ONE MAN IN CRETE Titus 1 Chapter 7 By Warren W. Wiersbe

Titus A Greek believer won to Christ through Paul (1:4) “My partner and fellow worker among you (II Cor. 8:23) Preach God’s Word (1:1-4) – Four times: kata in Greek, the root meaning of which is relationship between the ministry and God’s own Word. – “According to the faith of God’s elect” (1a) Paul’s ministry was governed by God’s Word – “Slave of God” and a messenger sent on a special commission by Jesus Christ God’s Elect: Those who trusted Jesus as their Savior

– “The truth which is according to godliness” (1b-2) Good work are repeated from emphasis (1:16, 2:7, 3:1, 5,8,14) Truth of the gospel changes a life from ungodliness to holy living (2:12) – Some lives denied their profession (1:12) Give us hope for the future (1:2) – “Born again unto living hope (I Peter 1:3 NIV) “According to the commandment of God” (3) – Content of the message – Savior is repeated (1:34, 2:10,13, 3:4,6) – Salvation, not condemnation

– “After the common faith” (4) Common: to have in common – All God’s people Common salvation (Jude 3) – Emphasis on teaching God’s Word Local church should be Bible school Ordain Qualified Leaders (1:5-9) – Set in order Medical term: applied to setting of a crooked limb – Titus: Paul’s official apostolic representative with authority to work

– Qualifications Having faithful children (6b) – Faithful; believing – Christian living and service begin at home » Example of obedience and dedication » Riot (wild living) and disobedience (unruly) Steward of God (7a) – He manages and not owns » Joseph – Faithfulness (Mat.. 25:21, I Cor. 4:1-2) – Loan to him by God – Applies to all Christian Not self-willed (7b) – Leadership, not dictatorship

– Arrogant not taking people’s suggestions and criticisms Not soon angry (7c) – No quick temper; righteous anger (Eph. 4:26) A lover of good men (8a) – One who loves what is good include people, book, music, etc. Just (8b) – Upright – “Be ye holy for I am holy” (1Peter 1:16) – Holy: different Temperate (8d) – Self-controlled; disciplined – Applies to men’s appetites and action (Gal 2:23) Holding fast the faithful Word (9) – Sound doctrine; healthy doctrines promotes spiritual growth

– God’s Word is trustworthy because God cannot lie (1:2) – Two-fold ministry of God’s Word » Building up the church » Refuting the false teachers Silence False Teachers (1:10-16) – What they were personally Not submitting to God’s Word or authority of His servant Unruly; rebellious Vain talkers – Impressing people, but not content or substance – Excelled in talking, but not doing – Telling others what to do, but don’t do themselves

Deceiving people Carnal and worldly:”…/liars, evil butes, lazy gluttons” (1:12) Abominable: detestable, disgusting Disobedient: cannot and will not be persuaded Reprobate: not able to pass the test – Proved unfit; castaway (1 Cor. 9:27); disqualified – What they did False teachers told lies from house to house – Jewish legalism (1:10) – Jewish fables relating to interpreting of the genealogies (1:14) – Assemblies in private homes (1:11) – Sects and cults

– Why they did it Make money (1:11) – True ministers help others grow in the faith – Their minds and consciences were defiled » Seared conscience (1 Tim. 4:2) – “To the pure, all things are pure” » Excuse all sorts of sins – Reference to food – Reference to evil – What Titus was to do Exhort and convince them by means of “sound doctrine” (1:9) Stop the mouth (1:11) and prevent them from teaching and spreading false doctrines

Rebuke them sharply (1:3) Paul’s purpose: get them to be “sound in faith” (1:13) – False doctrine is like yeast: it enters secretly, grows quickly, and permeates completely (Gal. 5:9) You can choose what you want to believe, but you cannot change the consequences. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” John 8:32