Redemptive Remedies

I am reading Titus chapter three this morning... reading and rereading it... letting the Bible wash me... squeezing out the sponge and then soaking it in truth and letting it cleanse me...

"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." - Titus 3:3-11 ESV

The context is vital here. Titus was traveling to places and putting things in order and then leaving again. He had a specific mission. He was a missionary of edification.

There are thought that wash us and build us up but there are questions and debates that tax us and tear us down. Not all inquires... questioning things is good if it is done in the 'right Spirit' with foundational truth understood and included as presuppositions to our questions.

Justification by grace and grace alone is a trustworthy saying and we should insist on the inclusion of this premise in an faith based discussion or conversation. In the King James the 'person who stirs up division' is translated heretic. The word literally means a 'chooser' it is linked to the same word used in Matthew 12:18 when God speaks of His Christ as the chosen one.

Titus was to avoid the heretic after just a few conversations. Once he saw this 'will worship' trend he was to move on because his ministry would be wasted on them and it was needed elsewhere.

I only need to take a moment to remember what I was like and realize the tremendous graciousness of God towards me. It quiets my mind and turns my inquisitiveness to other pursuits.

Grace does not stifle intellectual pursuit it causes us revel in redemption and seek redemptive remedies for the loose ends we find again and again in daily life.

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