From One Slave to Another, Part 1 - Titus 1:1,4

When we read the phrase my Paul in Titus chapter 1, you don't immediately sucking your breath in and shudder at the gravity of his term doesn't offend our sensitivities doesn't confront our misconception bought me as Chris see, we prefer to think that we have an option to obey Christ to belong entirely to him. So we don't quite get it when the apostle Peter says that every Christian is a sleigh to God. We would rather believe that we can negotiate with him over the terms of his will.

We offer things to God and ask for things in return.

Like were negotiating a deal of some sort. Well let me ask you this question. What kind of negotiating power does a slave have slavery is a concept we don't like to talk much about in slavery is a position that we don't naturally want to be. So what does it mean that we are slaves to Christ today on wisdom for the heart Stephen Davies going to help us make sense of all of this will be getting a series from Titus called slave trades. Today's lesson is called from one slave to another. During the reign of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Christianity had become illegal persecution of Christians was sort of open season.

The penalty for following Christ could be imprisonment, torture, perhaps even death out of the halls of this history comes the story of the young man by the name of Santos who stood before the Roman governor. He was on trial for the crime of Christianity. His life was literally hanging in the balance same trials are occurring around the world. Even to this day. He was repeatedly told to renounce the faith he possessed, but his mind was resolved to remain true to Christ every time he was asked the question, no matter what it was.

He only answered by saying I am a Christian. No matter what the questions were always get the same unchanging answer. I am a Christian. According to Eusebius, the church historian regarding the events of this trial, the young man would not even tell his name or the nation or city which belonged whether he was bonded or free but answered in the same manner. I am a Christian story is when it became obvious that he wouldn't renounce Christ. He was condemned to a public death in the amphitheater. He was attacked by wild animals fastened to a chair burning hot iron city is recorded that throughout all of this reveals accusers continually tried to break his resolve, and they would hear nothing from him but that which they have heard throughout this trial I am a Christian Santos. His entire identity is name is citizenship his status in life is bound up in Jesus Christ. What defined him above and beyond everything else was that statement. I am a Christian. The term Christian wasn't just a title, though it was a way of thinking it was a way of living more than ever before.

I have often thought were in the generation where there is a need of going back to the biblical drawing board in answering the question. What exactly does it mean to be a Christian. What is it mean to live and act and think like a Christian what you mean when you say I am a Christian. That word is so elastic nowadays in our generation that that sort of one-size-fits-all, you can claim the title Christian today.

Even if you don't really care about Jesus Christ but today you can be considered a Christian and deny the deity of Christ, of the virgin birth of Christ, the resurrection of Christ coming kingdom work. Christ is King.

The eternal state of heaven for those who believe in Christ in the future held for those who don't. You can even find Christian leaders today deny the need for Christ atoning death, work on the cross that the growing number of people I watched over the last dozen years or so is growing so quickly that it literally amazes me who call themselves Christians who don't even believe in the cross work of Christ in all think you need to you can be a Christian today in basically have the attitude that the gospel is really too restrictive and you know the Bible is a good book but it's a little too intolerant. The pew forum on religion and Public life in our country found that 65% of the people polled said they believed in the basic message of the Bible and they claim the title Christian while at the same time believing in the legitimacy of other religious tenants which included everything from reincarnation to astrology.

What is it mean to be a Christian. Every so often read from, what are normally considered Christian or even evangelical journals and magazines that I've stopped all my subscriptions have for several years now going to read article read catalog from seminary students over the library. I will pay the money for more and more amazed at how quickly the undertow of secular thought is sweeping the church out to a sea of moral uncertainty and doctrinal confusion. Many churches and denominations today are convinced that the commission from Christ has as much to do about saving the planet as it is to say people that more than ever before, you're likely to be considered now Christian. Not a very good Christian if you don't buy into the politically correct propaganda of the environmentalists and the abortionists and in the gay activists on.

I was in the audience a few months ago.

