Titus 1:1

 Titus 1:1 says, 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;  As with many of his letters, Paul first identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ according to God's call to him.  He also said that he acknowledged the truth of God since all truth comes from God.  He said this then led him to Godliness, which comes from obedience to God's word.  Though we might not be called to be an apostle in the sense that it was understood in Paul's day, we are all called to a specific purpose in doing God's work today and to the general calling of calling all people to come to Jesus Christ for salvation, so we too should acknowledge the truth of God by faith.  

Verse two adds, In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;  Paul said he did this not for earthly rewards but for the hope of eternal life with God which He promised to those who put their faith in Him before the world began. Jesus Christ dying on the cross for the sins of mankind was not a plan developed after mankind sinned but was God's plan from the beginning if they did sin.  Still, had people not sinned, this would not have been necessary.  People always have free-will, and they always choose to sin, except for one Man, Jesus Christ.  

Verse three continues, But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;  Paul said that in due time God manifested this truth through preaching and he was called to preach according to God's commandment to him.  God still manifests His word to people today through preachers who are called by Him to preach, but also through His written word, the Bible, and through all Christians reaching out to others with the call to salvation.  God's truth should also be manifested by the way that we as followers of Christ live our lives every day.   

Verse four concludes, To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Paul said this was written to Titus, his son after the common faith.  As with Timothy, Paul may have felt like he was a spiritual father to Titus, but he really was a brother instead.  There is but one heavenly Father, and that is God himself.  Paul asked that God give Titus His grace, mercy, and peace which can only come by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  We can only have spiritual peace by the grace of God Who sent His only begotten Son Jesus Chrit to die for our sins. 

2 Timothy Review

This is the second letter that Paul wrote to Timothy.  He started by charging or asking Timothy to be obedient to God.  He said that God had called Timothy to redemption or salvation by putting his faith in Jesus Christ.  This did not imply that there were two Gods, but only that there were two manifestations of the One God.  Though Paul didn’t mention the Holy Spirit here, we as Christians know we do not serve three Gods when we speak of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but only one God, since the three are One.  We may not fully understand how this is true, but we must put our faith in the fact that it is.  

Paul told Timothy to stir up the Spirit of truth which Paul had acknowledged that he believed that Timothy had by laying his hands on him.  We may lay our hands on preachers today, but this only acknowledges that we believe that they are called to preach and not that the laying on of hands somehow makes them called by God.  If they are called and ordained, then they must stir up or call on the Holy Spirit to enable them, as should all Christians.

Paul then asked Timothy to be ready to preach God's word at all times.  Preachers should be the same today, but even more than this, all Christians should be ready to proclaim God's word to the world at all times, both by our words and the way we live our lives.

Paul challenged Timothy to be a workman who didn't need to be ashamed as he rightly divided or understood God's word.  He wasn't to work to attain salvation but was to work for God because he had been freely given salvation.  We today as followers of Christ need to do whatever God calls us to do for His glory but can never earn our salvation.  Salvation is a free gift from God, and if we study and understand His word, the Bible, we will know this.

Paul warned Timothy that in the latter times perdition would come and we have been in the latter times since Jesus Christ's resurrection.  We should not be surprised by the perdition, or sin, in the world today and we certainly should not be guided by it.

Paul urged Timothy to be strong in his faith so that he could withstand the attacks that would be made on him by the people of the world who did not believe in God and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  As Christians, we should be strong in our faith so that we can withstand attacks on our faith, and they will come.

Paul told Timothy that he became all things to all people so that he might win some to Christ.  He didn’t mean that he changed his belief in God and His salvation plan, but that he tried to reach out to people as an equal in the world.  We must try to meet people wherever they are without feeling superior or inferior to them as we maintain our faith in Jesus Christ. 

Paul commended Timothy’s mother and grandmother who had taught him God’s word.  Parents today should teach their children God’s word and should set a good example for them by living out their faith daily.

I am sure there are many more lessons we can learn from 2 Timothy, but I will stop here. Next, we will look at Titus.

 

 

 

2 Timothy 4:16

2 Timothy 4:16 says, At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.  Paul said that when he first answered those who had accused him and were ready to arrest him that no one stood with him, but they all had forsaken him.  He then said he prayed that God would not hold them accountable for this.  He didn’t want the worst for them, but the best.  As followers of Christ, if someone we know was arrested for their faith in God and proclaiming His word to the world, would we forsake them or stand with them?  If we were arrested for our faith and proclaiming God’s word and were forsaken by everyone around us, would we ask God to not hold them accountable or would we want them punished?  We need to learn from Paul’s example.  

Verse seventeen adds, Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  Paul said that even though he was forsaken by all those around him, that the Lord stood with him.  He said God did this so that he might be strengthened and that by his preaching, God’s word might be fully known, and that the Gentiles might hear.  Even if the whole world deserts us as we stand for Christ and proclaim God’s word, God never will.  We will be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we might continue to proclaim God’s word.    

Verse eighteen continues, And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Paul said that God would one day deliver him to his heavenly home.  Even if we are killed for our faith, God still will not have forsaken us, but He will bring us to our heavenly home.  

Verse nineteen states, Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.  Paul then told Timoty to salute certain people who had been of help to him and who stood firm in their faith.  He named Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.  There may be certain people who have helped us in our walk of faith that we want others to acknowledge.  

Verse twenty adds, Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.  Paul then said he had left Erastus in Corinth and Trophimus in Miletum.  These two had not deserted Paul but had been left behind to continue God’s work where they were.  We should not expect all our close fellow believers to remain near us at all times but should expect them to go where God leads them to do God’s work that they have been called to do.  

Verse twenty-one continues, Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.  Paul asked Timothy to do his best to come before winter, possibly because Paul asked him to bring a cloak to him.  He then mentioned some men there who greeted Timothy, so even if they may have forsaken Paul at one time, they were now standing with him.  There will always be other Christians standing for Christ even if at times we feel all alone in the world.   

Verse twenty-two concludes, The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.  Paul then asked that the Lord Jesus Christ be with Timothy in his spirit and that the grace of God be with Him.  As followers of Christ, God is always with us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and God’s grace will always be with us as well.