Kingdom Keys - Titus Series

Creative: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/Titus (8:21)

References: Quest Bible Overviews p:1756-59, The Bible Exposition Commentary (Wiersbe) Volume II, p. 267-8.

https://www.goodsoil.com/blog/repent-and-or-believe-two-steps-or-two-sides/

https://www.thehistoryofart.org/albrecht-durer/praying-hands/

https://stories4homilies.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/story-behind-the-picture-of-praying-hands/

So maybe you’ve heard it said, ‘read your bible’ so you tried and failed. Our hope as leaders is that all of us will pick up God’s word and come to understand the true nature of God. After all, the bible is God’s Word curated over centuries detailing His nature, His will, the meaning of life and humanity’s historical interactions with Him. The Bible details the hidden keys to the Kingdom. Hence, the reason we are reviewing a new book each week.

This week we move this letter to Titus. A confidant of Paul’s sent to Crete to fix some of the issues that had arisen in the island's network of house churches. Paul had seen these issues before and would see them again in other areas. In fact, we are still dealing with some of them today.

With that being said, let’s jump into the letter. Open your bible or bible app to Titus 2:11. While you're doing that let us pray.

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

What a wonderful statement. Jesus' appearance changes the status quo. His coming opened the door to everyone to be with God for eternity. “All” is a keyword in this scripture. There is no longer us and them, or Jew and Gentile. Only those who choose to accept the offer through repentance and belief versus those who do not.

I can remember a number of years ago having a discussion with a mentor about the process of repent and believe. I wondered aloud to him if for some people the order could be reversed. That is, could someone come to believe in Jesus (faith) and then repent. He flippantly said no because the bible tells us so and walked off. I was left to wrestle with the idea.

I wanted the assurance that I became a Christ follower in the right way. It sounds a bit silly now but at that time, I was unsure I ever really repented before acknowledging a belief in or my faith. Sure I did the catholic confession but that was more about not getting punished or not wanting the cosmic forces of this world against my goals. I think the traditional religious practices of my upbringing confused my understanding of “repentance” and “penance.”

The basic meaning of penance is to express sorrow for sin. The main word for repentance (metanoia) in the New Testament has a very different meaning—“to change one’s mind.” It’s a mind-change that is so deep-seated that the person’s total being—values, choices, and lifestyle behaviors—will be impacted. Often, this change will be accompanied by expressions of sorrow.

So after a little further study, I believe the way of viewing repentance and faith (or belief) is that they are two simultaneous facets (flip sides) of the same action:

(1) At the same time that I initially trust (believe) in Christ to be my Savior

(2) I am abandoning (repenting of) the trust that I formerly placed in other things.

As I repent and believe my transformation begins. A new power has entered and the life long process of becoming more like Jesus begins. The churchy word for this is “sanctification.” It’s a process of change that we all can observe. When a person’s mind is changed, their actions follow suit. The more they move towards Christ, the more we see them motivated to demonstrate Jesus to the world around them. Selfish and self centered motivations and actions become less the driving force of their lives. Paul reminds Titus and the hearers of this letter.

12 It (our metanoia (bob’s clarification) teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Paul brings up the subject of being ready to “do whatever is good” seven different times in this letter. As you heard in the video, this was Paul’s missionary strategy - be willing to do good. It’s a follower of Jesus who helps and supports the work inside the community of faith. It’s also just as, if not more important, to serve those outside the faith. In so doing, the people of faith build a reputation of / for assisting those in need to the point of being sacrificial. It is in this sacrificial work we most dramatically point to Jesus and his work on our behalf.