Titus 3
Gentleness is a necessary characteristicverses 1-2
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers
to obey magistrates – to be ready to every good work
to speak evil of no man – to be no brawlers
but gentle – showing all meekness to all men
Believers past lifeverse 3
FOR we ourselves also were sometimes foolish – disobedient
deceived – serving divers lusts and pleasures
living in malice and envy – hateful
and hating one another
Believers meeting with Christverses 4-8
BUT after that the kindness and love of God our Savior
toward man appeared
not by works of righteousness which we have done
but according to HIS mercy HE saved us
by the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Ghost
WHICH HE shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior
that being justified by HIS grace
we should be made heirs according to the
hope of ETERNAL LIFE
This is a faithful saying and these things I will that you affirm constantly
that they which have believed in God might be careful
to maintain good works
These things are good and profitable to men
Believers not to be sidetracked in their witnessverses 9-11
BUT avoid foolish questions – genealogies – contention – strivings
about the law – for they are unprofitable and vain
A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject
knowing that he that is such is subverted – and sins
being condemned of himself
Believers to provide for missionariesverses 12-14
WHEN I shall send Artimas to you – or Tychicus
be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis
for I have determined there to winter
Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently
that nothing be wanting to them
And let ours also learn to maintain good works
FOR necessary uses
that they be not unfruitful
Greetings sent to believers in Creteverse 15
All that are with me salute you
greet them that love us in the faith
Grace be with you all AMEN
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit. (342 “renewing” [anakainosis] means renovation, or complete change for the better. Our salvation is not based on our works. Our salvation is based wholly on the work of Christ on the cross. All our works are as filthy rags in God’s sight. Christ’s work of shedding HIS blood for the remission of sin was what was needed for our salvation.
If it was based on our works then we have a reason to boast. We can’t boast. Daily we fight to live the life God wants us to live against the world, the flesh and the devil. Many a leader has fallen because he thought he was good enough to go to heaven on the basis of his works and they were wrong. Our national Christian leaders are sinners daily. Our local Christian leaders are sinners daily. All those sitting in the pews of our churches are sinners daily.
It is only on the basis of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins that we have any hope. God had mercy on us. God washed us in the blood of HIS Son. The Holy Spirit renovated our hearts. We changed families. We were part of Satan’s family but now we are part of God’s family. When we follow Christ we are given a complete change for the better. This divine nature helps us make godly or righteous decisions. We need to use the power Christ has given us when we make decisions.
Are we using our changed mind in the decisions we are making? We will never be perfectly sinless while we live on this earth but we can make godly decisions each day. We can confess our sin when we fail the LORD. HE is in the forgiving business.
BUT watch out. Don’t think that God wants us to sin as much as we want and HE will forgive us. There are consequences when we sin. Genuine believers can have weakness, sickness, and pre-mature death happen if they try to live that way. The Bible tells us that some sins follow us to the judgment seat of Christ and we lose rewards but others are judged right away during out earthly life. God wants a pure church. God wants pure leaders. We need to all keep short accounts with God.
CHALLENGE: Remember it is the work of the LORD alone that saves us.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto me. (4291 “maintain” [proistemi] means to lead, to set or place before, to superintend, preside over, give attention to, be active in helping, engage in aiding, manage, or care for)
DEVOTION: Belief is what is necessary for salvation. Salvation is a commitment to repent of your sins based on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Then we have to follow Jesus Christ while carrying your own cross daily.
Our works are never a basis of salvation. We have to always look to Jesus for our salvation. After we have this fact straight in our mind then we need to realize that HE expects us to manifest a change in our life. HE accepts us just as we are but with the understanding that we will have a goal to be more Christ-like the rest of our life.
We will fail sometimes but we can confess our sin and HE is faithful and just to forgive us and restore our fellowship. Remember a believer that stays out of fellowship through chastening can be taken. HE sends warnings to genuine believers. Sometimes the warnings are in the shape of weakness and sickness.
Paul instructs Titus in the fact that believers have to be careful to lead a life that manifests good works that bring glory to God. These works are part of our thank offering to HIM for HIS salvation. They don’t earn us salvation but we will receive rewards and crowns at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
CHALLENGE: We need to constantly affirm this truth in our training of others for serve to the LORD. We have to keep these truths always present in our thought life. It is not faith plus anything that earns us salvation.
:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (5624 “profitable” [ophelimos] means profitable. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: We tend to misinterpret Paul when it comes to doing good works, because of what he wrote in the letters to the Romans and Ephesians. While it is true that good works do not save us, that is not the entire story. On the other hand, we also tend to misinterpret James’ comments about good works as if they were enough to result in our salvation.
Paul makes it clear here that doing good works has a role in the life of the believer (as he had already done in Ephesians 2:10). That means that they are to make us profitable. In business, the idea of profit is what enables a business to make enough money to stay in business. So, profit is not a bad thing, but something that is actually necessary.
Good works are profitable for us in the sense that they earn us the right to share the gospel with the unsaved. They are also profitable in that they earn God’s pleasure as they show our gratitude back to Him and our love for Him for all that He has done for us. While we do not understand how God will reward us in heaven, He promises to give rewards to those of His children who have been obedient to Him.
Therefore, our goal should be living a consistent life of good works towards God and men. People should be able to have enough evidence of our Christianity in our actions in order to convict us!
CHALLENGE: How would people characterize your life? Would they say that you are a good man or woman? Remember that good works are the byproduct of our salvation and the proof of our salvation, not the cause of our salvation. (MW)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings, about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (2054 “contentions” [eris] means strife, wrangling, a bitter disagreement between conflicting facts or claims or opinions, discord, or argue)
DEVOTIONS: There are many people who like to side track us regarding things that are found in the Old Testament. The Law of Moses was given to show them that the LORD wanted them to live a certain way for a certain time. The moral law of God never changes but there are ceremonial laws and dietary laws that have changed.
The people in Paul’s day and some in our day will claim that they can trace their heritage back to Abraham and therefore are in God’s family through their pedigree. This is not true. Even in the Old Testament God taught that just because they were born in a Jewish family it didn’t mean that they were in a proper relationship with HIM. It was not just a human birth right but a spiritual birth right. If they genuinely followed the LORD they were part of HIS chosen people.
Today there are many who want to take us back to the dietary laws, the Sabbath laws and the ceremonial laws. These are not for today. We can follow them if we chose but they have nothing to do with whether we are born again or not.
God has always looked at the heart and continues to do so until Jesus returns for HIS own.
We have to use our time wisely. This means we have to pick our battles. This means that we have to bring those we are witnessing to back to the Bible and not tradition or any other point they would like to bring up to get us off track.
CHALLENGE: The time is short!!!
: 14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. (4291 “maintain” [proistemi] means to set over, lead, rule over, be the first, to devote oneself to, or to advocate)
DEVOTION: We will discuss maintaining good works below but here we want to be concerned about the fact that we need to meet urgent needs and not be unfruitful.
We are here to meet needs that are important to people. This means those needs that are necessary for the moment. Paul wanted the believers to make sure that Zenas and Apollos come to him quickly. The church is to make sure that there are no needs that they have to stop them from coming to him. He wants the church to provide what is necessary for them to get to him quickly. This might mean money or food or encouragement.
Secondly, Paul’s desire is that every believer be fruitful in their service to the LORD. Many of us would first think of souls saved. This is to be our emphasis whether we are a leader in the church or someone who is presently just sitting in a pew. Every believer is to be a witness and is a witness whether they want to be or not. People are watching everyone who claims to be a believer to see if what they say matches what they are doing. There will always be areas where they can find fault in any believer but we still have to try to maintain our good works for the LORD.
Remember a cup of cold water given in Jesus name will receive a reward in heaven. Each little service we do for the LORD will be blessed of the LORD. There is a blessing even if we are just maintaining the church building or grounds. People notice even little things that improve the testimony of the church and its people.
God is watching our attitude and actions throughout our life. There is no retirement age for those who are believers. I have a mother-in-law who wonders why she is still on this earth. I continually remind her that she can be a prayer warrior for her family to come to the LORD and serve the LORD. She has some who are still struggling with their walk with the LORD.
All of us have loved ones who are watching us to see if we are trying to serve the LORD faithfully. We need to give them something good to say about our walk with the LORD. Some will never see this side of us but we have to still keep trying. We are to pray for a fruitful life for the LORD!!!
