A Church for God’s elect (Titus 1:1-4)

Kyle Ryan

Land O Lakes Bible Church

Titus • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago • 37:43

Titus 1:1–4

Godliness

God’s Truth

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A message from Kyle Ryan on June 2, 2024.

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Introduction

If you are visiting or newer to Land O’ Lakes Bible we are glad to have you with us this morning. This here is the time of our service where we open up this ancient book, the Bible and read it. We then proceed to unfold it and apply it to our lives today. While this may or may not seem strange, lets be clear why we do it. We open the Bible because it is through the Bible that we believe the LORD has spoken to us and revealed himself and his ways, particularly that of the way of salvation to us. All of the Bible is profitable to teach us, reprove us, correct us, and to train us (2 Tim 3:16). And this is why we continue here at Land O’ Lakes to generally move between Old and New Testaments, as it is all profitable for us. And so, having just spent time in the Old Testament covering Habakkuk and a Psalm, we move back to the New Testament this morning. We move to the book of Titus. At this time, I invite you to take your copy of the Bible and turn with me to Titus 1:1 where we will begin this morning. If you are unfamiliar with the Bible, you can find Titus between 2 Timothy and Philemon in the last 1/3 of the Bible. You can also use the Table of Contents to help you. If you do not have a copy of the Bible, there is a Red Pew Bible in front of you. You will be helped by taking that out and turning with us to Titus 1 and following along. You can find Titus 1 in that Bible on page #1184.

While you are turning to Titus 1:1, let me set the stage for this study in Titus. Titus is a letter written to the young man Titus from the Apostle Paul both encouraging and instructing him to remain setting up the church in Crete to make sure it is in proper order to be a healthy church that glorifies God. At the time of writing this letter, Paul is likely between two prison sentences. We know that he is free while writing it, for in the closing of the letter (Titus 3:12), Paul mentions spending the winter in Nicopolis. Therefore this letter written from Paul to Titus was likely written around the mid 60’s, thats just shy of nearly 2,000 years ago.

Yet, this nearly 2,000 year old letter is still important for us here today in the year 2024. For in this letter we see that order is expected in local churches. We also see the responsibilities of both elders and church members being defined and how the whole church body, the members of it, are to work for each others common faith, common salvation as they pursue godliness together.

But maybe the biggest theme in this letter from Paul to Titus, much like Paul’s two letters to Timothy, is that Paul is preparing to pass the torch to his young proteges. He knows his time is short and it is running out. Paul labors to pass on the work of gospel ministry so that it may continue as much work is needed to be done still. And so, he labors to equip and remind Titus here of what faithful gospel ministry is and how it plays out not just globally, but particularly in the local church in Crete and then beyond. Therefore as we study this letter this summer, let us too learn what faithful gospel ministry is to look like as well as a healthy ordered church is to look like. Let us then now hear the word of the LORD from Titus 1:1-4…

Here is what I think the Main Idea of Titus 1:1-4 is, and Lord willing the main idea of this sermon: Faithful gospel ministry is centered on the hope of God’s promise of eternal life. This hope is to be proclaimed and believed, and this hope also transforms and unites those who believe. We are going to unfold this in 4 points: (1) Hope Proclaimed, (2) Hope Believed, (3) Hope Transforms, and (4) Hope Unites.

As we move through these points, we will move forward and backwards within these 4 verses, especially since Verses 1-3 are one sentence. ‌

Point #1: Hope Proclaimed

Verses 1-4 follow the pattern of a standard formal letter in the days of Paul. It starts with introducing the author of the letter, giving a bit of clue to what the letter is about, and then the recipient of the letter. And while Paul here tells us that he is writing to Titus, it is clear that it is a letter not just for Titus to keep to himself, but to be shared with those he is in charge of putting in order (Titus 1:5).

And so, the introduction of who Paul is is not necessarily for Titus, but those with him. The introduction that he, Paul, is a servant, or more bluntly, a slave of God and an apostle, that is one sent, of Jesus Christ are important both for those with Titus and us today to know. This letter is not to be just skimmed over and thought of as one man’s opinion. It is written by one chosen by God and sent out by King Jesus for this very purpose of faithful gospel ministry, a ministry that he is now faithfully encouraging his young protege Titus to take up and continue.

Particularly, Paul wants Titus to see that he has labored for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of God’s truth. But before we can unfold these, we must see the way that Paul labored for this. Faithful gospel ministry begins by proclaiming God’s promised hope for others to hear. Again, let us read here through Titus 1:1-3…

Paul’s ministry was a ministry that was about proclaiming, preaching the promised hope of God. Hope that was rooted in eternity past. For this is what Paul means by saying that it was promised before the ages began.

God’s promised hope is not something new. This promise was laid out before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) that God had a people to draw to himself and give eternal life. Hope that comes not through self or birthright or bloodline. Hope that does not come through doing enough good deeds to make up for all our bad ones. The Promised Hope comes through Jesus Christ and him alone.

