Titus 1 The Elect Part 3

 Titus 1:1 

"Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness"

Today we take another look at the first verse of the book of Titus. Paul has identified himself as a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, and now he gives one of the reasons for his ministry. Paul tells us it is “for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of truth, that leads to godliness.” The word used here is ‘electos’, which means “the chosen of God.” The doctrine of election may be confusing, but it is biblical, essential and practical. In Ephesians 1: 4-6 we read, “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.” If we continue in Ephesians it says in chapter 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” God took the initiative and sought a people to be His own and this gives us comfort. As we can see from Ephesians we are predestined to be adopted. We might feel like we’ve chosen God, but the truth is that He has known us long before we were even made, and “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). Our security lies in the fact that we’ve been loved since before the dawn of time. 

There are two things we must keep in mind, God’s sovereignty in election and the fact that man is responsible to believe and share the gospel. We might be tempted to think of one more than the other, but, in truth, we must believe them both completely - even though our finite minds cannot understand it. We might be tempted to feel it was our decision to choose God, but it isn’t. We cannot reconcile these two things in our minds because our pride wants us to believe we contributed to our salvation, but even our response is only possible because of God’s grace. God makes us new from the inside out.

In God’s sovereignty He has given us a choice. We are free to sin and decide what sins we commit. Sinners cannot choose Christ by themselves – God grants the gift of faith and by that faith we are saved. We can’t understand this because we are not God, but we must believe it.

Why does Paul tell us this? God uses us as instruments in His work and Paul wants the reader to know that he is an instrument for the gospel of salvation. He was sent to gather the elect by way of preaching and teaching. Not that he himself is good or can boast, but that those whom God has chosen might hear His word and believe.

 

1.        Why is it important that Paul is doing this for the elect?

2.        What does election mean for us?

3.        Why is the doctrine of election comforting?

4.        Where else in the Bible can you find verses about election?

5.        What makes us able to choose God?



   Lord and giver of life, sovereign God and Creator, I come before you now to thank you for loving and choosing me before I even took a breath. Thankyou for your grace and for those you use as instruments for your gospel. Renew me by Your Spirit and forgive all my sins in Jesus name, Amen

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