The National religious broadcasters convention where I along with a thousand or so were watching the debate that had been hosted by the national is broadcasters Association. I was inside of evangelicals, but there was a particular debate where a leader from the mainline denominational church or association of churches was debating an evangelical leader on the biblical basis for homosexuality and same-sex marriage so they kind of went back and forth as they debated their particular views of the Scripture as I heard the argument before but what I left amazed over was at this denominational leader. This woman literally claimed for her point of view and for those like her that they were the ones actually following the core values of Christianity. They were the good Christian and anybody would ever say that that kind of lifestyle is sinful. Just aren't really good Christian anymore. So the church needs to change her message if she ever helps now to be viewed by the world as Christian some time ago a man or congregation sent me an article from the news and Observer and I knew that it would be placed alongside the Bible is inspired. And so I will make sure I read he was actually sending it to be in humor in the new way to be interested in the article interviewed a pastor from a mainline denominational church in our city.

In the past was asked what would you say that someone is thinking about giving your church a try.

The pastor responded, will they would be welcome, regardless of who they are and regardless of this of their belief system. The pastor went on to add.

We don't try to convert anybody. So the reporter asked him what exactly is your church known for for believing in nothing.

Okay that's my answer is faster said we are known for having a positive spiritual message so that we can feel better when we leave. Then when we came in and I was matter what you believe in my bag church is all about feeling good about yourself and feeling better about yourself and you leave the when he came guarantor to some of the article wrote in the margin of that article tongue-in-cheek divorce. Sometimes I don't feel better after your service.

Could you work on that and I am I am trying to offend everybody so you will feel so alone is you can believe just about anything you want to believe feel pretty good about your position and opinion. Do you open up the Bible as long as you keep that closure fairly safe in whatever your views or opinions may be, but the Bible has a way of messing all that up as the true gospel taken at face value from the meetings of the words of Scripture has nothing to do with us relating to the world, even though that's the mantra the church that the gospel is interested in saving people from the world and at the same time renewing the minds of believers who are constantly being tainted by the world.

I get all these advertisements in my mailbox from church, target or or what it is but all churches are opening for starting whatever they're doing mass mailing and it's all the same effect. All sound the same but the same say the same thing were relevant were dynamic.

You can be comfortable with us. I mean even down to the coffee is great, the music school in the in the sermons are short. Hold your comments on that were all having relevant, which is to be interpreted were not gonna provoke anybody.

I tell you something about myself is not intended to be funny okay I I need desperately need to be provoked, but my wife and I listen to this part, but you I need to be provoked to live for somebody besides Stephen Davey, we now how how tragic would that be. I need my mind renewed and transform so that it doesn't so easily so quickly justify my sin. I need the Bible to act like a sword to cut through the fa�ade of my intentions and true motivation. I desperately need the fellowship of brothers and sisters who are following hard after God's what I need.

Come here because I want to feel good about myself to do a really good job to make me feel better about myself because I know me feel better about God. And because we know him we can truly understand ourselves and for ourselves in the right perspective. I need to be exposed to this book that tells me where I'm wrong and wear them right and what to believe and how to be equipped for life. I need my life redefined. Never before have we been in a generation where we need the gospel and all of Christianity redefined the now someone I want you to take your New Testament in turn to a letter where 25 sentences or less. The apostle Paul is basically stick his nose in every aspect of our business and redefined it all. The short letter written to a young man named Titus to turn to the book of Titus and in this book you will find he is redefining everything is gonna redefined spiritual maturity. He's gonna redefined true leadership is gonna redefined what it needs to be a godly man and a godly woman is gonna redefined the home is gonna redefined peer relationships is gonna redefined sexual purity is gonna redefined Christian's testimony is redefining gospel and I have every reason to believe and I'm not just saying this that as we study this letter.

There will be people who will decide to join this assembly and there will be people who will decide to leave it. Paul wrote three letters to many were serving as teaching elders, we refer to these three letters as the pastoral epistles letters the past we know them as first Timothy second Timothy and Titus. They were not exclusively for the benefit of the pastor teacher, the elder, but for the congregations they lead.

