Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 21

Paul Reminds Titus of who we were before the Grace of God

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. KJV

The very next thing the Apostle Paul reminds Brother Titus and we true believers of today and of every era and generation is what our lives were constantly and continually before we were saved by the grace of God with these words, "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." (Titus 3:3) (KJV). When Paul writes here, 'For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish', he means that prior to our conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:8) by God the Holy Spirit, we were in those days and times with no connection to God the Father and completely without understanding of His Holiness and Purity and how filthily engulfed and engrossed in and by our sin nature we were, as Paul declared to the Ephesian Church with these words, "Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else." (Ephesians 2:3) (Contemporary English Version). Our ignorance of God the Father was at the forefront and we were oblivious to His pending Judgement against sin and sinners. The English word 'sometimes' used by Paul here is translated by the Greek word pote meaning in the old time or in times past. The English word 'foolish' used here by Paul is translated by the Greek word anoētos meaning (as a negative particle); unintelligent; by implication sensual: unwise.

Our foolishness toward God before we received the grace of God was just as that of the unrepentant thief on one of the crosses next to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when confronted by the other thief on one of the crosses next to Christ as recorded for us by Dr. Luke, "One of the criminals hanging there also insulted Jesus by saying, 'Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!' But the other criminal told the first one off, 'Don't you fear God? Aren't you getting the same punishment as this man? We got what was coming to us, but He didn't do anything wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Remember me when You come into power!' Jesus replied, 'I promise that today you will be with Me in paradise.'" (Luke 23:39-43) (Contemporary English Version). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say about being foolish in times past, "All of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, were, before our conversion to Christ, foolish, disobedient, and deceived. There is no doubt that the Apostle felt he could include himself in the above list, previously to his conversion. The manner in which he persecuted the Christians, to whose charge he could not lay one moral evil, is a sufficient proof that, though he walked according to the letter of the law, as to its ordinances and ceremonies, blameless, yet his heart was in a state of great estrangement from God, from justice, holiness, mercy, and compassion." The English word 'disobedient' is translated by the Greek word apeithēs meaning (as a negative particle); unpersuadable, that is, contumacious (wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient). The English word 'deceived' is translated by the Greek word planaō meaning to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way.

In other words, to be disobedient and deceived means to be in that perpetual state of being controlled by our fallen nature that every human being is born with by virtue of Adam's sin as it is written, "Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die. Sin was in the world before the Law came. But no record of sin was kept, because there was no Law." (Romans 5:12-13) (Contemporary English Version). This is the condition of all who are without Jesus Christ and His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). When Paul writes, 'serving divers lust and pleasures', he means being in slaved by and in bondage to the desires of the flesh, specifically sexual lust and gratification of that carnal pleasure outside the bonds of marriage, as it is written, "Have respect for marriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who is immoral or unfaithful in marriage." (Hebrews 13:4) (Contemporary English Version). The English word 'divers' is translated by the Greek word poikilos meaning motley (consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds), that is, various in character: - divers, manifold or many. The English word 'lusts' is translated by the Greek word epithumia meaning a longing (especially for what is forbidden). The English word 'pleasures' is translated by the Greek word hēdonē meaning (to please); sensual delight. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say about the serving of divers lust and pleasures, "Being in a state of continual thraldom (the state of being under the control of something or someone); not served or gratified by our lusts and pleasures, but living, as their slaves, a life of misery and wretchedness."

Lastly, when Paul writes, 'living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another', he means to despise other human beings even though they have done nothing personally to the person or persons and being jealous of what others have (this was the sin of Cain which caused him to murder his own brother) (Genesis 4:8) and wanting to hurt other human beings for no reason is the state or condition of sinful humanity without the grace of God (just look at the national and local news every night). The English word 'malice' is translated by the Greek word kakia meaning badness, that is, (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble. The English word 'envy' is translated by the Greek word phthonos meaning ill will (as detraction), that is, jealousy (spite): - envy. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another, "They had not only malice and envy in their hearts against their fellow creatures, but practised it in their lives; yea, their lives were a continued series of malice and envy; particularly this was true of the Apostle, who haled men and women out of their houses, and committed them to prison; breathed out slaughter and threatenings against the saints; was exceedingly mad against them, persecuted them to strange cities, and compelled them to blaspheme, and gave his vote for punishing them with death. This is abominable in the sight of God, as considered in themselves, and on account of their nature and practices; and to be abhorred by all good men; and who, by their continual feuds, quarrels, and animosities among themselves, showed an hatred, an abhorrence of one another."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…