STUDY 7
Conclusion to Titus – Stress These Things, Live These Things.
CONTEXT
Titus 3:3-7 is a beautiful summary of the kindness of God to people who do
not deserve it. God’s kindness is seen in the sending of His Son and His Spirit,
so that we might share in the rebirth of all things.
But this wonderful summary is set in the context of Titus 3 as a whole. Paul sets out these
verses for a purpose. So the question is what are we to ‘do’ with this wonderful gospel
summary?
STUDY EMPHASIS
 Stress the Gospel
 Live the Gospel
Some things, according to verse 8, are ‘excellent and profitable’; others, according to
verse 9, are ‘unprofitable and worthless’. Part of growing in the Christian life is learning
which is which.
In this study we will conclude by looking at this last encouragement to stress what is
excellent and profitable and to what end we are to tress them.
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OBSERVATION
Titus 3:8,9 “The saying is trustworthy…I want you to insist on these
things…These things are excellent and profitable.”
CHAPTER 3:8-9
‘These things’ are references to what Paul has just been talking about in verses 4-7.
According to these verses what is it that is profitable and excellent?
According to verse 9 what is ‘unprofitable and worthless’?
In verse 8 we are encouraged to ‘insist’ or ‘stress’ what is profitable and excellent?
How would you, in practice, stress the Fathers mercy on us, the Son’s work for us and
the Spirit’s presence in us at your home, work, social environment and church?
SIDE NOTE:
The kindness of God, the
appearing of Jesus, the
rebirth of the Spirit,
justification by grace, and
the hope of eternal life are
all references to ‘these
things’. It is the gospel
which is excellent and
profitable: the Father’s
mercy on us, the Son’s work
for us, and the Spirit’s
presence in us.
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OBSERVATION
Paul now raises the stakes. He moves from a call to ‘insist/stress’
in Titus 3:8, and a call to ‘avoid’ in verse 9, to a call to warn verses 10-11.
CHAPTER 3:10
Paul is passionate about unity in the church because this is part of God’s eternal plan. It is
something Christ died for and through our unity we display God’s wisdom. When viewed
in this way we can see why there is a need to deal decisively with a divisive person who
promotes disunity.
What is the three stage process Paul describes in 3:10 for dealing with someone who is
divisive?
CHAPTER 3:11
We get a glimpse of Paul’s passion for unity in the concluding personal remarks which he
ends the letter with. Paul want’s to send Artemas or Tychicus to Crete, so that they can
replace Titus in order for him to join Paul. Then in verse 13 Paul says, “Do your best to
speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.” We do not
know much about Zenas, but Apollos was a man exalted above, and against, Paul’s
ministry by Christians in churches Paul had planted (1 Cor 3:4). Paul could have felt
competitive and bitter towards Apollos but the is not how Paul sees it (and presumably
not how Apollos sees it either).
How does Paul view Apollos and his ministry? (1 Cor 3)
SIDE NOTE:
3:10 corresponds to the process
outlined by Jesu sin Matt 18:1517. Jesus says that if a brother or
sister sins, you should point out
their fault one to one. If they
refuse to listen, then go to them
again with someone else. Finally,
if they still refuse to listen, you
should bring it to the church
with a view to the church
treating them ‘as you would a
pagan or a tax collector.’ The
goal is twofold:
-
Unity amongst God’s people
and
The winning over/restoration
of someone who is wayward.
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OBSERVATION
In 3:3-7 Paul summarised the gospel so that we might insist/stress it. But
talking about the gospel is not an end in itself.
CHAPTER 3:8
According to verse 8, what is the reason why we are to stress ‘these things’?
SIDE NOTE:
This emphasis on doing good is in the beginning of the chapter, verse 1. It’s in the middle
of the chapter, v8. It’s at the end of the chapter, v14. In fact this concern for doing good
runs through the whole letter, 2:14; 1:16 and 2:7.
WE ARE TO STRESS THE
GOSPEL
SO THAT WE LIVE THE
GOSPEL
AMIDST A PEOPLE
WITHOUT THE GOSPEL
Tim Chester in his book ‘Titus for you’ states that, ”When Paul says we are to “be ready to
do whatever is good” (3v1) and are “to devote [ourselves] to doing what is good” (3v8,14),
he is encouraging us to engage with the world, to seek to bless the world, even when the
world throws it back at us… In other words, we do mission in the context of everyday life:
in your home, on your street, in your workplace, in your school, in your neighbourhood.
We stress the gospel to each other so that we will live the gospel in front of others.”
With this in mind what will keep us from being fruitful (3:14)?
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MEANING
We live in a harsh, selfish, uncaring culture. In this context, listen again to the
words of Titus 3:1-2:
“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 quarrelling, to be gentle, and to show
perfect courtesy toward all people.”
Imagine a community within our society that is subject to authorities, obedient, and
ready to do whatever is good, a community that slanders no one, which is peaceable and
considerate, and which shows gentleness to all people without discrimination.
APPLICATION
As a LIFEGROUP share
with one another your
answers to the
following questions.
That community would commend the kindness and love of God our Saviour.
That community would shine like stars as it holds to the word of life and holds out the
word of life (Phil 2:14-16).
How do you think of the
world you live in?
That is what the community of Christ’s people on Crete is to be, Paul tells Titus. This is
what we are to be, God tells us. As we learn to devote ourselves to doing what is good,
we will not live unfruitful lives, we will live gospel lives.
How many unbelieving
friends do you have and
see on a regular basis?
How do you interact with
people who are not
Christians?
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Use this page to write down some thoughts to the APPLICATION
questions asked on the previous page.
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