The Journey Beyond Salvation
Titus 2:1-15
God has two desires for us. His first desire is for us to be brought to salvation. His second desire for us as Christians is to grow as disciples of Christ.
In his letter to Titus, Paul addresses common issues amongst believers in the church and emphasizes the importance of being trained in faith. Jesus calls us to make disciples:
Matthew 28:20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
In this passage, there are those in the crowd who simply enjoy listening to Jesus’s message and there are also his disciples, those who practice what Jesus taught them. It is easy to be hearers and be motivated by God’s words yet remain unchanged. However, God calls us not only to bring the lost to salvation but also to grow in our faith. Since spiritual growth does not happen naturally, Paul emphasizes the need for training in discipleship throughout Titus 2:1-15:
Titus 2:1 – But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine
Titus 2:4 – and so train the young women to love their husbands and children…
Titus 2:6 – Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
Titus 2:12 – training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…
We see many instances in our life of Christians who have been saved for many years show little change, while new believers who diligently seek and follow Christ see transformation in their lives. This reminds us that faith is not something passive but must be actively practiced and trained.
Paul’s letter lists 4 different groups of people: younger men, older men, younger women, and older women. Paul’s letter provides several key takeaways:
A common trait we see across all groups is the importance of practicing self-control. Titus 2:12-13 shows us that self-control is doing what we should and not doing what we should not. Self-control can extend to many areas of our lives including overconsumption of food, drugs, or alcohol, having a complaining spirit, struggles with relationships and temptations, inability to control our emotions, frivolous spending, laziness, and many more. Without self-control, we cannot live in obedience to Christ. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us that self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not something that we attain through our own effort, but through reliance on God’s help.
Discipleship is living as an example for others through modeling. It is not just about personal growth but about leading others. As believers, we are called to set an example for our families, community, church, and non-believers that we encounter in the world. Parents should set an example for their children. Shepherds should set an example for their house church members. Christians should set an example for non-believers and VIPs. Titus 2:5,10 reminds us that the life we live can either reflect God’s truth or lead others away by contradicting it.
Discipleship means that we should avoid being a stumbling block to others as demonstrated in Romans 14:13. Whether we mean it or not, our actions can stumble our fellow brothers or sisters through how we act around others who are struggling in various areas of their lives such as drinking. We should be mindful whether our actions are leading others to Christ or pushing them away.
God desires for those who have yet to hear Him to receive salvation. For those who already believe, God wants us to grow in our faith. It is not simply about being saved, but God wants us to grow in discipleship through constant training, in practicing self-control, by modeling and living as an example for others, and by avoiding being a stumbling block to others. This week’s message is to remind us that our journey has not ended yet – the process of being trained for discipleship is something that will take time and effort, to toil and persevere, and to trust and lean on God’s help and provision in our lives.
Reflection Questions:
What were your main takeaways from this week’s message?
What areas in your life require greater self-control than others?
Do you feel like you are leading an example of godliness in your life?
