0:01 Welcome once again to Words of Life. In our study through the Bible, we are now reached Paul's letter to Titus. Let's turn to Titus and chapter 1. 0:22 Here we read the third of Paul's letters to Christian workers. We saw 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus. Titus was a Greek man. 0:40 Timothy also was half Greek. And these were some of Paul's closest co-workers. Luke, another close co-worker of Paul, was also Greek. Whereas Paul was a thorough Jew, a 0:59 Pharisee of the Pharisees. But he found his closest co-workers among people of other nations. Did not uh have this partiality towards his own 1:19 countrymen. We find this type of partiality very often among people of all nations. Indians like to work with Indians. like to work with Chinese. 1:42 Americans like to work with Americans. Koreans with Koreans. like to work with Malayalis. Tamilians like to work with Tamilians. If we have these type of prejudices in 2:02 our mind, we'll never be able to completely fulfill God's will. We must be willing for God to unite us with anyone from any land as a co-worker. Think that Paul had three close 2:25 co-workers who were not Jews. That's really amazing. He practiced what he preached. So here we read him this letter to Titus is again the subject is the church 2:45 and its elders. He in the first verse, he uses an expression which is the truth which is according to godliness. There are many truths in the world. 3:09 Arithmetic truth like 2 + 2 is 4. Geographical truth like the earth goes round the sun. Many scientific truths. But here is a truth which is according 3:31 to godliness. Or the truth that leads to godliness. We don't find the Apostle Paul using the word godliness so much in his earlier letters. Almost never. 3:53 He uses many other expressions like being crucified with Christ. Carnal Christians and spiritual Christians. But in these letters to Timothy and Titus, he uses godliness often. He realizes as he approaches the end of 4:19 his life seeing the backslidden condition of many churches. He realizes that godliness is the thing that he must emphasize. And so he says here 4:41 a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of those whom God has chosen and to reveal to them the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness. So that they can have this eternal life 5:05 which God has promised. So in when you look at the mature writing of a man of God towards the end of his life you'll find much more of the truth of 5:26 God than what he wrote as a young man. Uh even though he be he was wholehearted. So what does Paul write towards the end 5:44 of his life? It's a very interesting study. What he writes in the letters to Timothy and Titus. Speaking one word about speaking in tongues. He spoke in tongues more than others, he 6:08 said. But he doesn't write about that. Does he write anything about healing? You think there were no sick people in all these churches in Timothy and Titus' circles? Always there have been sick people in 6:28 all churches. And sickness is a big problem. There's not one word about it. Does he write anything about prosperity? You think there were no poor people in these churches? There were so many poor people. 6:48 He is not writing about that. He has not been called to proclaim the truth of tongues or healing or prosperity. He says here the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness. Then there are some people who make much 7:11 of the New Testament church pattern. You know 1 Corinthians 14. That is their gospel. That can also lead to a cult. Paul doesn't write one word about 7:30 pattern to these people who are leaders of churches. He's telling them how to establish churches and he doesn't say one word about patterns. He writes about the truth according to 7:48 godliness. If godliness is there, everything will fall into proper place. You see the Apostle John towards the end of his life what he wrote. Not one word about tongues or healing or 8:05 prosperity. We will see that when we come to those letters. But that's something very important for us to see. And if you are a servant of God in these days, you will know that the truth you need to preach in the churches is truth 8:24 that leads to godliness. And he says here in verse 5 I left you in Crete so that you can appoint elders in every city. Wherever there was a church, there had 8:46 to be elders. In nowhere in the New Testament do you find Paul appointing a pastor in charge. No New Testament church had a pastor. No group of churches had a bishop. 9:09 There was no Reverend so-and-so or Right Reverend so-and-so or Most Reverend so-and-so in the New Testament church. Even Paul, Paul was a brother. Paul was a brother. John was a brother. But they were elders who were to lead 9:28 the church. We may think that is a small thing. But when scripture consistently uses that word and that word is used in the last three letters that Paul wrote it must be important. It was not just 9:53 one elder in every church, there must be more than one. Because this is the new covenant where two people work together. Where two or three are gathered, the Lord is in the midst. Old Testament, they were all worked 10:14 alone. There were elders appointed in every city. And again, there's a repetition of similar qualifications as we read in 1 Timothy 3. Above reproach, that is the first thing 10:33 always mentioned about elders. It means his testimony in that town must be good. That he's above any type of scandal 10:49 concerning money or women or anything. And again, number one area is his family life. A second time repeated in scripture. 