The Role of the Elder (Part 1)

Last time we were together in Titus we considered Paul’s “glorious salutation of gospel grace” (1:1-4). In those verses we saw that the Apostle Paul took care to bolster the courage and strength of this young pastor by reminding him that the very authority of heaven was coming to his aid. Now, as Paul begins the body of the letter in 1:5, we see that his first priority and top order of business is for Titus to “put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town”. By this simple and straightforward charge we learn many foundational truths about the way the Lord Jesus Christ intends for his beloved Church to be nourished, defended, and led. In particular, we will see that “Presbyterianism” is not merely a matter of man’s preference or an invention of man’s mind, but rather, it is the very form of church government which the Lord Jesus Christ has set forth in his Word for the progress, protection, and everlasting joy of his people.