You Have Been Chosen By God: The Elect

For the grace of God that brings salvation

has appeared to all men, teaching us that,

denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,

we should live soberly, righteously,

and godly in the present age,

looking for the blessed hope

and glorious appearing of our

great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Who gave himself for us, that He

might redeem us from every lawless deed

and purify for Himself His own

special people, zealous for good works.

Titus 2:11–14

            It has been shown in previous blogs that we are the recipients of original sin thrust upon this earth and all peoples who are the progeny of Adam a sin that man cannot remove from himself by anything he does, any works of goodness. What is required is for payment to be made in behalf of men that would pay this debt owed to God and this God Himself by coming to earth to be formed in humanity as the Son of God, His Wisdom, who died as a perfect man then taking this propitiatory sacrifice and offering it to the Father who sent Him and thereby making eternal intercession for all of God’s children. Jesus Christ by His death on the cross gave Himself for us and redeemed us from every lawless deed and purified for Himself His own special people, a people that are to be zealous for good works. We are being taught by His word that we are to deny ourselves, those lusts of the flesh and are to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age. The question for each of us is; are we living for the present age or for eternity?  One of the goals for a Church is to set in order those attending a Church so that they are increasingly proven their spiritual character in their homes and places of work; wherever they, or you may go. We all have a function in our Churches and the first is to be a living example of the doctrines you profess. Many have succumbed to a doctrine that to be zealous for “good works” are those supposed supernatural miracles that they perform, or to be able to speak in some form of ‘gibberish” tongue as though this is a spiritual work. This is not the work that a Christian proves himself to be one of God’s children, no, it is a practical working out your salvation in your daily lives. God has appointed men to be elders in the Church, and to have pastors to overseer the Church, to lead the congregation in good words that are profitable and desirable for all believers. It is one thing to know that we are sinners, recipients of Adam’s sin and are under that original sin, and it is another thing to take this acknowledgment and to produce a life that leads us to be free from the lusts of this world, this present age no matter how ridiculed you might be for doing so, that you may not “fit” in with the rest of society. Allow the Apostle Paul to teach us how we are to live, to lead our congregations, to be true son’s of God for this is what he did when he sent Titus to Crete. Titus was an appointed messenger to the Cretans, a trumpet of good news, and a leader to lead the Cretans to live according to the doctrine of Jesus Christ. We can learn and be taught by this letter.

1.      Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2. in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3. but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

Paul makes mention that he was a bondservant of God, that is as a slave who was free to come or go bonded himself to God willingly and in his day a bondservant was recognized by having a awl pierce his ear a sign that he did not belong to himself but to another and for Paul he was a bondservant of God. Paul was also a bondservant of Jesus Christ and called to be an apostle: “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). Paul then as he stated an apostle of Jesus Christ, and as written to the Romans a bondservant of Jesus Christ. The Father and the Son being One and if you believe in the Son and believes in the Father then the servants status in regards to the Father and Son as being One is that the Father and the Son both are to be worshipped as One. As a bondservant, under the bond of God, you are not to be a servant to sin: “Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin”(John 8:34). All who believe in Jesus Christ should then be subordinated to Jesus Christ and not to himself.  Paul is speaking with authority, an authority given to him be his being chosen, chosen by Jesus Christ, we then should listen to his inspired words from God Himself to be preached and taught to His children. The faith of the elect, those who God elected to be His children who acknowledge the truth, a truth that leads to godliness and gives hope of eternal life which God promised, and God cannot lie, before time began. Dwell on this fact; as a child of God you were selected, elected, chosen by Him and this before time began. It was not by some works of goodness, or seemingly holiness, no, you are elected by God therefore live according to who and whose you are and be that example of godliness that aids others who are in need to hear the truth, the word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and respond accordingly to the faith that God has given them, and this faith grows and extends in their lives by His word and His word is preached to all leading some, the chosen to live in this present age as one of God’s children, a living example of God.

Jesus said to Him, “You shall love the

            LORD your God with all your heart,

With all your soul, and with all your mind.

            This is the first and great commandment.”

                                    Matthew 22:37–38

Praise God For You Are His Chosen

Richard L. Crumb