Titus 3:1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
You see, they were a rough, wild, rebellious people in Crete, and Christianity comes to civilize, to sober, to sanctify, to save.
Titus 3:2. To speak evil of no man,
Oh, how necessary is this exhortation even to this day!
Titus 3:2. To be no brawler, but gentle, shewing all meekness, unto all men.
Meekness and gentleness are two of the ornaments of our faith. I would that some professed Christians would understand that unholy contentiousness is not after the mind of Christ, it is not according to that gracious command, «Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls.» No, the Christian must be willing to suffer wrongfully, and to bear it in patience; he is never to be one who renders evil for evil, or railing for railing.
Titus 3:3. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
Well, then, if other people are foolish, we ought to bear with them.
Titus 3:4. Disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
That is what we were once; and if the grace of God has made a change in us, we must not boast, we must not censure others, we must not set up as self-righteous judges of others. Oh, no! our action must be the very reverse of all this.
Titus 3:4-7. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This is a very practical Epistle. See how closely Paul keeps to the doctrines of grace. He is never like Mr. Legality, he never teaches that we are to be saved by works; but, being saved by the grace of God alone, and being made heirs according to the hope of eternal life, we are then, out of gratitude to God, to abound in everything that is good, and holy, and kind, and after the mind of Christ.
Titus 3:8-9. 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. But avoid foolish questions,
There are always plenty of thorn about, and there are certain professors who spend half their lives in fighting about nothing at all. There is no more in their contention than the difference between Tweedledum and Tweedledee; but they will divide a church over it, they will go through the world as if they had found out a great secret, it really is not of any consequence whatever, but having made the discovery, they judge everybody by their new-found fad, and so spread a spirit that is contrary to the Spirit of Christ.
Titus 3:9-10. And genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic-
One who really turns aside from the truth, and sets up something contrary to the Word of God; what is to be done with him? «Burn him,» says the Church of Rome. «Fine him, put him in prison,» say other churches; but the inspired apostle says only this,-
Titus 3:10. After the first and second admonition reject;
Just exclude him from the church, that is all. Leave him his utmost liberty to go where he likes, believe what he likes, and do what he likes; but, at the same time, you as Christian people must disown him, that is all you ought to do, except to pray and labour for his restoration.
Titus 3:11-14. Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing he wanting unto them. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
How the apostle comes back to that point! Let all our people, our friends, our brethren, our kinsfolk, «let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.»
Titus 3:15. All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
Amen.