“That I may be simple, humble, and thoughtful as I listen to others and help them come to faith in the One who has given us life.”—Dallas Willard's credo
“Remind them (the Christians in Crete) to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work: to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, that He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:1-7).
Titus’ obligation, as a minister of the gospel, was to remind his flock that our work, vis-a-vis the world, is to show God’s kindness and unfathomable love, and by that love to draw men and women to Him that they may experience “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, that He poured out abundantly…through Jesus Christ our Savior.” This is to the end that they might have eternal life.
In this way we continue the primary work of self-revelation and salvation that God began in and through Jesus. Every other work is secondary and derivative.
But we know that, don’t we? Jesus made our mission very clear (Matthew 28:18-20). We just need a reminder.
David Roper
3.24.21
