God Can Not Lie

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Titus
Chapter 1

God Does Not Lie / God Can Not Lie Truth
God is Trustworthy / God is Truth Quest

Greetings! Today at Daily Bread we open a letter from Paul to Titus. Titus was chosen by Paul to organize the church in the island of Crete.

If you remember the shipwreck that Paul experienced on his way to Rome, that was just after he left Crete, because those he was traveling with didn't want to stay in Fair Havens for the winter, but wanted to sail to a different haven of Crete (against Paul's advice of danger) and they got caught up in a tempest that took them across the Adria (part of the Mediterranean) where they shipwrecked.

In this letter, Paul gives Titus advice of how to set things in order. He begins his letter, in his usual way of identifying himself.

God Does Not Lie And God Can Not Lie to You
God is Trustworthy and God is Truth Blessing

From Paul, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to (in harmony with) the Faith of God's chosen, and the acknowledging of the TRUTH which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began, but has in His chosen times revealed His Word through preaching, which is committed (assigned) to me, according to the commandment of God our Savior;

To Titus, my own son (adopted) in the common Faith. Grace, mercy and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Let's try something a little bit different here. Let's say that Paul wrote this letter to you. You learned all about Jesus and salvation and the hope of the world to come, and you've grown close to Paul.

God Does Not Lie and God Can Not Lie Vow
God is Trustworthy and God is Truth Explained

He's like a dad to you, and you're like a son to him. Paul sees great potential in your Faith, and he decides that you should be assigned the island of Crete to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles there. Wow! That's quite an honor. And quite a challenge. You'd better tear that letter open and see if Paul has any pointers on how to go about this. When you open the letter, this is what you read.

This is the reason I left you in Crete. So that you would set things in order that are needed for the Church, and appoint elders in each city, just as I appointed you. Choose those who are blameless (above reproach, or free of faults), the husband of one wife, with faithful (obedient) children not accused of being disorderly or unruly.

A bishop (an overseer) must be blameless, as a steward of God; not self-willed, not easily angered, not given to (ruled by) wine, no fighter, not given to (ruled by) filthy lucre (dishonest gain); but a lover of hospitality, a lover of what is good, sober, just, holy, temperate (self-controlled); standing up for the faithful Word as he has been taught, so that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to motivate and to convince the gainsayers (those who contradict).

God Does Not Lie and God Can Not Lie Gift
God is Trustworthy and God is Truth Hope

There are many undisciplined and vain talkers and deceivers, whose mouths must be stopped. They corrupt whole houses, teaching things that they shouldn't, for evil profits. One of them, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies (idle gluttons).

What I'm telling you is true, so rebuke them sharply, so they'll be sound in the Faith; not listening to fables, and commandments of men, that turn away from the Truth.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in their actions they deny him, being abominable (evil), and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate (impure).

Well, if you think Titus had a challenge ahead of him, what do you think it would be like in today's world to accomplish such a task? Actually, bringing the lost sheep back to God is a task that He wants us all to undertake.

God Does Not Lie and God Can Not Lie Summary
God Is Trustworthy and God is Truth Conclusion

Paul has just told Titus (you) what kind of people would be needed to be leaders of the Faith in the Church. In other words, Paul was telling him to assign a certain type of man as deacons and bishops.

Next time, we'll continue and see what else Paul says is required. Is it a challenge that you welcome with open arms? Aren't there deceivers today, just as Paul described? I bet you can't wait to see what Paul says next, but you're gonna have to come back again next time to find out, right here at Daily Bread.