Titus 1:5

 Titus 1:5 says, For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:  Paul said he left Titus in Crete to set things in order in the church.  He was also to ordain elders or preachers and or deacons in every city so they could keep God's order in the churches they served in by ensuring tht His word was what they were guided by.  I have to believe that they both felt that this was God's will for them.  Though some leaders in the church my be appointed today, especially missionaries, I believe that those appointing them and the missionaries themselves must believe that it is God's will that they serve where they are appointed.   

Verse six adds. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.  As in Timothy, Paul then began to give the requirements for preachers.  They were to be the husband of only one wife, though there is some dispute on what this means.  They were also to have children who were obedient, though this often isn't the case, especially as children get older, but a preacher should always do his best to lead them to obedience to God, as should all Christians.   

Verse seven continues, For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;  Though Paul said a bishop, or pastor, should be blameless, we know that this is never really possible, but should still be their goal.  They were not to be self-willed, or self-centered, not easily angered, not one who loves to drink wine, not someone who strikes others, and not wanting riches.  These are qualities that preacher should avoid today.  

Verse eight states, But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;  Having listed some things a preacher should not be, Paul now begins to list some things he should be.  He should offer hospitality to others willing, love to be in the presence of other good men, sober, just in his dealings with others, and temperate, or not hot-tempered. Of course, these qualities should apply to all Christians.

Verse nine adds, 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.  Then Paul states that a preacher should hold fast to the faithful word that he had been taught so that he could be exhort others to accept Jesus Christ as their Savir and Lord.  Though the other characteristics are important, without being faithful to God's word they will mean very little.  A preacher, or any Christian, must be obedient to God's word before all else    

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.