HIS SERVANTS' MINISTRY

www.godcannotlie.org

Welcome to our website

Book of Titus
Chapter 1

Theme: The church is an organization

Why Titus Was Left in Crete (Titus 1:1-5)

The introduction to Titus is characteristic of those in the Pastoral Letters, but it is not characteristic of Paul's other Letters.

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; (KJV)

Paul, a servant of God . . . in this Paul declares himself to be the author of the Letter, and declares in the strongest way his claims to the apostleship. He refers to the great cause in which, as an apostle, he was working under the eternal plan of God for the salvation of the elect, and appointed to communicate the glorious Truths of that system which had been now revealed to mankind. The purpose of this Letter seems to be to impress upon the mind of Titus, Paul’s right to give him instruction. A servant of God . . . James introduces himself in this same way (Jam.1:1), and Peter and Jude also.
And an apostle of Jesus Christ . . . established, qualified, and sent by Him to preach His Gospel (Acts 9:15-16); and who had his mission, commission and doctrine from Him. Paul was an ambassador of Jesus, Paul represented Him, and preached Him, and had the power of working miracles to confirm his mission and ministry. Paul also had all the signs and proofs of an apostle in him (Rom.1:1).
And according to the faith of God's elect . . . Paul does not say "for the faith," but "according to the faith" . . . meaning according to the standard of faith which is set for God's elect today. Whether you are saved or not rests on what you believe. What you think of Jesus, what you believe about His death on the Cross, what that Sacrifice means to you; what you believe about His resurrection and what that means to you, whether you believe that the Bible is the Holy Word of God or not. If you do not have faith in Jesus once for all Sacrifice for you (Heb.10:10), you are NOT saved! God's elect . . .  this is the way Paul speaks of saved people. He is not discussing the doctrine of election here at all.
And the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness . . . if the Truth that you have does not lead you to a godly life, there is something very wrong with your faith. There are a lot of members in the church today, but not all of them are in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Truth leads to godliness, and if the church you go to is not leading YOU to godliness, meaning a good, obedient and righteous life, it is not teaching the TRUTH of the Bible! Get away from there, fast! RUN, don’t walk!
Paul persists on this theme, that when the Gospel is believed it will lead to godliness because the people on the island of Crete were abusing the grace of God. These fools said that if they had been saved by grace they were free to live in sin if they wanted to. This is the same garbage that is in today’s world. Paul clearly states, right here in this first verse, that when the TRUTH of God is believed, it will lead to godliness. IF ungodliness continues, the person is NOT saved!  The amazing grace of God saves us . . . BUT . . . it also lays down some hard and fast (rigid) limits and restraints for our lives, and calls us to live on a higher plane. The doctrine of the grace of God CANNOT be used as an excuse to sin. If you think that you can be saved by grace and live in sin . . . you are WRONG! If you continue in sin (Rom.6:1; 1 Jn.3:6-9; 5:18), you are NOT saved by grace; you are not saved, and never were saved!
Salvation by God’s grace leads to a godly life.

Titus 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (KJV)

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began . . . it seems that lying was common in Crete (verse 12). Paul made it clear at the start that GOD DOES NOT LIE. The basic foundation of our faith, is trust in God's character. Because God is Truth, He is the source of all Truth, and HE CANNOT LIE. Believing Him, and believing in Him leads to living a lifestyle that honors God (verse 1). The eternal life that God has promised shall be ours, because He keeps His Promises. God has NEVER ever, broken even one Promise that He ever made! We can build your faith on the foundation of a trustworthy God who never lies. We can rest in comfort and peace on the hope of eternal life. In Titus we will see that Paul speaks of grace in three time zones. In Titus 2:11-13, we shall see all three: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation" . . . that is past; "teaching us" . . . that is present; and "looking for that blessed hope" . . . that is future. This is the hope that Paul is speaking about, and he says we are to rest on that hope. You can know that you have eternal life (Jn.20:31; 1 Jn.5:10-13). The Bible tells us so!
Promised before the world began . . . this Promise was made, w-a-y back there in eternity.

