Beginning in verse five Paul tells Titus to go to the areas where new home churches were being formed and there appoint leaders who would teach the people the ways of the Lord. Note that in the early church, pastors were not voted into office by the laity. Early on God sent His apostles to them who, through the Holy Spirit, choose men to lead the congregations which were small home gatherings. Here God used Paul and Titus to make such pastoral selections in a particular area. Following the church’s apostasy (falling away from God) and their splitting into hundreds of sects, local congregations rejected God’s assigned leaders and took it upon themselves to choose their hirelings, which is in direct contradiction to God’s command which has not changed. In the Lord’s true churches He either sends in a leader from outside the area or raises up a leader from among the local people. God’s true saints do not vote on who will lead them. They recognize that such is God’s domain and that only He has the insight to choose who leads. The reason is obvious–people will elect those who tell them what they want to hear, not what He wants them to hear.

In chapter three Paul reminds us to be subject to those whom God has placed over us, to not speak ill of them. In verses three through seven we find a passage that has been incorrectly used to “prove” that we are saved in this life. In verse three we find Paul reminding us of our pre-justification, pre-conversion life during which we lived as sinners. In verse four he reminds us that Christ died so that we could have all of our past sins washed away by His blood (justification). Following conversion the Holy Spirit is provided which enables us to obey God’s Law so that we can inherit eternal life upon the return of Jesus Christ. Note in verse seven (and 1:2) that in this life we have the “HOPE of eternal life.” In Matthew 10:22 Jesus tells us that IF we endure in holiness until the end of life or the end of the age, whichever comes first, we will at that time receive eternal life.

In verses nine and ten Paul tells Titus to remind church people to not get involved in foolish questions and speculations which is what happens when people are looking for an excuse to disobey God’s Word. We are not to “strive about the Law” (explain why it is not to be obeyed). WE ARE COMMANDED TO OBEY IT. PERIOD. In verse 11 we are told that those who try to subvert God’s Word are “heretics” who are “subverted sinners” who “condemn themselves.” Let us not go down that path. L.J.