Paul the apostle has been
giving his credentials for sharing to Titus, and one by one we have
examined his awesome characteristics. In verse two of chapter one we
learned of Paul's hope for eternal life, and the promise of God who
cannot lie purposed before the world began. Today we learn of Paul's
current duties and the method by which he would convey them. He wrote
in verse three of chapter one:
But has in due times
manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me
according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
God
promised eternal life to all who would believe in His Son Jesus and
His sacrifice for our sins. God's method for making this promise
known in Paul's day was preaching. Paul said, “But has in
due times manifested his word through preaching,” Preaching
is defined as, “that which is proclaimed by a herald or
public crier, a proclamation by herald”. The sounding out of the
gospel or good news of God's promise for eternal life is performed by
those who preach. Preachers “sound out” or “herald” that
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners from their sins, and
because He did, those who believe in Him will be granted eternal
life. God's word is proclaimed to everyone, but not all will receive
His word.
Paul also added, “which
is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our
Saviour.” With a commandment
of God our Saviour, Paul was commissioned to preach. There are many
callings by which men become preachers, but not all of them are from
God. Paul's was, and Paul was committed to fulfilling the task to
which God called him. Paul wrote his thoughts toward preaching in the
book of First Corinthians in chapter one and verse twenty-one:
For after that in the
wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
As
foolish as it may seem to some, God was the one who chose preaching
to be the instrument by which He spread His good news. Jesus
preached. The disciples preached, and today preachers around the
world declare the salvation message from God that eternal life is
available to all who will believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross
for their sins and was raised from the dead on the third day after
His death. Paul declared this message to the Romans in the book of
Romans in chapter ten and verses eight through ten. He wrote:
But what does it say?
The word is near you, [even] in your mouth, and in your heart: that
is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if you shall confess
with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that
God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the
heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation.
God
shares His word through preaching, and Paul the apostle was
commissioned and commanded to share God's word. There are many who
follow in Paul's footsteps today, and may all who preach the gospel
of Jesus Christ not only preach it with all obedience, but also
realize the gravity and eternal weight of the words they proclaim.
Paul did.
Next
time we will look at the actual address of Paul to Titus as we
continue our study, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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