See article on hope at the end of this chapter.

Titus 1:3  But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; (KJV)

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching . . . in due times means on God’s own terms, in His time period. God moves in a very orderly manner in everything that He does. God made the peach tree . . . it blooms in the spring. It will NOT bloom in December! It blooms when God tells it to bloom! Manifested his word through preaching . . . preaching here comes from the Greek word which means "a herald" or "trumpet." A trumpet was used in that day to make an announcement. If a ruler had a proclamation to make, a trumpeter came out and blew a trumpet, and then the proclamation was made. That is the idea here.
Which is committed unto . . . not exclusively, but in common with others (2 Tim.1:11). 
According to the commandment of God our Saviour. . .  Paul always claimed to be divinely commissioned, and affirmed that he was involved in the work of preaching by the authority of God (Gal.1:1-12; 1 Cor.1:1; Rom.1:1-4).

Titus 1:4  To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (KJV)

To Titus, mine own son after the common faith . . . Paul was not married, he did not have any natural sons. He calls Titus his own son in a spiritual sense, for the apostle was the instrument of his conversion, just as he was of the conversion of Onesimus, and of many of the Corinthians, and therefore is said to beget them (Phm.1:10; 1 Cor.4:15), and so he was their spiritual father, and they his children. After the common faith . . . the faith of all Christians, Paul is saying "my son in the gospel."
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour . . . is the apostle's usual salutation (Rom.1:7; 1 Tim.1:2).

Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: (KJV)

For this cause left I thee in Crete . . . not in his voyage to Rome (Acts 27:7), but rather when he came from Macedonia into Greece (Acts 20:2). Crete is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, where Paul preached the Gospel to convert many; but not having time to finish what he started, he left Titus in Crete to finish the job for him. This island was not over 50 miles wide, and 270 miles in length, yet it had a hundred cities in it. It seems that the Gospel had been preached in most, if not all of them, and churches had been formed . . . but where these churches were, Paul wanted Titus see that they had proper officers set up in them, especially elders, pastors or overseers, to preach the Gospel, and administer the ordinances to them. These elders were to watch over the saints, and keep up a strict discipline in it, according to the will of God.
That thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting . . . meaning to form the young converts into a regular Gospel church, set proper restrictions among them; instruct them more fully in the doctrines of the Gospel; correct their manners, and direct them in everything, with respect to faith, hope and practice.
And ordain elders in every city . . . Paul left Titus in Crete to organize local churches with elders as spiritual leaders. The island of Crete is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea. There was much folklore and tradition connected with this island as there usually was with all of the Greek islands. Crete must have been a pretty bad place, and the people were not good people. Although they were known as liars, and Paul will have other offensive things to say about them, many of them turned to the Lord, and Paul writes to Titus to organize their churches.
As I had appointed thee . . . Paul tells Titus, "I have appointed you, and you are to appoint elders in these cities." A man who holds an office of elder should have the gift of an elder. There were certain men who are made officers in the church who had NO gift for it at all. That is a big problem in many churches today, and too, there are good men who have the gift and are not made officers in the church. As a result of these things, some of our churches get into the hands of the wrong people and all kinds of problems arise.

The requirements for the men who are to hold this office, follow.

Qualifications of Those Chosen as Pastors
And Elders (Titus 1:6-9)

Titus 1:6  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. (KJV)

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife . . . if any be blameless, does not mean he must be perfect, without sin, for NO one is without sin! It means that any accusation that is brought against him must not be found to be true. His life must be above reproach. An elder must be blameless in his outward lifestyle and speech, not charged with any dishonorable crime (1 Tim.3:2).
Having faithful children . . . legitimate children, not born out of wedlock, in the same sense as such are called godly and holy (1 Cor.7:14). Faithful children cannot mean converted ones, or true believers in Christ; for it is not in the power of men to convert their children. All that parents can do is set an example to their children, by the godly way that they live and speak. 
Not accused of riot or unruly . . . of riot could mean irresponsible, wild. Their children are not to be out in a protest movement carrying signs, or charged with sins of immorality, self-indulgence, rioting, drunkenness and disrespect; or with such crimes as Eli's sons were guilty of, from which they were not restrained by their father, and therefore the priesthood was removed from the family (1 Sam.1:3; 2:12,22). But instead children of the elders should live a life that glorifies the Lord. Unruly . . . disobedient to their parents (1 Tim.3:4-5). These ‘kids’ are few and far between today.

