(Titus 1:1-3) Let's Meet The Writer

#1 LETS MEET THE WRITER

(Titus 1:1-3)

^[1] Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

^[2] In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

^[3] But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

There is no doubt as to who is the writer of the letter that we refer to as the Book of Titus. The very first word of the book identifies the author – “Paul.” In our next study we will learn about the reader of the letter, Titus, and the purpose of the letter.

In our opening study I want us to learn a little about Paul and what is revealed about him in the opening verses. What an amazing man was Paul. Frederick Farrar in his “The Life and Work of St. Paul” writes:

In truth it is hardly possible to exaggerate the extent, the permanence, the vast importance, of those services which were rendered to Christianity by Paul of Tarsus.”

Paul has left his stamp upon the whole of Christianity and has cast his shadow over every believer who has come to faith in Christ. Although He lived and preached 2,000 years ago, the spiritual life of each of us has been impacted and shaped by his life and ministry.

The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:21, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” God has given us His Word through holy men that He chose as penman, and of them, no one had a greater role than Paul. At least 13 books of the New Testament bear his name, among them the book we are considering.

It is not surprising that Clarence Macartney lists him in his book, “The Greatest Men of the Bible.” Macartney says that Paul is great however you take him; great as a thinker, great as a preacher, great as a friend, great as a builder and planter, great as a sufferer, and great in his world-embracing love.

In the opening verses of Titus we see something of the secret of his greatness. Let’s meet the writer of Titus by first thinking about:

1. PAUL AND HIS MASTER

Paul introduces himself as, “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ.” Paul gives a two-fold description of the relationship that he has with the Lord Jesus. He speaks of himself as “a servant of God” and “an apostle of Jesus Christ.”

If you want to understand something of the greatness of Paul and the secret to his ageless influence you find it in these roles. Let’s notice these two roles and what they mean. First, you see:

A) The Authority He Acknowledged

First, Paul speaks of himself as “a servant of God.” The word “servant” speaks of a “slave.” Paul was declaring himself to be a slave of God. Behind the title is the thought of subjection. When you talk about a slave you are talking about one who has lost his will to another.

Paul recognized that God was his master and that his will was lost to God’s will. He had acknowledged God’s authority in his life and had yielded to His authority. He was not his own, but had belonged to God and was under His authority.

One of the dark chapters in American history, and one which still has bearing on our society politically and socially, is that of slavery. It is estimated that 600 to 650 thousands slaves were imported to America against their will. It was not uncommon to have as high as a 50% mortality rate on the slave ships, so the number of people that were actually taken from their home land is much higher. Eventually, slavery became a major issue in the Civil War, dividing our country.

Slavery in this country, as well as any other country, is a tragic and regretful chapter in history. However, there is a form of slavery that is commendable and one that ought to be sought. I am talking about being a slave of God.

Apart from my salvation, the greatest day of my life was when I recognized God’s authority in my life and I submitted to that authority. Like Thomas, there was a night when I fell on knees and said, “My Lord and my God.” Have you yielded your life to His authority? Can you call yourself a “servant” or slave “of God?”

Back in the first decade of the 19^th century, Judge Harrington, of Vermont, when asked to return a runaway slave, refused on the ground of insufficient evidence. "What would you regard as sufficient?" asked the claimant. "Nothing short of a bill of sale from Almighty God!" was the reply.

When it comes to us, GOD HAS A BILL OF SALE. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Paul not only referred to himself as a “servant of God,” but also an “apostle of Jesus Christ.” There was not only the authority he acknowledged, but also:

B) The Assignment He Accepted

The word “apostle” means “sent one.” Paul saw himself as a delegate or ambassador of the Lord Jesus. There was his submission to God and his service for Jesus Christ. He had received an assignment from the Lord Jesus and had accepted that assignment.

There are many Christians who have never realized that God has assignment for them. Like Paul, there is a work He has for each of us. All Christians are “sent ones.” All have a work to do.

Someone has said that:

A lot of people are like a wheel barrow—not good unless pushed.

Some are like canoes—they have to be paddled.

Some are like kites—If you don't keep them on a string they fly away.

Some are like footballs—you can't tell which way they'll bounce next.

Some are like balloons—full of wind and ready to blow up.

Some are like trailers—they have to be pulled.

Some are like a good watch—open face, pure gold, quietly busy and full of good works.

What are you like? We all should be a good watch. Like Paul, we should acknowledge God’s authority and accept His assignment.

Secondly, notice not only Paul and his Master, but also:

2. PAUL AND HIS MINISTRY

Paul not only spoke of how he was “a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ,” but added that he was so “according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (1:1-2). He not says a word about who he is, but also what he is about. He speaks about the ministry he had been given and the aims and objectives of his ministry.

The words “according to” speak of that which he personally and passionately sought to accomplish in his ministry. There was a ministry that he had to “God’s elect.” Who is God’s elect? It is those who are saved.

There are those who teach that God has elected some to be saved and some not to be saved. That is not what the Bible means when it talks about God’s elect. The word simply means that we have been chosen by God. The Bible says in Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

Salvation can be viewed from two perspectives. You can look at it from man’s perspective, which is, each of us must come to Christ and receive Him by faith. There is the choice that man makes to be saved. You can also look at from God’s perspective, which is, we were chosen before the foundation of the world. God has chosen us to be His people.

I like a description that Warren Wiersbe gave in one of his books. As we enter the gates of heaven it will read, “Whosoever will, let him enter.” As we pass through the gates, it will read on the other side, “Chosen from the foundation of the world.”

