"Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness--a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior."Titus 1:1-3
This is one of the most powerful and insightful introductions to the GraceLife in Paul's writings. God opens to those who will hear and believe the Deep Secrets of True Spirituality. Here we learn the Purpose of God in Life. God chose Paul from all the peoples of the world to explain His Wisdom and the Mystery hidden in Him from before the beginning of time. God inspired Paul to preach, teach and write so that we might benefit for Eternity.
Paul was a "servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ." Paul loved God with all of his heart. He was humbled to be one of God's "servants." The Greek word is doulos . It is the most abject and servile term that ancient Greeks used for a slave. It was a person who was born into slavery. Paul was born physically into the horrible slavery of "sin." He was born anew into the wonderful slavery of an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. The will of a Greek slave was swallowed up in the will of his master. Paul was God's humble and loving "slave." His will was God's will. Paul lived his life completely for Christ. Paul dedicated his life to God and obeyed Him all of the years following his spiritual conversion to Christ. Paul braved angry mobs, killer animals and demonic spirits to bring the Mystery of God's Grace to a needy planet.
Paul served God as "an apostle." God sent Paul, a Jew, to preach salvation to Gentiles from every nation. Paul called himself the "apostle of the Gentiles." Paul did not stop preaching, teaching and writing about his wonderful Savior until the enemies of God snuffed out Paul's life. He was obedient to the end.
Paul was a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ "for the faith of God's elect." kata pistin eklekton theou . Kata - preposition meaning "down". It has the meaning of dominating. When used with a noun in the accusative case, it carries the idea of "according to" (KJV) or "with a view to". The word "faith" (pistin ) is in the accusative case. That is the case that relates to action and indicates the direction, extent or end of an action. The "faith" that Paul writes about in his letter to Titus is the goal of a Christian's life. Paul was a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ dominated by the goal of "the faith."
"The faith" is what Christians believe and cling to for their spiritual, physical and emotional lives (pistin - objectively "that which is believed, doctrine, the received articles of faith"). "The faith" is the entire body of teachings about Christ and following Him. Many people make light of the importance of doctrine today. Some say feelings, emotions and relationships within the Body of Christ are what are important in the Christian experience. I submit to the Body of Christ that all feelings, emotions and relationships must pass the test of "the faith" of Christian teaching. "The faith" is the entire Body of Truth which God established through His Apostle almost two thousand years ago. It is that Body of Truth that Christians are to believe, adhere, imitate and obey. "The faith" is not any portion of Paul's writings that we particularly enjoy and wish to practice. "The faith" is every Word of the Living God for the Dispensation of Grace.
Paul was a servant and an apostle "dominated by" the faith of God's elect. "Elect" is eklekton . It is an adjective from eklego (to choose, select). It carries the idea of thoughtful and deliberate consideration in making a choice. It means "chosen ones." The combination of the words eklekton theou (God's elect), means that God was the One Who made the thoughtful and deliberate consideration that led Him to choose those who are called His "elect." We are "God's elect." God carefully thought and deliberated about, considered and "chose" us. How wonderful! How exciting! How comforting! How special we are in the Sight of the All-Knowing, All-Loving God. We are His "chosen ones."
The "faith" of God's elect is the Body of Truth that guides all Christians and has guided all Christians since Christ spoke through the teachings of the Apostle Paul. Paul was a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to that "faith." We have a very strong sense of protection when it comes to God's Word. The Bible is the single most important document in existence today. Nothing in any library, nothing in any business or home, nothing on the Internet compares even slightly with God's Holy Word. The Bible is not just a religious book upon which humanity can cast its eyes and wonder. The Bible is the Holy Writings of the Spirit of the Living God as He moved upon select men through many centuries to explain God's Purpose and Will. The Writings of Paul are God's Purpose and Will for the present Age of Grace in which we live today. The Bible is a Living Document that guides us to Eternal Life and to the GraceLife: the only Life worth living.
Paul was also a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to "the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness" (epignosin aletheias tes kateusebeian ). "Knowledge" is epignosin . It means "to recognize fully." The word carries an "intensity" of recognition and understanding into truth. It is a knowledge that comes from experience and "expresses a more thorough participation in the acquiring of knowledge on the part of the learner" (Zodhiates). It often suggests "advanced knowledge or special appreciation" (Vine).
