International Sunday School Lesson August 18, 2024
Titus 1:1-3, 2:11-15
Background
Today’s lesson is taken from the book of Titus. This is what brother Dake says about this book, “The second of three pastoral epistles—1 Timothy and 2 Timothy and Titus—to give instructions concerning church order, doctrine, and discipline for Christians. Titus has much in common with 1 Timothy in that both concern church order and sound doctrine. 2 Timothy deals primarily with personal walk in times of apostasy.”
Knowledge of the Truth
Titus 1:1 (ESV) 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,
This is the only place that Paul calls himself a servant of God. He often calls himself a servant of Christ. Paul states his mission, “for the sake of the faith” of the elect. His mission is to build up the faith of the elect.
Colossians 2:1-3 (ESV) For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, [2] that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
This shows that Paul had the same mission for other locations.
God Who Never Lies
Titus 1:2-3 (ESV) in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began [3] 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;
We often get promises from all types of sources. Family, friends, governments, neighbors, and all different sources. We get broken promises from all sources except God. God never breaks a promise.
Numbers 23:19 (ESV) God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Hebrews 6:17-18 (ESV) So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, [18] so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
God cannot lie. The two things that the Almighty God cannot do, lie and sin.
Training Us
Titus 2:11-12 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, [12] training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
We need to live a self-controlled life. Redemption is more than being saved from hell. Redemption is being saved from our old habits. Redemption is a new life.
2 Peter 1:5-8 (ESV) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, [6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, [7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. [8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We need to understand the importance of righteous living. Too many groups today think it is the floor show that really matters. It isn’t. It is the testimony that our daily lives give. The example we give to our family. The example we give to the community.
The Appearing
Titus 2:13 (ESV) waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
That is the day we are looking for. That great morning when He calls us up. That great day when our struggles and heartaches are behind us. That day when our burdens are laid down. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV) But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
We all identify with various groups. That is fine. But, we all need to hold to our first loyalty, the cause of Christ. Notice that I am not saying the church. The earthly church can be very worldly. It can be political. It can be money driven. It can be a social club. That isn’t the loyalty I am talking about. It is that heavenly citizenship. That is where our first loyalty needs to rest.
To Redeem Us
Titus 2:14 (ESV) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Again the focus is on the changed lives that go with redemption. This is not a card signing club. This is not a “wear the T-shirt and you are in “ club. This is a changed lives club. This is a new birth club. These old things have passed away and all things have become new .
Hebrews 9:13-14 (ESV) For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, [14] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
It is the blood of Jesus.
Declare These Things
Titus 2:15 (ESV) Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
We need focus on sharing the good news.
2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Romans 10:17-18 (ESV) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. [18] But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
We need to preach the Word. We need to preach in our speaking. We need to preach in our writing. We need to preach in our singing . There are many more ways to preach other than behind a pulpit.
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