Titus 1:1-4

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith:Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Paul begins this book written to his co-worker whom he has left on the island of Crete, with his own job description.  Paul felt called by God and compelled by God to minister in the lives of other people.  Those who were unbelievers needed to hear the Gospel.  Believers needed to be brought to maturity in Christ.  He also had a deep desire to see Titus blessed and encouraged in the Lord.  These initial greetings give us insight into Paul’s heart.

THE PURPOSE OF AN APOSTLE: The first prerequisite for an apostle or for any minister is service.  We are called to be servant of God and to serve the people of God.  God has chosen people to be His own and is sovereignly bringing them to Himself through the power of His Spirit and the service of His saints.  The only means by which men can be saved from sin is through faith in Christ.  Paul’s ministry is to promote the faith of the elect through imparting knowledge of the truth.  The truth Paul and all ministers are called to proclaim is that salvation is by faith in Christ alone to provide forgiveness of sin and freedom from sin.  Those who desire to live according to godliness can only do so through a relationship with Christ by faith.  This is what leads to eternal life that God has promised to all who believe.  God’s promises are secure because He is truth and cannot lie.  This is the salvation God has promised since the fall of man into sin.  He has been working His plan of redemption that is now revealed in the person and work of Christ and through the preaching of the Gospel as ordained by the Lord.  This is the job description of Paul and every minister of the Gospel.

THE PRAYER OF AN APOSTLE: Paul’s prayer of blessing for Titus is typical but no less meaningful.  It is a request for grace and peace.  These blessings are only available to Titus or to anyone because of faith in Christ.  Paul calls Titus his son because he had been the instrument God used to bring Titus to a knowledge of the Gospel.  Because Titus possessed the same faith that Paul possessed, a prayer of blessing for grace and peace is possible.  Nobody comes to Christ apart from the grace of God.  Nobody can earn God’s favor, and nobody is naturally worthy of it.  Only the grace of God can bring us from death to life.  Only by God’s grace can we experience peace with God and the peace of God.  Sin placed us firmly entrenched as enemies of God living at war against a just and holy God who judges the living and the dead.  But, faith in Christ and the grace of God made peace with God.  Sin also brought turmoil to the heart of mankind and conflict in all our relationships.  But the peace of God allows us to rest in Him and love one another.  These are the blessings of the salvation we have in Christ Jesus.

APPLICATION: Serve God and others by proclaiming the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise the Lord for His marvelous grace.  Rest in his promises in every circumstance of life and be at peace in the inner man.

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