• Considering the Goal of Sound Doctrine
• Considering Well the Way We Were
• Considering Our Promised Inheritance
• Considering the Heretics Who Attack Us
• Considering the True Blessings of Brethren

Today we focus on the second chapter of Titus, our outline is taken from those final verses: “Adorning the Word of Grace in the Churches”:

Our Outline:  Adorning the Word of Grace in the Churches Through Sound Doctrine:

• Things That Become Sound Doctrine: Elder Men, Be Bold
• Things That Become Sound Doctrine: Elder Women, Be An Example
• Things That Become Sound Doctrine: Younger Men, Shun Hypocrisy
• Things That Become Sound Doctrine: Slaves, Demonstrate Your New Life
• Things That Become Sound Doctrine: May GRACE Have Her Work, Always

Again, as we finish up the first chapter of Titus today, our outline is taken from those final verses: Words of Sound Doctrine Are the Foundation of Sound Faith:

• Sound Doctrine Has the Power to Transform Believers — Receive It
• Sound Doctrine Is Always Opposed by Our Spiritual Foes — Identify It
• False Doctrine Is in Every Way Evil and Supremely Dangerous— Oppose It

As we introduce Paul’s letter to Titus today, we have a very simple outline taken from the first verses in Chapter 1:

• The Author of the Letter: Paul, Apostle of Jesus Christ, God Our Savior
• The Addressee of the Letter: Titus, Beloved Son in the Faith — Listen 
• The Subject: Titus, Commanded to Lead All Believers in Crete — Continue!

Central to the essence of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to “Rightly Divide the Word of Truth” is that Paul and not the Twelve is the Apostle of the Gentiles and that therefore believers today must follow or imitate him.  This doctrine attracts many opponents, however.  So today we summarize our studies in the Great Transition period by considering the question:  Why Should We Follow Paul?  We present six answers to that question today:

• Why Should We Follow Paul?  Christ Spoke with Him from Heaven
• Why Should We Follow Paul?  His Words are the Very Words of Christ
• Why Should We Follow Paul?  His Doctrine Must Be Our Guide
• Why Should We Follow Paul?  His Life Demonstrated Abundant Grace
• Why Should We Follow Paul?  His Sufferings Are Our Example
• Why Should We Follow Paul?  Because His Last Will Leaves Us No Choice

• That Settles It!  We must follow or imitate Paul as he imitates the heavenly Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 11:1).  Amen.

• The Glorious Sweep of God’s Abundant Grace: Mid - Late Acts - Paul Saved and Sent Forth (Primarily to the Gentiles, But to the Jews First)
• The Glorious Sweep of God’s Abundant Grace: After Acts 28:28 - Paul’s “Prison” Ministry
• The Glorious Sweep of God’s Abundant Grace: The Transition from Pentecost to the Fullness of Grace — Its Completion
• Paul’s Final (Recorded) Words

After reviewing what was the essence of Paul’s ministry before Acts 28:28 and then after the final casting off of Jewish hopes through his final speech before the leaders of the Jews in Rome, we consider today the question: What was lost of the blessings of God previously poured out on the Gentile believers as the end of the transition was accomplished?  What we saw was that the losses were far more than compensated by great gains for members of Christ’s heavenly Body church. We conclude with a quick look at Paul’s final words before his martyrdom.  They are personal in a very special way and many names are mentioned, including in the most prominent place of all, at the very end, a woman named Claudia.  His final words should never be forgotten: “The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”  I doubt that brother Timothy ever forgot them either.  I am sure they were written on his soul and spirit as if by a hot branding iron.