11:10 A church leader must be a husband of one wife. Not one who has divorced one wife and married another. Such a man can repent and become a part of a church, but he can never be a leader. And not someone who has married someone 11:30 else who is divorced. Such a man can be a member of a church. If he has repented. But he can never be a leader. No matter how gifted. God's word is above all gifts. But over a period of time, these 11:53 standards have been eroded by the devil in the church. In the West, almost nobody follows it. And slowly, it will come to India also in a matter of time. But 12:12 this other condition of that your children must be believers, not accused of dissipation or rebellion, is another thing which almost nobody follows. They don't have to be wholehearted 12:29 preachers or any such thing. Because that's a matter of calling. But they must be believers. Not children who have a reputation for being rebellious. They must be believers. 12:51 Why? Because the elder overseer must be above all reproaches, God's steward. Because if he cannot bring up his children at home, how will he look after the church? A man who has rebellious children as a 13:10 physical father will be a as a spiritual father, he'll have rebellious children in the church. Another thing it says here in verse 7 is he should not be one who loses his 13:28 temper very quickly. That means he must have some control, not someone who gets irritated and upset and angry. A man who gets angry and shouts at his wife is not really qualified to be an elder. He can repent and be a member in a 13:50 church. But not an elder. He's got to seek for victory over his anger. One who gets angry with his co-workers. However gifted he may be. He's not fit to be an elder in a church. 14:07 Not addicted to wine and strong drink. And not one who loves to make money, fond of sordid gain. There's a great temptation when you're an elder in a church and the funds are coming in. You begin to love money. And eager to 14:33 grab. If you're fond of that type of gain, you're unfit to be an elder. He must be hospitable, one who opens his house to God's people. Self-controlled. 14:54 And one who knows the word of God so that he can teach and expose false doctrine. Why? Because even in those days, there were so many empty talkers and deceivers. Deceiving people. And he says here in verse 11 There are 15:18 many people like that who go around teaching verse 11 in order to make money. Lots and lots of preachers today. Hundreds and thousands of preachers who are out to make money from people. And it says such people must be silenced 15:42 by an elder. They must not be allowed to speak. And yet, these people are flourishing in Christendom today. It says in verse 12 16:00 Paul says the Crete there's a prophet of their own, some religious leader there of some other religion. He says that the Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. He says this testimony is true. So you're living in Crete. 16:20 Now the people in Crete are liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. Reprove them. So that they can be sound so they can be sound in the faith. Now you know it is true that certain 16:36 races have got certain characteristics. Some people are by nature more hardworking. Some people are lazy. And the Cretans were not just lazy, they 16:55 were lovers of good food. They had a tendency to tell lies. But if a Cretan is really born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, he won't be a liar. 17:15 He won't be evil. He He will not be lazy. He will not be a glutton. So we must not have a prejudice against people of some community and say they are always like that. Yeah, the unbelievers in that group may 17:37 be like that. But if a person is born again, we must not look at that person as one who belongs to that group. If he's really born again, the Bible says he's a new person, he's a new creation. So here, Paul is speaking about the 18:00 unconverted Cretan. And then, he speaks in chapter 2. Again, speak about the things which are fitting for sound or healthy or hygienic doctrine. So here is a doctrine according to 18:25 godliness in chapter 1 verse 1. And here, he's talking about a doctrine which is hygienic. Now hygienic is a medical word. And a hospital can be have a high 18:45 standard of hygiene or a poor standard of hygiene. If a operating theater has got a poor standard of hygiene, many people will die there. And if it's got a good standard of hygiene, 19:04 lives can be saved. Hygiene is very important. Doctors who operate scrub their hands with soap and all for quite a few minutes, not just one or two minutes. At the end of that, they'll wear gloves 19:28 which are sterilized. All the instruments they use are all sterilized in steam. Because they're dealing with human 19:52 lives. There must be no germs. How much more when we are dealing with the humans with human souls in the church? That you got to make sure your heart is clean. So, what are the things concerning 20:13 hygienic doctrine? Older men must be dignified, sensible, sound in the faith. Again, faith and love. women must 20:31 also be reverent and not gossips. The word gossip is very similar to the word devil in the Greek. So, what they're saying is older women should not be little devils. A person who gossips, gossips, gossips 20:54 is a little devil. Remember that. Every time you're out talking to other people about others, you're a little devil. If you're an unbeliever, that's okay. But if you're a believer, you can't afford to be that. 21:12 And older women can teach. Whom shall they teach? They have to teach the young women in verse four. What shall they teach the young women? Not doctrine, the elders will do that. Teach the young women how to love their 21:33 husbands. Teach them how to love their children. Godly older sisters should take classes for the younger sisters. And teach them how to run their homes. 