Sermon Central
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Remember Your Chains Series
Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Mar 23, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: Paul is going to direct Titus to remind the Cretan Christians to remember who they represent, what their past was like, who their Savior is, and what their mission is all about.
Remember Your Chains
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
3-21-2021
Remind Me
I had the opportunity to share my testimony at Pastor Gary’s church in Middletown, Indiana last week. I was supposed to bring Gary some books and asked him to remind me. Of course, I forgot. Gary actually said, “I feel like I was supposed to remind you of something.” Liz just laughed at us. We all need reminding.
“Remind me.” This is the job of a pastor. We have nothing original to say. We are to remind you of what is true and what the Scriptures say again and again and again.
“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.” (I Peter 1:12)
Where We’ve Been
In the first chapter of Titus, Paul has focused on doctrine, right thinking versus false teaching. This is foundational and necessary to start our Christian journey.
But in chapter two, he will make the case that doctrine leads to duty, belief affects behavior, and orthodoxy results in orthopraxy.
In other words, if we say we are Christians, how we live out our faith is just as important as what we say we believe.
There is something supernaturally beautiful about a church that is full of people who take the call to follow Jesus seriously.
A watching world is desperate for hope and we have the honor of being ambassadors of Jesus Christ to them.
Alistair Begg writes, “The church has always been at it’s best when we are radically different from the world around us.”
Last week, we studied verses 11-15 and saw that past grace, present grace, future grace and redeeming grace of God is the fuel that fires our desires to live out our faith by doing good works.
If you missed that sermon, you can always watch it on our FaceBook or Twitter pages, YouTube channel, or the church website.
Chapter one covers doctrine and duty in the church.
Chapter two covers doctrine and duty in the home.
Chapter three covers doctrine and duty in the world.
In chapter three, Paul is going to direct Titus to remind the Cretan believers of who they represent, of who they used to be, of who saved them and why, and what their mission is on the sin-filled island of Crete.
How we live matters and
Turn to Titus 3.
Prayer
Remember who you Represent
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” (Titus 3:1-2)
The word “remind” means to call to mind what is already known. What has Titus been teaching the new Cretan believers that he needs to be constantly reminding them about?
In 67 B.C., the island of Crete was subjected to Roman rule. The Cretans were notorious for insurrections, murders, and wars. They were not happy about being under the thumb of Rome and resisted authority every chance they got.
Titus reminded these new believers that they were salt and light in a dark, hopeless, pagan society. They represented the Lord Jesus Christ. They could not get caught up in fighting the government on every issue because it would distract from their mission and hurt their witness with the very people they were trying to reach.
Unlike the normal Cretan, they were to be “subject to rulers and authorities…” (v. 1)
This is a theme that Paul drives home again and again in his letters.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” (I Peter 2:13-15)
And
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Rom 13:1-2)
And
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (I Tim 2:1-2)
Paul wrote this during the time of Nero and the iron rule of Rome.
How are the Cretans to do that? By “being obedient…”
The Cretans were to be obedient to the rulers and authorities on Crete. They were to pay taxes, to follow the laws, and show respect and pray for their leaders.
The only time they were allowed to disobey the authorities was when the government forced them to what what the Bible forbids or stops us from doing what the Bible commands. ?