It has been about 8 months since we took a digression to examine the Great Transition period under Paul’s administration.  We looked first at the record in the inspired history of the Acts and then at Paul’s letters.  It was a detailed, and I hope and pray, a profitable study.  We now return to Paul’s last written testimony before his martyrdom, chapter 4 of his second letter to Timothy.  These are his last words recorded and preserved for our benefit. Our outline was a simple one, firstly reviewing the major subject of signs and wonders given to the churches during the pre-Acts 28 period during which Paul made three missionary journeys.  Then we considered his post-Acts 28:28 writings especially those letters written to the saints in Ephesus and Colosse to see the all teaching of manifold grace when Israel was no longer in the picture.  We saw how the completion of the revelation concerning current dispensation of grace adds to and changes some of what was revealed before.  Right Division really does make a difference!  Our outline:

• How Would Paul Answer Questions Regarding the “What” and the “When” of the Great Transition? 
• Shame and Condemnation Belong to Those Rejecting Right Division
• Blessing and Glorification Belong to Those Loving Right Division

As we reviewed last time, the event of Acts 28:28-29 signaled a fundamental turning point in Paul’s ministry.  Having reached Rome and in civil restraint, he called together the leaders of the Jewish synagogue and presented the claims of his risen savior.  When they rejected their own Messiah and his preaching that day, he then in strong words formally set aside the ministry to those Jews and in effect all Jews, for this was the final event in the Great Transition period.  From now on, he proclaimed, he would go to the Gentiles and they WOULD hear and believe his message. In today’s study, we compare and contrast the teachings before and after this great turning point. Our major subjects are the ministry to “the Jews first” with all that that meant, including the signs and wonders wrought by the apostle and also the sign gifts given during the Transition to the Gentile believers “for the sake both of the Jews and the Gentiles.  We look at both the evidences that those gifts and enablements actually did pass away and also Paul’s teaching as to why and in what manner they would do so.  We conclude by considering that Paul also was given the revelation concerning the Mystery and the various dimensions of the truth concerning the Dispensation of the Grace of God.  When the full revelation of that was delivered to Paul and through Paul to the assemblies in his letters written after the Acts 28:28 event had been accomplished, the believer had all that was needed for spiritual maturity.  No longer were there limitations regarding “the Jews” and their law.  But the fullness of liberty was the domain of life in Christ Jesus.

• Paul’s Teaching Before Acts 28:28 — The Details of the Great Transition, Final
• Paul’s Teaching After Acts 28:28 — What It All Means for Us Today
• A Short Note on “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth”

The event of Acts 28:28-29 signaled a great turning point.  Not only is it the final event in Luke’s inspired history of the Great Transition, first from his recording of Israel’s “rising” during the  Pentecostal Dispensation.  and then “Israel’s fall”.  But then, after Paul’s salvation and raising up to be apostle of the Gentiles, of the transition from Paul’s “Jews first” ministry to his casting aside of the nation and its people allowing the full manifestation of grace towards the Gentiles. Many of his teachings continue from this earlier period into the later unchanged, such as salvation by grace through faith alone, apart from any works, or the Pre-Tribulational Rapture.  But others are not revealed until later, such as the completion of the word of grace or the Mystery itself with its many dimensions.  Our outline is a simple one:

• Paul’s Final Words in Rome — Their Spiritual Context and Significance, Review
• Paul’s Teaching Before Acts 28:28 — The Details of the Great Transition
• Paul’s Teaching After Acts 28:28 — What It All Means for Us Today as We Rightly Divide the Word of Truth

Paul headed Rome by a circuitous route due to storms and shipwreck.  But the Lord preserved him and brought him to Rome as had been promised. But why Rome?  Why was this so important for just one more time of testimony?  Remember Acts 9:15: “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel”.  After three days Paul called for the Jewish leaders to come and they did come. For an entire day, he testified to them out of the Law and the prophets concerning Jesus, for both testified of him so clearly.  Some believed — but many did not.  Without further discussion, the meeting ended with his final words (and these close the scriptural record concerning the Great Transition period):  Is. 6:9-10 “Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”  And so it ends there that critical day as the apostle of the Gentiles has now formally cast aside his own nation.  Now Paul’s final ministry would begin: “… to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) AND to proclaim the Mystery, as the Prison letters make abundantly clear, that all may know the depth of the glories of God’s unlimited grace through our risen savior. Indeed, “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”