“Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect & the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness.” vs1

1 The true gospel is according to godliness. There are those who preach a grace that DOES NOT lead to godliness, and it is a lie. They say things like, “We shouldn’t sin”, but they never command it or teach it. It is enough for them to believe. They say things like, “Don’t judge me”, and, “You must not judge a tree by its fruit”, in direct contradiction to the Lord [Matt 7:20]. Do not listen to them! All that God says, if received properly, will make us holy in everyday action. It will never leave us lacking, and fruit is the EVIDENCE that we’ve believed properly.

2 We’ve been commanded to preach the gospel as much as Paul [vs3]. “In His own time He has revealed His message in the proclamation that I was entrusted with by the command of God our Savior.” We are not let off the hook because Paul did his duty, but we have our own as members of the body of Christ. Some are preachers, and we must guard our character and conduct accordingly, but all of us are messengers of the gospel from our hospital beds or as housewives. We have no right to live for ourselves, and we must live to make the gospel known, using the opportunities and gifts given to us [1 Cor 12:7]. If your life is about this, then you’re in harmony with God: If not, then you’re out of order [Hag 1:8].

3 God only has grace and peace, if we are His children [vs4]! Paul says, “To Titus, my true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” It is a common lie that He loves all men, but Jacob He loved and Esau He hated. It is a lie that He looks upon all men the same! If we are IN CHRIST, then we are loved forever, and our sins are put away [Eph 1:7]. Outside of Christ is wrath and a curse. We won’t be saved because we’re cute babies or have tried as hard as we can. We can only be saved by Jesus bearing our sins, and the Father forgiving us because of it. In Christ, we are blessed, but outside of Him are curses, and fury, and wrath.

So, the question is, Are YOU one of His children? Do you believe the gospel unto eternal life? If so, then apply the gospel promises to yourself, and take them all, including the responsibilities. Everything is ours for Christ’s sake, and we are blessed by God. “According as He chose us in Him from before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy in love [Eph 1:4].”

This is the highest blessing imaginable - to be saved from wrath because He predestined us and gave us grace… to be plucked from among the perishing nations to praise His name forever… to be given grace to believe and live godly... to bear fruit that proves we are His children.