Some Vital Instructions Needed for Church Organization Titus 1:1-16

Paul left Titus on the island of Crete in order to set straight “things that are wanting and to ordain elders in every city” (Titus 1:5).   This arduous task was appointed to Titus because the organization of the Cretan church and the lives of the members had both fallen into disrepute.  Some Christians had abused the grace of God and turned it into licentiousness!  In this grand book of Titus, it teaches that Christian doctrine and Christian living are to be sound (Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1-2, 8).  God’s grace leads a person to live a godly life (Titus 1:4; 2:11; 3:17, 15).  Although we do not know who founded the church at Crete, but we do know that Paul left Titus there to organize it and remedy the weaknesses of the church. Titus 1:1-16 may be outlined as follows:  I. Instructions for Church Organization – Titus 1:1-9; II. Some Characteristics of False Teachers – Titus 1:10-16. Instructions for Church Organization – Titus 1:1-9 Paul begins this wonderful epistle by identifying himself as a servant of God (v. 1).  The word “servant” means bound slave.  Paul viewed himself as a bond slave of Jesus Christ.  He also referred to himself as...