3 Remind (Cretan believers) to be SUBJECT TO RULERS, TO AUTHORITIES, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, ² to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration FOR ALL PEOPLE. ³ For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the KINDNESS OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR AND HIS LOVE FOR MANKIND APPEARED, ⁵ He saved us, NOT ON THE BASIS OF WORKS which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour, ⁷ so that being JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus3:1-7)

Be subject to authorities

Firstly, note how Paul exhorts Titus to remind those believers under his charge to be subject to rulers and authorities.  Just as Christ came not to be served but to serve, so the Church is currently serving with Him, or it could be said on His behalf  – as the Body of Christ on earth. As His future partner and co-heir she is destined for glory, but for now, far from “ruling with Christ” the Church is His suffering Body, servant to the world. Whilst Christians as individuals may attain positions of authority within society, even preside over a country, that will be because  they have been deemed fitted for the task and/or have been voted in by the populace, or in the case of monarchies have succeeded to the throne. It will not be because they are Christian, nor will it necessarily be the case that they are fitted and worthy of their rank.

In the age to come it will be a different matter. God’s elect will rule with Christ because they were His faithful disciples. And unlike the present arrangements, it will always be the case that they are fitted and worthy for such duties –  Rom8:29 indicates why that is the case! Not only fitted, but as the corporate Bride of Christ, of royal pedigree and possessing a divine nature (2Pet1:4). It is to be noted that in Jesus’ parables  relating to rewards, the nature of the rewards is sometimes expressed in terms of increased territorial authority  – e.g. Lk19:17; cf. Rev2:26-28😲.

At peace with the world

Secondly, the believers are to “show consideration to all people”, and the subsequent verse indicates that Paul is referring to non-believers. As he writes elsewhere, as far as it is possible, be at peace with all people (Rom12:18).

The kindness of God

Thirdly, Paul refers to “the kindness of God and his love towards humanity” (v4). But as I have frequently indicated, the apostle well knows and never tires of reminding us that only those predestined to the role can obtain gospel salvation. As Jesus affirmed, no one is innately capable of coming to Him as Saviour unless the Father draws them (Jn6:44). And as Paul asserts in the very next verse, the criterion for gospel salvation is not good works but God’s mercy and sovereign choice. There is no greater “good work” than to hear the Gospel, take God at His word and choose the arduous, self-disciplined path of Christian discipleship. If that were of ourselves it would be salvation on the basis of good works. But, teaches Paul, it is through God’s mercy and sovereign choice that we come to that position – “justified by God’s grace” (v7).

But the principle point I am making  is that God’s “kindness and love for humanity” cannot be referring exclusively to gospel salvation, or else far from being kind and loving, God would be a Monster, wilfully withholding the saving remedy from the bulk of humanity, whom (He well knows) are innately incapable of receiving it. At least that would be the case if gospel salvation pertained to “going to Heaven when you die” – it does not.

Salvation and SALVATION

As I sometimes quip, gospel salvation is not for the  proverbial “world and his wife”, it is for Christ and His (Rev19:7). God desires that all should ultimately be saved and come to acknowledge of the truth (1Tim2:4), not that all should marry His Son or share His Son’s throne (Rev21:2 & 3:21). In other words, there is salvation and there is SALVATION. However, the former (lower case) does not pertain to being “saved” in the present age, and Paul summarizes precisely why in Rom7:24-25 – this earlier post expounds. As for the age to come, not the Father, not the Son but  “the Holy Spirit AND THE BRIDE (nota bene) say, “Come”. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever wishes, let him take the water of life freely (Rev22:17)!