Qualifications of Elders

• Blameless, unreproveable (Tit.1:6-7; 1 Cor.1:8; Col.1:22; 1 Tim.3:10)
• Husband of one wife; one could be a bishop without a wife, as Paul (1 Cor.7:8).
• Have faithful children (Tit.1:6)
• Ruling one's own house (1 Tim.3:4-5,12)
• Not self-willed, stubborn; headstrong; unfeeling (Tit.1:7. 2 Pet.2:10)
• Not soon angry, not prone to anger; hot-headed; passionate (Tit.1:7)
• Not given to wine, not a drunk (Tit 1:7; 1 Tim.3:3)
• No striker (Tit.1:7; 1 Tim.3:3)
• Not quarrelsome; not ready to strike back at those who displease him; no persecutor of those who differ with him Tit.1:7; 1 Tim.3:3)
• Not given to filthy lucre, not desiring gain; using wrong methods to raise money to increase his own income (Tit.1:7; 1 Tim.3:3,8)
• A lover of hospitality (Tit.1:8; 1 Tim.3:2; 1 Pet.4:9; Rom.12:13)
• A lover of good men, a lover of goodness (Tit.1:8)
• Sober, of sound mind; prudent; moderate; self-controlled (Tit.1:8; 1 Tim.3:2)
• Temperate; discreet (Tit.2:2,5)  
• Just, righteous, fit (Tit.1:8)
• Holy, mercies (Tit.1:8; 1 Tim.2:8; Heb.7:26; Rev.15:4)  
• Temperate, having control of oneself; self-disciplined (Tit.1:8)
• Holding fast to sound doctrine (Tit.1:9; 1 Thes.5:14)
• Able to encourage believers, and convince the unbelieving (Tit.1:9; 1 Tim.3:2,8)

Titus 1:7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; (KJV)

For a bishop must be blameless . . . this shows that a bishop and an elder is the same. He must not be "self-willed" for he is a steward of God as well as a representative of the people. He is in the church to find and do God's will.
As the steward of God . . . one appointed by God over his household and family (the church), to give to everyone their portion of meat in due season; one that dispenses the manifold grace, or doctrines of the grace of God, and mysteries of Christ; and of such a one it is required, that he be faithful, both to his Lord and Master, to the trust committed to him, and to the persons under his care.
Not selfwilled . . . not demanding things be done his way, but according to the will of God. He must not be stubborn, inflexible, conceited and determined to have his own will and way in all things relating to the affairs of God's house.
Not soon angry . . . means not touchy. He must be slow to wrath, which shows a man to be a man of understanding, and fit to teach others, which an angry man is not.
Not given to wine, no striker, nor given to filthy lucre . . . not covetous, not greedy. (1 Tim.3:3).
Never was a church to have only one man made bishop or elder; there were several.

Titus 1:8  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; (KJV)

But a lover of hospitality . . . (1 Tim.3:2).  (See Gill on 1 Timothy 3:2)
A lover of good men . . . of good, of good things, such as prayer, preaching, reading, meditation, spiritual conversation, and every religious exercise. If he is not a lover of these things, their company would be offensive to him, and he would be of no advantage to them. If he does not love the souls of men, he will certainly not care for them, or be concerned for their good.
Sober . . . means clear headed, pleasant, reasonable, not a drinking man. He must use self-control in diet and dress; and in mind, he must be prudent, modest and humble, thinking of himself and others, as he should.
Just . . . righteous in his dealings with all people, giving to everyone their due; being upright and sincere in his conversation with the saints; and faithful in his advice and guidance, and in his reprimands and rebukes.
Holy . . . humble and passionate toward God, constant in all religious exercises in private, in family and in church; and living soberly, righteously, and godly in the world.
Temperate . . . in eating and drinking; abstinence from the lusts of the flesh; and even abstaining from those things which might be lawfully used, although inappropriate, for the sake of the weak (1 Cor.8:9), the peace of the church (1 Cor.14:33), and the glory of God (2 Cor.1:20).

