The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Titus 2:5-15, “Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;
7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,
8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
9 Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.*

Titus was a Greek believer, yet everything Paul addressed to him could have been addressed to a Jewish believer. Paul knew that his own days were numbered, and he would soon depart and be forced to leave the conduct of the churches into the hands of others. Titus was one of those “others.”

Paul emphasized church order (1:5). Remember that “church” was new to these newly converted believers. The leaders scarcely knew how to live the Christian life, yet they were charged with leading the church as well. Not everyone was qualified to lead. The determination of who was qualified was largely left to the discretion of Titus.

In addition to church order, there was emphasis upon sound doctrine. Godly people holding biblical doctrine and living moral lives produce a “sound” church. Recent news of immorality among mega-church leaders is precisely what Paul wanted to avoid. Many churches today are abandoning those quality characteristics that made them what they were. We must remember that sound, quality, biblically-based churches were what led us to become what we now are. Buildings per se do not make a church any more than the New York Metropolitan makes an opera or that Yankee Stadium makes a baseball team.

In a true sense, Paul’s instructions to Titus are his instructions to us as well. We’ve got to be something before we can do anything that will be pleasing to the LORD. May the LORD so enable us that we will be honorable to Him.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom