Titus 3

People need reminders every now and then so that they can do things right or not to do the wrong things.

In this final portion of Paul’s letter to Titus, Paul wanted Titus to remind his flock to be diligent in good works.

Bible Passage: Titus 3

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every
good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to
all men.

V 1 – 2

These 2 verses remind us what we should do as the children of God, or as followers of Christ.

The major life principle of Christians, I believe, is nicely put in these following words in Chinese: 荣神益人, simply means to glorify God and benefit man.

So if we can do good to benefit man in the name of Jesus, we will be able to bring glory to God.

No one would desire to be treated badly, and no one, including us, would not want to receive good deeds from others, which was why our Lord commanded us,

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you,
for this is the Law and the Prophets”

Matthew 7: 12 (NASB)

So good works are really needed among people, and we who are Christ’s, must imitate His love and to diffuse the aroma of Christ’s love to the people around us, so their souls can be refreshed by the fragrant of Christ and thus be drawn to Him.

The next thing that we need to be reminded is what were we before we came into the light of Christ.

We could have been the direct opposite of the goodness mentioned in v1 and 2. We were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another (v3).

But when Christ came into our lives, the kindness that He has showered upon us is actually something that we don’t deserve at all.

He washed away our sins with the washing of regeneration, i.e. water baptism (ref. John 3:5, 1Peter 3: 21), and He renewed us in the Holy Spirit. All these were done to us not due to our goodness or our own effort, but by the unconditional love of our Lord Jesus.

Though we are being reminded and admonished to do good works, we are not saved through them, but purely by the love and grace of God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2: 8

V 7 says, “that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” Indeed after being justified by His grace, we are heirs according to the hope of eternal life, we are bound for heaven; therefore we have to behave like citizens of God’s Kingdom!

Since we are the citizens of heaven, the next reminder is that there is no time for useless talks, but we must spend time in doing good works and to glorify God.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who
have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and
profitable to men.
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they
are unprofitable and useless

v8 － 9

We must always remind ourselves of our status as the children of God and citizens of His Kingdom, for this is the hope that will keep us striving forward to draw closer to Him and to pursue holiness, and of course we must not grow weary in doing good (2 Thessalonians 3: 13).

May God bless us with strength and wisdom as we tread on this heavenly path.

Shalom.