These are the requirements of the elder, and their meaning is familiar to us.

Titus 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (KJV)

Holding fast the faithful word . . . (2 Tim.1:13), the doctrine of the Gospel, is so called because it is TRUE, and must be believed. It is the word of truth (2 Cor.6:7), and truth itself (3 Jn.1:12) and contains nothing but Truth. The Truth never deceived anyone that had faith in its doctrines, and its Promises. The Truth is pure and unadulterated, and is the sincere milk of the word (1 Pet.2:2). It is a glorious display of the faithfulness of God to His perfections, to His holiness and justice, to His law, and to His covenant, to His Word, and to His oath. It also is a glorious display of the faithfulness of Jesus, and to all His covenant actions.  
As he hath been taught . . . according to the doctrine of the Scriptures, Christ and His apostles; according to the doctrine that lies in the Scriptures that was delivered by Christ, and preached by His apostles; whatever is according to that should be held fast.
That he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers . . . the elders were to hold fast the sound doctrine (trustworthy Word), that they may be able to urge and encourage the saints in the sound teaching and to convict the heretics.
There were two things that an officer should be able to do: #1. He should be able to exhort (urge and encourage), meaning to teach the Word of God; and #2. He must be able to disprove or challenge the heretics. Those who are called to hold office in a church should know the Bible.
You should not have a man converted one night, ask him to give his testimony the next night, make him an officer in the church on the next night. A man like that could not stand up against enemies of Jesus, neither to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

The Bad Reputation of the Cretans (Titus 1:10-16)

Paul is now going to talk about the bad reputation of the Cretans. We must remember that all men are sinners (Rom.3:10;23); we are all brothers in the sense that ALL we are sinners. All men are not in the brotherhood of God, because that comes only through the New Birth by becoming a son of God through faith in Christ. We are all sons of Adam, and "in Adam all die" (1 Cor.15:22), because all have sinned. But is seems that these Cretans had an especially bad reputation.

Titus 1:10  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: (KJV)

For there are many unruly and vain talkers . . . we have had both of these words before. Unruly means stubborn, persistent; vain talkers means idle, foolish people always running at the mouth. Paul is saying that in that age there were many of these. What about today? WHO are the unruly? It is those who do not obey the law of God, or Gospel of Christ; those whose spirits are not in agreement with the prophets; those who will not submit themselves to the leaders that have the rule over them, those who will not listen to the warnings of the church, etc.
And deceivers, specially they of the circumcision . . . Paul means those who were trying to contradict his teaching, especially (Paul says) the Jews, who mixed the law with the Gospel.
Paul does not mean the unbelieving Jews, but those who had professed Christianity, Judaizing Christians, who wanted to join Moses and Christ and blend the law and Gospel together, teaching circumcision, and the observance of other ceremonies of the law, were necessary to justification and salvation. These people did a lot of damage to the churches, just as so many cults in today’s times do by their damnable heresies (2 Pet.2:1).
http://www.judgmentcoming.org/j_c_cults_teachings.htm
http://www.hisservants.org/false_doctrines_h_s.htm

Titus 1:11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. (KJV)

Whose mouths must be stopped . . . the mouths of these false teachers must be silenced by Titus.
Who subvert whole houses . . . means to cause rebellion in whole families. Wherever the Word of God is sown, the devil is there! He is the enemy and he sows tares (false doctrine Mat.13:25-26) among the wheat (Word of God Mat.13:1). A great work of Christ had been done in Crete, but the enemy was right there to sow his own seed (tares, weeds).
Teaching things which they ought not . . . damnable heresies opposing the perfections of God, opposing the Truth of the Scriptures, which were harmful and malicious to the souls of men, and the reason was,
For filthy lucre's sake . . . these false teachers had NO regard whatsoever to the glory of God, the honor and interest of Christ, or the good of immortal souls. All they could see was seeking to gain popular applause and honor from men, and to gather and increase their worldly substance. Covetousness was a sin of which the Cretans were very guilty.
Greedy preachers in today’s times:
http://worldlychaos.org/w_c_cults_rich_preachers.1.htm   . . . Also: http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_ec_judging_false_teachers.htm

