Lesson 1
background notes
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doctrinal / teaching points
- Salvation is more than fire insurance.
- Salvation was planned in eternity, but made known in time.
practical application
Aren’t you glad that God cannot lie?
questions
- Under what conditions was the Book of Titus written?
- What was the purpose of this letter?
- Why was Paul a “sent one” for Jesus Christ?
- What does it mean that salvation was planned in eternity?
- What does it mean that salvation was “manifest in due time”?
- Is there anything God cannot do?
answers
- Titus was written in between Paul’s two Roman imprisonments. Titus had been left by Paul on the Isle of Crete to help build up the churches there.
- The purpose of this letter was to encourage Titus and to remind him of his responsibility to help establish the young churches on the Island of Crete. According to Titus 1:5, he was to “set things in order that are lacking and appoint elders.”
- Paul said that he was a sent one for the purpose of a) bringing to faith those God had chosen for salvation and b) perfecting that faith by teaching the truth that leads to godliness.
- Eternal life was promised in the eternal counsels of God before time began.
- Salvation was made known by the coming of Jesus Christ and the preaching of the gospel.
- God cannot lie, nor can He do anything inconsistent with His moral character.
discuss / consider
- What does it mean, “Salvation is more than fire insurance”?
- Discuss, “Teaching is not just the accumulation of Bible knowledge. It should lead to godliness.”
challenge
Are you accumulating Bible knowledge? Is this knowledge leading to godliness in your life?
memorize
- “Acknowledge the truth which leads to godliness, in hope of eternal life, promised before time began and manifested in due time.” – Titus 1:1-3
