Gospel Change in Titus

• Paul Dean
• Feb 19, 2010
• Series: Gospel
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

The book of Titus may be the most important how-to book for Pastors in the New Testament.

The letter to Titus begins strong. In the first few verses we see that Jesus sent Paul to proclaim faith to the chosen so they might know the truth that would radically reshape their lives. This work of shaping the believers in Crete by – note this -- proclaiming the Gospel, was the work that Paul had been entrusted with.

Paul keeps this fact in front of Titus throughout the letter, the Gospel is not just the front door to the faith, and rather it is the chief instrument of change in the church. The Gospel speaks to the appointment of the right sort of men to be Elders (1:5-16). The Gospel has implications regarding the roles for older men and older women (2:1-4). The Gospel also informs the roles of young men and young women (2:4-6). The Gospel speaks to Titus’ personal walk, namely that everything he did should reflect the seriousness of his teaching (2:7-8). Even the work of servants and slaves in the community should be done in light of and in such a way that adorns the Gospel (2:9-10). This Gospel, the foundation of the church at Crete, is referred to over and over in the letter like a chorus in a modern hymn,

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 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.(2:11-14)

Paul then reminds Titus that his Gospel change work is to be taken extremely seriously.

15Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.(2:15)

Paul closes out his letter to Titus with a long list of behaviors that flowed directly from the implications of the Gospel (3:1-9).

- Submission to rulers and authorities

- Readiness to do every good work

- Speaking evil of no one

- Avoiding quarrels

- Gentleness

- Perfect courtesy toward all people

- Avoiding foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law

The most instructive part of this list is to see the Gospel in the middle of it (3:3-7). Paul wanted Titus to see and pass on the Gospel truth that their identity was no longer that of a foolish and disobedient people, rather a blessed people who had been saved, regenerated, renewed of the Holy Spirit, and were now heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The story of Jesus, the story of the Gospel, was not only the message to be preached to those who hadn’t heard, but also the story that needed to be told and retold to those who made up the local church in Crete.

Pastors need to rediscover this simple fact. The Gospel is the instrument of change in Jesus’ church. The Gospel needs to be central to our preaching. The Gospel needs to be central in our making disciples. The Gospel needs to be central in our lives and passed along well to our families. Jesus will be glorified in our churches when we not only hear the Gospel before conversion, but live out the implications of the Gospel in our day to day lives and let it shape our homes, churches, and communities.

Join us in Pasco, WA on March 17 as we rediscover Gospel centrality in our ministry. Pastor Brian Hope will be leading a session on how Gospel centered preaching leads to change in our churches. Pastor Jeff Vandersteldt will be leading a session on how the Gospel speaks to our making disciples. Pastor Doug Busby will be speaking on how the Gospel speaks to our own spiritual walk as pastors and how we pass that along the Gospel to our families. Each session will be followed by an extensive opportunity for you to ask questions and interact with local pastors and church planters. See you in the desert!