Adorning Grace with Goodness - Part 1

Adorning Grace with Goodness*⁺ – Part 1

It may be coincidence or divine comedy that the past two Sundays at two different churches I have listened to excellent sermons on the book of the Bible that I am just coming to in my own reading calendar.  Hence, it is fitting that I should pay close attention to Paul’s letter to Titus.**

Please read Titus, chapter 1.

The list of qualifications for an elder (Vs 5-9) is fairly standard for Paul.  I always picture a man of strong character, not easily swayed by emotions or events.  I struggle inwardly with being quick-tempered and with a lack of self-control.  In my mind, I tend to fictionalize and narrate my life and I attribute envious, controlling, and evil words and thoughts to family and friends who appear in my fictional mental story.  It isn’t long before I stress myself out and get angry at things these “people” say to me in my mind.  I have a lack of self-discipline in controlling my thoughts and in controlling my emotions.  Outwardly, I don’t anyone could say I’m quick-tempered but inwardly, I know I am.

I’ve noticed in Paul’s letters that he often contrasts lists, positive to negative.  He does that here in Chapter 1, contrasting verses 5-9 with 10-16.

I’ve tried to think about the last verse in Chapter 1 a lot this week.  Verse 16 reads, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.  They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good.”  That’s a harsh assessment of the people that Titus is called to work with and stand firm against. 

“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.”  I think that Paul talks a lot in Titus about doing good works because God has given us so much grace.  Verse 16 refers to how their (our?) actions reflect their beliefs and that there is a difference between verbal confirmation of a belief and the practice of that belief.  These people “knew” of God and perhaps “knew” of how he acted on our behalf to save us.  But Paul says they deny God through false teaching and a lust for dishonest gain. 

I’m not sure how much significance to place on this last verse other than to say that it weighs on my heart and fills me with a responsibility and a desire to be like the Elder in verses 5-9 rather than being one whose actions deny the saving grace of God.

Thoughts?

*Title stolen from Bethlehem Baptist’s sermon series through Titus

**I’m going to try not to be preachy or high-minded here so I deleted a long-winded paragraph.

+Asterisk footnote system stolen from Jeremiah Mitchell.