ReNEWed COVENANT Ministry

SABBATH BIBLE STUDY

9-15

(2020)

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Compiled by JS LOWTHER
renewedcovenantministry.com
servant@renewedcovenantministry.com

Lawful Community

(cont. from Why Can’t We Have Community?)

An Lawfully expository look at Paul’s Epistle to Titus

Part 1

A Community of Election and Order 

Tit_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;
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Tit 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;

Upon first glance I can entirely understand why some folks may think that this section of holy writ has nothing to do with ‘Community’, yet I would assure you by the word of God that it it has everything to do with the most basic foundations of the Christian faith which are cracked under the feet of most churches today.
Why is it cracked?
Well, I have pointed out that the 2 points Paul makes here to Titus in introducing the entierty of this epistle as a servant of God and an apostle of Christ is enumerated as follows:

1. for the faith of God’s elect
2. and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness
KJV: which is according to godliness
So Just in these 2 major points we have to stop and consider what it is saying,
This message is for “the sake” of the faith of God’s Elect: this means ( Election is literally ek-lek-ton’ the adjactive form of ek-log’-o- mahee that is lit. ‘out called one’… the one God speaks to by his word and is that…he is that!
… this message is to benefit or support that Faith given to those whom God has elected, this message cannot benefit those whom God has not elected…
Election is by God’s work… and thus as we read in the words of our Savior the Son whom the Father has sent:
Joh_6:29 “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
And thus
Joh_6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
And thus we then have the Spirit part of this work:
Joh_6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Joh 6:64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)
and so we end the process of Election thus, as taught by the Son sent by the Father in Heaven:
Joh_6:65 “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

This is the faith that is benefited by Paul’s message, because it is:

Tit 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
Tit 1:3 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; ,

We know that our Election by the process the Son has laid out is the Commandment of God- it is law to us.
This is the nature of the New Covenant (Heb_8:10-13) that God’s Law is placed there in the heart by this Commandment of God our Savior, not by this choice we have chosen for the sake of our eternal life, no it is a divine spiritual command that we heard and it commanded our heart to be softened and fertile by the operation of the Spirit through the giving of Faith which we were called out to hear since the foundation of the world, and so we hear now by preaching!
As a matter of fact it is the Spirit given faith is like the heart meat tenderizer poured in to the heart by the Holy Spirit, thus making the new heart soft as good ground and not dead stony ground, but this is the new heart of flesh (Eze_11:19, Eze_36:26) the LORD He gives his Elect people while they live in this earth.
The establishment of the second point enumerated above is seated firmly in this 1st point in regards to election:
2. and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness
KJV: which is according to godliness
Because all that we will consider in the rest of Titus which we will consider must come upon firm and solid foundation of this election and granting by the Father. It is settled, because the Word of God is sure and a sure foundation.
As simply summarized by our Reformed Father Scripture Alone, Grace alone, Faith alone, Christ alone and God’s Glory Alone. learn these simple points, commit them to memory and identify them in Scripture, ask of other’s doctrines when you here a preaching that rivals any of these points in the “work of Salvation” as well how that translates in to worship which translates into our culture or way of life.
When John 6 is violated or forced to support anything other than what it clearly says, it is erroneous to build upon by the Church, and as with any faulty foundation, it will not hold up for the sake of the faith of the Elect.
Now listen: I am not saying that you need to believe as I do to be elected unto salvation, I am saying that is between you and the Father who gives a believer to the Son by the work of the Spirit , it’s not with me or any one else.
But what I am saying is we can not build together if we can not agree in what the work of the tri-une God is because of it’s command must be solid to keep this holy temple up…Christ must be the corner stone and it is comprehended by this one chapter of John 6, every thing we build by the directives of God’s spiritual word in our life must be seated on this square corner stone cut and carved as we both see in Scripture and as we witness to it by our Election.
I pray, that the ears of any one who hears me today, takes a serious moment to consider the why you have reservation in accepting the message being preached as to the Work of God in your Election?
Who is glorified by the oppose opinion?
Consider again the story of Solomon and Jeroboam … Consider

So now of these points from Tit_1:1-3 we covered :
1. for the faith of God’s elect
2. and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness
KJV: which is according to godliness
We have then begun to understand and support our “knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness”, not just “In the hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began”, but also in the substantiation of the Commandment of God .
The commandments of God are confirmed as knowledge of the truth which is in accord to Godliness; By acknowledging the sin you need forgiveness of as given by the righteousness of Christ the commandment or law of God is brought to the forefront of the reasoning.

