We have previously seen in Titus 1 that Paul had instructed Timothy to ensure that biblical
elderships were being instituted
in the churches of Crete.
The general moral
life of Cretans was deficient, to say the least (1:12). This would have affected the churches, since their members
were drawn from this community. They needed biblical elders, men who with their
wives and families would set a biblical
standard and example of a Christian household before the community.
When people are converted from a life of sin
it takes time for them to let the Word of God sanctify their thoughts and
actions. We see this clearly in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Here were a
people saved from all sorts of immoral backgrounds (1 Cor. 1:26; 6:9-11). The antidote to unruly, undisciplined,
worldly behaviour in the church is a biblical eldership. Elders, by doctrinal
teaching and by personal example progressively teach the
church to reflect a true Christian character.
Titus himself is an example of such a man.
IT ALL BEGINS WITH
SOUND TEACHING (Titus 2:1)
1 But as for you, teach
what accords with sound doctrine. This whole chapter begins and ends with the importance of
teaching sound doctrine to this morally deficient community. We must begin with
the mind. The Holy Spirit has given us an inspired book so that we may read,
meditate, think and be challenged about the way in which we live! The end to which God instructs the mind is to
change the heart. If we hope to change a sinful community it all begins with
teaching them sound doctrine, and in Paul's instruction to Timothy it all starts with the older men.
What to teach Older
Men (Titus 2:2)
2 Older men are to be
sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in
steadfastness.
They
must be sober-minded (Gk. nephalios
lit. sober), meaning that they
should not over indulge in alcohol. The point is that when a man has become a
senior he ought to have reached a
level of self- control in matters of indulgence, particularly with respect to alcohol
consumption.
They must be dignified (Gk. semnos).
He must be serious in the right way, not
at all meaning that he should display no joy. Not at all! He is a man who knows
that he soon will leave the society of men for the society of God, and he lives
in anticipation of that.
They also must be self-
controlled (Gk. sophron). Over
the years they acquire wisdom, strength of mind which governs their mind and
emotions. They are not easily swept away by everything that comes their way. These
three words taken together relate to the fact that an older man should have
learned what can only be called the
gravity of life. The years should
bring their wisdom. One of the truly tragic things in life is to see an older
man, an old fool who has learned nothing from life.
There are three further characteristics according to Paul
that older men should have cultivated by
the time they reach the senior years:
They
ought to be sound (Gr.
hugianō lit.
to be healthy ) in faith: The
years must teach Christian men not to trust God less but to trust Him more.
They ought to be (sound) in love (Gr. agape): They should be possessed by the love of Jesus. God help older men that they should not become
fault-finding, censorious, unteachable, resentful, bitter tyrants in the church. The years with
Jesus should bring a gentle, firm, patient, loving wisdom that gets
alongside the younger generation, and
bears with them.
They ought to be (sound) in steadfastness (Gr. hupomonē lit. ‘a
remaining under’ - better translated as
patient endurance). The
years of faithful endurance under the gentle yoke of Jesus should temper a man
like steel, so that he can bear more and more. This is God’s will for older men.
Older men, how are
we doing?
2. Older Women (Titus 2:3-5)
3 Older women likewise
are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They
are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women…
Older women need to see that the display of their godly
character, cultivated by years of walking with Jesus, studying His Word, having
been engaged in sacred things for many years really helps and encourages the
younger women in particular. What great value older women add to the church!
Many displays of over- zealousness and
bitter arguments and jealousy and
touchiness and intolerance by younger
Christians with poor perspectives in the
congregations can be dealt with by the
wise counsels of the older women and men.
How many church fights would be avoided if there were many more godly,
older and wiser people in each congregation?
In particular older women must not be slanderers (Gr. diabolous).
It is a chief trait of Satan. It is one of his names. It also is a common trait of fallen human
nature, and perhaps particularly of the female nature. People love to slander
and to hear of people being slandered. It’s the stuff that newspapers thrive
on. At any rate, the Bible teaches us not to do that.
Also, like the older men they must not be slaves to wine.
Positively, they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women…
There is nothing like the experience of
the older to guide and encourage the younger.
3. Younger Women (Titus 2:3-5)
Older women are encouraged
to teach and train younger women to love
their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home,
kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Marriage and family life in any age is a very challenging task, and what a blessing it
is when an older woman can give a young wife dissolved in tears and lacking perspective some encouragement. There is in one sense no greater task,
responsibility and privilege, no greater career or calling than that of creating a safe home
for one’s family. Every nation is dependent upon the health of its
homes. Wives and mothers by God’s design have a particular role here. Older
women, who have been through many of
life’s lessons have seen these things
and they are a treasure house of
knowledge, support and encouragement. The general weaknesses of the young women
in terms of lack of self- control , purity, kindness and submission to their
husbands is helpfully addressed by the older women as they
mentor their younger sisters. Please note that the glory of God is at stake
here … that the Word of God may not be
reviled… The behaviour of Christians affects the way in which the world
perceives the gospel.
4. Younger Men (Titus 2:6)
6 Likewise, urge the
younger men to be self-controlled. The duty of the younger men is summed up in one sentence, but
it is a weighty issue for them. They are to be self- controlled (Gr. sophron-
this is the 3rd time this word is used). Youth is a time of danger. Hot headedness, recklessness, lack of
experience, bad influences all are a reality. In youth there are far more
opportunities to make disastrous decisions. For that very reason, the first
thing at which any young person must aim is being in control of oneself. "He
who rules his spirit is greater than he who takes a city" (Prov. 16:32). When young energy is
combined with self- control something really great comes into life.
5. About Titus Himself (Titus 2:7-8)
7 Show yourself in all
respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show
integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an
opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Paul pauses here to reflect on Titus' own life. If
Titus' teaching is to be effective, it must be backed by the testimony of his
own life. He must be a model of good works. In his teaching he must display integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. He must have a sound life
and a sound message. The duty laid on Titus is the tremendous task, not of
simply talking to people about Christ, but of showing Christ to them.
6. A Word about slaves (The Christian
Employee) (Titus 2:9-10)
9 Slaves are to be
submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing,
not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in
everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.
In the early Church many Christians were slaves when Christ
found them. It is significant to note that the Lord Jesus did not change their
immediate situation but He changed their eternal destiny. We need to be constantly reminded that this world
is not our heaven. In this world we prepare for heaven. The real issue for living in this world is not, ‘how
can I get out of this situation’,
but ‘How can I bring most glory to God in
this situation’? The Christian slave
was called to glorify God by serving with real
integrity and dignity so that their masters (who were used to
being argued with and stolen from) would be well pleased with them. The Christian
slave (employee) should not be argumentative, but submissive and humble in a dignified way. He should not be
a thief but honest and true in his
service. He does not think that his
Christianity gives him a special right to be undisciplined. In the end his mission was to be a witness to Jesus. His faith
teaches him how to serve.
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
(Titus 2:11-14)
Is this teaching for real? Is it possible to live like this?
Can older men, older women, younger men and younger women, can Titus himself,
can slaves rise above their circumstances
in a corrupt world with very
different viewpoints and values? It is
possible, says Paul: 11 For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and
worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the
present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our
great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us
from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession
who are zealous for good works.
This we will consider in our next sermon
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