The Great House of God ?
A Study in Titus - 6
Titus 3:8-14
August 12, 2007
John Ryan

You give or you take – hopefully both,
you suck life or breathe life – hopefully just one, but you never just occupy space. –journal entry, Summer 2007

Titus 3:8 The saying is trustworthy, ...
This saying is of God, from His voice, His WORDS and therefore it is
trustworthy. What is trustworthy?

Titus 3:4-5/ 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ...

Jesus Christ - God in the flesh - came to rescue us from the consequences of sin. He alone can save us from our sin and make us right with God. No church or man or act of man can make us right with God. Christ died and rose again so we could know salvation. We receive salvation now as He pours His Holy Spirit into us. His Spirit makes us right with God (regeneration) and begins to make us into His image (renewal). His salvation makes us full heirs with Christ so that we might no real and abundant life now and forever. This is trustworthy statement that Paul insisted that Titus teach. Why? It is the first part of the mission of the church, to know the glory of God through Jesus Christ. The second part is summed up in the last part of verse 8...

Titus 3:8b ... so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.
"Good works", as Paul has just declared in the end of chapter 2 and the beginning of chapter 3, do not save us. They are the fruit of those who "believe in God". To believe in God is to trust one's life and soul in the saving work of Jesus Christ. These people know the glory of God in Jesus Christ and the fullness of the mission of these people (the church) is to make His glory known. This is meaning of "good works". We love, we help, we feed, we encourage, we teach, we correct, we hug, we serve - all to pour out the glory of Jesus in others.

I have seen churches implode and divide over and over – or simply shrivel up and die - why does this happen?

Titus 3:9 ... avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels ...
First and foremost - the message is repetitive - we must maintain focus on the mission - knowing the glory of Jesus and then pouring out His glory into people. Paul warns of many things that were currently causing divisions in the body in his time. Many things now cause divisions and not all are evil they just are not the main thing.

foolish controversies - Things that are debatable, things that have no clear right or wrong are what are meant by controversies here. There are many such topics in and around the church and our culture. "Foolish" is the key word. This means this is a topic which has no godliness in it. Knowledge of this topic will not make us look more like the image of Christ.

genealogies - There were several types of genealogies which gave pride and esteem during Paul's day. The Gnostics (a cult who believed Jesus was one of the sons of God and did not come in the flesh) spoke of the endless (unscriptural) genealogy of God. Philo, a philosopher of the day, used genealogies from the Old Testament scripture to allegorically interpret allsorts of false doctrine about God and man. Others took great stock in their personal genealogical register. It was used to foster the religious and national pride of the Jews against the Gentiles.

dissensions - That which causes division within a group or body.

quarrels about the law - These quarrels or fights were not over the Mosaic Law, that given to Moses on the mountain by God. These fights were over the Mishna, the law added by Jewish rabbis and teachers over several thousand years. These laws were added to avoid breaking God's laws. Eventually they become as weighty as God's Laws even though they were of men.

The #1 killer of the body of Christ - division. It was the number one killer then and is the number one killer now. What was the source of the division - It always revolved around the mission and message of the church. What would claim sole authority as the message? The Word of God is the soul authority as containing the message of God. The scripture was given by God to men to write down. The mission - the gospel - Jesus Christ, God, died and rose again and ascended to heaven, so you and I could know the glory of God and make His glory known. When the authority of the message was attacked or altered - division came. When the mission became anything other than what the message spoke - division came. It is the same today.

Titus 3:10-11 As for a person who stirs up division, ...
Again, we see how strong God's distain for division is. This particular issue addresses more than just a sinful man. It addresses a divisive man. All sin hurts the body. However, some sin immediately seeks to divide and conquer the body. God gives instructions here and in Matthew 18:15-17 how the church is to do discipline. This must be done with much grace and maturity under the leadership of elders. However, God makes it clear, when we allow divisiveness to stay planted in the body - this bitter root will grow up and defile many - so call for repentance or remove it. Many churches implode because they never deal with divisiveness. They allow bitter and divisive people to fester. First, they fail to pour out grace of God and second, they fail to discipline and call for repentance.
Hebrews 12:15

The Early New Testament Church - Was it much different than ours?
We often wonder what the early church was like and even romanticize it. As we see, the church in Crete had issues. It needed to be reminded of its mission. It needed qualified leaders. It needed to be reminded of why their conduct was so important. Obviously, they were not always treating each other well. It needed to be reminded of what the gospel truly was and how it was the power for making us right with God and making us into the image of God. Finally, it needed to be reminded the division kills. The obviously had people who were arguing over things that did not matter. It sounds like they were a lot like the church in America.

Titus 3:12-13 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, ...
They also did some things really well. Paul had friends who betrayed him, but he also had others who gave their life for Him. Artemas is only mentioned here but Tychicus is all over the scripture. (Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21-22; Colossians 4:7-9) He was a faithful companion and messenger that traveled much with Paul and for Paul. Zenas is known only here but Apollos is a gifted teacher mentioned much in the New Testament. (Acts 18:24-28?; ?19:1?; ?1 Corinthians 1:12?; ?3:4-7?, ?16:12?)

It was said of Tychicus in Eph. 6:21-22 that he was one who would encourage their hearts. That is why Paul sent Him and no doubt it was why he was sending him now to the churches in Crete and to Titus. Could this be said of you? Do you encourage other's heart? Do you pour courage into other's heart to press on or do you discourage and divide? Do you find yourself in the midst of the body or alone? Who is your Tychicus? Whom does God send to you encourage your heart?

Titus 3:14-15 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, ...

The #2 Killer of the Church - selfishness.

Redundancy was obviously something Paul did not worry about. This phrase, "good works", is used seven times in this letter. Paul wanted these people to be about pouring out the glory of Christ in the body of Christ and into the world. They obviously needed to hear this!

Church - where are you pouring out the glory of Christ. In the body - are you serving the body, meeting urgent needs here. Preschool, children, set-up, greeting, discipleship all these areas need your ministry now. A small group needs your presence and your life to be poured out. Someone needs your friendship, your hug, your wisdom, your muscle, your ear. In your family - are you pouring out the life of Christ or sucking it up from one family member. Outside the body - are you living a life of "good works" that includes serving and speaking of the greatness of God? Who can you serve? Who can you invite to hear about Jesus' glory? Let's go church and pour out the glory of Christ!