Devote Themselves To Good Works

“And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”

Paul says a lot about good works in Titus, but he never says that good works are necessary to be saved. Rather, good works are always the expression of someone who is saved. Someone who does not have good works is not saved. Good works are grounded in the grace of God. In Titus 2:14, Paul says (speaking of Jesus), “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” So the fruit or purpose for being saved is that we might be zealous for good works. To be zealous means to be eager and earnest.

A Christian is someone eager to do good works. Good works are works that are good. Seems obvious but it has deep meaning. In the context of the biblical meaning, good works are those that please God. It is possible to do good works (an unbelieving husband loves his wife and children and does those things that benefit them) and not please God.

Pleasing God can only take place when we are in a right relationship with God. So Jesus has redeemed us from all lawlessness and has purified us for himself in order to do good works. Doing good works then springs from our redemption and purification. Good works do not just happen. We must learn what pleases God and we must be obedient to that. Our verse says “and let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help in cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” Devoting yourself to good works can only happen if you know what those works are. Simply put, it means that everything that pleases God could be worked out as a good work.

Ultimately everything we do is to be for God’s glory and nothing else. The word “learn” is the word that implies being a disciple. Disciples do what pleases the master or teacher, and disciples emulate their master or teacher. They follow their teachers. They learn from them. They see what they do and then they do it. The Christians on the island of Crete would learn from Titus who learned from Paul. Our actions (let alone our words) speak volumes. Our behavior is always on display. Both hypocrites and non-hypocrites are aware of this. Hypocrites get tired of playing the game. They opt-out or are found out. Paul is addressing believers in his letter to Titus.

Now in Titus chapter three, he begins the chapter with some practical advice. Christians are to be submissive to rulers and those in authority (also Rom. 13). They are to be obedient. This submission and obedience will lead to readiness for good works. They are not to speak evil of others. They are to avoid quarreling (go out of their way to avoid it). They are to be gentle and always show courtesy to everyone else. Good manners are so lacking in our time. Children are bad-mannered. Adults have no conception of courtesy. This has come into the church. Culture always comes in (it is natural, but where it is unbiblical, it must be rejected). All of the above is what Paul stipulates in Titus 3:1, 2. These are positive and good things.

The negative things are found in verse three. These are the characteristics of an unbeliever. We are not to do these things or be like those who do them. We used to be like that, but because God’s grace has come into our lives, we are no longer like that (vv. 4-7). God did not save us because we have done works of righteousness (vs. 4). He saved us according to his own mercy (vs. 4). This has come to us in the person of our Lord Jesus (vs. 6), and we are now justified by grace and heirs of eternal life (vs. 7).

It is in light of these truths that Paul insists that the Cretans remain firmly fixed on them, and then he says in verse 8 that “those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.”

Here is the same concept as verse 14. What is Paul saying when he speaks of “these things?” He is referring to sound doctrine. The letter to Titus is about sound doctrine, and the fruit of sound doctrine is always good works. Elders in the church are to give instruction in sound doctrine (Titus 1:9), and they must be able to refute those who contradict it. Paul’s opponents were Judaizers (the Circumcision party- 1:10). They emphasized Jewish myths (1:14). They were insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers (1:10). In Titus, these individuals are viewed by Paul as apostates (see 1:15, 16). They profess that they know God, but their works (fruits) say the opposite (1:16). Paul then says that they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work. Why are they unfit for any good work? It is because their doctrine is wrong. They do not have saving faith. They do not believe the truth. They were to be rebuked in the hope that they would repent and be sound in the faith (1:13). Their attempts at teaching were to be silenced (1:11) because they were upsetting families. The elder, by contrast, was to hold firmly to the trustworthy word (1:9). In chapter two, Titus was to teach what accords with sound doctrine (2:1). This is worked out in Titus 2:2-6. Titus was to show himself in all respects a model of good works (2:7). His teaching was to be of such a nature that others would adorn the doctrine of God” (2:10).

In our verse, Paul tells us who the recipients of our good works are to be. Our good works are “to help cases of urgent need.” Those who are truly in need are to be the recipients. This implies that we are to know those who need special care and attention. Not only the recipients but also the kind of good work is important. Paul says, “and not be unfruitful.” In other words, specific good works for particular cases. We must study the situation. What suits one situation might not suit another. This tells us that good works have a variety. The plural (works) does not just imply more than one but, here in the context, implies also a variety of kind. Being unfruitful also applies to the believer. A failure to do good works because we are saved would be a bad testimony of our profession. A failure to do the right kind of good works would lead to being unfruitful (not having the necessary value for the intended situation). A failure to know these specific cases would imply a lack of interest, and thus we would be unfruitful (not receive or give any benefit).

We cannot be haphazard about these things because Paul says we are to devote ourselves to good works. Devotion involves commitment and effort. It requires concern and involvement.

The gospel by its very nature produces godliness in the life of the believer. There is an intimate connection between belief and behavior. The same applies to doctrine and works. They are married to each other. The fruit of one’s life is dependent on the intake of truth. What we do provides evidence that we know God. Some folk come to church and don’t stay and mingle. That says two things immediately. First, you don’t really care about others, and second, you might just be a professor. You pay lip-service but show no service to the saints. These are serious things. We do well to heed them. That’s what Paul wants Titus to do. The life of the church manifests itself to others. Christ in you must have some effect upon the body of Christ; otherwise, perhaps Christ is not in you.

Our behavior to every other person is governed by our doctrine. How do others see your faith? When your name is mentioned by others, do they see you as devoted to the body of Jesus? So be devoted!