Finally, if we are unfruitful we can cause others to be unfruitful by not helping them any way we can to serve the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Again remember the cup of cold water given in Jesus name is more than enough if that is all you can do. If we only do that much and we could have done more, we will answer to the LORD for our lack of assistance.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Lawverse 9
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 4, 8
Love of Godverse 4
God our Saviorverse 4
Believed in Godverse 8
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesusverse 6
Christ verse 6
Saviorverse 6
Jesus Christ our Saviorverse 6
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Holy Ghostverse 5
Renewing of the Holy Ghostverse 5
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Principalitiesverse 1
Powersverse 1
Magistratesverse 1
Manverses 2, 4
Nicopolisverse 12
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evilverse 2
Brawlersverse 2
Foolishverse 3
Disobedientverse 3
Deceivedverse 3
Serving divers lusts and pleasuresverse 3
Living in malice and envyverse 3
Hatefulverse 3
Hating one anotherverse 3
Works of righteousness (don’t save)verse 5
Foolish question about Lawverse 9
Questions of genealogiesverse 9
Contentions about the Lawverse 9
Strivings about the Lawverse 9
Hereticverse 10
Subvertedverse 11
Sinsverse 11
Unfruitfulverse 14
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Subject to principalities and powersverse 1
Obey magistratesverse 1
Ready to every good workverse 1
Gentleverse 2
Meekverse 2
Kindnessverse 4
Love of Godverse 4
Mercyverse 5
Savedverse 5
Washing of regenerationverse 5
Renewing of the Holy Ghostverse 5
Justifiedverse 7
Graceverses 7, 15
Heirsverse 7
Hopeverse 7
Believedverse 8
Carefulverse 8
Maintain good worksverses 8, 14
Profitableverse 8
Faithverse 15
Love in the faithverse 15
Graceverse 15
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Reject heretic after two warningverse 10
Artemasverse 12
Tychicusverse 12
Zenas the lawyerverse 13
Apollosverse 13
Saluteverse 15
Last Things (Future Events)
Eternal lifeverse 7
Condemnedverse 11
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
1 Christians have a duty to government. “The people,” literally “them,” refers to the members of the churches, not to all Cretans in general. “Remind” indicates that the duties now insisted on are not new to them; the present imperative demands that Titus must repeatedly press these duties upon their consciences. Early Christian preaching was not limited to the way of salvation but included instructions concerning the practical implications of that salvation for daily living. Paul ever desired that the lives of believers should produce a favorable impression on the non-Christian world.
The duty of believers is “to be subject to rulers and authorities.” “To be subject” is best taken as a middle-voice infinitive, implying their voluntary acceptance of this position of submission. “Rulers and authorities,” two abstract nouns, signifies not the individual rulers but the various forms of human government. This demand for obedience to government is found in other NT letters (Rom 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–17), but the known turbulence of the Cretans made it particularly appropriate here.
“To be obedient” states the result and visible demonstration of their attitude of submission. The compound infinitive (peitharchein) denotes practical obedience to particular authoritative orders. The context implies obedience to the particular demands of government, but the practice of obedience is not to be limited to these areas. It is assumed that the obedience demanded does not contradict explicit Christian duties.
As good citizens, believers must also “be ready to do whatever is good”—prepared and willing to participate in activities that promote the welfare of the community. They must not stand coldly aloof from praiseworthy enterprises of government but show good public spirit, thus proving that Christianity is a constructive force in society. (Hiebert, D. E. (1981). Titus. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, pp. 442–443). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
To be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient (ἀρχαις ἐξουσιαις ὑποτασσεσθαι πειθαρχειν [archais exousiais hupotassesthai peitharchein]). Remarkable double asyndeton, no και [kai] (and) between the two substantives or the two verbs. Πειθαρχειν [Peitharchein] (to obey), old verb (from πειθομαι, ἀρχη [peithomai, archē]), in N. T. only here and Acts 27:21. To be ready unto every good work (προς παν ἐργον ἀγαθον ἑτοιμους εἰναι [pros pan ergon agathon hetoimous einai]). Pauline phrase (2 Cor. 9:8; 2 Tim. 2:21; 3:17), here adjective ἑτοιμος [hetoimos] (2 Cor. 9:5), there verb. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Tt 3:1). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
3:1–2. A large part of any pastor’s public ministry is reminding people of what they already know. Titus was to remind the Christians on Crete to be good citizens within their communities, a virtue in which Cretans were notoriously deficient. Though Paul did not repeat it here, his thought was no doubt that this behavior, like that of a Christian slave, will adorn the gospel and make it attractive to others (cf. 2:10). Paul listed seven qualities expected of Christian citizens: (1) to be subject to rulers and authorities; (2) to be obedient (cf. Rom. 13:1–7); (3) to be ready to do whatever is good (cf. Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 3:17); (4) to slander no one; (5) to be peaceable and (6) considerate; and (7) to show true humility toward all men. A Christian citizen should be an influence for good in the community in every way, demonstrating the loveliness of Christ to all through courteous and gracious behavior. This is precisely the lifestyle that results from understanding God’s grace. In other words the instructions in Titus 2:15–3:2 must be seen as concrete examples of the behavior required of one who understands God’s grace (2:11–14). (Litfin, A. D. (1985). Titus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 766). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Christians were often looked on with suspicion in the Roman Empire because their conduct was so different and they met in private meetings for worship (see 1 Peter 2:11–25; 3:13–4:5). It was important that they be good citizens without compromising the faith. Their pagan neighbors might disobey the law but Christians must submit to the authority of the state (see Rom. 13). “Ready to every good work” (Titus 3:1) means “cooperating in those matters that involve the whole community.” Our heavenly citizenship (Phil. 3:20) does not absolve us from responsibilities as citizens on earth.