Christians are not stupid people. We do not have a low IQ. We do not blindly follow some off-the-wall, crazy religion that has no basis in fact. Christians do not believe something that is dead and dry. We have "full and complete knowledge" of truth. We have experienced "Truth" through Jesus Christ the Lord Who is The Way, The Truth and The Life! We have full access to the Wisdom of Almighty God. We know what God knows. We believe what God believes. We know and understand the Words of the Living God. Now, that's KNOWLEDGE!
This full knowledge is "of the truth that leads to godliness." "Truth" is aletheias . It comes from the combination of a (negative) and letho (to forget) and means "that which is unconcealed." It is based on the concept of that which is manifest, revealed, actual. God "revealed" His Word, His Truth, to Paul and through him to the Church. God sent His Son, Who is Truth, to Earth to speak and prove what is True. It is that Truth that is the foundation of our full knowledge. We have a complete knowledge of "the truth" of God!
The knowledge of the truth "leads to godliness" (tes kateusebeian ). The root word is eusebeia . It combines eu (well) with sebomai (to be devout). Kate , the prefix, means "according to" or "with a view toward." It "denotes that piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude, does that which is well-pleasing to Him" (Vine). It is "well-directed reverence" (Zodhiates). Paul uses it in the sense of an externalized piety, not something that comes inherently from within a person. A Christian's godliness comes from believing, obeying and practicing the Truth of God. Godliness in a Christian's life, the proper respect and demonstration of reverence to God, comes from our relationship to God's Truth. We become godly in manner because of the Truth we believe, obey and practice.
The "faith and knowledge" we have as Christians are "resting on the hope of eternal life" (ep elpidi zoes aionion ). Epi , "on", has a root meaning of "upon." It is used with the noun elpidi , which is in the dative case. It represents "place" and "relationship." It implies a close proximity and contact upon. It carries the idea here of resting "full hope and confidence" on something. It is what we "base" our hope upon.
Our "hope" is a "full hope and confidence." We hope for something sure and lasting. Jesus Christ is proof of what we have. We don't walk around every day wondering if what we believe is true. We KNOW it's true. The writer to Hebrews wrote: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." I also like the way the King James Version translates Hebrews 11:1-2.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
Our "full hope and confidence" rests on our eternal future, which is eternal life. Eternal is aionion . It addresses duration. It is a life that goes on forever. It never ends. It also speaks to the quality of the life we have in Christ. We have a Great Life. We a Fantastic Life. We have Eternal Life in "The Life", the Resurrected Son of the Living God. The Life God gives to His Children of Grace is a Life of Enduring Quality. Our Eternal Life will never become boring. It will never fade into mediocrity. It will always be Perfect. It will forever be Excellent. It will always be Fun! That's the "hope" we have in Christ.
Paul was "a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness--a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life." This is the legacy Paul left for each of us. We Christians have that same faith, that same knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness. Our faith and knowledge rest on the hope of eternal life.
Our Faith, Knowledge and Hope also rests on something else: the Truthfulness of God. Our God does not lie. "...a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time." The Greek is hen epeggeilato ho apseudes theos pro chronon aionion .
God "promised" (epeggeilato ) us something. The Greek word comes from a legal term that denotes a summons. The verb form means "to announce, proclaim, promise, profess." God is the Legal Authority of the Universe. He has the Position and the Power to make Promises. The Promise He made us was "eternal life." God was able to promise us Eternal Life because He has Eternal Life. God is from Everlasting to Everlasting. He Always Was and Always Will Be. God has the Ability to give us what He Promised. He has Eternal Life and can give it to us.
God made this Promise of Eternal Life "before the beginning of time" (pro chronon aionion ). The Greek literal is "before eternal times." God made a decision before time began and announced it as a promise. That promise what that He would give Eternal Life to those who had faith and knowledge in the Truth. It is reminiscent of what Paul wrote the Ephesians: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." (Ephesians 1:4-5) God's Promise of Eternal Life is not something He did quickly and with little forethought because Adam sinned against Him. God made a selection (eklekton ) before the counting of time began. He made a Promise to His Elect that they would live forever and ever with Him in Heaven in great Peace and Security in His Love and Grace.
