Titus: Grace Precedes Obedience - Week 7 (Titus 3:9-15)
Titus 3:9-15
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Titus 3:9-15
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Titus 3:9-15 〰️ Titus 3:9-15 〰️
Well, here we are at the end of the book of Titus. I hope it's been an encouraging and doctrinally refreshing time for you and your people, especially as we enter into a season often marked by doing good. Our hope is that we as a people would walk in obedience to God, not out of a desire to "earn our keep" before the Lord, but out of joy, love, and gratitude for the Lord and His deep mercy towards us.
So this week, we're turning our attention to the last portion of Titus. Titus 3:9-15 begins with "But," indicating a distinction Paul is making. In the tail end of v8, Paul says that insisting on the truths of the Gospel "are good and profitable for everyone." Contrasting the truth of the Gospel in v8, Paul then gives a final warning, "avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless." (v9). The purpose of this part of Paul's letter is not for us to split hairs over what constitutes a "worthless" topic of discussion or debate, but rather to point out that there are things that needlessly divide the church. Paul stresses the purpose of this in saying that they should "reject a divisive person after a first and second warning." (v10). We're to extend grace, giving warning and correction to those who are causing division. Paul then continues this warning both to the person causing division and others in v11, "For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned." Paul is clarifying here that those who are argumentative over trivial (non-salvific) things and continually cause division can be known by their fruits; in other words, "A divisive person who refused to repent and change after being confronted showed himself to be twisted by sin; thus, he was self-condemned."¹ (For more reading on why we extend a second opportunity of grace to others, we can read Jesus' instructions on this in Matthew 18:15-17. While not explicitly needed in detail here, it is helpful to remember Christ's words in responding to those who seek to harm the Church community.)
As we seek to understand God's Word, we also seek to apply it. If this book was written to Titus for us, what the heck does this mean for us today? Well, as we take this passage (v9-15) in sections, we can glean two focuses.
1. Verses 8-10: seek to live in harmony with believers and avoid living and fighting in a divisive way. There's certainlyroom for discourse and generous debate, but living and acting in a combative way does nothing but harm the witness of Christ for the world. The Church of Christ is meant to reflect the unity of the Trinity and the unity of us with Christ. We are called to live a life that is set apart from the world, and living in division is exactly how the world functions and lives.
2. Verses 11-15: seek to live fruitful lives, committing ourselves to good works in both the great commission and caring for those around us. "Good works" is such a broad term that can mean many things. Our culture will tell us that "good works" means just being good or doing good to earn good karma. But we know that our standing before the Lord is entirely because of Christ's life, death, and resurrection in our place. So good works for us are our response, in obedience, to the Lord's mercy and kindness to us.
Discussion Questions
Could someone read Titus 3:1-8 for us?
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
In v9, why does Paul say we should avoid "foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law"?
How does this passage display Paul's vision for a mature and fruitful church community?
Why does Paul connect avoiding controversy with being fruitful in good works?
What kinds of "foolish debates" are Christians today most tempted to get caught up in?
What are some ways we, as a community group, could routinely devote ourselves to good works for pressing needs? (v14)
1. Ray Van Neste, CSB Study Bible: Notes, (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1938.