Introduction
In Chapter 3:1-7 we saw that the Christian’s posture toward the surrounding world is built upon the essential memory that we were once just like them. Yet, God manifested His goodness and loving kindness to us when we were His enemies. The language of “washing” and “renewal” (vs. 5) reminds us that our salvation is anchored in God’s new creative act of “pouring” out the Spirit like He did in Genesis. Because we have now become participants in the new creation we are now to be agents of new creation. Notice how Paul connects this in 2 Cor. 5:17-20:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”
The early church’s “zeal for good deeds” had such an impact on the Roman Empire that in 362 A.D. the emperor Julian (the apostate), in an attempt to reestablish Hellenic religion, told his priests to start imitating the Christians care for the poor: “Why do we not observe that it is their benevolence to strangers, their care for the graves of the dead and the pretended holiness of their lives that have done most to increase atheism? For it is disgraceful that, when no Jew ever as to beg, and the impious Christians support not only their own poor but ours as well, all men see that our people lack aid from us. Teach those of the Hellenic faith to contribute to public service of this sort.”
Works that are Excellent and Profitable
Paul notes that this “saying is trustworthy” and must be emphasized/insisted upon so that “those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.” In other words, there is an important connection between vs. 3-7 (the trustworthy saying) and the good works believers are supposed to engage in. In Titus, these works aren’t a simple duty to be performed; they are characterized by zeal and devotion. What’s the key?
First, remember that Adam was created in God’s image to imitate the creative good works of his Father. The command to take dominion (Gen. 1:28) was an exhortation to be creative and imaginative in exercising their stewardship of creation. Adam and Eve were to do “good works” born out of the “good works” God had done for them in the days of creation. Simply put, good works are what we were made for. The tragedy of Genesis 3 is that sin now means that our works are evil (Col. 1:21) and futile (Eph. 4:17).
As we saw last week, the glorious thing about the gospel is that God comes for us, to reveal his goodness and loving kindness in saving us, not because of anything good we had done, but according to His own mercy. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us why:
“And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
We were created for good works because we are God’s masterpiece; a new creation. Paul is saying that if you understand what God has done for you in Jesus, it will turn the motivation center of your life upside down. When you come face to face with God’s goodness and loving kindness, it leads you to repent of being consumed with yourself and your selfish desires. Now you have the Spirit’s power to forget about yourself and see the needs of others around you. Love fires zeal (1 John 3:16-17).
Consider yourself: Are you angry or are you content? Are you envious or grateful? Do you look down on others or are you compassionate toward others? Are you bitter or do you forgive freely and easily? Anger, envy, distain, and bitterness are all rooted in pride and self-centeredness. They are all born out of a need to commend ourselves to God. The good works of contentment, gratitude, love, and forgiveness are found in those who understand and rest in the gifts of God. When His freedom becomes the center of your identity, Jesus releases you to become the person you were made to be: A masterpiece of grace, overflowing with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, and exuberant generosity. Like Him, you become “zealous for good works.”
Works that are Unprofitable and Worthless
Against these “excellent” and “profitable” works, Paul contrasts, one final time, the kind of works that are unprofitable and worthless. These are the works propagated by the kind of false teachers we met earlier in chapter 1. Titus must avoid:
- Foolish controversies (speculations vs. God’s word)
- Genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law. Much like the false teachers in 1 Tim. 1:3-11 who “devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.” Whatever is in view here, the outcome serves to divide people and make them quarrel in pointless and futile ways.
Titus is finally to guard against people who “stir up division.” The Greek word (hairetikos) is sometimes translated “heretic,” but we must not read the later idea of a heretic back into its meaning here. Paul has in mind a more common understanding of a sect, a party or school of thought, like the Pharisees, or the “circumcision.” Simply put, these people hold their theological positions in such a way as to divide and break down the unity of Christ’s body. Rather than “striving for like-mindedness” (Phil. 2:2) by considering others more important than themselves, divisive people are motivated by selfish ambition and pride. This is extraordinarily important because Paul assumes people have differences, but he insists that true charity will sharpen and unify. A factious person doesn’t want unity, they actually pride themselves with being “outside.” This is precisely the kind of teacher Paul says “must be silenced.” (1:11). Moreover, after two warnings (Matt. 18:15-17) they are to be avoided because they have proven that they are committed to their own views in a way that is “warped and sinful.” (vs. 11).
The ultimate portrait here is between those who are zealous because they know the mercy and loving kindness of the Lord and those who’s zeal is a form of self-recommendation. One is generous because it comes from knowing God’s generosity. The other is critical and divisive because it is grasping to gain God’s approval. In the Bible, fruitfulness comes from being rooted deeply in the finished work of Christ: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Knowing His love produces devotion that bears much fruit. “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”