Election does not mean that God chooses one and rejects another. It simply means that God has chosen us to be His children and when we come to Him by faith, He makes us His child.

Now when Paul describes his ministry he speaks of a specific ministry he has among God’s people. What is that ministry and what were his objectives? First, we see that his ministry among God’s people involved:

A) A Life of Maturity

In verse 1 we see that he was concerned about the “faith of God’s elect.” Now, this is not speaking of saving faith. He is talking about the growth and maturity of their faith. They had come to Christ by faith and he sought to build them in their faith. One of the objectives of Paul’s ministry was the spiritual growth of believers.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” There is the matter of growing spiritually. Each believer ought to be spiritually more mature today than they were when they got saved. If fact, we ought to be more spiritually mature today than we were a year ago.

The Bible speaks of how we are babes in Christ when we get saved. However, what is true physically is also true spiritually. We should not stay as babies. We should be growing and maturing in our Christian lives.

A second objective in Paul’s ministry concerning God’s people was:

B) A Life of Purity

There was the matter of “the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.” There was not only the maturity of believers, but also the purity of believers. He wanted to develop the godly life of those who were saved.

When you speak of a godly life, you are talking about a life that is reflective of God. As Christians we are not Godless, therefore we should be godly. We are to live a life that is pleasing unto God and reflective of who and what we are.

How do we become godly? Paul says it is by “the acknowledging of the truth.” The word “acknowledging” that is used here speaks of a “full knowledge.” He is talking about a believer’s knowledge of the Word of God.

It is to a Christian’s spiritual detriment that days go by and no time is spent in the Bible. For some Christians, the Bible is nothing more than a book to carry to Sunday school and Church. They never touch it except on Sunday’s. It is no wonder they are spiritually anemic and live a life that bears little semblance to God’s commands.

God wants His people to live godly lives and it is as we come in contact with His Word that we grow in godliness.

There was a third objective in Paul’s ministry to God’s people and that involved:

C) A Life of Certainty

In verse 2 Paul spoke of the “hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Paul wanted Christians be absolutely certain and sure about their salvation. He did not want them living in doubt and uncertainty, but filled with assurance that they were God’s child.

The word “hope” is a word of certainty and assurance. It is not speaking of someone hoping for something as we think of when we use the word hope. The word speaks of “anticipation” or “expectation.” It describes that which is certain and assured.

You can know that you have eternal life! The Bible says in 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” You don’t have to go through life not knowing. Thank God you can know.

What is the basis of our knowing that we have eternal life? Paul speaks of how “God, cannot lie” and what He “promised before the world began.” Note carefully that it does not say that God will not lie. It says He CANNOT lie. We sometimes say that there is nothing God can’t do. That’s not necessarily true. There are some things He cannot do. For instance, HE CANNOT LIE.

What was the promise that Paul speaks of? It is the promise of eternal life. The reason I know that I am saved is that God promised that if I came to Him, He would save me and give me eternal life. My eternal security does not depend on me. It depends entirely on the Lord.

The most miserable person in the world is a Christian that is unsure about their salvation. It is a terrible way to live. It is an unnecessary way to live. Praise God you don’t have to wonder. You can know. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Then God said in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Jesus said in John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Jesus promised you eternal life. He cannot lie, therefore you have eternal life.

8. Thirdly and lastly notice with me:

3. PAUL AND HIS MESSAGE

In verse 3 Paul speaks of his message. He says that God “hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.” Paul’s message was nothing more than what God said in His Word. You could say that Paul was a Bible preacher.

As a Bible preacher Paul sought to lead God’s people into a life of maturity, purity and certainty by the preaching of God’s Word. As Paul speaks of God’s Word he describes it as a message:

A) Fully Revealed by God

Paul speaks of God’s Word as a “manifested” word. The word “manifested” refers to something that had previously been hidden and is now revealed. It describes that which has been unveiled. God has revealed or manifested His Word. We have God’s Word. We have a full revelation of the Word of God.

By God’s Word, God makes Himself known. He makes His will known for each of us. It is by the Word of God that the gospel is made know. That is the reason why the Bible is important to the Christian. It is the book in which God has made Himself known to us.

God has fully revealed His word, a word that was:

B) Faithfully Relayed by Paul

What is the method that God uses to reveal His Word as described by Paul? It is by the preaching of God’s Word. In our day and time many churches no longer make the preaching of God’s Word the center of all they do. Now, I am not against Bible studies, programs, and the various activities that a church may have, but nothing is to have precedence over the preaching of the Word of God.

I love good singing. Nobody likes good singing anymore than me. Singing is a part of worship and should never be divorced from our worship. However, we don’t come to church to have a singing. We come to church to hear preaching. Singing prepares the way for the preaching of God’s Word.

The preaching of the Word of God had been “committed” to Paul. Preaching was actually a “commandment of God our Savior.” Paul had been commanded to preach and he was faithful to that call and command.

The Bible and the preaching of the Bible is what the Church should be about. If we become sidetracked and put others things before the preaching of God’s Word, then we have disobeyed God.

In closing let me say that in Paul we have a great model for the Christian life. Paul often encouraged people to imitate his life. He is an excellent role model for us all. As a servant, an apostle, as one who loved God’s people and God’s Word, we couldn’t find anyone to better imitate than Paul.

Is there anything about your life that resembles Paul?