Titus 1:12  One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. (KJV)

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies . . . it seems that Paul is quoting a line from a poem by Epimenides, a poet and philosopher who had lived in Crete 600 years earlier. Some Cretans had a bad reputation and were known for lying. Paul used this phrase to make the point that Titus's ministry and leadership were very much needed.
Liars . . . to be a Cretan, was the same as being a liar, in the same way as to be a Corinthian, was the same as living an immoral life. Why they had this character abroad, is unknown. Their reputation for falsehood seems to have pertained to their general moral character.
Evil beasts . . . means the Cretans were rude and cruel in their character, beasts or brutes of a ferocious or evil kind. This would indicate, that there was a great need of civilization.
Slow bellies . . . means lazy gluttons, two vices attributed to them, which certainly go together . . . gluttony and laziness. An industrious man is not be likely to be a glutton, and a glutton is seldom a hardworking man. The mind of the poet who wrote those words, seems to have considered the Cretans first as an lazy, worthless people; and then that they were a race of gluttons: a people whose only concern was the stomach (Phil.3:19).
This does not mean that everybody who lived in Crete was a liar any more than when you say that all Scottish people are tightfisted; because some Scotts are very generous. But the Cretans, as a whole, had the general reputation of being liars. Many of the Cretans turned to Christ, and their lives were changed. Evil beasts: (Gen.37:20,33; 1 Cor.15:32).

Titus 1:13  This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (KJV)

This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith . . . Paul confirms what the poet had said about the Cretans, for he knew it to be fact from his own experience, and by observing people he had seen when on the island. Paul tells Titus that he is going to have to be stricter with the Cretans than he would with others because of their background and their very nature, so that they may be recovered from their errors, that they may acknowledge the Truth; that they may receive the sound doctrine of faith and the wholesome words of Christ. They needed to be turned from their evil practices, to the sound doctrine of the grace of faith. Rebukes are often to persons infected with bad principles and practices, like a medicine to remove the cause of disorder. Rebukes, warnings and condemnations should always be for the good of the persons rebuked, admonished and censured.

Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. (KJV)

Not giving heed to Jewish fables . . . Paul calls the false teachings Jewish fables (1 Tim.1:4), his reference here is not just to legalism, for there was with the Mosaic Law a lot of writing which included the Talmud and much more. Supposedly some of these Jewish fables were pretty wild.
And commandments of men; and the traditions and constitutions of the scribes and Pharisees.
That turn from the truth; abhorring the gospel, and the doctrine of truth in it.
And commandments of men that turn from the truth . . . (Mat.15:3,4-6). These ridiculous commandments of men, turned people away from the truth. Mat. 15:9  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (KJV) . . . The Lord Jesus rebuked the religious rulers for adding traditions to God's law, and that is what Paul is talking about here.
Paul warns Titus to watch for people who teach wrong doctrines that lead others into error. Some false teachers speak their misguided opinions without checking them with what the Bible has to say. Others have evil motives. They pretend to be Christians only because they can get more money, additional business, or a feeling of power from being a leader in the church. Jesus and the apostles repeatedly warned against false teachers (Mk.13:22; Acts 20:29; 2 Thes.2;3-7; 2 Pet.3:3-7), because their teachings attack the foundations of Truth and integrity upon which the Christian faith is built.
Consider: #1. False teachers focus more attention on themselves than on Christ, #2. ask you to do something that will compromise or dilute your faith, #3. deny that Jesus is God,  #4. deny that the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit #5. urge believers to make decisions based more on human judgment, rather than on prayer and biblical guidelines. BEWARE!!!