21:50 Teach them to be sensible and pure. How to be a worker at home. And so that the word of God is not dishonored. This is how young women should live. What about young men? They must be sensible and be ex- an 22:10 example and in pure in doctrine. All of this so that our enemy will have nothing to bad to say about us verse eight. This is sound doctrine. 22:31 Older women, older younger men, younger women, even slaves in verse nine. Not to argue with their masters. And not stealing small small things verse 10. But adorning the doctrine of God. 22:55 What a beautiful expression that is. Adorn the doctrine of God with a beautiful Christian life. Just like a woman likes to adorn herself with jewels. To try and enhance her beauty. 23:16 It says when you have a good life that adorns the doctrine you preach. Then it tells us in verse 11 to 15 about the true grace of God that has come. There is a false grace that is being 23:33 preached in many places today. But here is the true grace of God. What does the true grace of God do? First of all, it brings salvation to us. Then it teaches us to deny ungodliness. 23:53 Again, you find the word godliness. Deny ungodliness. What does grace do? Teach you to deny ungodliness. Teach you to deny worldly desires. Teach you to live a righteous, godly life. Waiting for the coming of Christ. 24:16 Why did Jesus die for us? He died verse 14 to redeem us from every single sin. Everything against God's law. Purify a people for himself. 24:37 A people who are full of zeal to do good works for others. This is sound doctrine. This is sound doctrine. And Paul says to Titus, you must speak these things with authority and rebuke people. Let no one disregard you. 24:55 You are a servant of God. Prepare people for the coming of Christ. Deliver them from the false grace that leads them to live in sin. We are living in days when the false grace is preached. Read verse 11 to 14 if you want to know 25:17 what the true grace is. And share it with others. God bless you. Welcome once again to Words of Life. In our study through the Bible, we have 25:36 now reached Titus chapter three. We saw that Titus was a Greek person who was a co-worker of Paul. He was a young man. 25:56 Paul regarded him very highly. He had left him in Crete to appoint elders. So, he was an apostle. Who grew up under the leadership of Paul. And words that Paul uses here are words 26:17 like godliness, hygienic doctrine. Doctrine that leads to a clean life. That is Paul's emphasis. And there are a number of things he 26:36 speaks here about that. And about how men and women of different ages should conduct themselves in the church. And he says here 26:56 to Timothy to Titus, please remind people in all the churches to be subject to the rulers. To be subject chapter three verse one to 27:13 the authorities. Be obedient to the authorities. And to be ready to do every good work in society. And not to speak evil of any authorities. Not to get into arguments and 27:32 contentions with the authorities. And always to be gentle and to show consideration for all men. Even in Romans when Paul wrote there about the gospel. After explaining the gospel, he 27:52 says in chapter 12 about presenting our bodies as living sacrifices to God. He says about how we should submit to secular authorities. That was a very big point for Paul. 28:12 A Christian must not rebel against secular authority. There in Romans 13, he use even says that every secular authority is a servant of God. God has appointed them, so you better 28:30 submit to them. You know, we generally think of servants of God as preachers or prophets or something like that. But there we read of secular authorities being referred to as servants of God. That's amazing. 28:54 That secular authorities called servants of God. If they are servants of God, then you must submit to them. Here it says we have to speak evil of no one. It's a very common habit among even Christians to speak evil of 29:14 secular authorities. Our president is like this. Our prime minister is like this. These are 29:30 the speech of ungodly people. Sound doctrine always leads us to speak respectfully of authorities. Then further, 29:48 he He says remember in verse three we also once upon a time were foolish disobedient deceived enslaved to various lusts and pleasures spending our life in malice and envy and hateful and hating one another. Here we see how he describes our former 30:13 condition. He says there may be a lot of things wrong with other people. He's talking about showing consideration for all men in verse two. He says there may be peculiar people there may be so many things wrong with them. 30:34 Why do you need to show consideration for them? Because you also were like them once upon a time. And the kindness of God came and changed you. And why did he save you? 30:55 It's not because of any good thing you did. But according to his mercy he regenerated you which is a type of washing and renewed you by the Holy Spirit. And justified you so that you can become 31:14 heir to the hope of eternal life. So a constant recognition of how much God has forgiven me and been merciful to me is the thing that makes me merciful to other people. So we must always remember how God has 31:40 been good to us. Then in verse eight he says concerning these things I want you to speak confidently. That means don't speak about things which you are not so sure about. There are many things about which we are 32:02 not sure. Even things in the Bible that are not very clearly written down. Well, I can't speak confidently about