Who Am I? Why Am I What I Am? What Is My Purpose?

TITUS LESSON 1 Kay Arthur WHO AM I? WHY AM I WHAT I AM? WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?

What we see in the book of Titus: -Two men, Paul and Titus, who knew through the church they could impact the island of Crete. -If we were to stop and look at our purpose, and look at why we are here, could we turn the tide of our society?

Paul had left Titus in Crete: (1) To set in order what remains (1:5) (2) To appoint elders in every city as Paul directed (1:5) (3) Because of the rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. (1:10-11)

Description of the Cretans: (1:12) “One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” (1:13) Then he says, “This testimony is true.” This is the culture in which Paul had left Titus. Crete was an island of a hundred cities (Homer).

-They were known as liars all over the world. This was their reputation. -Called evil beasts - know for pushing people out of the way to get what they wanted. They didn’t care about others. -Called lazy gluttons. Not just about eating. They gorged themselves on anything that satisfied their senses, but they didn’t want to pay the price, didn’t want to get it on their own; they wanted to use what others had. -Were known as a people of sordid gain. A profit that was shameful made through schemes and unrighteous ways.

Pablibus wrote, “So much, in fact, do love of shameful profit and greed prevail among them, that among all men, Cretans are the only ones in whose estimation no profit is ever disgraceful.”

Cicero wrote, “Indeed men’s moral principles are so divergent that Cretans consider highway robbery to be honorable.”

Plutarch wrote, “The Cretans stuck to money like bees to honey. Material gain was esteemed better than honesty and honor, and they didn’t care how much their money cost them.”

Where does character begin and what does it look like? Character in general - It’s the way a person, thinks, feels, or acts, but that can be good or bad. The average character of the people of the United States today is bad, much like the Cretans! Character – is the moral quality of a person, the way a person thinks, feels or acts; according to their principles of right and wrong. Problem today – We don’t have moral absolutes, and if we do have moral absolutes we are to keep them to ourselves. We’re not to inflect them on others.

Paul was a bond-servant and apostle: “Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,” (Titus 1:1)

Bond-servant – Doulos –Old Testament term for a man who had been indentured to another man because he owed him a debt and he was paying off his debt by being his slave. When it came time for him to be released he decided that he did not want to be released because he was better off living as a slave to that master than living as a free man. Apostle – apostello – Someone that is sent from another person with a message. (Paul knew the message was not his own, that it belonged to God.)

Paul was a bond-servant and apostle: -For the faith of those chosen of God (for the faith of other believers). That was his purpose in life. -For the spreading or propagation of the knowledge of the truth which is according to Godliness.

Truth will cause you to live a godly life and truth will give you a Godly character according to Godliness (God likeness). Our purpose is never about “me” – it is always about “others.”

“in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,” (Titus 1:2)

Are we living in such a way that we are doing what God has called us to do?

“But at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,” (Titus 1:3)

Galatians 4:4-5 – Jesus was born of a woman. Jesus was born under the Law. Malachi 3:1 – In order for fullness of time to come the Jews had to be back in their land and there had to be a temple. Daniel 9:24-25 – Found out when the Messiah was coming. God had the Roman Empire in place.

Five Characteristics of the Roman Empire: 1. The whole civilized world was under one great empire – no border barriers. 2. There was one common language – Koine Greek – no language barrier. 3. Travel was easy because of the Roman roads. 4. Was the time of the Roman peace. 5. People were conscious of their needs. They were searching for a hand to lift them up. They had a spiritual need.

“Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. (Titus 1:4) Galatians 2:1-3 - Titus was a Gentile because he had not been circumcised. II Corinthians 8:16-23 – Titus was called a partner and fellow worker with Paul.

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.” (Titus 1:5)

Elder – in verse 5 is the word presbuteros. It stresses the maturity of the person, either physical or spiritual maturity. It expresses the dignity of a person, and expresses the nature of the man.

Overseer – in verse 7 (still describing an elder) is the word episkopos. It means a bishop, good or bad according to their doctrine, and expresses the nature of a man’s work. (See I Peter 2:25)

Verses 6 and 7 list what the character of these elders is to be: -above reproach – sterling character -husband of one wife – one women man – a man who has his passions and thoughts under control -having children who believe -not accused of dissipation (means excess, wasteful) -not accused of rebellion – digging in hells, refusing to follow instructions -must be above reproach – good stewards -not self-willed – pleasing himself and not concerned with opinion of others -not quick-tempered (orgilos) - a wrath that’s nurtured, takes lasting revenge -Not addicted to wine -not pugnacious – a striker, a brawler, a man quick with his fists -not to be fond of sorted gain – as the Cretans were.

Instead they were to be: -hospitable – a lover of strangers, lodge someone, befriend someone -loving what is good – fond of good, or fond of a good men, a promoter of virtue -sensible, just, devout, self-controlled -be able to teach exhort in sound doctrine -be able to refute those who contradict

Today we need men and women of character, who know who they are, and know why they are what they are, and are living accordingly. Because it’s the only way our society will be turned around.