They were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and these letters then would become what we call books of the New Testament. Most of the books of the New Testament. Are these letters to churches and the pastors that you could read in 20 minutes or less. As early as the third century.

The letter to Titus was included in a list of apostolic letters considered necessary for the life of the church in the Christian know most believe that Paul wrote Titus in between. First Timothy and second to he will refer to both of these young men, Timothy and Titus as his son in the faith. You'll notice in verse one.

The letter begins a little differently than the way we write letters or emails today. It begins with the name of the writer. You'll notice begins with Paul. The name Paul is from the Latin polis which means small or little he'd been born a Roman citizen and this was his Gentile or Roman name. His middle name, so to speak was Saul his parents, his Jewish parents had proudly named him after the first King of Israel, but throughout his ministry he would choose to be known, not after the name of the first King of Israel. But what this particular common Gentile name without any rich Jewish tradition. Maybe he wanted to remind himself daily that he was small and God was great. We do know that Paul will refer to himself as the gent. As the apostle to the Gentiles. Romans chapter 11 verse 13 and more than likely that's the reason that throughout his ministry he would choose his Gentile name and we know him best as Paul, the time he writes this letter to Titus. He's an old man is a veteran missionary church planter teacher, theologian, and his wonderful new publication entitled insights on particular books of the New Testament, the Chancellor of Dallas seminary Chuck Swindoll writes that when Paul sent this letter to Titus, he'd seen just about everything we read.

You a few sentences. He writes Paul had survived years of misunderstanding, controversy, slander, betrayal, disciples had thrilled him and then abandoned him.

Friends had come and gone. Thriving churches he had planted now flirted with apostasy congregations continued to look to him for guidance but then thanked him by rejecting his authority or questioning his integrity and success.

He was accused of boasting in prison.

He was dismissed as a failure. No one knew better than Paul. How rewarding yet how frustrating ministry could be.

He had suffered repeated disappointments with people the scars he had received over the years would be his gifts to Titus, who needed these reminders as he struggled to stabilize churches on the unruly island of Crete will put. There is no one better to prepare Titus for the challenges of ministry on this island than Paul Crede was an island located right in the middle of the Mediterranean. If you wanted to travel the cotton she stopped off at Crete and became a cosmopolitan blend of religions admits one of the reasons Titus will be told they need to stop these myths from spreading because the island was run over with all kinds of religions and views and and people during the days of Titus the island of Crete held up to about a million residents located in about 100 cities dotting the coastline of this island. The citizens of Crete had a reputation though there was no one around that Western world for being a liar and deceivers. In fact, the expression existed during the days of the apostles that if someone was criticizing. He was lying became tantamount in its expression of someone who is dishonest.

The expression playing a cretin with a cretin meant that you had tricked a trickster you went out to see a deceiver. The very name of the island had come to represent corruption and deception and dishonesty and all kinds of violence. You talked about a mission field. Talk about pressure Titus is gonna need some inspired instruction is going to need some help any words of wisdom better than a wise veteran missionary church planter but you enjoy getting around those that are older than you and the faith you want to listen to their parents. I think of the words of Hudson Taylor. If you read his large two-volume biography is a veteran missionary having served for decades. Pioneering the ministry in the China one occasion he was speaking to his staff. The China inland Mission and an audience that had gathered, and he said these words. He said it does not matter how great the pressure is what really matters is where the pressure lies whether it comes between you and God or if it presses you nearer to the heart of God would great mentor in this letter Paul is going to come to Titus and and everybody who wants to know what it truly means to stand up and say hi and a Christian manner.

So long Paul tell us how to stand and how to live, how to handle the pressure, not only outside of the church but in a growing way inside the church today. Paul redefined the life for us and the first thing that Paul does, which is extremely challenging and convicting is how he will now refer to himself in this letter I went to the notice. Further, in verse one, Paul, a bondservant of God bondservant. In addition to the name Christian.

