Daily Thoughts from Titus: A Common Faith (1)

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.  (Titus 1:1-4 ESV)

Like Timothy, Titus was a member of Paul’s team whom he used after a church was planted to do follow up work.  The introductions to Paul’s letters always anticipate the theme and content of his letters.  The theme of this introduction is the “common faith” or gospel that has been entrusted to those who believe and is a special responsibility to protect for those who lead God’s church.

Paul is both a servant, one whose will is not his own but who does whatever the Lord tells him to, and an apostle, one entrusted with the authoritative message of his Lord and responsible to shepherd His church.  This is why Paul’s servanthood and apostleship are all for the sake of the elect, the ones God chose to come to faith in Jesus Christ, and all for the sake of the truth that saved them.

This message accords with godliness.  If godliness results from what is preached it is only because it is the truth.  And this truth brings the hope of eternal life.  God made this message known in His own timing through the preaching Paul and the other apostles were entrusted with.  God the Father is the Savior of His elect and has made sure of their salvation by sending his representatives to proclaim it.

Titus, as Paul’s “child” in the faith, is wished grace and peace from both God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior.  Jesus is equally the Savior with God the Father because he is equally God and equally responsible for creating our salvation.

So the gospel brings:

• Knowledge of the truth (not just your truth or my truth, but the truth, the reality of how things are in God’s universe)
• Godliness (the goal of its message is to make us like Christ, loving and righteous in every respect)
• Expectation of eternal life (the blessed hope, the beautiful future for all who believe)
• Family relationship among all who believe (something we must treasure and continually foster)

If our gospel is not producing this something is awry.  If we are taking it for granted we are missing the point.  It is the only thing capable of bringing our world back to its rightful glory.