Everyone needs to hear

In medieval times, a king or other ruler would let everyone know what was going on in the kingdom by making a proclamation. There might be a couple of uniformed trumpeters who would walk before, and the king's herald would read from the proclamation for all to hear. 

Or they might post the proclamation, complete with the king's seal for authenticity, on a building or a tree for people to see. Either way, the message wasn't something that was fabricated by the person who was spreading the word. Instead, the heralds were faithfully proclaiming the king's message. That is our job when we give out the gospel.

Salvation comes to sinners by the proclamation of God's Word.

That doesn't mean that we need heralds or trumpets or a fancy document! All of us can be a part of proclaiming the news of the gospel to others. Just as Paul was instructed to "speak out and don't be silent!" (Acts 18:9) it is our responsibility to share the good news of salvation with others. He has promised to receive those who come to Him for salvation:

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:37)

We have a charter, a task before us:

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16)

Paul says he is a "bond servant" of the Lord in the first verses of Titus 1. We are servants of the Lord, too. We are compelled to share the gospel, just as he was (I Corinthians 9:16-17).

Now, what's this about Titus being called Paul's child in verse 4? I never even saw a mention of Paul being married, did you? (Grin)

His calling Titus his "true child in a common faith" probably means that Paul led Titus to faith in Jesus Christ. He uses similar language in his letter to Timothy; he calls Timothy his "son in the faith." It's interesting to see Paul use words he has used before. Like when he greets people in "grace and peace." That was his routine greeting to other believers, but it's so much more than a greeting!

Grace sums up the gospel of Jesus Christ! Every other religion is based on human merit and works. Are you good enough? Have you done enough good deeds? Only the gospel rests on God's unmerited favor to sinners who deserve His wrath. And only the gospel results in peace with God.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1)

What a blessing! What a gift!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (II Corinthians 9:15)

So here is what we have learned so far: if we want to be God's people in this pagan world, we must first make sure that we have been saved by His grace. Then, we must live up to our responsibility (and the great joy) of sharing the gospel with others. They need to hear of His grace, and receive that peace. But does that grace and peace mean that it's ok to sin? Are we free to live with sin in our lives? Nope! We'll start there next time!