The Bible calls believers by a number of different name branches, infants and children joint heirs, citizens friends, brothers, saints, and the list goes on and on.

All those titles help Nuance for us what Christianity mean what it means to be a Christian. However, the Bible uses one term more frequently than any other. If it appears more than 40 times in the New Testament, it refers to the believer from the original language Greek language.

It is the word dual loss and it ought to be translated slaying like I recommended you take your pencil and write into the margin of your Bible, above, or somewhere near this translation mine says bondservant the word slave, the overriding description of the Christian's relationship to Jesus Christ is the relationship of a master and the slave. The problem is will not read it that way as English readers, because going all the way back to the King James translation and before that, predating that the Geneva Bible the word dual loss was softened in its translation with the word servant or bondservant in an effort to avoid the negative imagery and the cruelty bound up in the slave trade, which were all aware of it that swept through Europe and into the Americas translators over the centuries chose to translate dual loss a little more sensitively by translating it servant. It's interesting to know that the Greek language has several words that can refer to servants dual loss is not one of them ever know all the duties of a servant and and a slave might overlap in the mind of the apostle coming out of the first century and in even in a way you could say. Even to this day certainly around the world where the slave trade still exists, but even even today, you could you could note this key distinction, servants in Paul's day were hired slaves were there's a world of difference servants had a measure of personal rights and freedoms they could choose whom they would work for an what they would get involved in what they would do slaves had no freedom. They had no rights. They were considered in the days of Titus on into the days are English speaking world for centuries, without any personal rights they were possessions rather than person lost on us is when we read today this phrase by Paula Titus chapter 1, you don't immediately sucking your breath and shudder at the gravity of this term.

It doesn't offend our sensitivities doesn't confront our misconception of autonomy as Christians see, we prefer to think that we have an option to obey Christ to serve him to belong entirely to him. So we don't quite get it when the apostle Peter says that every Christian is a slave to God. We would rather believe that we can negotiate with him over the terms of his will that we can protest a little bit with what he does to our bodies that we can faucet him about the inconveniences of the service is assigned as we can halfheartedly fulfill his commands for lives that we could maybe even complain about the lateness of his blessings are for even the ill time is burdens. You see, we we've been hired by God. We have, we are but no one we complain about the overtime. The long hours of inconvenience or is in charge of the benefit packages around is my Christianity paying off see that you get to the I do with the church is really all about you and me and if it serves me well, I may show up two or three times a month.

That's the attitude of a servant, not a slave. See have you forgotten Paul write to the Corinthians that you been bought with a price.

The metaphors you been bought out of the slave market by Christ. You have been bought out of that and now you no longer belong to yourself. You belong entirely to the one blocking for shepherds Charles Spurgeon interestingly read one quote by him. Let me give you one more.

This British pastor of the 19th century in London commented on this problem in his commentary on Titus and he wrote this where our authorized version softly puts it, servant it really is slave. The early Saints delighted to count themselves as Christ's absolute property bought by him owned by him pulling at his disposal. Paul even went so far as to rejoice in the end the marks of the Masters brand on his. He cried out and troubled me. For I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus, that was the end of the debate. He was the Lord's and the marks of the whips the rocks and the stones were viewed as the branding of Paul's body is the property of Jesus the Lord the end by saying out the saints of old-time warning associate you and Paul's obligation to his master Jesus Christ was that of a slave, Stevens going to explain this more, but that's going to have to wait until next week because were just about out of time for today. This is wisdom for the harp with Stephen Devi. Today's lesson is called from one slave to another. And as part of a series from Titus called slave trades. Stephen has a book that takes you through the entire epistle of Titus we be happy to give you information on how you can get a copy. If you call us today at 86 648 Bible 866-482-4253. Have a great weekend will continue through this series Monday. So join us for that here on wisdom for the heart