Yesuli International Ministries

The Epistle to Titus, along with the two epistles to Timothy, namely, 1st and 2nd Timothy are called the Pastoral Epistles. The pastoral epistles are so named because they deal with matters concerning pastors and congregations. The pastoral letters were all written by Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We do not know the exact time when Titus was written, but it is thought that it was written about A.D. 62-64 while Paul ministered to the Macedonian churches between his first and second  Roman imprisonments. While it is true that Titus deals with matters concerning pastors and churches, yet it does so in the context of exalting the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the most powerful teachings in Titus is that Jesus Christ is Deity, equal with God the Father. Jesus Christ and God the Father are both described as "God our Savior." Also, they are both described as the Source of divine grace and peace bestowed on believers. Jesus' deity is strongly affirmed in this letter by the magnificent description: "our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus" (2:13). In Titus, Jesus is seen working through His apostle by the Holy Spirit to lay down His own predetermined list of qualifications for leaders in His Church. Titus also teaches that God's grace appeared in the Person of Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus is the One through whom God's grace is fully revealed to sinners. Jesus is also revealed in Titus as the perfect Sacrifice for the redemption of sinners. He is our Substitute. He is our Savior. He is the Source of divine grace and peace. He is our Purifier. His Second Coming is the basis of believers' sure hope. Titus also teaches that the Holy Spirit is poured out richly upon believers by God the Father through Jesus Christ and Him alone. It is therefore important for us to see Jesus as He is revealed in Titus. "Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus in all His fullness as our great God, Redeemer, Purifier, Source of grace, Savior, and Substitute. May we  know Him better and make Him known" is our prayer!

Jesus in Titus Chapter 1

1. Jesus Christ has submissive servants and special envoys through whom He communicates His message to His Church (1:1).
2. Jesus Christ is equal in essence with God the Father who cannot lie (1:1-2).
3. Jesus Christ, like God the Father,  is the Source of the divine grace believers experience in their lives (1:4).
4. Jesus Christ, like God the Father, is the Source of the divine peace believers enjoy in their lives (1:4).
5. Jesus Christ is the Savior of believers  (1:4).
6. Jesus Christ spells out His predetermined set of qualifications for spiritual leaders in His Church (1:5-9).
7. Jesus Christ warns of rebellious men and deceivers who infiltrate His Church (1:11-15).
8. Jesus Christ knows those who merely profess to know God but who actually do not possess genuine faith in Him (1:16).

Jesus in Titus  Chapter 2

1. Jesus Christ values each single believer in His Church and has a specific task for each believer to accomplish in order to bring honor and glory to His name (2:1-10).
2.  Jesus Christ wants believers in His church, whether old or young, men or women, slave or free, to reflect His likeness (2:1-10).
3. Jesus Christ desires that His believing bond slaves live and serve in such a way that they adorn His teaching ( 2:9-10).
4. Jesus Christ is the One through whom God's grace is fully revealed to sinners. In other words, Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God's grace (2:11). [That is to say, God's grace became visible to men when Jesus came to our planet, lived, died, and rose again. We could never have an adequate understanding of God's grace apart from its manifestation in the Person of Jesus Christ.]
5. Jesus Christ's appearance in grace is for the purpose of bringing salvation to all men. (2:11).
6. Jesus Christ's appearance in  grace is for the purpose of training all believers to say "No, No" to  ungodliness and worldly passions (2:12).
7. Jesus Christ's appearance in grace also trains believers to apply themselves to godly living (2:12).
8. Jesus Christ's Second Coming is the blessed hope of believers (2:13).
9. Jesus Christ's followers must be eagerly expecting His Second and Sure Return (2:13). [Are you anticipating Jesus' soon and sure return? Are you preparing yourself for the Return of the Redeemer? Are you ever ready to welcome the Coming Christ?]
10. Jesus Christ's Second Coming will be an appearance in glory (2:13). [His First Epiphany was in grace. But His Second Epiphany will be in glory. How wonderful!]
11. Jesus Christ is indeed our great God. In other words, Jesus Christ is Deity (2:13).
12. Jesus Christ is our Savior (2:13).
13. Jesus Christ's giving of Himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sins is purely voluntary. Nobody twisted Jesus' arms or coerced Him to offer Himself to bear the penalty and punishment for our sins (2:14).
14. Jesus Christ's self-sacrifice is on our behalf. In other words, Jesus is our Substitute (2:14).
15. Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice is for the purpose of redeeming sinners from all iniquity. In other words, Jesus is our Redeemer (2:14).
16. Jesus' atoning sacrifice aims at purifying believers. In other words, Jesus is our Purifier (2:14).
17. Jesus' purified believers are His own possession. In other words, believers are Jesus' special treasure (2:14).
18. Jesus' redeemed and purified believers are to be enthusiastic to do what is good, and so bring glory to Him (2:14).

