Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Titus chapter 2 as we continue our study through the Word of God. If you remember from our last study, Titus was sent to the island of Crete by Paul to raise up leaders in the church, to get order back in the church. Thus, this letter sent to Titus was to not only encourage him in the work but to lay down the qualifications for leaders, what were the qualities of a sound church, he was exhorting the church and also exposing the error in the church.
As we are going to see, chapter 2 is focused on the QUALITIES OF A SOUND CHURCH, which are very important for us today, just as they were for them back then. Before we begin reading in Titus chapter 2 this evening, let’s pick up the flow of Paul’s thoughts by looking back to Titus chapter 1, starting in verse 10 where we are told, “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 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. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” Titus 1:10-16.
With that as our background, error in the church, let’s begin reading in Titus chapter 2; starting in verse 1 and see the contrast as Paul explains the qualities of a sound church, what they are all about.
VERSE 1
Notice how Paul is setting Titus apart from the false teachers, those who were legalistic, those who were teaching fables – but not Titus, he spoke forth sound doctrine or healthy doctrine that will build people up, make them strong, not weaken them!
Please understand that Paul is not saying that you need to just have the right information, yes that is important, but it doesn’t end there. You need to have the right information and then apply it to your life; you need to live what you say you believe! The Amplified Bible puts this verse like this, “BUT [as for] you, teach what is fitting and becoming to sound (wholesome) doctrine [the character and right living that identify true Christians].” The New Living Translation puts this verse like this, “But as for you, promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching.”
Folks, it is hypocrisy to say we believe what the Bible says and then live contrary to what it is saying! The Bible never separates doctrine from duty, the truths of God from the behavior we are to manifest. For example, the first 11 chapters of Romans deal with sound doctrine, healthy doctrine, which is important. But then in Romans 12:1-2 we are told, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” You see, here are the truths of God, now walk accordingly!
We see this again in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where the first 3 chapters deal with sound doctrine and then the last 3 deal with walking according to that sound doctrine. Paul opens up chapter 4 by saying, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3. In other words, walk according to the high calling by which you have been called, apply the truths of God to your life, live what you believe!
Now many don’t want to hear how they are suppose to live, they don’t want to change the way they are living, but that is a heart issue that they need to deal with. You see, as the Word of God is taught, if we allow it, it will afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted, and depending where you are at when you hear God’s Word, it will affect your life! God’s Word is not only what we need to hear, but we need to apply it to our lives! You see, God is not interested in our theories of theology, but are we living the Word of God, is the Word of God manifested in our lives, the nature of Jesus!
Remember the Great Commission that was given to us by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20, “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Paul is calling for us to fulfill the command of Jesus to teach sound doctrine so that they may live lives that are pleasing to God and be an example to others. Yes, they need to come to Christ, but then they also must learn how to live!
Paul is going to show us what a healthy church is all about as he addresses: Older Men (v. 2), Older Women (vv. 3-4a), Young Women (vv. 4b-5), Young Men (vv. 6-8), and Bondslaves/Employees (vv. 9-10). So let’s see what the qualities of a healthy church are all about!
VERSE 2
Paul starts out with older men and is telling Titus to teach them to be sober or avoid extravagance and overindulgence. He is to teach them to be reverent or honorable, not frivolous, trivial or superficial. He is to teach them to be temperate or should have self-control, able to control their physical passions and that comes from walking with God for many years, staying close to Him. He is to teach them to be sound in the faith, a trust in God no matter what they are going through. He is to teach them to be sound in love that AGAPE love towards God’s people, towards the unsaved and to have a passion, a love for God. He is to teach them to be patient or to be able to endure hardships, disappointments, even failures – it is the idea of being satisfied in the Lord no matter how our personal plans and desires come up short. The idea here is that older men are to manifest the characteristics of maturity in Christ. You see, older men are not to just sit around and wait to be taken home, but are actively involved in the ministry, enduring the changes of life!
VERSES 3-4a
Paul now moves to the older women and what they should manifest in their lives. Titus is to teach them to be reverent in behavior, or to be a godly example of holiness. A good example of an older woman manifesting this is seen in the life of Anna. In Luke 2:36-38 we are told, “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
They are not to be slanderers, and that Greek word is DIABOLOS, a word used for Satan – in other words, slander and gossip are the Devil’s work! He is to teach them not to linger long to wine, don’t get drunk, use your time for God not for the Devil, be controlled by God and not by the drink. They are to be teachers of good things or to be a model of godliness that the younger women can learn from. And they are to admonish the young women. So older women are to behave reverently and be an example to the younger women.