This promised hope comes in the midst of hopelessness. For the price of disobedience to God as the Creator is death. And because of our first parents in the garden, we through natural birth have all entered into this world as disobedient rebels. We have rebelled against our creator from a young age. We were not taught this rebellion, but by our sinful nature we began to rebel.

We rebel in insisting on our own ways. We rebel in declaring ourselves the ones in authority. We rebel in giving our devotion to idols instead of the LORD. We rebel in failing to love our neighbor as ourself. We rebel in speaking harshly and angrily to one another. We rebel in coveting what our neighbor has. We rebel by murdering people with our words and in our hearts. All of these are the result of sin and the result is death. That is what God warned Adam and Eve would happen if they refused his rule in the garden. And since they rebelled, that death has persisted apart from God’s promised hope.

Hope that comes by the grace of God through Jesus. And the way this hope is made known is by the proclaiming of this promised hope. Paul states there in verse 3, that this hope was manifested, revealed through the preaching of the word. Preaching that he had been entrusted to do under the command of God our Savior.

Paul faithfully preached the gospel, the message of hope that comes through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. He preached offering the hope of eternal life that is given by one’s faith in Jesus. And it is this ministry of proclaiming this message of hope that is God’s means to make this hope known so that others may hear and know.

The message of hope will not spread apart from proclamation. It will not spread apart from our efforts of evangelism and preaching. For there are those that say preach the gospel and when necessary use words. Oh friends, this is so far from faithful gospel ministry. Yes, our message and lives must be aligned and match up. We cannot preach the gospel and be hypocrites, but we cannot preach the gospel and not use words. Words are necessary to make known the message of hope.

Tim Chester in his commentary writes,

“As you speak the gospel, eternity enters history. Christ is made present. On a cold day, you can see your breath. It forms a cloud in the air. It is almost as if something like this is happening when we share the gospel. With spiritual eyesight, we see Jesus himself taking shape. He appears and people meet him in our words.”

Therefore, let us here at Land O’ Lakes Bible Church be a people who are known for opening our mouths and declaring the wonderful message of hope that was long promised and has now been revealed in Jesus, God’s beloved son. Let us proclaim the hope that after our rebellion against our creator who had all authority over us, after we had committed high treason against our King, though we deserved death for this, God has made a way, a way to be restored and live. A way that comes through Jesus Christ. Let us be bold to declare this message so that all may hear.

Point #2: Hope Believed

Evangelism and preaching are hard work, don’t get me wrong. Paul understood this more than anyone. He mentioned that as a gospel minister he was a jar of clay and that death worked in him so others could live (2 Corinthians 4:7-12). Maybe we are tempted to think that when we share the gospel in evangelism or preaching that no one will believe us so what is the point. But how are they to hear without a preacher (Romans 10:14-17)? Does not Romans 10:17 confront us here when it says: “17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

We must proclaim the message of hope, the gospel so that others may hear. But as we do, we can be certain of this, that through the proclaiming of the gospel, there will be those who believe. Look back with me to Titus 1:1.

‌ Paul labors for the sake of the faith of God’s elect. The doctrine of election is often a confusing doctrine. A doctrine that has bred many controversies within the church. But here is the thing, this word is Biblical and therefore we must labor to grasp this Biblical truth. And more importantly see that such doctrine is here not to cause some to stumble, but all to be strengthened. For Paul, in stating he labors for the faith of God’s elect, this brings him confidence in his labors. It brings him confidence that he is laboring not in vain through the preaching of God’s word. He knows as he preaches, God’s saving work will come with those whom God has predestined and called to himself. The message of hope is then not dependent on Paul’s well articulated words, but the message itself of the gospel, the good news, the very message of hope we are to proclaim. For it is through that message and the work of the Holy Spirit that comes, not our well orchestrated rhetoric or arguments.

Beloved, we can share the gospel more boldly and confidently knowing that as we share, it will not be in vain. God will use his message of hope to draw those he is calling to himself. We need not then overthink our evangelism, be burdened when it does not seem to work the way we think it does. Nor do we need to be concerned who is ripe or willing to receive the gospel. None of these should be our concerns. Our only concern is to be God’s instruments of proclaiming this gospel hope to a world in ruins who needs our aide, who needs to hear that God has made a way for those who have committed high treason and on death row to be restored and live.

The doctrine of election frees us, not burdens us. But alas, some will say if God chooses, how could that be fair? But here is a question in return, how can a Holy God redeem any of us? Is it not by his very mercy and grace that he saves any of us? It is with this truth that Paul then labors for God’s elect, that they may hear the gospel and believe. It gives him the confidence and the freedom to cast the gospel widely so that all may hear, yet trusting in the LORD’s Sovereign and saving work through the seeds of the gospel to take root.

Brothers and sisters, let this then also encourage us to sow the seeds of the gospel widely as we go. Let us grow in confidence that our efforts of evangelism and preaching are not in vain. Our God through these ordinary means of evangelism and preaching will draw out those he has called. Let us be certain of that. For as we have already read, God never lies, and he has promised that he has predestined a people to himself. We must believe and trust this as we do our work as we are his instruments of redemption, as we are those who take and declare his saving work so that others may hear and believe. Let us take heart in this truth.

