Continuing our study of Titus 3:1-11. Verses 1-2 here.
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Do you remember how we are called to be better than what we are? Submissive, obedient and so forth?
Paul isn’t just talking to the people of Crete for he says this “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” Paul acknowledges that we’ve all come from the selfish place of being foolish, and disobedient, easily led astray, stuck to only following our passions, wanting what we don’t have and being angry about it. It’s been part of our lives. BUT then this happened.
The goodness and kindness of the Lord appeared. The Saviour came. His mercy was shown. It was not a “We did this thing” but a “God came and showed his love and mercy and kindness thing”.
We had no works of righteousness (remember we are caught up in following our own passions, looking out only for ourselves)… but then God acted. His son the Saviour appeared. The Holy Spirit worked his acts of regeneration and renewal. Things changed. God did this thing.
By being justified (made right) by his grace (his mercy shown) we became his kids, his heirs. Eternal life is ours.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Paul goes on to say that Titus must insist that the people of Crete know these things, that they believe in them, and then act on them. It is good for them to know these things, indeed for everyone to know them for it is an excellent and profitable thing for the people of God.
He warns them to avoid “foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law“. These arguments aren’t profitable, in fact they are worthless. Paul goes so far as to tell them that if they know a person who tries to create such foolish arguments that they should just simply avoid him. Have nothing to do with him because that person is living in their sin, not trying to get out of it. “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”
I have to admit, sometimes it’s hard for me to hear these words. To hear how bad we all are, who we need to determine to live differently because of what God did for us.
I hear those words about not listening to the foolish among us, those that want to stir up trouble. It’s something I need to caution my lad on as he gets to be at an age where he’s putting facts together and sometimes he argues foolishly over things that don’t matter. It’s a learning process right? But I don’t want him cementing this methodology and having to fight against it as an adult or end up being one avoided, you know?
Remember though the reason: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” This is the reason we change. Thanks be to God.
We often forget these verses. We often talk about being loving but forget that there is a time to move on to harsher responses with one who continually disobeys God and sins. Hard to read for sure but definitely a call to do better.
Yes it is