Hope of Eternal Life Promised Titus 1:2 - Equipped for Battle

Paul the apostle has given us a few of his credentials as he writes to his protege' Titus. Paul wrote that he was a bond-servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, God's chosen elect, and his acknowledging of the truth after godliness. He now adds to these wonderful characteristics in chapter one and verse two where he wrote:

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Paul addresses one of the greatest questions we ever face, “If a man dies, will he live again?” Job in the Old Testament asked this question, and Paul gives us direction toward it. What would be the use of being a bond-servant, an apostle, God's elect, or acknowledging of the truth if there were no eternal life? Paul was indeed in hope of eternal life, and this life was the promise of Jesus Himself. Jesus said in the book of John and chapter sixteen:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Paul knew this truth, and he trusted what Jesus said. But why did he? He adds, “which God, that cannot lie,” God does not, can not, and will not lie. In the book of Numbers in chapter twenty-three and verse nineteen:

God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Finally Paul concludes this verse with this, “promised before the world began.” Whenever God promises anything, we can rely upon it. What time exactly before the world began He promised this we are not sure, but nonetheless, we can be assured that the idea is that God purposed that eternal life would be both Paul's and ours who believe in Him. Paul hoped in eternal life because he could fully trust that what God said, He would do.

Do we have hope of eternal life? Do we wonder if somehow God might not keep His word nor honor His promise? If we have doubts, may the greeting of Paul, and the credentials therein, bring us to a fuller hope and trust in the God in whom we serve. May we all have great hope in eternal life, and know that our God tells the truth. Our best is yet to come.

Next time we will look at Paul's commission to preach the word of God, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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