But, maybe you are here this morning, you may not have ever previously heard this message of hope before now. But now you are hearing that there is the hope of eternal life. Hope offered to you in Jesus. Friend, that hope is for the taking. It is being extended to you even now through God’s means, the ordinary preaching of the word. The question for you is not are you of God’s elect, but will the veil that has blinded you and your hardened heart be softened by this message and the working of the Holy Spirit and will you come to the place where you can believe, where you can place your faith that Jesus and Jesus alone saves you from your sins. Can you place your faith there and no that God’s promise stands because he cannot lie? Friend, this is the hope that I extend to you now and that I will continue to extend to all who have yet to believe, because I believe God does not lie and that this is his ongoing means of saving those he has called to himself. And I will proclaim it until my final breath so that many more who are called will come to the place of faith.

However, this call to hope doesn’t stop at the moment one comes to faith, it keeps going.

Point #3: Hope Transforms

Faithful gospel ministry isn’t about merely getting people to the point of faith. It isn’t about seeing the church grow through new believers who profess faith. While important and vital, Paul not only was a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of God’s elect, he was a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ to help people know truth which helps them grow in godliness.

Now, I must confess that in my own studies, as well with the aide of commentaries, the exact correlation with truth and godliness isn’t 100% clear. But it is obvious enough that Paul here labors so that those who are God’s elect and come to faith are to then not just believe, but grow in knowledge, knowledge of the truth. And that this aides them in the process of godliness.

Tim Chester puts this well, he writes:

Paul does not simply want Christians who believe the right things. He did not travel round the Roman world totalling the number of decisions for Christ he had seen in his ministry. His goal was not simply people coming to the front of a meeting to give their lives to Christ. His goal was people whose faith bore fruit in godly living. His goal was not converts, but disciples. For any ministry we are involved in or praying for, that should be our goal, too.

The message of hope is not simply about having faith and the job being finished. The message of hope as it continues to be proclaimed and we grow in our knowledge and understanding of it is to be aiding us to grow in godliness. That is the more we know, the more it should be producing Christ-likeness in us. Gospel ministry is not just get conversions, it is to make disciples, disciples who are continually working out their salvation and maturing in the faith.

Christian, what difference has knowing the truths of the gospel, the message of hope made in our lives this week? Seriously! We must ask ourselves this question and how has it shaped us and formed us to pursue Christ more in our thoughts and actions, in the way we love one another. The more we know about our God, the more it should transform us. The more we grasp just how grace filled the gospel is, the more it should humble us and bring us to our knees with great thanksgiving.

And if these aren’t happening, we must ask ourselves are we truly understanding the knowledge of the truth. For it is one thing to know small facts about the Bible, to know some verses, but if we don’t understand the knowledge of the truth as Jesus taught and unfolded, then we could be as guilty as the Pharisees and the Sadducees. We could know the law and think that in the law we are saved. Friend if that is you, for the sake of your own soul, stop. Stop and begin looking at how Jesus and the New Testament writers unfold and apply the Old Testament. Start rightly following their example so that you may have a right knowledge of the truth and it begin to work in you and grow you and transform you as you continue to hear the message of the gospel.

Likewise, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we labor to have a faithful gospel ministry, we must seek to continue to proclaim the message of the gospel so that it continues to transform hearts. My brother elders, we especially must labor for this among those entrusted to us to shepherd.

Point #4 Hope Unites

Turning to verse 4 now, we see the recipient of the letter, Titus. But notice the particular language here of Paul regarding Titus. He says that Titus is his true child in a common faith.

It is easy for us to gloss over this statement of a common faith, but it is an important statement to be grasped. As stated in the introduction, Titus is from a Gentile background. Paul on the other hand is a Jew of the Jews. And yet, here in this message of hope, in the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul and Titus have not two separate faiths, they have a common faith. That is they are united to the same hope, the same promise, the same faith, the same knowledge that is made manifest by the God who never lies.

The gospel is a message of hope that when proclaimed brings faith and transforms into godliness. But it is not a faith that stays private and isolated. True and right faith leads us to be united to others who we share a common faith with. A faith that we acknowledge the same savior.

A common faith that is built on Jesus and not our own interests and opinions. A common faith that binds us together in love to our Savior, Jesus. And because of this binding in Jesus, because of our common faith, we will see as the letter goes, that then we begin to understand that we are called to aide and be responsible for one another in this common faith. We are to correct and instruct, we are to guard one another from false teaching as we guard the gospel.

‌Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, if we are to take up the work of Paul, the work of faithful gospel ministry we must labor for the sake of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that accords with godliness. We must labor for this by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ so that the lost may be reached and the Christian may grow and be built up in Christ. And we must labor together for one another’s common faith in God our Savior. This is the call to faithful gospel ministry. Will we faithfully join in this work?

‌Let’s pray…

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