Timeless Truths That Must Be Taught
Titus 2:1-15
False teachers are nothing new to Christianity. They have been around since the beginning ...and they are still a prevalent problem in the church. There is an ever growing list of people who use the "ministry" to deceive multitudes. They fill arenas and stadiums, they sell millions of books and they have worldwide television, radio and internet "ministries". Many of them have been exposed as frauds time and again but people continue to hang on their every word.
Anthony Thomas followed Benny Hinn and investigated some of his so called "miracles" for over a year. Upon completion of his documentary (Thomas said) "If I had seen miracles [from Hinn's ministry], I would have been happy to trumpet it...but in retrospect, I think they do more damage to Christianity than the most committed atheist." (Source:Finn, Robin. COVER STORY; Want Pathos, Pain and Courage? Get Real, New York Times, 2001-04-15)
With the damage that is done from false teachers you may ask "how do we respond". We must respond with the truth. We must combat the darkness with light. We must proclaim the TRUE Word of God. This was Paul's instruction to Titus as to how to deal with the Judaizers in Crete. He tells Titus in Chapter 2 verse 1 to "speak thou the things which become sound doctrine".
Then in verse 15 He says "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority."To understand the context of this passage, I would like to take a moment and review what we have seen in this Epistle thus far. Remember, Titus is a letter of instruction as to what should be done in the Church. Titus was instrumental in the organization of the church in Crete and Paul left him there to "set things in order".
Paul trusted him to ordain elders in each city. Titus is also instructed to confront the false teachers who had infiltrated the church. The Church at Crete dealt with the influence of the Judaizers. It was their belief that Salvation could be earned though works, rituals and ceremonies.
Let's look to the Word and see how Paul described the situation in Crete. - Titus 1:10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
After revealing the situation, Paul begins to describe the process for combating the efforts of the false teachers. He makes it clear that it was vital that the TRUTH was to be proclaimed. The answer for false teaching today is the same... we must preach the truth!
- Let's look to the Word for just a little while and examine "Truths That Must Be Taught" . First of all we will see that:
I. We Must Teach The Truth Concerning Christian Living v4-6
There are certain expectations for each of us as followers of Christ. Several of these expectations are outlined in verses 4-6.
A. There Are Expectations For The Older Men v2
Paul identifies certain characteristics that should mark the lives of the Christian man who is advanced in age. He states that he should be "sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience"
The older Christian man should be reverent toward God and respectful toward others. Also, He should be a man who is spiritually mature
-Likewise:
C. There Are Expectations For The Older Women - v3
The mature Christian lady is expected to refrain from gossip and slander. She is to be sober and honorable. She is to the younger women "good things". "Good things" are those things that please God. The mature Christian lady is an example of holiness in the church, at home and in the community.
- Verses 4 and 5 show us that:
D. There Are Expectations For The Younger Women v4-5
God expects the Christian woman to love her husband, love her children, she is also expected to live wisely, to be pure, to work in her home, and to submit to her husband. When the Christian woman abides by these principles, she will not bring shame on God's Word.
- Also we see that:
E. There Are Expectations For The Younger Men - v6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
The young Christian man is expected to be sober and to live wisely. Paul personally calls on Titus to be an example for these young men. He commands him to be "a pattern of good works". He is to have integrity concerning the doctrine that he teaches. Paul calls on him to have "sound speech" (teach the truth)
The goal of this kind of living is to please the Father. A bi-product of this kind of living is that it will silence the opponents of Christianity. True Christian living is in direct contrast to the lives and actions of false teachers. We must know what God expects of His children in order to identify those who are an those who are not "in the faith". Thankfully His Word shows the older men, younger men, older women and younger women what God expects for each of us and These Truths must be taught!
- As we move further we will see that:
II. We Must Teach The Truth Concerning Submitting To Authority - v9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
The context of these verses is referring to slavery. “Servants” in the Greek is doulos, which means “a slave”. Paul is calling on the slaves during this time to be obedient unto their masters. There were men, women and children in the Roman empire who were owned by their masters. They had few civil rights and were often treated as mere possessions of their owner. As bad as their situations were, these slaves were commanded by God's Word to submit and serve their masters. A slave who did this was a testimony to the grace of God and the power of the gospel.
I believe that if God would have a slave to live in such a manner, that He would also have us to submit to our employer. Many scriptures speak of the importance of submitting to human authority. When you do your job faithfully, without complaining, people will see Jesus in you!
