Master’s Prayer Network

A — Reminders for All in the Church

Comments: Paul begins here with sound doctrine for all believers about the need to accept established authorities. When some Jewish leaders tried to trap Jesus about choosing between Jewish scriptural law and the Roman civil law, he silenced them with his answer to be subject to both men and God as it is appropriate. Matthew 22 “21 Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Any Christian who resists man’s established authority should be certain they are in the will of God in so doing. Peter and the other apostles were pressured about being disobedient to the authority of Jewish leaders. Acts 5 “29 But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” Paul wrote in Romans 13 “1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.”

Paul is also teaching sound doctrine about good works because Jesus taught his disciples that they needed to be ready for every good work that would bring glory to God. Matthew 5 “16 Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” It is only by the grace of God that Christians can have good works. And it is for the very purpose of good works that we are made to be new creatures in Christ. Ephesians 2 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.” As we seek to allow Christ to work in and through us, we need to adopt Paul’s instructions about our attitude toward others. We can be nothing but humble if we recognize that we also were foolish and disobedient while still in the deception that is inherent without personally knowing God and our Savior Christ Jesus. Romans 3 “10 As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous; no, not one.’” This is a universal condition of man that God reveals to us by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and only God can transform us from that condition.

B — When Christ Appeared

Comments: Since no one is able to be saved by the “works of the law” (not by works of righteousness, which we do ourselves), God provided a way through Christ Jesus. He is the mercy and kindness of God our Saviour who appeared as God’s love toward mankind. Through God’s mercy he saved us, through the complete cleansing of our sin by regeneration, rebirth, to a new life for us, by the gift of the Holy Spirit. God poured this out lavishly, abundantly, liberally through Jesus Christ our Savior. As a result, being justified by his grace, we have been made heirs to the kingdom of God according to the sure hope of eternal life. Because these things are completely reliable and trustworthy, Paul desires that Titus affirm them confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. The good works God calls each Christian to perform are not the works of the law, but rather the works of faith as Paul wrote in Galatians 2 “16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” James made a strong statement in James 2 “26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.”

C — Things to Be Avoided Within the Church

Comments: There are subjects that can distract from teaching of sound doctrine, and from unity within the church. Paul says it is unprofitable and even vain to engage in discussion over foolish questions, genealogies, strife, or disputes about the law of God found in scripture. If someone promotes strong controversy or would seek to create factions in the church by refuting sound doctrine, such a person should only be given a first and second warning before they are subject to separation from the body. Paul makes a very blunt statement that such a person is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.

D — Paul’s Requests and His Complimentary Close

Comments: Paul planned to send either Artemas or Tychicus as a messenger to Titus, and he wanted Titus to be ready to come to him quickly to Nicopolis. There is no specific detail given for this sense of urgency, though Titus may have been aware of Paul’s reasons. Apparently Paul expected Zenas and Apollos to be with Titus when he received this letter, or they may have even been the carriers, since Paul requests that they be sent on their journey speedily that nothing be lacking for them. This is the only place in the New Testament where the name Artemas appears. Tychicus was well known by Paul and mentioned in other letters such as Ephesians 6:21 where he is described as “the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord.” Zenas is mentioned only once in the New Testament. We know Zenas traveled with Apollos and that he was a teacher of the Jewish law, therefore likely born as a Jew. Apollos is mentioned ten times in the New Testament, and from some of those references we know he was a learned Jew from Alexandria with a gift for eloquent speech.

Paul wanted the Christians in Crete to learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, so they would not be unfruitful. Paul closes his letter with a greeting from all who are with him, without listing their names. He asks that Titus pass on a greeting to “those who love us in faith.” Paul wants all who share in receipt of this letter to know that he desires grace for all of them. His final word is an amen.