Doing What is Good
Comments for Study 3
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I. Doing What is Good (1-11)
>1. What six things are we instructed to do in verses 1 and 2?
* Titus 3:1-2 "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men."
* Paul was in a terrible Roman prison, probably the worse one he had been in. Nero had burned Rome and blamed the Christians which gave anyone in the empire the state-sanctioned right to persecute Christians. Many were imprisoned without cause and sent to be executed. Yet here Paul is telling Titus, a preacher to remind the congregation to be subject to rulers and authorities (1).
Jesus' way is different than the world's way. Jesus' way is obedience to authority and to be ready to do whatever is good (1). Jesus said that when someone slaps me on one cheek I am to turn the other to them. Jesus taught me that if someone takes my coat I am to not withhold my shirt from them. (Luke 6:29)
How can anyone obey this? Trusting obedience takes faith in God. Faith that he will keep me and that a better eternal future awaits in paradise to those who live by faith according to his way. Faith that he will keep his promise, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt. 6:33)
When thrown in a Roman prison I am to remain peaceable and considerate (2). Yes, Rome is gone. Yet authority over me always exists. And this world's authority is corrupt. Many follow the ways of "The Prince" written by Niccolò Machiavelli.
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>Why might these be hard to do?
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>What is one reason that we must not obey authorities? (Acts 4:18-20)
* Acts 4:18-20 "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
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>2. Why is remembering our former state important? (3)
* Titus 3:3 "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another."
* The good news (gospel) is presented simply and clearly in these verses. God saved me from my evil state of being (4,5). I did nothing to deserve this mercy. God is just that way. He is kind and loving. He wants to and does forgive sin. God is just simply so good that in spite of all that I had done he decided to forgive me. For this, I am ever grateful.
What other people think of me cannot change the grace of God to me. If what I did in the past did not keep God's grace from me, then nothing can. If by grace God saved me, then what can be done to me and by me that will change my state? Nothing. For this, I am ever grateful.
The Holy Spirit in power created all the heavens and earth. Since he is that powerful, he has all the ability to clean the mess I made and will ever make. Nothing is impossible for God. He decides and it happens. The power that raised Jesus from the dead raised my dead sinful self into new life. For this, I am ever grateful.
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>What happened that our former state ended? (4)
* Titus 3:4 "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,"
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>Did he save us because of any redeeming good quality in us? (5a)
* Titus 3:5a "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
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>What needed to take place for our new state to begin? (5b)
* Titus 3:5b "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,"
* "He saved us"
* During the ages before Penticost priests, kings, and prophets usually had oil poured over their heads symbolizing that God was going to use that person for a specific purpose. It was a visible way to show them and everyone else that God was entering into a close relationship. God would enter that person. The person would have special gifts and insights into God. Those gifts were used to help others.
Now, starting at Pentecost with those who heard Peter preach and believed the gospel, God saves through the washing of rebirth and review by the Holy Spirit (5b). The Holy Spirit pours into those who believe in Jesus Christ our Savior (6). We become heirs having the hope of eternal life. We are anointed with the Holy Spirit.
God gives gifts. He calls, He anoints with the Spirit. He makes his people priests, kings, and prophets. All this is grace. My response is to be careful to devote myself to doing what is good (8).
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>What does this mean?
* "the washing of rebirth"
* "renewal by the Holy Spirit"
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>3. What is true about all true believers?
* Titus 3:6 "whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior"
* "whom he poured out on us generously"
* "through Jesus Christ our Savior"
* John 14:26 "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
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>Why? (7)
* Titus 3:7 "so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
* "we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
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>What does justified mean?
* "justified"
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>Why is the teaching of these things so important? (8)
* Titus 3:8 "This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."
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>4. What are we, especially Bible teachers tempted to do? (9)
* Titus 3:9 "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless."
* "avoid foolish controversies"
* "and genealogies"
* "and quarrels about the law"
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>Why is this unwise?
* "because these are unprofitable and useless"
* Paul warns the same thing to Titus as he is about to warn in his last letter to Timothy. "Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law." (9). Why? "Because these are unprofitable and useless." (9) I suppose there is a place for everything under the sun. Still, constructive conversations very quickly turn into quarrels and arguments thus becoming useless.
Three people find an interesting shaped rock in the ground. One says it was carved by an ancient artist and thus is invaluable. Another says it was formed by rolling under an ancient ice glacier and thus is worthless. The third says it was formed by being in the nearby fast-flowing river for many centuries. The experts debate the issue bringing up all kinds of interesting facts and statistics till angry words are exchanged and punches are thrown.
Several days later a fourth person enters the scene. He picks up the rock and says, "I believe we found the murder weapon. These three perpetrators beat each other with this bloody rock." The moral of the story is, sometimes it is best to leave our ego in the ground.
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>5. Instead of getting entangled by arguments and quarrels what simple things are we do do? (10)
* Titus 3:10 "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him."
* "Warn a divisive person once"
* "and then warn him a second time"
* "After that, have nothing to do with him"
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>If a person insists on arguing with us what can we be sure of that person? (11)
* Titus 3:11 "You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."
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>Is it are duty to teach a person and/or to change a person?
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II. Final Remarks (12-15)
* See a picture of the ruins of an ancient church in Analipsis Greece to the left.
>6. Why is Paul sending to Titus and what was the purpose? (12; Acts 20:4-5; Eph. 6:21-22; Col. 4:7-9; and 2 Tim. 4:12)
* Titus 3:12 "As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there."
* Acts 20:4-5 "He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas."
* Ephesians 6:21-22 "Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you."
* Colossians 4:7-9 "Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here."
* 2 Timothy 4:12 "I sent Tychicus to Ephesus."
* Paul was going to winter in Nicopolis, the capital city of the Roman providence Epirus in northwest Greece. It has beautiful views of the Ionian Sea and mountains. The weather is pleasant in the winter with highs approaching 70 F and lows in the mid-40s F. Apparently, a Christian community was in existence in the city.
Paul urged Titus to visit him. Paul sent Zenas the lawyer and Apollos to Titus, perhaps to fill the pastor seat when Titus would be visiting Paul. There is nothing wrong with enjoying all good things for they come from God. If he provides a way to enjoy the sea and mountains I can enjoy them with him and his friends.
>7. Who was Zenas and Apollos and how was Titus to help them (13; Acts 18:24-28; and 1 Cor. 3:6)
* Titus 3:13 "Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need."
* Acts 18:24-28 "Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ."
* 1 Corinthians 3:6 "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow."
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* See a picture of Nicopolis Greece sea shore to the left.
>What can we learn from Titus about hospitality toward fellow believers who are only visiting our congregation?
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>8. What should we devote ourselves to?
* Titus 3:14 "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives."
* "Our people"
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>What does the fact that it must be learn imply about the sinful nature?
* "must learn"
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>Does this mean we should not be self supportive?
* "to devote themselves to doing what is good"
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>9. What does "daily necessities" include?
* "daily necessities"
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>What should we do with income that exceeds our daily necessities? (Luke 16:9-12)
* Luke 16:9-12 "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?"
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>10. How does Paul conclude his letter to Titus? (15)
* Titus 3:15 "Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all."
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