Tag: Titus 1:15-16
Orderly Elders overseeing the Church
Scripture reading for July 11th: 1st Kings 12, 2nd Chronicles 10-11, Titus 1
Titus 1:5-9 “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you--if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
Paul wrote to Titus, another younger minister who grew up in the faith under his ministry. Paul had left Titus in Crete to oversee the church there and to set in order this body of new believers. This would require him to appoint ‘elders’ to oversee the church and keep the proper order. These elders must have their own lives in proper order to be effective in their assignments. They must have only one wife and have their children in proper order. Their own character must be soundly grounded in God’s Word and they must have their spirits under control from the pride and arrogance of the world and free from addictions and idolatry. They must be above reproach, having a good reputation in the Church as well in the culture they lived in. The Word of God must be firmly held and preached.
Titus 1:15-16 “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for the stewardship that You grant to Your people who You call into leadership to oversee Your Church. I have been blessed to be a part of that and to help equip others to also lead. Grant wisdom to those setting Your body in order. Guard Your church against professors that deny God by their works and ungodly life-styles. Help me daily to set a good and godly example.
1st Kings 12: 28-30 “So the king (Jeroboam) took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, ‘You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who have brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Then this thing became a sin, . .”
Don’t deny God by your works!
Scripture reading for July 9th: 1st Kings 12, 2nd Chronicles 10-11, Titus 1
Key Scriptures: Titus 1:15-2:1 “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. The profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good works. But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.”
Paul instructed Titus, a young minister and another ‘son’ of Paul’s in the faith, about the various parties in the church. The ‘circumcision’ party was causing disruption by teaching false doctrine and causing disruption and division. Paul told Titus to silence them and rebuke them sharply. Their profession of Christ was a lie because their works were denying Jesus. Sound doctrine must be taught which produces good works. Salvation is by faith through grace, not through works of the flesh like circumcision.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for cleansing my conscience and mind and giving me the ability to discern good from evil. Order my works today to bring glory to You alone as I set my heart to seek You and Your will.
2nd Chronicles 11:16 “And those who had set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their fathers.”
1st Kings 12:28 “So the king (Jeroboam) took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “you have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”