VERSES 4b-5
Now Paul moves to the young women and what they should manifest in their lives, and who to look to as examples for them to follow. The older women were to teach the younger women the things of God, how to live. Ladies, I can’t exhort you enough the importance of attending the Women’s Bible Study, it is important as Paul shows us here, teaching the younger women the things of God! You learn the wisdom of godly women, mature women to help you grow in the Lord. These younger women were to love their husbands and children. Why do you need to teach them to love their family? Because in most cultures, you care for others because you get something in return and when you don’t get something in return for your work, you leave or you stop working. Self gets in the way and we are to die to self, and they were to serve their husbands, love them and their children unconditionally, self-sacrifice, not what I can get from the relationship, but what I can give! They are to be discrete; they should have common sense, good judgment. They are to be chaste or pure, which speaks of moral purity. They are to be homemakers, and how important that is today when we see a majority of mom’s that are working outside the home. They are to be obedient to their husbands or as Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:22-24, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”
Why is this so important? Because by neglecting this you are dishonoring God by being disobedient to His Word! I like the way that William Kelly translates this phrase here in Titus, “so that God’s Word may suffer no scandal.” You see, people will judge our faith, our God by how we live, not by what we are saying, because words can be empty! It is as the nineteenth century German philosopher Heinrich Heine said, “Show me your redeemed life and I might be inclined to believe in your Redeemer.” That is a powerful statement and I do believe it is true for many today, they don’t want to hear what you have to say, but they will watch how you live!
VERSES 6-8
Paul links his previous thought with what he is now saying by using the word “likewise.” You see, the essential message of godly living is the same, what may change is the situations we are going through. Here Paul is speaking of the young men, which Titus was considered to be. Paul starts out by saying the young men need to be taught and then live a sober-minded life, or to have a sound mind, good judgment. And Paul tells Titus he is to be a “pattern” or example to these young men. It is the Greek word TUPOS, (too’pos) which literally speaks of a mark or impression left by an instrument such as a pen, or sword, or hammer. His life was to leave an impression upon other people and so should ours!
He speaks of good works, not just superficial actions but something that is genuine. He was to be an example in doctrine showing integrity, or purity in doctrine. He was to live a life of moral purity that corresponds to the pure doctrine that he taught. He was to show reverence to God and to others. Incorruptibility is not in many of the translations, but it does make sense to manifest this quality in your life. In sound speech or speech that is beyond reproach, healthy words, edifying words we are to speak.
Why do older men, older women, young women and young men need to manifest these characteristics? “ . . . that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” Titus 2:8b. It is as Peter said in I Peter 2:11-12, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” Our lives are to be real, open, on display for people to see and thus, they must manifest godly characteristics, godly behavior, the nature of Jesus!
VERSES 9-10
Paul now is instructing Titus on how to teach bondslaves or in our day, employees, how to work, what needs to be manifested in their lives. Paul gives five characteristics that should be manifested in believers who work for another person. First, they are to be obedient to their own masters or boss, in other words, we are to be under their authority. We are to be well-pleasing or we are to do our best in our work because we serve the Lord. We are not to answer back or be argumentative to our boss, don’t mouth-off to him. The fourth characteristic is that we are not to pilfer or we are not to steal or embezzle anything! And the fifth characteristic is that we show good fidelity or that we are faithful in all that we do, we are dependable, we don’t have to have someone keep on us to get the work done!
Why is good work ethics important? Paul tells us, “ . . . that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” Titus 2:10b. A believer’s behavior is to be in accord or befitting that of sound doctrine so that as people see us, watch our behavior, they might be drawn to Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” The Amplified Bible puts it like this, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”
We are to be examples to others of what God has done in our lives, to draw them to Christ – what are they seeing in you? We are to be examples to the brethren of what God has done in our lives, exhorting them in the faith – what are they seeing in you? You see, if our behavior is ungodly we give the enemies of God a chance to put God down, to blasphemy Him and we weaken the faith of fellow believers. But, if our behavior is godly, according to God’s Word, then the enemies of God can try to discredit us, but it won’t stick and we will encourage the brethren to forge on, to live godly lives, to grow in the faith.
I like what Confucius said, “When you see a good man, think of emulating him; when you see a bad man, examine your own heart.” I think that is good advice!
Now, please understand that the transformed life spoken of here in Titus 2:1-10 can not be obtained by our own efforts but by the power of God’s Spirit working in us, it is the gracious work of God that we will see in Titus 2:11-14.
VERSE 11
Notice that it doesn’t say, “The works of man that brings salvation.” It also doesn’t say, “The self-justification of man that brings salvation.” Nor does it say, “The good deeds of man that brings salvation.” It says very clearly, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” Or as The Amplified Bible puts it, “For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.”
