with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️In this chapter, the Apostle teaches that in all good things, Christians should be obedient to the civil authorities, courteous and helpful to all.
They should have a concern for the good of the society in which they live and do all they can to promote peace and harmony in their communities.
Since they are new creatures, their new lives will be different from their former lives because God in His grace has cleansed their past and made them new people by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on them.
Christians are not saved from sin because of anything they have done but because of what God has done for them in Christ Jesus who died on the Cross for them. In Christ, Christians are declared righteous, holy and acceptable to Him by His grace, in Christ they have eternal life and look forward to full enjoyment of it at His second appearing, now without sin.
So, the Apostle taught Titus to continue in the faith and teaching the true gospel which changes lives if people believe the truth.
Although they are not saved by good works, they must strive to do good and to produce good fruits of righteousness because of their positive approach to the Christian life.
They must not waste time arguing about senseless topics and endless genealogies, rather they are to avoid such arguments from people who are argumentative, for such teachings are unprofitable, harmful as they lead to quarrels and divisions amongst those who believe.
In his concluding remarks, the Apostle directs Titus to meet him at Nicopolis and to bring with him Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, he sent greetings and salutations to all who are in the faith.
1️⃣Titus 3:1-8 God's grace transforms lives and submission to civil powers in all good things.
⏹️Of principalities and power and civil magistrates and government, all people should obey them as long as they don't act contrary to the Word of God.
The Apostle Peter says, "Servants, be subject to masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unreasonable. For this is acceptable, if for sake of conscience toward God, anyone endures griefs, suffering unjustly. For what kind of credit is it, if sinning and being struck, you shall endure? But if you shall endure doing good and suffering, this is commendable before God"(1 Peter 2:18-20).
⏭️The Word of God is the measure and standard rule of faith, anything contradicting it, is to be resisted by the power and authority of the gospel.
The Apostles Peter and John said to them, "Whether it is right before God to listen to you, rather than God, you must judge. For we are not able to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard"(Acts 4:19-20).
⏹️We come to God because of His grace. We repent and believe, though we could do neither if the Lord did not enable us.
We forsake sin and trust in Jesus, and then we perceive that the Lord has wrought in us to will and to do of His own good pleasure.
It is idle to pretend that there is any real difficulty in the matter that makes believers humble in the spirit, gentle in action and truthful in Word.
⏭️Before conversion, the believer's life was under sin, subject to powers of evil but after the believer turned away from sin and wickedness, then a new lease of life came into their lives, they united themselves to Christ, believed His Word, were justified and sanctified by His grace.
Now that they are new creatures in Christ, in Word and in Spirit, the Apostle says, "And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them, and will walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people"
(2 Corinthians 6:16)
2️⃣Titus 3:9-15: Why heretics and arguments should be avoided and the Apostle's final benediction.
⏹️Foolish questions, contentions and strivings about the law and heretics are to be avoided at all cost.
Amongst those to be avoided are:
1. Issues to do with scepticism and unbelief which doubt the truth of Divine revelation and any of its fundamental doctrines.
For religion is not intended to gratify our curiosity or answer our speculative inquiries but to renew and sanctify the heart and prepare us heaven.
The Scripture says, "Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches with which he can do no good?"
(Job 15: 2-3)
2. Intricate and controversial questions which cause strife rather than ministering to godly edification should be avoided.
The Apostle says, "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do"
(1 Timothy 1:4).
3. Prying questions rising from impatience and discontent are improper and unworthy of a Christian such spirit is condemned by Scripture as it is inconsistent with submission to the will of God but rather savour the spirit of presumption and unbelief.
The Apostle says, "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us."
(2 Thessalonians 3:6).
⏹️There people that we need in our time of greatest temptations, to exhort us, to uphold us in faith and belief.
Let us be fellow helpers to the truth that we may not incur the punishment of those who are lukewarm in the cause of Christ.
The Apostle says, "But that you also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things." (Ephesians 6:21)
⏭️ As believers we need to maintain good works that grow out of supreme love to God in tenderness and sympathy with all who stand for the course of the gospel.
The Apostle John says, " Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God: but he that does evil has not seen God." (3 John 1:11)
🅰️Appeal
Christianity is not a rootless and fruitless profession but rather Christians must be filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
It is not enough that they be harmless, but they must be profitable and doing good as well as eschewing evil.
The Apostle says, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704).
No comments:
Write comments