ESV
Tit 1:4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Tit 1:5 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—
Look at what Paul then seats his leaving of Titus in Crete upon common Faith and Order.
It is important to notice this Lawful and organic familial structure, rather than import our un intrinsic understanding of ‘church eldership’, we are lead to the knowledge of truth that is in accord with godliness”
These elders are foremost elderly or older men of the masculine form – πρεσβυτερ-ουςG4245 not πρεσβυτερ-ας which is the feminine form.
Emotionalist Gnostics approach – “well that is what it means to me…” or worse “that is what the holy spirit tells me it REALLY means !” Rub-ish
Titus was left in Crete, that he should continue to set in order the things that are wanting (unfinished), and ordain (law) elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
ABP
Tit 1:5 For this favor I left you in Crete, that the things missing you should correct,G1930 and should placeG2525 in every cityG2596 G4172 elders,G4245 asG5613 IG1473 set in order for you to do.G1473 G1299
Where do you think this prescription ?
Exo 18:21 And do thou look out for thyself out of all the people able men, fearing God, righteous men, hating pride, and thou shalt set over the people captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens.
Exo 18:22 And they shall judge the people at all times
&
Deu 1:13 Take to yourselves wise and understanding and prudent men for your tribes, and I will set your leaders over you.
Reading the context of what is next in comparison to the context of these laws of God as appointed and set in order by YHWH via Moses and Jethro priest of Midian, it is strikingly supportive of the Law of God being a part of the knowledge of the truth in accordance with godliness.
And while the thing s needing to be set in order are lawful, notice how the bare basics are laid out concerning these Elders:
Tit 1:6 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.
These men are first
1. Old men,
2. Of a city or region
3. Above reproach or KJV: blameless- this is literally not chargeable or not criminal. This is not a unattainable standard of perfection in God’s law nearly as much as it is ‘able men who fearing God, righteous men (who know there righteousness before God is dependent on Faith in Christ, but also they are striving to be righteous according to God’s Law as they understand it ), thus they hating pride. The hatred of pride is the acceptance of your short comings as sinful flesh, and so you have no pride in your own righteousness because you have fully accepted that all righteousness before God but be imputed to you by the Just one whom you have been elected to believe in by Faith. Thus hating pride, is not just the ability to recognize it in others, it is first the ability to recognize it in yourself and put it down. There is a balance in being, able to lead, fearing God and righteous and with the punctuation of hating pride.
This man is not just a book smart Elder with a theological degree, rather his degree comes from the organic nature of the Law of God , he is: the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
We see here a man who is enabled (able) in judgment with the law of God which he fears God by in knowing the righteous justice which flows from that law of God in judgment and justice.
Tit_1:7 For an overseer (bi-schop / Epi-scopon) , as God’s steward (οἰκο-νόμον), must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
Tit 1:8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
This over seer , over looker must be a family man as described with children as described , be cause he is in the Elect and to the Elect God’s house-law keeper (οἰκο-νόμον) Oiko- nomon that is what steward means in this case.
See: Exo_18:20, this Elder father is a man who is the steward in his family of God’s Law
It starts with the family, and for those of other families to respect this Elder as any thing more than an old man who deserves general respect just simply because of his age as speaketh the Law
Lev_19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.
and this status is more so elevated as teaches Paul so says Solomon
Pro_16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
ABP
Tit 1:6 If anyoneG1536 isG1510.2.3 without reproach,G410 [2of oneG1520 3wifeG1135 1husband],G435 [3childrenG5043 1havingG2192 2trustworthy],G4103 notG3361 withG1722 a chargeG2724 of carnality,G810 orG2228 unsubmissiveness.G506
Tit 1:7 For it is necessaryG1163 G1063 theG3588 overseerG1985 to be without reproach,G410 G1510.1 asG5613 God’sG2316 manager;G3623 notG3361 self-willed,G829 notG3361 prone to anger,G3711 notG3361 intemperate in the use of wine,G3943 notG3361 a brawler,G4131 notG3361 profiting through vice;G146
Tit 1:8 butG235 hospitable,G5382 friend of good men,G5358 discreet,G4998 just,G1342 sacred,G3741 self-controlled,G1468
Tit 1:9 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.
Tit 1:10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
Tit 1:11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.