3:1,2
Instructions such as these can be taken in an unhelpfully legalistic manner. Paul did not always obey the authorities if it involved compromising the gospel. However, we need to look at the heart of the matter. Our excuses for rebelling are usually fleshly, rather than spiritual. Our starting point should be that we obey the authorities, and do not have a rebellious spirit. Notice that Paul says “to be ready to do whatever is good”, and then goes on to command us to be gentle, peaceable and considerate. A key question to ask ourselves is am I serving God or myself? Am I seeking to benefit myself or others?
3:3
We have seen earlier that Paul did not consider the Cretans to be a particularly honourable lot. A godless society produces godless people, and people with the characteristics described in this verse. We were once like them, we were “foolish, disobedient and deceived, enslaved by all kinds of passions. We were saved not because of any intrinsic merit within us, but by the grace of God. This old way led to us living in “malice and envy, hating and being hated”. Jesus saved us in order to change us.
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