Titus 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (KJV)

Unto the pure all things are pure . . . this verse is used by people who say that IF we are saved by grace (Eph.2:8-9), it does not matter how we live, because IF we are saved, we are pure and can live in any way we like. This is utterly ridiculous! These people certainly do NOT know what the Bible says about sin!
These cults have made up this teaching, saying they can live in sin . . . they don't call it sin . . . it is not sin for them . . . because "unto the pure all things are pure." They surely do misinterpret this verse!
What Paul is talking about here, has nothing at all to do with a moral issue. He is speaking of this issue of legalism and the eating of meats. The teaching of many cults often includes a very strange diet. But Paul says, "Unto the pure all things are pure." In other words, whether you eat meat or you don't eat meat makes no difference at all. All food is clean. You can eat anything you want to eat because, "unto the pure all things are pure."
If you are a cult member, any special diet you might dream up will make absolutely NO difference in your relationship to God. It will not save you. You can eat all the vegetables you want, but IF you are not right with God, that died will NOT make you pure. The Lord Jesus said that it is not the thing that goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out of him.
Matthew 15:18-20  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (KJV)

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (KJV)

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him . . . many believers today deny God by the lives that they live. And they deny the Word of God is True by the way they live. In fact, they are actually calling God a “liar” (1 Jn.5:10; Jn.5:38; Heb.3:12). I think Paul is talking about the Jewish teachers, who are referred to in verse 14. All those persons were professors of religion, and claimed that they had a special knowledge of God . . . but in works they deny Him. Their conduct shows that they have no real relationship with Him.
You can deny the Bible by the life you live, and you can deny God by the life you live.
Being abominable . . . in their conduct. They were detestable, they were to be hated.
And disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate . . .  they were void of judgment (Rom.1:28; 2 Cor.13:5). It means that in reference to everything that was good, their conduct was such that it could not be approved.
It was for this reason; from the character of the people of the island of Crete, and of those who claimed to be teachers there enforcing the obligation of the Mosaic law, that it was so important for Titus to exercise special care in bringing men into the ministry, and in completing the arrangements in the organization of the churches there.

But, is this repulsive character confined to just the Cretans? Are there not some out there who profess that they know God, but deny Him by the way they live? Are there not some out there whose behavior is so immoral that it should be hated? Are there not some out there who are disobedient to the clear commands of God? Are there not some out there whose character seems to be true godliness, while they are in fact devils?

The Truth is that there are such people who are a huge hindrance to the triumphs of the Gospel of Jesus Christ here on the Earth. The way to Heaven is blocked up by such people.
2 Timothy 3:5-7  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (KJV)

HOPE

The vast majority of people do not understand what hope is. Most think of it as wishful thinking.  That is NOT what the Bible means by hope. The Biblical definition of hope is "confident expectation." Hope is a strong assurance about Promised things that are unclear and unknown (Rom.8:24-25; Heb.11:1,7). Hope is a basic and important part of the life of the righteous. Without hope, life loses its meaning, and in death there is absolutely no hope (Isa.38:18). All the righteous who trust God, or put their hope in Him will be helped (Ps.28:7), and they will not be confused, put to shame, or disappointed (Isa.49:23). The righteous, who have this trusting hope in God, have complete confidence in God's protection and help (Jer.29:11-13), and are free from fear and anxiety (Ps.46:2-3).

In the New Testament, the idea of hope is recognizing the FACT that in Christ is found the fulfillment of the Old Testament Promises (Mat.12:21; 1 Pet.1:3). Our Christian hope is rooted in faith in the salvation in Christ (Gal.5:5). Hope of TRUE Christians is brought into being through the Presence of the Promised Holy Spirit (Rom.8:24-25). It is our future hope of the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6), the Promises given to Israel (Acts 26:6-7), the redemption of the body and of the whole creation (Rom.8:23-25), eternal glory (Col.1:27), eternal life and the inheritance of the saints (Tit.3:5-7), the return of Christ (Tit.2:13), transformation into the likeness of Christ (1 Jn.3:2-3), the salvation of God (1 Tim.4:10) or hope is simply Christ Jesus Himself.

Book of Titus

Ch.1 . . Ch..2 . . Ch.3 . . Special Comments

Home Page