LOOK FOR SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCE

MAY 19, 2013

1.     AGING GRACEFULLY (TITUS 2:1-5)

1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.     NASB 

Verse 1:

·         The church must teach sound doctrine or it is not a church.

·         In Paul's day, there were teachers who taught things other than the word of God as declared in the scriptures.

·         They invented fables, they twisted the word so as to permit fleshly practices they desired to continue to indulge in.

·         And all the time they called what they taught "doctrine".

·         Every teacher must ever be on guard to prove all things, and to be careful not to teach personal opinions and hearsay.

·         The life and teaching of Titus must contrast sharply with that of the enemies of the faith who were doing such damage in Crete.

·         Not only must these false teachers be reproved sharply, but their evil must be neutralized by good.

·         The qualities mentioned in the verses which follow are specifically Christian virtues for they presuppose.....

o   the Grace of God working in the heart,

o   the Christian being motivated by the example of Christ,

o   the works being measured by God's holy law, and

o   that God's glory is the primary goal of the people in question. 

The supreme test of all Christian teaching and Christian work depends on whether they produce healthy characters, which are not contaminated by the noisome and germ-laden atmosphere around. Our teaching must be healthy and also health-creating.

“Through the Bible Day by Day” by F. B. Meyer 

Verse 2:

·         Temperate: not given to frivolity, but prone to act in a measured and reasonable mature manner at all times.

·         Dignified: serious, respectable, composed in habit, speech and behavior.

·         Sensible: men of mature judgment and self-constraint, governs well the fleshly passions.

·         Sound in faith: steadfastly and constantly adhering to the truth of the gospel, their faith must neither be lukewarm or mixed with any error.

·         We should love God for himself, and all the brethren for Christ’s sake.

·         In perseverance: waiting upon the lord to do his will in our lives and in those around us.

·         Their endurance must not be replaced by either faint-heartedness or obstinacy.

o   In their attitude toward God let the aged men rely wholly on God and His revealed truth.

o   In their attitude toward the neighbor let there be:

1   NO BACKBITING OR SOWERS OF DISCORD OR SPEAKING ILL OF PEOPLE. Not slanderers. NO BACKBITING OR SOWERS OF DISCORD OR SPEAKING ILL OF PEOPLE. Not slanderers. m demonstrate soundness in their love.

2   In their attitude toward bitter trials let them reveal soundness in their endurance or steadfastness.

Verse 3:

·         Here Paul says everything that he said to the men also applies to the women, and then adds three more things.

·         No backbiting or sowers of discord or speaking ill of people. Not slanderers.

·         Not addicted to wine. (This would lead to first admonition.)

·         They should be teachers of that which is excellent to be self-controlled and pure to be self-controlled and pure.

Verse 4:

·         No one, not even Titus, is better to train a young woman than an experienced, older woman.

·         It is Titus' task as a Pastor to teach the older women to teach the younger women to be self-controlled and pure.

·         What they have learned in their own Christian lives, they should teach to the younger women.

Verse 5:

·         Wrong conduct on the part of the Christian women would easily lead to slanderous remarks with respect to the Gospel.

·         In general, the world is judging Christianity by its effect upon the everyday life of the Christian. 

2.     DEMONSTRATING INTREGRITY (TITUS 2:6-8)

6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.     NASB 

Verse 6:

·         Urge young men to exercise self-control in every respect, and to place themselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

·         They must guard themselves against being led astray either by their own sinful nature or by the opinions and customs which in the world around them.

Verse 7:

·         Young men must see what it looks like live dignified, exercising pure doctrine and doing good deeds.

·         He must teach clear instructions of the Gospel so that the students cannot be infected with the lies and distortions of the false teachers.

Verse 8:

·         Titus should present the Gospel as Divinely revealed and given, for then it will be sound and non-censurable.

·         Titus's irreproachable conduct will completely disprove the insinuations and accusations that were aimed against him.

·         This enemy of the Truth will be put to shame. 

3.     WORKING FAITHFULLY (TITUS 2:9-10)

9 Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect     NASB 

Verse 9:

·         External compliance with the master's wishes is not enough, for grumbling underneath is forbidden.

·         The idea behind obedience is that they should be interested in their work.

Verse 10:

·         The slave/employee must show the utmost trustworthiness befitting a Christian.

·         A sanctified life, which brings into clear perspective all the fruits of transforming grace - obedience, cheerfulness, integrity, etc, -- is an ornament that should attract others to the God we follow. 

4.     LIVING RIGHTEOUSLY (TITUS 2:11-15)

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

NASB 

Verse 11:

·         This verse is past tense in that God’s grace HAS appeared and it is by this grace that we are saved.

Verse 12:

·         The purpose of "teaching by God's grace" is that we should renounce or reject ungodliness, impiety, and wickedness.

·         When grace takes over a sinners life, this repudiation is a definite act - the sinner repudiates ungodliness - the sinner makes a decision to give up that which is displeasing to God!

·         After training by grace, our lives should manifest a changed relationship to God, exhibiting devotion, godliness, piety and reverence with respect to Him.

Verse 13:

·         The grace of God trains us in order that we may live consecrated lives, while we are "waiting for the blessed hope" - the reappearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses 14:

·         Christ gave Himself for us in order to purify, so that we would be fit to be His people.

Verse 15:

·         Titus must constantly talk about this glorious life of sanctification as a thank-offering presented to God for His wonderful grace in Christ.

·         He must urge it upon the people, doing this whenever the occasion presents itself, admonishing those who are in need of special admonition, and even reproving those who have merited reproof.

·         Do not let people despise you for the Christian life you live!