Lessons from Titus

Six blind men were asked to describe an elephant. They each felt a different part of the elephant's body.

The first man felt the elephant's side and said the elephant was like a wall. The second man felt the elephant's tusk ... use the mouse to examine the elephant to see what each man thought.

Every one them described what they felt accurately; they were all right in their own way.

Yet every one of them failed to understand what an elephant was really like.

Sometimes we treat the Bible like that - we concentrate on one verse, one phrase or even one word …
and we fail to grasp the 'big picture' that the book/letter is teaching us.
 

An overview of Paul's letter to Titus
The 'Big Picture'

The background given and the need explained
(chapter 1)

Paul's travels had taken him to Crete, where he had preached the gospel. By the time he left Crete there were groups of believers throughout the island, but they were without strong leadership. Paul left Titus in Crete to appoint godly men as elders to lead these new, infant churches.

They faced two significant problems:

• False teachers were influencing the church and causing problems. They were undermining the gospel of grace that Paul had preached.
• At this time in their history, society in Crete had sunk to a deplorable level of moral depravity (v12).

With this as their background, these new believers needed strong, godly leadership.

The action required
(ch 2 v 1 to ch 3 v 2)

Paul tells Titus in chapter 2 v 1 'You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine' - or what is consistent with sound doctrine.

Verses 2-12 go on to explain what that teaching is. The teaching that is 'in accord with sound doctrine' is all about - godly living!

This is a recurring theme in Paul's letters. Sound doctrine goes hand in hand with godly living. One flows from the other.

Sound doctrine should do more than just inform our minds; it should change our lives, it should change the way we think, change our attitudes, words, and actions.

Paul makes it very clear that what we believe should be consistent with how we live.

And he tells us why!

Verse 5 '… so that no-one will malign the word of God'
Verse 8 '… so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.'
Verse 10 '… so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive.'

How we live matters because the gospel matters.
An inconsistent life will hinder the gospel's effectiveness.
A life that is consistently godly will commend the gospel and make it attractive.

Titus ch 2 v 1 to ch 3 v 2 remind us how to live a life that is consistent with sound doctrine.

This of course begs the question "What does Paul mean when he talks about sound doctrine?" "What is it about 'sound doctrine' that impels us to live godly lives"?

The motivation
(ch 2 v 13-14; ch 3 v 3-8)

Paul answers these questions in two doctrinal summaries, where he gives us the theological basis for godly living.

He reminds Christians of their salvation;

• God has saved us by His grace: While we were yet sinners, God sent his own precious son to die in our place.
• God has given us new life: The Holy Spirit called us, opened our hearts and is, even now, working within us to make us more like the Lord Jesus.
• We are justified: Not only did Jesus take our sin upon himself at the cross, he also adorned us with his own righteousness. It is what Calvin called 'The Glorious Exchange.'
• God has given us a new hope: We have "the hope of eternal life."

The impetus for godly living is the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is "the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of truth that leads to godliness." (Titus 1 v 1)

This 'Big Picture' of Paul's letter to Titus is just what the first century believers in Crete needed to hear. It is also what we need to hear today.

"I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good." (Titus 3 v 8)