Do You Err Towards Legalism or Licentiousness?

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Are you a “rule keeper” or more of a “free spirit”?

The primary purpose of the Book of Titus was to guide Titus, a young leader left by Paul in Crete, to organize and strengthen the church. “While Titus was not as close to Paul as Timothy, Titus too was a trusted associate. When Paul went to discuss his gospel with the leaders of the Jerusalem church, he took Titus with him (Gal 2:1–3).”^[1]

Historically, Titus was written around AD 63–65 during Paul’s later missionary efforts. Crete was known for its moral laxity and challenging cultural dynamics, making Paul’s instructions crucial for establishing a strong, countercultural Christian witness. Titus 1:10-16 reveals that the church in Crete was plagued by licentiousness and legalism.

“Licentiousness is reckless, godless, rule-free living. Legalism is dutiful, strict, dry living. The first takes advantage of the grace of God, the latter seeks to earn it.”^[2] As J.D. Greear writes, “Though very different in their expressions, Paul shows that licentiousness and legalism grow from the same root: hope in the flesh for personal fulfillment. The licentious person feeds on the lusts of the flesh; the legalist feeds on pride in his flesh. Both paths result in spiritual fatigue, strife, sin, and eventually, hatred of God.”^[3]

The solution for both faulty perspectives was and remains God’s grace. After listing the qualifications for an elder in Chapter 1 and the duties of the older and young in Chapter 2, Paul says these words in Titus 2:11-14:

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.