certain things in scripture. But everything relating to forgiveness of sins and a godly life that I can 32:19 speak confidently about. But so many details of what we are going to do in heaven and what heaven is like is not revealed in scripture. Many details about what is going to 32:36 happen in the tribulation. Even some details concerning God's dealings with the nation of Israel. Some things are not very clear. We should not act as if we are very clear on that. But 32:55 Peter says in 2 Peter that everything relating to life and godliness God has already given us. That we can speak about confidently. We don't have to have any hesitation or uncertainty about those things. So a doctrine the truth that leads to 33:18 godliness and hygienic doctrine we must speak confidently. Urge people who are God's people to do good works. See this is another thing that Paul 33:36 emphasizes. Good works. You see for example chapter two verse 14 he spoke about being zealous for good works. Because a lot of believers because they know salvation is not by works don't do any good works. They think works is not necessary at 33:59 all. Yeah works is not necessary in the foundation. Not of works the Bible says. He says by grace through faith not of works. But that God has ordained that we should do good works which he has already 34:18 planned for us. And he says those who believe in God must be very careful to do these good works. We must have a testimony that we do good works. In fact that's how our light shines. He 34:37 said in Matthew chapter five men. That they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. He never said that they may hear your preaching and glorify your father. Or see that your doctrine is very 34:58 correct and please The world can't understand doctrine. But they can understand when you do them some good. As Christians we must that we don't cause any problem to our 35:20 neighbors but on the contrary do good to them. Every church must have that testimony. You mustn't have a testimony that you just make a lot of noise in that neighborhood when you have a meeting. Some neighbors may be fed up with the 35:39 noise you're making. In which case you must be a little more considerate and not make so much noise and disturb your neighbors. It's foolish to say oh no we are praising God. Well then go out and meet in the 35:57 wilderness. Then make as much noise as you like. But what does it say show consideration for all men in verse two? Avoid all foolish controversies verse nine. Everything that leads to strife and 36:17 argument. And if someone keeps on wants to keep on arguing with you verse 10. One warning two warnings then don't talk to him anymore. Because some people like to keep on 36:35 bringing up controversial doctrines. I've seen people like that and I always do what it says here in verse 10. Again in verse 14 in conclusion. Paul says once more in a moment he says 36:55 our people learn to engage in good works. See these are the closing words of the apostle. He's concerned that many Christians are not doing good works. Then we move on to Paul's letter to 37:14 Philemon. It's a very brief letter. But we see something beautiful about the apostle Paul here. Philemon was probably an elder in a church that was meeting in his house. And Apphia was probably his wife verse 37:35 two. And Archippus was probably their son. And he says I want to greet the church that meets in your house. And again like he often says verse four 37:52 I thank God always when I think of you. And what are the two things he mentions? Verse five love and faith. Notice how Paul is always excited when he sees that people love one another and 38:10 have faith in the Lord Jesus. Love for the Lord and love for all the saints. Remember this faith and love are the most important thing. The faith that leads to godliness. And then he says there are so many 38:30 things I appreciate in you in you my brother. I see so many the hearts of so many saints have been refreshed through you. Not just that he provided hospitality to saints in his house. He's talking about their hearts not 38:52 their bodies. They they were encouraged by Philemon. He says therefore I have enough confidence to order you to do what is right. Since I'm an apostle I have certain 39:11 authority I can tell you to do something. Apostles have authority to tell believers what to do. Apostles have authority to receive money for their support. But Paul would not take that. He would 39:31 not take from people. And he would not order people even though he had that authority. But he appeals to them 9 in love. He says to Philemon, "I'm an old man now. I'm a prisoner in a jail. 39:55 And I want to plead with you for my child who was born in my imprisonment." Onesimus was a slave of Philemon. And he had run away some one day. And somehow 40:17 he came and met up with Paul in this prison. And Paul tells him, "You must go back." He says, "The right thing for you to do as a Christian is to go back." Onesimus was not born again. 