"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;"
(Titus 1:1)
Before charging Titus with some tough jobs, Paul opens with a greeting that serves to focus our attention on what the believer has in Christ. The Christian life can produce some sizeable challenges; however, it's good to know what I am in Christ and what I have in Him.
Paul says that he is both a servant and an apostle. Now, a careful study of Scripture in its context reveals that none of us can be an apostle. That office has passed off the scene of Christian service; however, we are all servants of God if we are redeemed. Paul was made a servant according to the faith... . Salvation is entirely by faith and not of works. For years, Paul had lived the life of a Pharisee, and (according to man's standards), he had done a good job of it (Phil. 3:4-6); yet, by God's grace, he had come to realize that the righteousness of Jesus Christ which is imparted to the sinner by faith is the only hope.
The faith mentioned is that of God's elect. Elect isn't a word we use much anymore. It means chosen, select or picked out (so to speak). This word has been misinterpreted by many to say that God chooses for some people to be saved and some to be damned. In context, the Bible teaches that a person is elect not because God chose them to be saved apart from their own will but rather, a person is elect because they have chosen to believe in God's means of salvation. Let me put it this way, do you want to be one of God's elect? If the answer is Yes, then simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you may enter the ranks of God's chosen! Apart from belief in the cleansing blood of Christ, God does not select anyone to have fellowship with Him. Faith in Christ makes us God's elect. Only by faith in Jesus Christ did God choose to make people His elect. No faith in Christ equals no election.
Coupled with the faith of God's elect is the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness. The which is referring to the truth just mentioned. This truth, which is found in God's Word, is according to godliness. In other words, it is according to true piety, not false piety. False piety is smug and self-centered. It characterizes the self-righteous man, but true piety characterizes the genuine believer in Christ. For years, Paul had resisted the righteousness of God and had gone about to establish his own righteousness (Rom. 10:3). But, on the road to Damascus, Paul met the Lord Jesus; and there he realized that his false piety would never make up for his burden of sin that only Christ could remove.
I'm grateful for the simple faith that enables me to become a servant of God. This simple faith in the finished work of Christ places me in the ranks of God's elect. I'm grateful that all I need to do is acknowledge the truth concerning my sin, Christ's righteousness, and God's forgiveness through faith in Jesus. By simply acknowledging what the Bible says, I can be clothed by the righteousness of Christ. By humbling ourselves at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ, we learn what true godliness is all about.
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