Salt And Light In Crete (Part 3) (Titus 1:1-16, Proverbs 24:1-10)
Rev. Tim Leslie, September 3, 2023Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Titus was a Cretan and a true son in the faith. He was also involved in the Corinthian church. He was a partner of Paul in ministry and a worker in God's mission, a peacemaker, who was commended by Paul. After completing his work in Crete, he ministered in Dalmatia. What do we know about Crete? It was known as an island of a hundred cities, and it was home to an 8,000-ft mountain. Paul had preached there, faced with deep mythology in its people, who were emulators of the pagan gods Zeus or Jupiter in their lying and womanizing. Cretans were known throughout the world as compulsive liars. Ovid termed the island as, "lying Crete." Paul sent Titus to be salt and light in Crete. We know that there were Cretans present for Peter's sermon at Pentecost. Some became converted and carried their new faith home to Crete. We can see by this background why Paul wrote what he did to Titus. Truth is connected to godliness. Vs. 2 refers to the "non-lying" God (vs. Zeus/Jupiter--consummate liars). Vs. 3 connects God and Jesus as Savior. Zeus carried no identity as savior to Cretans. God's gospel was countercultural to Crete. Titus and the elders he was to appoint in cities of Crete were to be agents of the Gospel; to straighten out the people and set communities in order. Paul taught Titus the qualifications of godly elders. He warned the Cretan church to be on guard, to work restoring what sin had destroyed. He emphasized true doctrine and commanded false teachers to be silent and to be rebuked sharply. He commanded the church to walk with the Holy Spirit and to know the scriptures so that the people will recognize disobedience, avoiding Jewish myths and commands of men. Our work in our time must be like that of Titus and Paul in Crete.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
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| « Salt And Light In The World (Part 2) | None | Salt And Light In The Families Of Ancient Crete (Part 4) » |
Titus 1 (Listen)
1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
(ESV)
Proverbs 24:1–10 (Listen)
24:1 Be not envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them,
2 for their hearts devise violence,
and their lips talk of trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8 Whoever plans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
9 The devising of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
(ESV)