God's Promise of Eternal Life is also based on His Character. God "does not lie" (ho apseudes theos ). The word translates as "not false, without lie." It means literally "the un-lie-able God." God cannot and will not tell a lie. His character is Truth. He is a Truthful God because He is Truth. There is nothing false about Him. God does not speak false things because He is "un-lie-able." His Word is based on His Unchangable Character of Truth.
Christians are the most fortunate of people. We know God's Truth. We have Faith in His Truth. We have Knowledge of His Truth. We have Hope because of His Truth. We understand that our Faith and Knowledge leads to Godliness which pleases our Lord and Savior. We know that our Faith and Knowledge rest upon the Full Hope and Confidence of the Gift of Eternal Life God has given each of His Children of Grace. We know God made this Promise before the beginning of time. We know we can depend on the Promise because God does not lie. That's Powerful!
The next verse is very important in our understanding of what God has done with His Promise. "...and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior." The KJV translates it as "But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour." The Greek is ephanerosen de kairois idiois ton logon autou en kerugmati ho episteuthen ego kat epitagen tou soteros hemon theou . The first word of Titus 1:3 is ephanerosen . It translates as "make visible, clear, manifest." It means "to uncover, lay bare, reveal." The idea is of someone revealing something that was hidden. This is not a new theme in Paul's writings.
"In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."Ephesians 3:4-11
God had many Secrets when He created the heavens and the earth. God used many people through time to reveal those Secret things that were hidden in His Mind and Purpose. He used Abraham and Moses. He used the Prophets. He used His Son, Jesus Christ. He used Peter and John. Each of them played an important part in revealing how God would work in the Nation of Israel. Then, God used Paul. He used Paul to reveal the Mystery that God would save Gentiles aside from His Promises and Plans for Israel. Gentiles would become full members of the Body of Christ along with believing Jews. God made that decision, choice and promise "before time," but kept it a Secret until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul, who revealed it "through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior."
Paul wrote that God "brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me" at a particular time. That time was His "appointed season." The Greek is kairois idiois . This speaks to a strategic time in the calendar of God. God chose the time that He would reveal His Secret to those who would believe Him. Everything God has done has been strategic. Time belongs to God and He has appointed the exact times and seasons that best fit His Plan of Salvation. Christ died and rose from the dead at the "appointed time." Paul revealed the Mystery of Grace at the "appointed time." Everything God does is with Purpose, Strategy and Perfect Execution.
We have great reason to trust what we read in Paul's Letter to Titus. God revealed the Truth to him so he could reveal it to Titus and all Christians. That's the way it is with all of Paul's Letters. God "revealed" His Truth to Paul and brought His Word to light through the preaching He entrusted to Paul by His Command.
"The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations."Psalm 33:10-11
It is a thrilling thing to be on the Winning Side! I have no doubt that God will do everything He said He would do. That should give every Christian tremendous confidence in their service to God and to the world.
I'm fascinated by how Christians know what to do in serving God. Some become pastors. Others work with young people. Some with children. Some Christians serve God in their own countries. Some go to countries thousands of miles away. Some speak. Some listen. Some write. Some sing. Some pray. Some pay. That is part of God's marvelous PLAN for His Church, the Body of Christ.
Let's look at a couple of basic GraceLife Principles about God's Plan for us and the world.
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good...All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."1 Corinthians 12:4-7,11
Principle #1: God designed the Plan and He works the Plan.
God knows what needs to be done to meet the purposes and goals of His Plan and He does it through us. Isn't that the greatest thing! God gives us spiritual gifts and spiritual callings to fulfill His Plan. Now that's something about which we can rejoice! I'm not doing my thing. You're not doing your thing. We're doing God's Thing! We're serving the Almighty God in just the way He wants us to serve Him. That's exciting and rewarding!
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."Ephesians 4:11-14
Principle #2: God uses people to help people do His Work.
Christ gave His Body "Servant Leaders" for the purpose of preparing members of the Body for their service to Christ. Those "Servant Leaders" are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. As those Servant Leaders prepare God's people for their service to Christ, the Body of Christ is built up. The Body of Christ becomes one in purpose and matures, "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
When we attain to the "fullness of Christ," we will no longer be spiritual infants, tossed back and forth and blown here and there. What is it that can toss and blow Christians around and keep them from fulfilling God's Plan for their lives? What is it that can keep Christians unbalanced and unfocused on what's right for them? "...every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."
Just as God has a Plan for His Body Church, so does Satan. Satan's plan is to confuse Christians, push them off balance, keep them focused on what's unimportant, keep them upset about trivial things, keep them divided. Satan does that thinking God's Plan will fail. We know that Satan doesn't have the brains or power to thwart God's Ultimate Plan for His Church, but it is sad to see how successful Satan is with individual members of God's Church. It doesn't have to be that way. Each of us has a tremendous opportunity and responsibility.
Principle #3: God's Plan is based on His Truth and His Love.
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."Ephesians 4:15
For too long I've heard arguments in the Church that Christians have to sacrifice Truth or Love in the way they serve Christ. Either we're tough on sinners and sin or we're soft on sinners and sin. Why is that? Why can't we tell the Truth in Love? As we speak the Truth in Love, "we will in all things grow up into him ho is the Head, that is, Christ." We can Love sinners and tell them the Truth about their sin. We can Love fellow believers and tell them the Truth about their sin. That's what Paul did. His life and letters prove it. God's Plan for the Church is based on His Truth and His Love. He has never sacrificed either for the other.
Principle #4: God's Plan works as each member of the Body does their work.
"The fullness of Christ" is God's Goal for the Church. His Plan to get us there is through the process of every member of His Church doing what He planned for them to do, with the support of His "Servant Leaders."
"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."Ephesians 4:16
God used the analogy of the human body to help Christians understand what it means to be part of the Spiritual Body of Christ. Christ is our Head. We are His Body. Just as a human body is made up of various parts, the Body of Christ is made up of various parts. Just as the human body functions well as each part does its particular job, so the Body of Christ functions well as each part does its work.
Think for a moment about the working of a healthy body. The brain (head) communicates its desires through the nervous system to support systems (ligaments, tendons, etc.) to various parts of the body (hands, fingers, feet, toes, etc.). If the brain wants a finger to move, it sends its desire through a nerve to a ligament and tendon that directs the finger to move in the direction the brain wants it to go. The finger moves as the supporting ligament moves. The supporting ligament moves as the nerve directs it to move. The nerve directs the ligaments and parts as the brain desires. As each part does its job (brain --> nerves --> ligaments --> parts (organs, appendages, etc.)), the body is healthy and functions properly. If any part does not do its job, the body becomes unhealthy and functions improperly.
Here is a simple explanation of how that works spiritually.
Just as in the human body, if any part of the Spiritual Body becomes "disconnected" from another part, a lack of health (illness) will follow. It is impossible for Christ to become disconnected from the Holy Spirit. That process will always work. However, it is possible for Servant Leaders (supporting ligaments) to become disconnected from the Plan of Christ because they no longer listen or obey the Holy Spirit (nervous system). It is possible for Christians (parts) to become disconnected from the Plan of Christ because they no longer listen to the Holy Spirit or submit to the supporting ministries of Servant Leaders who prepare them for works of service and join and hold them together.
It's a simple, yet complicated process. God made it simple. We complicate it. God made us one Body with many parts. We succeed as each of us does our part.
That brings up another issue. Which part are we? Does it matter? Think about it. Does it really matter which part of the Body we are? Isn't it enough that God made us a part? Isn't it enough that we are safe and secure for all eternity and also get to participate in God's Eternal Plan by being a member of Christ's Body? Does it really matter which part we are? No, it doesn't matter. Every part is just as important and as vital as any other part. Someone who preaches the Gospel is no more important than someone who supports the preacher through prayer and financial support. The evangelist is no more important than someone who helps sinners find a seat in the auditorium so they can hear the evangelist. What's the deal with us? Why are we so concerned about what someone else does? Why do Christians compare themselves with other Christians? Why do we think we're better or worse than some other Christian just because our gifts and ministries are different? What does it matter? "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines." Come on! Why are we divided? Why are we conceited? Why are we troubled? Why do we find pleasure in the problems of our brothers and sisters? Why do we gloat about the troubles of others? Don't we realize that we're members of the same Body? Let's grow up and move up to what God wants His Body to be!
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit, into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."1 Corinthians 12:12-27
God has a Plan. He has included us in His Plan. He has explained to us how His Plan works. Now it's up to us to live and serve by the Principles of His Plan. It works best that way.
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Last Updated: 12/20/1999