When you go to work each day, you should labor as if you were laboring for the Lord. Your faithful obedience may help you lead others in the workplace to the Lord. If you have ever served in management you know that employees like this are few and far between. People today (even Christians) have an entitlement mindset. They are insubordinate, lazy and rude. But according to God's Word, we can bring honor and glory to our Father when we submit to those in authority! These truths have not changed and they still need to be taught today!
How we act in the workplace has a lot to say about our witness for Christ. This leads us to another truth that must me taught. Notice in verses 11-12 that:
III. We Must Teach The Truth Concerning Being A Witness Of Christ v11-12
We are not saved by works, rather we are saved "by the grace of God". When this occurs there will be a transformation... there will be a CHANGE in us!
v12a Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
We are expected to live "soberly, righteously and godly". Our lives should honor our Father and our actions should point people to the Savior. We are to be witnesses of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A witness is someone who by explanation and demonstration gives audible and visible evidence of what he has seen and heard without being deterred by the consequences of his action. (Source: S. Briscoe, Getting Into God, p. 76)
Being a witness is simply pointing people to the Savior. This requires being a vocal witness... as in telling people what He has done for you. But this also requires being a visible witness... this means that your life and actions point people to Him as well. To sum things up, you must walk the walk before people will be willing to listen to you talk the talk!
Paul wanted Titus to teach those in Crete the importance of being a witness of Christ. People in the church today need to be taught the importance of being witnesses as well.
- As we continue into verse 13 we will see that:
IV. We Must Teach The Truth Concerning The Return Of The Savior - v13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
Jesus is our blessed hope... we look for His appearance and we long for His return. Jesus Himself promised that He was coming back, and we are closer than ever before.
I Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: - v17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
What a precious promise for the believer! This promise comes not from Paul, but “by the word of the Lord” . If we truly believe that He is coming, then we should live in such a way as to be ready when He arrives. Many people claim to believe that He will return but they live as if they have all the time in the world to make things right. The reality is that "no man knows the hour" of His return. Saved and lost people alike need to be taught the truth of Christ's return.
- Finally we will see that:
V. We Must Teach The Truth Concerning The Sacrifice Of Jesus - v14
Jesus went to the cross and "gave himself for us" in order to "redeem us from all iniquity" and to "purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works"
This illustrates the twofold purpose of His sacrifice. To “redeem” is to release someone held captive, by the payment of a ransom. We were captive to sin, but Jesus' blood was shed to purchase us.
Paul said in - Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Because of Jesus' sacrifice we are clothed with His righteousness. One of the problems in the church at Crete was that the Judaizers were teaching that salvation required physical circumcision as well as adherence to Mosaic Law. But in all reality, there is no ritual, ceremony or work could produce salvation. But thankfully Jesus paid it all. Once we are saved there will be different works in our lives. Consider what Jesus said in - John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:
Jesus tells His disciples that He chose them. He chose them for a purpose- “To Bear fruit”. We have been called and chosen for the same purpose. We have been called and commissioned to "make disciples". Jesus says that bearing fruit is not a temporary success. The fruit of our labor will remain throughout eternity. Those in the church today need to be taught the truth that we cannot work to earn our salvation, but we do good works as a result of our salvation.
Yes, there are several truths that must be taught in the church today.
a) We Must Teach The Truth Concerning Christian Living
b) We Must Teach The Truth Concerning Submitting To Authority
c) We Must Teach The Truth Concerning Being A Witness Of Christ
d) We Must Teach The Truth Concerning The Return Of The Savior
e) We Must Teach The Truth Concerning The Sacrifice Of Jesus
We have seen what needs to be taught, but before we close I would like to look at how these things should be taught. Look with me to verse 15 - (Paul says) "these things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee"
The man of God can speak with “all authority,” because of His authority "the great God & Savior Jesus Christ". Speaking the truth is not always popular but it is necessary. Paul encourages Titus not let anyone discourage him, by questioning his authority. Essentially Paul is saying, preach the gospel in all Truth, and they will have to respect you. According to what we read here in Chapter 2, Titus would have to live what he preached to gain the respect of the hearers.
There is no shortage of misinformation about Christianity today. There are many who spread lies and heresy. May we ever lean on the holy, inspired, inerrant, infallible Word Of God. Let us study it, learn it and teach it... for there are "Truths That Must Be Taught".
