What and How

In Paul’s Epistle to Titus, in the very first verse of the epistle, we find the concept of furthering the Faith. What does it mean to further the Faith? To further something means to advance it—to move it forward. Let’s take a close look at this idea in context.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the Faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the Truth that leads to godliness… (Titus 1:1)

Here we have Paul’s very first words of exhortation to a shepherd of God’s flock. Titus was a young pastor, and Paul opened his communique to Titus by stating the purpose of the epistle: to further the Faith. If we’re going to understand this verse, we need to ask ourselves two questions:

1. What is the Faith?

2. How do we advance it?

The answer to the first question is contained in the verse itself: The Faith is knowledge, something we need to know. It is a set of doctrines, the Fundamentals (Hebrews 6:1-2).

The Faith is also a Truth, but not just any truth. It is one of the Seven Great Truths: One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Baptism, and One God. Among these is the One Faith (Ephesians 4:3-6).

Furthermore, the One Faith is an effective Truth. In other words, it’s a Truth that transforms us. As Paul said, it leads people like you and me to godliness. The Faith, the Doctrine of the Apostles, effectively changes us into more godly people.

Boldness

In answer to the second question, we further the Faith by declaring it boldly. This is challenging, but simple. Paul summed it up by saying:

I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

Paul was no coward. He announced all aspects of God’s Word: Creation, the Fall, the Flood, the patriarchs, the Law, Israel’s history, the wisdom of God, prophecy, the Gospel of the Kingdom, the teachings of Christ, practical advice on relationships, love, and the Last Times. Paul announced all of these facets of the whole counsel of God. He didn’t hold back because he had boldness. That’s the way he started his ministry also. Just look at the way he ministered in Damascus:

Saul was increasing in strength even more, and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that ‘this one is the Christ’ (Acts 9:22; LEB).

Boldness is not natural for humans. It’s something we have to ask God for. The first church in history, the church at Jerusalem, a congregation led by the Twelve Apostles, prayed specifically for boldness. In Acts 4:29 they cried out: ‘… enable your servants to speak your Word with great boldness.’

So that’s the way to get boldness—you ask God for it. With boldness from God, sound doctrine advances. The impact of the Faith increases proportionally to the degree that we speak God’s Word with boldness. The Faith becomes more known because of our authoritative proclamation.

Notice how Jesus proclaimed God’s Word:

… the crowds were amazed at his [Jesus’] teaching because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the Law (Matthew 7:28-29).

And how did Stephen do it? Again, with boldness. As was the case of Jesus, nobody could resist the wisdom with which Stephen spoke.

… some… disputed with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking (Acts 6:9-10; LEB).

A Strategy to Further the Faith

So, here’s the strategy: We need to strengthen our knowledge of the Faith. Study the Bible daily and understand the framework of the Fundamentals and the Faith. There are basic Truths you must transmit. There are seven Realities you must master. Put together strong Biblical arguments for each of these. Interact with other people who have the Fundamentals of the Faith because iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).

Then pray for boldness, so that we might speak the way we should speak. We spoke about the what and the how of furthering the Faith, but what about the who? We are the who--the Church!

… that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way that I ought to proclaim it (Colossians 4:3-4; NASB).

Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God (1 Peter 4:11; NASB).