King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Chapters: THE BOOK TITUS
Message: Living A Virtuous Life
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today the word virtue came to mind, [Virtue; Moral goodness; the practice of moral duties and the abstaining from vice, or a conformity of life and conversation to the moral law.] Virtue, is a hard thing to come by these days, as so many people, including Christians have forsaken morals for immorality like you would not believe. Those who are saved and born again are set apart from the world and need to live virtuous lives if they want to be blessed in this life, [2 Peter 1:3-5 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;]
The book of Titus is the seventeenth book of the New Testament, and the fifty-sixth book of the Bible. The author of this epistle (letters) is Paul, and was written to a man named Titus. What we are to learn from the book is that founding a good work is not enough. That work must be established and organized according to the principles of God’s Word, [Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;]
God, knew when He put this world together that man would sin and it would destroy the earth in the worst way, but He had a plan to save those who would believe in Him and want to live their time on earth loving and fearing Him as He had hoped all mankind would. Sadly, most of man is corrupt, so corrupt that they will even stoop to the level of using God and the people who believe in Him to make money off of, and low and behold, we have religion. Titus, was a Greek convert and fellow worker with Paul, Paul sent Titus to Crete to correct problems within the churches, it seems that the church leader was not living as he was preaching.
[Titus 1:1-6 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; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.]
[and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;] Until we acknowledge that the Word of God is true there is no hope of eternal life because faith truly does come by the hearing of God’s Word, [Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.]
[If any be blameless, the husband of one wife,] It just occurred to me why Paul kept saying this, it was not uncommon for Jewish men before Christ came here in the flesh to have more than one wife as they did not want to “break any commandments”. From the beginning when God formed man He also formed the marriage vow, one man and one woman, [Genesis 2:23-24 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.]
Of course, man did what they wanted to do and still today polygamy is accepted in some religions, and while it was never acceptable to God, He went with it and in some cases used it for a purpose. While all sin is unacceptable to God, those committed through the lusts of the flesh are the most dangerous as they not only affect the person, but those surrounding them as well. Those who aim at living a virtuous life will learn to let go of the things that defile their flesh. Paul, goes on to describe the virtues that the bishop or pastor of the church should have.
[Titus 1:7-12 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.]
[For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers,] I learned a long time ago that there are many unruly and vain talkers out there who claim to be Christians who can get you into trouble. Let me tell you, you cannot conform yourself into someone that someone else wants you to be for the sake of leading them to a Godly life. Sadly, I have tried, and suffered a few times before God told me that He had enough and it was time to move on. We tend to think that if Jesus turned us around then He can turn anyone around, and while nothing truly is impossible with God, even He has limits. If they are not willing, then there is nothing that He or any of us can do to convince them, [Titus 1:15-16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.]
God, expects pastors and those who lead the church to be more accountable than the congregation. After all, they are the ones who are teaching us in the Word of God, and if they are not living through it, then the people are not going to trust them. And who are they going to turn away from when they have been deceived? God. Even though I am not a pastor, I am a teacher of His Word and also have this ministry, therefore, I am accountable as well. If I am not living the way that I teach, or teaching the truth, I will answer to Jesus. Remember, the Church is not a building four walls, but is a temple full of the Holy Spirit, and we all represent Christ. Therefore, the only thing that will be acceptable to God is that we teach sound doctrine.
[Titus 2:1-6 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.]
[But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: ] [Sound; Entire; unbroken; not shaky, split or defective; Undecayed; whole; perfect; Founded in truth; firm; strong; valid; solid; that cannot be overthrown or refuted.] We need to teach the truth, not some watered down, sugar coated half truths that makes them and us feel all snugly inside. They may not like to hear the truth, but in the end, they will be grateful, and thankful when they realize their wrong.
[Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.]
[redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people,] We must face reality, not every person or church proclaiming Christ is true, the majority of the world, including mega churches, media, TV, movies, and any other form of entertainment about Christ has Christianity all wrong. They are not preaching sound doctrine. Christians, ought to be standing out from them as they are peculiar people, if Christ is inside of us and we are still living as though we are of the world, then we have a problem.
[Titus 3:1-6 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;]
[to be ready to every good work,] Saved or not, sin always leads to death, we may not face hell, but we do face the consequence of sin should we remain in it. It is by the grace of God that we are not punished for all the things we have done in our flesh or continue to do. But grace is more than that, it is the favor of God, and is His commitment to us for believing in His Son, and accepting Him. It is His assurance of eternal life, and it is His promise to be there for us through the good and bad times. The least we can do to show our love and gratitude to Him is by living our lives in a way that reflects Him, [1 Peter 3:15-16 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.]
[Titus 3:7-11 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.]
[an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;] [Heretic; A division or separation in a church or denomination of Christians, occasioned by diversity of opinions; breach of unity among people of the same religious faith. Admonition; Gentle reproof; counseling against a fault; instruction in duties; caution; direction.] These are those who cause division within the church with their constant questions and ideologies that have nothing to do with Christ. Heretic’s do not want to know the truth, in fact, they already do, what they want to do is create clicks that divide the church. We are to avoid people like this at all costs, because what it really does is cause confusion, especially to new converts, [Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for using me to be a witness of the Gospel, I know I mess up every day, but also know that You do a great work in me. I do want to live a life that is pleasing to You, help me to learn Your will for every area of my life. Let me not be deceived by those who use Your name for filthy money, and keep me grounded in Your Word so I can be the witnesses You need me to be to reach the lost. Lead us, guide us, and give us Your power, wisdom, and understanding so that our good works reflect Your Son. Cover us also with Your grace that whereas they speak evil us, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse us. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2023 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.