The believer should not have a bad attitude toward the government and show it by slanderous accusations and pugnacious actions. The word gentle (Titus 3:2) means “an attitude of moderation, a sweet reasonableness.” Christians with this quality do not insist on the letter of the law, but are willing to compromise where no moral issue is at stake.
Again, Paul linked duty to doctrine. “Don’t be too critical of your pagan neighbors,” he wrote. “Just remember what you were before God saved you!” Titus 3:3 needs little explanation; we know what it means from our own experience. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 267). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
In the third chapter we have the Christian’s relationship to the world outside. He must not plead heavenly citizenship in order to free himself from his responsibilities as an earthly citizen. The same apostle who wrote to the Philippians, “Our citizenship is in heaven,” declared himself a Roman citizen on more than one occasion, and claimed rights thereby.
And so Titus was to teach these restless Cretans to be subject to proper authority, always ready to participate in anything for the good of the community; speaking evil of none, but manifesting the meekness and gentleness of Christ unto all.
This of course does not mean that the Christian is to immerse himself in politics. He will only be defiled if he attempts it, and he will fail in the very thing he is trying to do. Lot could not purify conditions in Sodom by running for office; and many a Christian has found that it was in vain for him to attempt to stem the tide of iniquity by becoming a politician. But the Christian is to set an example of piety in his civic responsibilities. He is to be obedient to law and to pay honestly his taxes, or tribute as the case may be, and to pray for all who are in positions of authority. Then too he is to remember the admonition, “As much as in you is, do good unto all men.” Therefore he should be interested in anything which is for the blessing of mankind. This, however, does not leave him at liberty to take part in plans and schemes that are manifestly contrary to the Word of God, even though they may be loudly vaunted as for the up-building of humanity. But by generosity, by uprightness of life, and by compassionate interest in his fellows, he is to commend the doctrine of Christ.
It is by such behavior that Christians prove to the world that they are indeed a new creation in Christ Jesus. There was a time when we were like others, “foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various unholy desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” We were not all guilty to the same extent, but we were all in non-subjection to God, self-willed and living in disobedience to His Word.
But He in grace undertook our salvation. Not that we became at last so distressed about our sinfulness that we longed after Him, but He in infinite kindness reached down to where we were. “The love of God our Saviour toward man,” is literally, “the philanthropy of God.” (Ironside, H. A. (1947). Addresses on the First and Second Epistles of Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (pp. 269–271). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
Ver. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, &c.] Not angels, good or bad, which are sometimes so called, but men in high places; the higher powers ordained of God, as the apostle elsewhere calls them; and which the Apostle Peter distinguishes into the king as supreme, and into governors under him: the Roman emperor and senate, the consuls, and proconsuls, deputies and governors of provinces and islands, are here meant; particularly such who were appointed over the island of Crete. Now the reasons why the apostle exhorts Titus to put in remembrance those that were under his care, to yield a cheerful subjection to their superiors, were, because the Jews, from whom the Christians were not distinguished by the Romans, were reckoned a turbulent and seditious people; which character they obtained, partly through the principles of the Scribes and Pharisees, which they at least privately entertained, as not to give tribute to Cæsar, or be under any Heathen yoke; and partly through the insurrections that had been made by Judas of Galilee, and Theudas, and others; and besides, there were many Jews in the island of Crete, and the Cretians themselves were prone to mutiny and rebellion: to which may be added, that the false teachers, and judaizing preachers, that had got among them, despised dominion, and were not afraid to speak evil of dignities, according to the characters which both Peter and Jude give of them, and taught the saints to abuse their Christian liberty, and use it for a cloak of maliciousness, to the great scandal of the Christian religion. To obey magistrates; inferior ones; in all things that are according to the laws of God, and right reason, that do not contradict what God has commanded, or break in upon the rights and dictates of conscience; in all things of a civil nature, and which are for the good of society, and do not affect religion, and the worship of God: hence it follows, to be ready to every good work; which may be taken in a limited and restrained sense, and design every good work enjoined by the civil magistrate; and all right and lawful obedience that belongs to him, as giving to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, tribute, custom, fear, and honour to whom they are due; and which should be done readily and cheerfully: or it may be understood more comprehensively of good works in general, which wicked men are reprobate to, and unfit for; and which they that are sanctified are meet for, and ready to; though this may not only intend their capacity, fitness, and qualifications, for the performance of good works, but their alacrity, promptitude, and forwardness unto them. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 359). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Titus 2: 1, 2: It does not describe the demeanor of a person who is a gloomy killjoy, but it does describe the conduct of the man who knows that he lives in the light of eternity, and that before so very long he will leave the society of men for the society of God. (p.282)
It may well be that the greatest danger of age is that it should drift into censoriousness, and criticism, and fault-finding. (283)
The teacher, the preacher, the pastor, the minister is always confronted with the temptation to be a dictator. (p. 289)
Dignity is the consciousness of having the terrible responsibility of being the ambassador of Christ. …. Other men may stoop to pettiness; he must be above it. Other men may bear their grudges; he mus have no bitterness. Other men may take offence, or be touchy about their place and prestige; he must have a humility which has forgotten that it has a place. Other men may grow irritable or blaze into anger in an argument; he must have a serenity which cannot be provoked. (p. 290)
Titus 3: 1, 2
Christianity does not insist that a man should cease to be an individual, but it does insist that a man must always remember that he is also a member of a group. (p. 297)
The characteristic modern disease is boredom; and boredom is the direct result of selfishness. So long as a man lives on the principle of, “Why should I do it? Let someone else do it, “ he is bound to be bored. The interest of life lies in service. (p. 297)
A heretic is simply a man who has decided that he is right and everybody else is wrong. Paul’s warning is a warning against the man who has made his own ideas the test and standard of all truth. A man should always be very careful of any opinion which separates him from the fellowship fo his fellow believers. True faith does not divide men; it unites them. (p 304) (The Letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon by William Barclay)
JUST DO something (Consider this one statistic: IN 1960, 77 percent of women and 65 percent of men completed all the major transitions into adulthood by age thirty. These transition include leaving home, finishing school, becoming financially independent, getting married, and having a child. By 2000, only 46 percent of woman completed these transitions by age thirty, and only 31 percent of men. (p. 13) A liberating approach to finding God’s Will) by Keven DeYoung: My goal is not as much to tell you how to hear God’s voice in making decisions as it is to help you hear God telling you to get off the long road to nowhere and finally make a decision, get a job, and perhaps, get married. (p. 14)
GLORYING IN THE CROSS
God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 6:14
The Christian is one who glories in the cross. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let us look at this. Paul does not merely say that he admires it, that the cross is simply beautiful and marvelous. No; he does not stand there just admiring it or merely praising it. I want to go further—he does not just believe it. He does not merely accept its message intellectually.
I am going to test you, my friends. The Christian is a man who does not only believe in the cross—he glories in it! What do you mean by that? says someone. Well, I mean the same as the writer (J.Bowring) of the hymn when he says:
In the Cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
He rejoices in it. The word that the apostle actually uses here is a very strong one. He says “God forbid that I should boast.” He makes his boast of it. He says these Jews are the people who want to have you circumcised in order that they may boast about their converts. They want to boast in your flesh. They are out for their own success and their own name. “Oh,” says the apostle, “I boast in nothing, and God forbid that I should, save in the cross of Christ.”
A Thought to Ponder: The Christian is a man who does not only believe in the cross—he glories in it! (From The Cross, pp. 53-54, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Pilate tries Jesus then hands Him over to be crucified.
INSIGHT
Proverbs 20:17 says, “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.” If ever a man illustrates that truth, Judas does. Some mysterious passion burns in his breast to betray Jesus.
Whether Judas seeks political ambition or mere lust for money, we do not know. But later, his remorse is so great that he throws the money away and hangs himself. We must remember Judas when illicit desire burns in our breast. Such desire always promises more than it delivers; it always turns to gravel in our mouths. (QuietWalk)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.