Obey authority
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Titus was to constantly remind the Christians under his care to show proper respect and humility towards all people, particularly those in a position of authority. Politicians often promise things to win votes. We should obey the authorities regardless of if we are of their political party. We are to obey authority. One problem that causes a nation to decline is rebellion against authority. People want their own way, a soft path. A life of ease makes a people soft, soon they are overrun by a stronger nation. We must support our government and those over us. Pray for them.
1 Tim 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1 Tim 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1 Tim 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Be ready for every good work. Whatever you see that needs to be done, if in your power do it.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Rom 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Rom 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
These teachings make a Christian the best citizen of any country. When Islamics kill Christians, they are removing the good from their presence. We are taught to love one another and to seek peace with all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
The Christian fruit is good, peaceable. We speak no evil of a man. Evil is of the devil, we are to bless.
Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
No brawlers, fighting in the flesh with fists and words, but in the Spirit we shall war for truths sake. We fight in the Holy Spirit, yet this spirit is gentle and we are to not seek a fight, being meek having strength under control. See how gentle God is with us through His Son. He is our example.
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
We should not forget that we were once filled with the foolish works of the natural man. We were disobedient, the Lord's children are obedient. We were deceived, but now we have the truth of God. We sought lusts and pleasures without being able to restrain ourselves, having not God's Spirit we did evil in the sight of God, hating others.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Jesus appeared with his love, grace and forgiveness, and we were changed.
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Jesus saved us by his shed blood, through our belief in him. His mercy and grace bought us from slavery to sin. His grace made us his brothers and sisters.
...by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Regeneration -- new birth, reproduction, renewal, recreation. made new by Jesus with the evidence of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the power, Jesus' blood was the way.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Regeneration is a Spiritual rebirth through faith in Jesus. It is not our doing, but the work of God.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
He shed mercy, and grace upon us, by the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ who saved us.
Justified, declared not guilty by our God, by his grace, unmerited favor, that we should receive sonship with Jesus, being heirs with him of glory and all that the Father has made.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Jesus has changed us from what we we were into his own image, sons and daughters of the most high God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
So lets live our lives before men as children of God, heirs with Christ of his glorious kingdom.
Final thoughts
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
A faithful saying:
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Faithful to maintain good works:
1 Tim 5:24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
1 Tim 5:25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
1 Tim 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
1 Tim 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
No honest question is foolish. Foolishness is of a foolish heart seeking with guile to mock the word of truth or to promote their own ideas. Jesus was given foolish question, to trick him so that he might be accused by the religious leaders. Religious people often are proud and argumentative.
1 Tim 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
Avoid contentions, and strivings about the law, they are unprofitable and vain.
We see these in our Christian Internet chats, proud men striving over the law and foolish things. It is of the flesh.
1 Cor 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Contending for the faith, is of God's Spirit. We are to build and edify one another in a meek and gentle spirit.
Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
2 Cor 12:18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
2 Cor 12:19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
2 Cor 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
A heretic: a "heretical person" is one who follows his own self-willed "questions," and who is to be avoided. Heresies thus came to signify self-chosen doctrines not emanating from God.
My truth, your truth, but what of God's truth in the Bible?
Some come to speak heresies and do not respect order or established authority. Warn them once, twice and the third time reject them, remove them so they do not lead the weak in their ungodly way.
2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Pet 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Pet 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Titus 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Subverting: overthrowing, as in an invading army plundering and looting, but of the soul, they steal truth and give you their message as satan has plundered the truth from them. They are speaking their own condemnation, do not follow them.
One warning here: Some find things they do not agree with in other ministers. Some make websites listing every major Christian minister as "heretics." This is mostly gossip, seeking to find fault with another, Be sure to not accuse one another over minor differences. A heretic is not speaking the truth of God, perhaps in part, but mixed with a lie or speaking by another spirit subverting the truth. We all may not see things the exact same way. Let God's Spirit and his word be the discerning way to know truth and error.
Titus 3:12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
Titus 3:13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Final greetings to friends and a word about all of us maintaining good works and being fruitful. We preach to ourselves too.
1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Titus 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Love and grace, the evidence of a Christian life, Amen
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