Does God call us? Do we call on God? Is salvation only up to God or do we play a role? Where does baptism fit in that scenario? Does baptism even fit? Does it matter when it comes to salvation? Is the only thing we have to do is to confess Jesus and believe in our heart? We tackle these question in this episode.

The church at Corinth was jacked up in all kinds of ways...just like the church in our day! People make comments how they don’t want to go to “church” because it’s full of hypocrites. Churches are full of people...people are jacked up...we ALL need Jesus! However, the church in Corinth seemed to bring a lot of their culture into the church instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to shape them but in all of that, Paul still tells them, “You are God’s holy people.” Despite being jacked up in all kinds of ways, they said “yes” to Jesus and his blood washes their sins away...just like you and me if we have said “yes” to him.

The church at Corinth was jacked up in all kinds of ways...just like the church in our day! People make comments how they don’t want to go to “church” because it’s full of hypocrites. Churches are full of people...people are jacked up...we ALL need Jesus! However, the church in Corinth seemed to bring a lot of their culture into the church instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to shape them but in all of that, Paul still tells them, “You are God’s holy people.” Despite being jacked up in all kinds of ways, they said “yes” to Jesus and his blood washes their sins away...just like you and me if we have said “yes” to him.

One of the things Paul wants the people of Crete to learn is to be generous givers. He tells Titus that he will soon be sending Tychicus or Artemas to take his place, and once they get there, Titus is to meet Paul in Nicopolis. But toward the end of the letter, Paul mentions two people, Zenas the lawyer and Apollos. He says they are basically traveling missionaries and they have needs that the church in Crete needs to meet by giving them what they need and be generous about it. He says by doing so, they will learn to “do good by meeting the urgent needs of others.” One way we can show Jesus to people is to be generous givers, like Jesus. He was always giving and we must do the same!

In many of his letters, Paul talks about how we are saved and he is clear: Not by our works but by God’s grace and His mercy. He talks about the Jews trying to convince the Gentiles they must also follow the law, including circumcision. The guy Paul is writing this letter to is a Gentile who is not circumcised which is living proof that God is moving in the lives of the uncircumcised Gentiles therefore, salvation has nothing to do with works. He tells Titus to not engage in any arguments with these people who insist on following the law, in fact, he tells Titus to warn them twice, and if they don’t listen, send them on their way and have nothing to do with them.

Titus 3 is so rich in the Greek, literally! Paul uses a word in the Greek to describe God pouring the Holy Spirit out on those who choose to follow Jesus. The word he uses in the Greek means “rich” as in having an abundant supply that will never run out, it just continues to flow. I don’t know what that is like but there are some that have so much money, their kids and grandkids could never exhaust their bank account! I’m not too sure, as believers, we understand this concept. God pours out His Spirit on those who trust in Him. We take a deep dive on this topic in this podcast. Thanks for listening!

When Paul started his letter to Titus, he said the Cretans own prophet said they were “liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons.” Then he went on to talk about how they are also deceivers. Instead of condemning, Paul includes himself and Titus as a sinners when he used the word “We...”. Paul knew who he was and what he was doing before Jesus revealed himself to Paul showing him grace and mercy on the road to Damascus. Paul’s life was forever changed and he wants this for the people of Crete, as well the people everywhere he shares the gospel!

Paul is going to address slaves and how they are to be obedient to their masters and not talk back. You may be asking, “I’m not a slave so how does this affect me?” I would argue there are still slaves today, we just get paychecks and get to go home at the end of the workday. We all have bosses, many of them, we have to do what they say or we get fired, and we are making someone very rich! So what Paul says to slaves can be said of us! Work hard, be obedient, take pride in your work, and don’t talk back to your bosses. In other words, let your work stand out so people see Jesus in you!