you should not obey the ruler?
5.  Speak evil of no ____.
6.  Christians are to be _______________.
7.  What does verse 3 say, we were before we were saved?
8.  Why do people commit sin?
9.  Quote Mark chapter 12 verses 30 and 31.
10. What is a companion Scripture to Titus chapter 3 verse 4?
11. Quote 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 10.
12. What is one word that describes God's love and kindness?
13. Quote Ephesians chapter 2 verses 4 and 5.
14. He saved us not by our works of righteousness, but according to
    what?
15. What makes us righteous in God's sight?
16. Why do the Christians have on white robes in heaven?
17. Quote Ephesians chapter 5 verse 26.
18. What did He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ?
19. We are justified by His _______.
20. What does "justified" mean?
21. What does 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 7 tell us about husbands and
    wives?
22. Quote 1 John chapter 3 verse 1.
23. Christians should maintain good _______.
24. What did Paul tell them to avoid?
25. What question did the Jewish Christians keep bringing up?
26. What did John the Baptist have to say about genealogies?
27. What is a "heretic"?
28. "Admonition" means what?
29. What is another word for "subverted"?
30. Who did Paul send to relieve Titus at Crete?