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Titus, continue to tell our people again that they should obey the people who rule over them. They need to be ready to do good whenever they are able. 2 They should not say disrespectful things about anyone. They should be peaceful. They should treat everyone gently and as more important than themselves. 3 We need to remember that there was a time when we ourselves were foolish and unwilling to obey God. Our own passions and our desire for pleasure took us in the wrong direction and we served them as if we were their slaves. We were constantly envying each other and doing other evil things. We caused people to hate us and we hated each other. 4 But when God showed us that he was acting generously to save us because he loves us, 5 he saved us by removing our sin from us as though he had washed it away as the Holy Spirit made us new and enabled us to start our lives again, living in a new way for God. He did not save us because we do good things, but he saved us because he is merciful. 6 God generously gave us his Holy Spirit when Jesus the Messiah saved us. 7 By this free gift, God has declared that everything is made right between him and us. He gave us the Holy Spirit so that we can share in everything that the Lord Jesus has to give us, especially everlasting life with him. 8 This is a statement that everyone can trust. I want you to continually emphasize these things so that those who have believed God may constantly devote themselves to doing those things that are good and that help others. These things are excellent and beneficial for everyone. 9 But many people will want to debate with you about senseless things, such as about lists of Jewish ancestors. They will want to argue with you and dispute with you about religious law. Stay away from all of that. Those kinds of things are useless and they do not help you in any way. 10 If someone insists on engaging in these divisive activities after you have warned him one or two times to stop doing it, then have nothing more to do with him, 11 because you know that someone like that has rejected the truth; he is sinning and condemns himself.12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at the town of Nicopolis, because I have decided to stay there for the winter. 13 Do everything you can to equip Zenas the law expert and Apollos for their journey, making sure that they have everything that they need. 14 In the same way, make sure that our people learn to occupy themselves with doing good things for people who need help. By doing this, they will be living in a useful way for God.
15 Titus, all those who are with me greet you! Please greet for us everyone there who loves us as fellow believers. May God continue to be kind to all of you.