1 As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching-----------------------------------------
I really like this. "Practice what you preach"...it's so true and we all know that not everyone does this. We too sometimes can catch ourselves in our hypocrisy. We need to hold ourselves to the same standards we hold others....and those standards must be biblical.
14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
----------------------------------------
I really liked this one too because it encompasses the gospel and what it gives us! FREEDOM, PURITY, FAMILY, DEVOTION--to pleasing our Father!
7-8 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
ReplyDeleteWe are, in all that we do, to be constantly living lives that reflect Christ to the world. Each and every action affects our testimony. We need to be very conscious of all that we do so that we do not cause someone to stumble or give a person reason to doubt the Gospel in our lives. We need to be bringing God glory in all that we do. We must strive, by the Spirit, to be above reproach.
11-14:
ReplyDeleteFor the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
15:
These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
So, verses 11-14 make up an excellent summation of the Gospel, that is, the grace of God has brought salvation, and through it we are to deny the things of this world, place our hope solely in Christ Jesus, and be zealous for His works, which are good.
Verse 15 then gives us a promise, that 'These things', i.e. the Gospel, speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. So, the Gospel speaks for itself, and when it speaks, it speaks as one with great authority. It's very freeing to know that it is not by our power that people are saved and that simply sharing the Gospel can speak more powerfully in someone's life than the most intellectual and organized argument that we could ever put together.
Verse 15 also promises that the Gospel will speak to and command us. So we don't need to worry about what we do or how successful we are, so long as we are following God's commands.
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
ReplyDeleteThis is another example of how important it is for us to be transparent and always living a life glorifying to God because we are an example to others so that they might learn from our actions the way of God.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
ReplyDeleteWe are to set an example for not only believers but none believers. They will know us by our love, but also by what we teach and the image we put out to society. It is important to set a good example for other because we represent Christ so we should be Christ like examples.
12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age
ReplyDeleteGod's grace is something that we oftentimes do not take seriously enough. We were talking in d-group tonight about being lukewarm and not fully realizing just what it means that God sent his son to die for us. We should be eagerly renouncing the things that are of this world, since God has given us something so much better.
6-7 "Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness"
ReplyDeleteAs Christians, we are called to carry the cross daily in our walk. Because of this, we should be constantly setting an example of what it means to be a Christian. In this verse, Paul again mentions leading by example in an effort to demonstrate younger men what it means to be Godly. These examples can be non-verbal, through our actions, or they can be verbal, through things we say. Overall, though, Paul demonstrates the necessity of proper instruction of the younger generations by interactive learning with those of the older generations. I feel this is especially applicable in Theta Xi. In Theta Xi, we already have the Big-Little relationship set up so that the older men are poring into younger guys. I feel, however, that we can do one better than that by working outside of the Big-Little bonds. I encourage you to invest in a younger brother if you are one of those old guys like me, but if you are not, I want to also encourage you to seek an older guy to pore into you.
-DA
12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,
ReplyDeleteNotice how this passage doesn't say run away from this evil world and hide in the mountains until Jesus comes back. Rather it says we should live in this evil world as believers of Christ showing and living out our devotion for Christ. We must live in the world but not be of the world, we must be different than the evil and not be consumed by it. The next few verses talk about the return of Christ and how amazing it will be. I cannot wait but we first must live in this world and not worship the creation but the creator God.
All is good but a Day late
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
ReplyDeleteThis is the case for not just the elderly, but anyone who is being looked up to spiritually should act in this way since their every action is being observed and analyzed. These are the basic guidelines to be strong male leaders that are capable of guiding others on their path. Paul finishes it off with the most important and most applicable ones, "sound in faith, in love and in endurance." These are also very difficult aspects to be unwavering in, but we must if we are going to be leading others in their faith.
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
ReplyDeleteWe should set an example for nonbelievers and believers alike as to how someone who seeks after God should live. We have freedom from the law, but we should still try to live a sin-free life so we cannot be looked down upon by nonbelievers and when they try to accuse us of things there will be no merit to their argument.