Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
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Hi John.
I listened to your CD on Galatians, in particular the portion on the value of Titus to Paul, the Jews, and the Gentiles. He must have been a wonderful young man, and I found my mind wondering what he would have been like to have in gatherings... He must have been Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, and above reproach for Paul to value him as he did. What a testimony for Paul to be able to say, “Look at this guy – this is what I’m preaching!”
One thing that came to my mind had to do with Paul. Titus was needed by Paul because of who Titus was (a Gentile), but I also thought about Paul himself. One reason Paul was the right man for God’s purposes was that Paul was a Roman citizen. God needed a man that could go to the very top of this world (Caesar) and confess Christ. Peter, John, or any other Jew could not have “appealed to Caesar.” Paul was born in the “fullness of time”, to the right parents, with the right citizenship, for God’s purpose.
I did enjoy the message on Titus, except that it appears that he forsook Paul . . . that’s something to think about, too. It made me a little sad. I remember that Jimmy Swaggart used to preach the holy Ghost baptism, and I would tell my father that what he was preaching was the experience I had, and that he needed it. After Jimmy Swaggart fell, my father came in my office the next day and said, “What about your friend Jimmy Swaggart NOW?” That was a bad feeling. I hope Paul did not have a fellow Jew come to him and say, “What about your friend Titus NOW?”
Keeping our testimony above reproach – to the end – is important.
Gary