Jesus in Titus  Chapter 3

1. Jesus Christ's followers have a duty to government. In other words, Christians are reminded of Christ's call upon them to be law-abiding, respectful, and obedient citizens, just as He was Himself (3:1).
2. Jesus Christ's followers must be ready to do whatever is good in the sight of God and man, just as Christ Himself did (3:1).
3.   Jesus Christ's followers are reminded of their duty of living godly lives among all people and so reflect Him (3:2).
4. Jesus Christ is kindness and love incarnate. This means that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward sinners was displayed through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection (3:4). [God the Father is referred to as "God our Savior" in the sense that He sent God the Son, Jesus, into the world to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. In other words, God the Father is the architect and author of our salvation.]
5. Jesus Christ is the One in whom the right way of salvation is rooted and revealed  (3:4).
6. Jesus Christ is the One through whom God's salvation is obtained (3:4).
7. Jesus' gospel teaches that no one can earn or experience genuine salvation by relying on good works. In other words, the good news of Jesus emphatically denies the possibility of obtaining salvation by human effort (3:5).
8. Jesus' gospel reveals that salvation is based on the mercy of God, that is, the personal merit of Jesus Christ (3:5).
9. Jesus' redeemed believers were regenerated and are being renewed by the Holy Spirit (3:5).
10. Jesus Christ is the One through whom God the Father generously poured out the Holy Spirit upon believers In other words, Jesus is the channel through which the gift of the Holy Spirit is abundantly bestowed on believers (3:6).
11. Jesus Christ is our Savior in the sense that He paid the full price for the penalty of our sins. He took the punishment we deserve to receive. He poured out His life blood for the forgiveness of all our sins (3:6).
12. Jesus Christ, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit are all involved in the gracious work of saving sinners and sanctifying them (3:4-7).
13. Jesus' true followers are justified, [that is, declared righteous and given a right standing with God] by God's grace (3:7).
14. Jesus' redeemed and justified believers are heirs in full harmony with the hope of eternal life (3:7).
15. Jesus' believing people are to be devoted to doing what is good, things that are excellent and profitable for everyone (3:8).
16. Jesus' teaching through His apostle reveals that He will not tolerate a divisive person and his divisive practices in His Church (3:9-11).
17. Jesus' followers are exhorted to really learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so that they may be able to meet pressing needs and not live unfruitful lives  (3:14).
18. Jesus' desire for His believing people is for them to enjoy and experience His grace (3:15).

• Jesus Christ is the central figure in the Bible. He is the focus of all Scripture. To study the Bible without seeing Jesus as He is revealed in the Word of God and knowing Him in a deeper and more intimate way, is a failure of the purpose of true biblical study. We do not merely study the Bible just to get answers or facts. We study the Bible in order to grow in the grace and true, intimate, real, full knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18). As you study the Word, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Person of Jesus Christ to you. He will be so delighted to do that. This is because His chief work is to glorify Jesus (John 16:14). And what better way to glorify Christ our Lord than to reveal Him to us in our hearts!