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"To Titus, a true son in our common faith..."

Text: Titus 1:4

SPIRITUAL SONSHIP

Spiritual sonship was a concept as real as a biological relationship to the apostle Paul. Openly he declares his relationship to Titus as his son.

“To Titus, a true son in our common faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
Titus 1:4

1. “To Titus, a true son in our common faith”

a) Titus was well and truly honoured by the apostle Paul.

b) He was declared “a true son”.

i) He was truly a son to the apostle Paul.

ii) He had proven himself a true son.

iii) He must have functioned as a son would have to Paul.

2. “In our common faith”

a) “Common” means “shared”.

b) It was a faith that all believers share alike.

c) The Lord Jesus Himself was the One who taught this concept (Mark 3:31-35).

i) Those who do God’s will are called “mother, brother, sister”.

ii) Jesus is not ashamed to call us “brethren” (Hebrews 2:11).

d) The New Testament writers regularly addressed their readers as “brethren” (Hebrews 3:1; Galatians 3:15; 1 John 2:7 etc).

i) The apostle Peter addressed his readers as “beloved” (1 Peter 2:11).

ii) So did the apostle John (1 John 4:7).

3. “Grace, mercy and peace”

a) These three words were commonly used in greetings/ salutations.

b) They were special words of blessing to the apostle Paul.

i) They were important theological terms.

ii) They were also words that had special practical relevance to him.

c) “From God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”

i) The conjunction “and” may be seen as a co-ordinate conjunction.

ii) Both the Father and the Lord Jesus may bestow these blessings in their own right.