Key Truth: Good works are not for our salvation but serve as a witness to the beauty and transformation of union with Christ to those who are outside of the church.

Introduction:

Q: What role do works play in the Christian life?

“The dominant theme in Titus…is good works…that is exemplary Christian behavior, and that for the sake of the outsiders…in contrast to the false teachers.”

Gordon D. Fee, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus

Submit to Authority, Be Ready for Every Good Work, and Love Your Neighbor:

Titus 3:1-2

“Christian behavior in contemporary society was of utmost importance for the furtherance of the gospel.”

Donald Guthrie, The Pastoral Epistles

Q: How is your view of and response to various governing authorities affecting your readiness for every good work and witness in the world? How does how you treat others affect your witness in the world?

A New Identity: Former Cretans Now Regenerate and Devoted to Good Works:

Titus 3:3-8

“Believers thought that ungodly people were worthless and did not deserve any forbearance, so Paul is correcting such severity, which he knows leads to pride. When we realize that the charges we level against others are true of us, we are prepared to keep our pride in check. The person who is trying to seek pardon for himself finds it easy to forgive others the only reason we are unwilling to forgive our brothers is that we are ignorant of our own faults.”

John Calvin, 1&2 Timothy & Titus

Q: Does who you once were apart from Christ humble you? Does who you are now in Christ empower you to devote yourself to good works?

Avoid Unprofitable and Worthless Missional Distractions:

Titus 3:9-15

“Titus’ teaching is meant to prepare believers who have a strong sense of their responsibility to think through the practical implications of their faith (theology) and put these into action (= “good deeds, or what is good”).”

Philip H. Towner, The Letters to Timothy and Titus

Q: What kinds of unprofitable and worthless missional distractions do you wrestle with?

Titus 3:1-15 teaches us that:

-our good works matter to the mission of redemption to those outside the church

-we were once no better than Cretans which should give us hope for the lost

-we must be diligent to reject missional distractions and devote ourselves to good works