Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Jul 10 2019 - Amos 3 – Israel's judgment

Yesterday we saw that Amos' words of judgment, having swept around the nations that surrounded Israel, came to focus on the southern kingdom of Judah and then the northern kingdom of Israel where Amos was ministering. Chapter three continues with more words of judgment against Israel.

Amos delivers the word of the Lord against "the whole family I brought up out of Egypt" (3:1). They must not think that because they are God's chosen people they will be safe from his judgment. On the contrary, God declares, "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins" (3:2). God chose the Israelites to be a priestly people who would bring the knowledge, forgiveness and blessing of God to all peoples on earth (see Exodus 19:5-6). But they could only act as the mediators of God's blessings if they kept God's covenant and lived in obedience to him. Israel had failed to obey the Lord God who had saved them.

God has revealed his plans for judgment to his prophets (3:7). "The lion has roared – who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken – who can but prophesy?" (3:8). So Amos is proclaiming his message of warning. The judgment of God is about to fall on his people because of the way the wealthy oppress the poor and store up in their fortresses what they have looted (3:9-10). The lion is on the prowl and those who have accumulated treasure for themselves are about to lose it all:

As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric from a couch…
I will tear down the winter house
    along with the summer house;
the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed
    and the mansions will be demolished,’
declares the LORD. (3:12, 15)

The idolatrous altars in Bethel will also be destroyed (3:14).

God has called us also to be a priestly people. The apostle Peter echoes the words of God to Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai when he says, "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). We have been redeemed and chosen by God, not that we might be filled with pride and look down on others, but that we might tell them about the salvation of God. We are to mediate the saving goodness of God to a needy world.

Peter immediately follows these words with an exhortation for those whom God has redeemed to live godly lives: "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us" (1 Peter 2:12). We are to learn from Israel's failure and from God's judgment that we need to live in willing submission to God. Nor is this call to obedience confined to "religious exercises"; we are to ensure that we treat others with compassion and concern, rather than seeking our own advantage at their expense. Our treatment of others is to reflect the kindness, goodness and grace of God that we have received in Jesus Christ. Goodness is to be made visible in our lives.

Father God, we thank you for the wonder of our redemption through the cross and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Help us always to remember that you have saved us that we might live to serve you and to minister your grace to all whose lives we touch. Help us to show the world something of your beautiful character today.

Jul 10 2020 - Introduction to Titus

Titus the Man

Titus is not mentioned in the Book of Acts, but he does play a prominent role in 2 Corinthians which indicates that Titus, along with Timothy, had become a member of Paul's inner circle of trusted travelling companions and co-workers in his gospel mission. Paul had paid a 'painful visit' to the Corinthian church (2 Cor 2:1) and followed it up with a painful letter (2 Cor 2:4) which Titus was entrusted to carry to the church (2 Cor 2:12-13; 7:6). Paul was anxious to discover how his letter had been received and so left Ephesus for Troas, hoping to find Titus there. When he did not find him, he continued on to Macedonia, where he met up with Titus, who brought an encouraging word about the Corinthian church's repentance (2 Cor 7:13-15). Titus had also been involved in collecting the offering which Paul was putting together for the Jerusalem church (2 Cor 8:6; 16-17,23). 

Historical setting for the letter to Titus

For the historical context for Titus being in Crete and the background to Paul's letter, see the outline in the "Introduction to the Pastoral Epistles and to 1 Timothy"   

Themes of the Letter to Titus

Though there are similarities between the contents of Titus and 1 Timothy there are also significant differences. The letter to Titus seems to relate to the situation of a young church in a pagan environment where the problems arise from the need for clear instruction. The insistence in 1 Timothy that elders should not be young in the faith is absent from Titus probably because there were none who had been Christians for very long.

Paul wrote to Titus asking him to remain in Crete and to nurture this young church until either Artemis or Tychicus could come to replace him. Paul then wants Titus to come and spend the winter with him at Nicopolis. Meanwhile, Titus was to appoint suitable leaders from within the church and to stand firm against opponents who are undermining the work of the gospel. In particular, he was to emphasise that faith in Christ and a hope rooted in the promises of the gospel must be accompanied by a life of godliness; Christian faith finds its necessary expression in a life of Christlike obedience. 

Paul also writes to ask Titus to encourage Zenas and Apollos, the carriers of the letter, on their way, providing them with everything they need for their onward journey (3:13). 

It is uncertain which of the two letters, 1 Timothy or Titus, was written first.

Jul 10 2020 - Titus 1:1-16 – Truth that leads to godliness

Paul writes to Titus to encourage him in his ministry in Crete. He is not very complimentary either about the character of the Cretans (Titus 1:12-13), or about the Jews who are living in Crete (1:10, 14). But Paul believes that the message of the Gospel can transform lives from the inside out; it is "truth that leads to godliness" (1:1). Titus is to proclaim the word of truth and to appoint others to assist him in the work and who will carry it on when Titus has gone; others who "hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught " (1:9). Here is truth that can transform, truth that leads to godliness, truth that can change the character and culture of a society.

And this is the reason that Paul is so clear in his warnings about those who would seek to teach other doctrines. The ‘Cretans’ Paul mentions would seem to be those who encouraged others to accept the pattern of life that had become the norm on the island: make sure that you look after yourself; don’t do more than you need to get by; cover up your mistakes and failings with a good story; don’t take anything too seriously. Their teaching may appear enticing but it will damage the lives of those who pay attention to it and disrupt relationships. On the other hand there seem to have been Jews who were suggesting that those who claim to believe in the God of Abraham should be different from those around them: they should abstain from certain foods and observe special days; men should be circumcised... In short, they should embrace Jewish laws and lifestyle. Such folk, says Paul, are tying people up in a web of human regulations rather than setting them free to serve God. “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him” (1:12).

The gospel, on the other hand, has power to transform because it exposes the truth about the human condition – our selfish hearts and our powerlessness to change. The gospel has power to transform because it declares that Christ died for our sin but has been raised to the supreme place of power as Lord over all. The gospel is the power of God for salvation. The power of God which raised Christ from the dead is at work wherever the message about Jesus is proclaimed. Lives are changed as the old pattern of living is crucified with Christ and as the power of Christ's resurrection is displayed in lives made new. Relationships are transformed through the power of forgiveness and servant-hearted love. Here is transforming truth; truth that leads to godliness – to a Christ-like life that anticipates the life of the age to come.

Why then is our declaration of the gospel so often without power? Why are many churches characterised by people whose lives seem little different from the society in which they live. Why are we content to live lives that scarcely stand out from those around us who know nothing of Christ? Why has godliness gone out of fashion? Have we forgotten the heart of the message entrusted to us – the message about the transforming power of God that has been poured out upon our world through Christ’s death and resurrection and the gift of the Spirit? Could others ever say of us, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him”?

Living God, we pray that your Spirit would touch us afresh with the transforming power of the crucified, risen and living Lord Jesus. Make us a transformed and transforming people; a people gripped by the truth that leads to godliness. We need it. Our world needs it.

Peter Misselbrook