Introduction to the Book of Titus
Overview of the Epistle
Who is God? He is the God of salvation
How is He revealed in this text? He took the initiative to break into our world with the light of salvation that changes us uses us to attract others to its light
I. Introduction
A. Opener
Felt need: I want to make a difference in my world
Deep need: We need to be made different
B. Background
These epistles were written after the book of Acts, so we have no historical framework to place them in
Paul visited Crete and spent some time there; then he left Titus to organize the churches on the Island
Titus was a Gentile convert from Paul’s early Antioch days; he was with Paul throughout his ministry
The situation on Crete was serious when Paul wrote Titus: the churches were disorganized, and its members lived carelessly
C. Outline
1. The Appearing of a Saviour
2. The Attitude of the Saved
3. The Attractiveness of Salvation
D. Scripture
Read 2:11-13
II. “You Need an Attitude Adjustment”
Grace is like bread: the staff of our spiritual life (give us this day our daily bread and our daily mercies)
I like the Subway Club with lettuce, tomato, onions, hot peppers and olives, topped with sweet onion sauce
In Titus are all the spiritual food groups sandwiched above and below by grace
We’re looking at three word-pictures today
A. The Appearing of a Saviour
1. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men
In our darkest hour, at our greatest point of need, help arrived
This is the plot of many movies and books
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11, NKJV)
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 (Titus 3:4-5, NKJV)
a. Jesus Christ was the embodiment of God’s grace, kind-ness and love
“Epiphane” was used in ancient times in stories of the gods who appeared in the nick of time to help in battle
Our modern equivalent would be comic book heroes
Epephane: to suddenly become visible; to break out like the dawn; to become apparent in a way not seen before
Man could not imagine the saving grace of God
Jesus brought God’s saving purpose out of the shadows into the full light
b. We were in darkness
c. Jesus Christ has appeared as our Saviour
2. God caused His Word to appear to us through preach-ing
"...but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior" (Titus 1:3, NKJV)
Aren’t you grateful for those who shared the truth with you
3. The glorious second appearing of our God and Saviour is our motivation and hope
"looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13, NKJV)
a. This obligates us to reflect the light in our manner of liv-ing
b. We do this while we wait for His appearing
Timeless Truth #1: Our change of attitude is based on the appearing of Jesus with the grace and hope we needed
B. The Attitude of the Saved
Our attitude affects how we act
Attitude is the topic of a lot of pop philosophy
The Little Engine That Could
“Don’t Worry; Be Happy”
“You’re as young as you think you are”
The word Paul uses is difficult to translate
Sound-mind
First part: “to make safe, sound,” “to deliver from a direct threat,” “to bring safe and sound out of a difficult situation
Second part: “mind,” “thinking”
"When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind" (Mark 5:15, NIV)
Two aspects: the saving event and the resulting soberness, sensibility, soundness of mind that follows
So “saved-minded”
The importance of the mind:
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2, NKJV)
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus " (Philippians 2:5, NKJV)
1. Leaders in the church must have it
"(He must be) hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled" (Titus 1:8, NKJV)
2. Every age group must have it
a. Older men
"that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience" (Titus 2:2, NKJV)
b. Older and younger women
"that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet" (Titus 2:4-5a, NKJV)
c. Young men
"Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded" (Titus 2:6, NKJV)
3. It is the way every believer must live
a. Opposite of ungodliness and worldy passions
"...teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:12, NKJV)
b. A sound mind
"With sound mind, soberly, temperately, discreetly"
One who does not let circumstances or the influence of others distract or affect judgment
Bringing the unredeemed flesh under control
This second great theme of Paul in Titus is related to the first
Timeless Truth #2: Our change of attitude consists of a new, saved mind-set
C. The Attractiveness of Salvation
"that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things" (Titus 2:10, NKJV)
Kosmeo: English, “cosmetic”
It means arranging something in proper order, to give it sym-metry, beauty
It meant arranging jewels in a brooch, necklace, ring or crown in a way that best displayed the beauty of the jewels
Lives so transformed that they commend the gospel
This gospel saves people and changes lives
Making the gospel attractive by the way we live is the theme of the book of Titus
This third theme of Paul in Titus is related to the first two
Timeless Truth #3: Our change of attitude results in making the gospel at-tractive to others
III. Responses
A. The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world
You need to accept Him
B. We’ve been given a new mind-set
We need to live as if that were true
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything wor-thy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8, ESV)
Ungodly thoughts feed worldly passions
We can’t just get rid of the ungodliness and worldy passions; that just creates a vacuum
We need to fill our minds with purity, to crowd out the old thoughts and feed the desires of the new nature
We need to be strict about what we let through the eye-gate and ear-gate into the mind
What we read is an example
Open yourself to the idea of setting standards; that’s not legal-istic, it’s just plain practical
C. We need to heighten our awareness of how we’re making the gospel attractive to those around us