40:40 But he says he was born again through contact with Paul. He says, "Begotten in my imprisonment." He says in verse 10. So he was born again through contact with Paul. Paul writes to Philemon. He says, "You have a right to, you know, 40:59 punish this chap for running away because he's a slave. He was useless to you in the past. But now he's useful both to you and to me. So I'm sending him back to you. 41:19 And I want you to know that when I send him to you, I'm sending my very heart to you." Paul's attitude to a new convert who is the lowest level of society, a slave. He says, "This man may be a low slave in 41:39 society, but he's a child of God." He says, "I would have liked to keep him with me so that he can serve me in my imprisonment instead of you serving me. But without your consent, I won't do 41:57 anything." See the attitude of the Apostle Paul. Never using his authority over other believers. Never making other people serve him. Spirit of Christ right to the end of his life, always serving others even as an 42:15 aged man. He says, "I never want you to do anything by compulsion, verse 14, but only of your own free will. Because God never wants anyone to do 42:34 anything out of compulsion. How many preachers there are who force other people to do certain things? Maybe good things. But they force The moment it is forced, it's a dead work. And people have to repent of dead works 42:55 according to Hebrews 6. So Paul didn't believe in forcing anyone to do anything. So he says, "Maybe Onesimus ran away from you so that you can have him back forever. Now he's born again. 43:18 He comes back to you not as a slave, but a beloved brother. Especially a beloved brother to me. And how much more to you? Brother in the flesh and a brother in 43:36 the Lord. So he's a brother to you. If you regard me as a partner in the gospel, please accept Onesimus just like you would accept me." See, he realizes that this runaway slave 43:54 can be punished very severely. And so he's pleading with him, "Don't punish him at all. Treat him, he says, just like you would treat me." And can you can imagine now Philemon would have not have been able to do 44:11 anything after reading this letter? Because we had such a respect for Paul. Now you see, he says this man may have run away and caused some financial loss to you because of that. Maybe he ran away with some of your 44:30 money. Or all the work he was supposed to do, because of that you lost a lot of money. Or he's wronged you in some way. I'm not just asking you to forgive him. No, he must make restitution. 44:49 He must give back to you what he has taken. But he says, "I will pay it. Put it to my account. Charge it to my account, verse 18." This is so similar to the spirit of Christ. 45:08 He goes to his father. He says, "This runaway person, you and me, whatever he has done wrong, charge it to my account." A true servant of God, the closer he comes to God, the more he imbibes the same spirit as Christ. Do you find yourself having this 45:30 attitude towards those whom you bring to Christ? Concerning them, would you be able to say something like this? "This is my child. If he owes you something, I'll pay it." See the the relationship Paul had with 45:51 his converts. So different from today's evangelists who just sign a decision card and never bother about the people again. Paul says, "I'm writing this with my own hand. 46:10 I will repay whatever he owes you. I will also mention to you that you owe me your whole life." So he says, "In having confidence in your obedience, verse 21, I'm writing to you since I know you will do more than I 46:28 say." And he says, "Pray for me. Because I know that through your prayers I'll be released from prison. And when I'm released from prison, 46:47 I'm going to come and visit you. So please prepare a little room for me. And I want to come and meet you." Now in this whole letter, why has the Holy Spirit included a letter like this in the Bible as one of the books of the 47:07 Bible? It's dealing with one person who was converted. What we see here is how much a human being can imbibe the spirit of Christ. We see an example of this in the Old 47:30 Testament. A great servant of God in the Old Testament was Moses. There was a time when God said to Moses, "I'm going to destroy this nation of Israel, Exodus 32 and 33. They have worshipped idols and gone away 47:49 from me. This nation of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be destroyed. Moses, I'll start again with you. You will be the new nation of Israel. And your children. 48:10 What an honor. Moses to replace Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And Moses says, "No. No, Lord, don't destroy them. But what will the Egyptians say? Forgive them. 48:28 And if you can't do that, if somebody has to be punished, punish me. Blot out my name from the book of life. Send me to hell, but save them." This is the spirit of a true servant of God. Paul says somewhat similar words. 48:50 Romans 9, he says, "I love Israel so much that I'm willing to go to hell if they can be saved." See the similar attitude towards someone whom he has brought to Christ. He says, "I know this man has got to 49:09 make restitution and repay what he owes you. Whatever it is, let me know, Philemon, and I'll pay it myself." This is the spirit of Christ. And if we had more spiritual fathers like this, would earthly fathers do that? 49:31 If a son gets into debt and he's unable to repay it, and may go have to go to jail? The father says, "Let me know how much it is. I'll pay it." Paul was a spiritual father just like that. Just let me know how much he owes you. 49:53 I'll pay it. I'll pay it. I'll pay it. And here, the Holy Spirit has put this book to demonstrate how a true servant of God should be towards those whom he has brought to Christ. He doesn't He's not unreasonable. He doesn't tell Philemon, "Okay, share 50:13 your property with Onesimus." He realizes that slavery was still there in those days. Paul didn't take a crusade against slavery because he knew that if he goes on that line, he will not be able to 50:30 preach the gospel. He knew that would go one day with the preaching of the gospel. So, he said, "Take him back." You don't have to share your property with him. But love him. 50:50 Be good to him. Let's also learn to imbibe the spirit of Christ in our attitude to those whom we serve. Amen.
