(Click on Me to hear My Song)
Portrait of Jesus by Akiane Kramarik (c) 2003
Confirmed by Colton Burpo circa 2005
LEARNING MODULE 21
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GRACE, MERCY, PEACE
The Book of Titus
Chapters 1 Through 3
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Titus
Chapter 1
Verses 1 Through 16
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;
To Titus, a true son in our common faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God,
01) not self-willed,
02) not quick-tempered,
03) not given to wine,
04) not violent,
05) not greedy for money,
01) but hospitable,
02) a lover of what is good,
03) sober-minded,
04) just,
05) holy,
06) self-controlled,
holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
One of them, a prophet of their own, said,
“Cretans are always liars,
evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
This testimony is true.
Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
Titus
Chapter 2
Verses 1 Through 15
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
that the older men be
01) sober,
02) reverent,
03) temperate,
04) sound in faith,
05) in love,
06) in patience;
the older women likewise, that they be
01) reverent in behavior,
02) not slanderers,
03) not given to much wine,
04) teachers of good things—
that they admonish the young women
01) to love their husbands,
02) to love their children,
03) to be discreet,
04) chaste,
05) homemakers,
06) good,
07) obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works;
in doctrine showing
01) integrity,
02) reverence,
03) incorruptibility,
04) sound speech that cannot be condemned,
that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
Exhort bondservants to be
01) obedient to their own masters, to be
02) well pleasing in all things,
03) not answering back,
04) not pilfering,
but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority.
Let no one despise you.
Titus
Chapter 3
Verses 1 Through 15
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities,
01) to obey,
02) to be ready for every good work,
03) to speak evil of no one,
04) to be peaceable,
05) gentle,
showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once
01) foolish,
02) disobedient,
03) deceived,
04) serving various lusts and pleasures,
05) living in malice and envy,
06) hateful and hating one another.
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
But avoid
01) foolish disputes,
02) genealogies,
03) contentions, and
04) strivings about the law;
for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.
Amen.