Paul put it this way in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Paul, in II Timothy 1:8-10 tells us, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” And in John 1:12-13 we are told, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
You see, we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by the Law through works. And this free gift of God is extended to all, but not all will receive it. God has brought salvation to us in the person of Jesus Christ, why? Jesus tells us in John 3:16-21, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” The heart of God is that none should perish but God will not force anyone to receive His free gift of life, but it is there if you want to receive it by faith! Everyone has an opportunity to receive it!
VERSE 12
What does grace teach us? The Gospel of grace teaches Christians how to live – to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts! This is not only honoring to God but it draws people to Jesus when they see our changed lives. You see, for many people, they will not hear what we have to say about Jesus until they see how our lives were changed by Him, the transforming power of God that produces holiness, love, peace, the fruit of the Spirit in our lives! If there is no change then our words are empty!
Bud Robinson was a well-known Holiness preacher and his friends took him to New York City. His friends showed Bud the city life, what it was all about, all it had to offer. That night as he prayed he said, “Lord, I thank you for letting me see all the sights of New York. And I thank you most of all that I didn’t see a thing I wanted!” It is as John said, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” I John 2:15-17. You see, the things of this world WILL pass away but as we obey the Lord, the blessings we receive are eternal!
In John chapter 6, as Jesus finished teaching on some difficult things, we are told, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” John 6:66. Interesting Bible reference there. It was just too tough for them, they didn’t agree with His teachings and they went back into the world. After that we are told, “Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:67-69. May we not be drawn into the world with all its lusts because they are empty, they are passing away, they will never satisfy, only Jesus has the words of eternal life, abundant life that is found in Him!
VERSE 13
Looking back on the saving grace that is given to us because of the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary, we look forward to His appearing again for us, His return in the Rapture when He comes for His Bride, the Church and in His second coming when He comes with us to establish His kingdom on this earth and rule and reign for 1,000 years! Paul put it this way in Romans 8:22-23, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”
In a positional sense, we are perfect, but in a practical sense, we know in these bodies of flesh we fall far short of that. But, one day, when the Lord returns, we will be glorified as John tells us in I John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” When we are received up into glory, all traces of sin will be gone permanently! Praise the Lord for that!
There are those who try to deny the deity of Jesus or say that He is not “Almighty God” but “mighty God” or a lesser God, which goes contrary to what the Scriptures teach. Jesus is God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, one God manifested in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Paul tells us here, “ . . . our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13b. There is one Greek article that combines “God” and “Savior” which clearly shows us that they are one and the same! And the Greek word for “great” is MEGAS and it means exceedingly great! The Amplified Bible puts this verse like this, “ . . . the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”
Now let me just give you a few verses to show you that Jesus is Yahweh, that He is God. In Isaiah 44:6 we are told, “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.’” Notice, God the Father or Yahweh the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Yahweh of hosts! In Matthew 1:23 we are told, “‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Notice, “God with us” not “a god.” I think it is clear that with just the few verses we have looked at, Jesus is God. Now here is the thing, if you know that Jesus is coming soon, it will affect everything you do!
VERSE 14
Notice what the focus is here, not on what we have done for ourselves, but what He has done for us! Jesus “gave” Himself for us, He was not forced to do it but freely laid down His life for us. He was the substitute for our sins, freely placing Himself on the cross of Calvary!
By doing that He redeemed us which means “to be bought out of slavery by the paying of a ransom.” We were slaves to sin but Jesus purchased us out of that condition by giving His life so that we then would serve Him. It is as Peter said, in I Peter 3:18, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” We are a peculiar people or a special people as the world looks at us, we are different because Christ is in us and He lives through us as the Holy Spirit purges the garbage from our lives.
We are redeemed so that we could be zealous for good works not lethargic in the recliner! It is God’s Word living in us and manifested through us in good works, not for salvation but evidence for our salvation!
VERSE 15
Paul is telling Titus, “Son, here are the qualities of a sound church and the power to live those qualities. Now continue to speak these truths. Continue to exhort the people to live godly lives. Rebuke those who are living contrary. And you have not only my authority to do these things, but you have the authority of God as you speak forth the Words of God, His truth. People may come against it, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is truth!” Titus was to be an example to others on how to live which would also strengthen the words he was saying to them as he lived out his faith!
As I close this evening, listen to these words from William Barclay. He said:
The eyes of the sinner must be opened to his sin. The mind of the misguided must be led to realize its mistake. The heart of the heedless must be stabbed broad awake. The Christian message is no opiate to send men to sleep; it is no comfortable assurance that everything will be all right. It is rather the blinding light which shows men themselves as they are and God as He is.”
- William Barclay, The Letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon, p. 296
Folks, we are to proclaim the truths of God with authority and there must be obedience to it in the church or the witness of the church will go out. God’s Word is living and powerful and able to transform lives, I think we all know that. The problem is we forget that the primary purpose is for our own lives, not others! May we allow God to work in us so that He can work through us!