How does Titus 1:1 connect with other scriptures about God's promises? Our Foundation: Titus 1:1–2 “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” A Mission Shaped by Promise • Paul’s service and apostleship exist “to further the faith” of God’s chosen. • That faith rests on “the knowledge of the truth” which produces real godliness. • All of it is driven by “the hope of eternal life”—a promise God made long before creation, guaranteed by His absolute truthfulness. Hope of Eternal Life Repeated Throughout Scripture • 1 John 2:25 — “And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.” • John 3:16 — Eternal life comes through believing in the Son. • 1 Peter 1:3–5 — A “living hope” and an imperishable inheritance are reserved in heaven for believers. • Romans 6:23 — “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God Who Cannot Lie: The Reliability of His Promises • Hebrews 6:17–18 — God confirmed His promise with an oath “so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.” • Numbers 23:19 — “God is not a man, that He should lie.” • 2 Corinthians 1:20 — “For all the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” • Psalm 89:34 — God will not violate His covenant or alter the word that has gone forth from His lips. Promises Before Time Began • 2 Timothy 1:9 — Grace was “granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.” • Ephesians 1:4 — We were chosen in Christ “before the foundation of the world.” • Revelation 13:8 — The Lamb was slain “from the foundation of the world,” pointing to a plan set in eternity. Seeds of the Promise in the Old Testament • Genesis 3:15 — The first gospel promise: a descendant would crush the serpent’s head. • Genesis 12:3 — All nations blessed through Abraham’s offspring. • Isaiah 53 — The suffering Servant bears sin, opening the way to life. • Psalm 16:10 — Prophecy of resurrection, ensuring eternal life for Messiah and His people. Fulfillment in Christ • Luke 24:44 — Jesus affirms that all Scripture points to Him. • Galatians 3:13–14, 29 — Christ redeems us from the curse, so the blessing promised to Abraham comes to Gentiles. • Acts 13:32–33 — The apostles preach “the promise made to the fathers” now fulfilled in Jesus. Living in the Promise Today • Ephesians 1:13–14 — Believers are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,” the pledge of our inheritance. • 2 Peter 1:4 — God has given “His precious and magnificent promises” so we share in the divine nature. • Hebrews 10:23 — “Let us hold resolutely to the hope we confess, for He who promised is faithful.” • Colossians 1:27 — Christ in us is “the hope of glory.” Key Takeaways • Titus 1:1 roots faith, truth, and godliness in a rock-solid promise of eternal life. • That promise spans eternity past to eternity future—planned before time, fulfilled in Christ, applied to believers by the Spirit. • Scripture consistently highlights God’s unchanging character: He cannot lie, so every promise stands secure. • Old Testament covenants anticipated the coming of Christ; New Testament writers celebrate their fulfillment and invite us to live in confident hope. • Just as Paul’s ministry flowed from the promise, our daily walk, service, and perseverance spring from the same guaranteed hope of eternal life. |
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