Titus: Healthy Lessons for a Holy Life

September 13, 2015, Roy Christian Church

Earlier this week, I made a decision to launch a new sermon series. I have since decided to repent (sort of) that choice. In two weeks, we’ll be starting that new series called “Finding Your Way Back to God: 5 Awakenings to your New Life,” which is based on the story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15.

This morning, we are going back to a message from Titus 2 that I think always fits and always challenges. The letter is written by the Apostle Paul to a young man who is leading the church on Crete, an island in the Easter Mediterranean Sea, in a situation that is less than ideal. The second chapter begins with a recommended course for all believers as they follow Christ and live together.

Tit 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Tit 2:2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Tit 2:3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Tit 2:4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, Tit 2:5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Tit 2:6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. Tit 2:7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness Tit 2:8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Tit 2:9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, Tit 2:10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Tit 2:12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, Tit 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Tit 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Tit 2:15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Titus is dealing with a lazy, gluttonous, lying culture on the island of Crete. The best stance against error—bad teaching, bad culture—is a healthy inner spiritual life. Healthy lessons lead to holy living. What lessons does Paul want him to make sure the Cretan Christians get?

Older Men: Sober-minded, reputable, self-disciplined, with healthy faith, and persevering under suffering. Paul expects personal maturity and strength of character in every older man. Clear-minded, committed, controlled men who stand up under scrutiny and suffering. Get a reputation!

Older Women: “Similarly” means that the older women should have the same sort of behavior as the men. Active, exhibited faith that is shared through daily living. Committed to the truth. Not dependent on or in bondage to anything outside of Christ. Genuine, truth-loving, faith-sharing women who depend on Christ. Get a witness!

Young Women: The older women are to school the younger women, recently married, to be devoted to their husbands and children. Live with appropriate restraint. “Domestic goddesses.” Voluntarily supportive of husbands—loving and listening (Ephesians 5). Supportive, nurturing women who manage their homes with restraint, purity, and kindness. Get busy!

Young Men: Short, but powerful, list that includes early expectations. They are to be urged by Titus: Be self-controlled. Younger men have inclinations to be more “wild and free” without regard for impact on others. Be disciplined! Careful, thoughtful, men who exercise self-discipline. Get a grip!

Titus is held up as an example of a young, godly man. Not just to the young men, but to every believer. Sterling personal example. Effective teaching that has integrity and seriousness.

Slaves: subject, submissive to masters. Please your master with good work. Don’t be mouthy. Don’t steal. Display some integrity. A Christian slave could not submit when his unbelieving master demanded service contrary to Christian conscience. Honest, helpful, hard-working servants who give faith a good name. Get with it!

Why should we live this way?

  1. Makes the teaching about God attractive (Verse 10). The truth about Christ isn’t maligned or skewed by our questionable behavior. This is expressed for younger women (Verse 5), but isn’t it true for all the groups?
  2. Silences opposition to the Truth (Verse 8). Practicing what you preach shuts the mouths of all sorts of critics.

How can we live this way?

  1. Because the light of God’s amazing grace has burst through the clouds and darkness of our world and has appeared to everyone. God’s amazing grace is the motivation for godly living. We don’t live moral, righteous, godly lives SO God will give us grace and then heaven; it is because God has given us grace and ultimately eternal salvation that we can live moral, righteous, godly lives. That is a huge distinction.
  2. Grace teaches and trains us to reject ungodliness and worldly passions. Eventually, we learn to voluntarily renounce our past. I will not give in to my old desires. I will not behave in a way that embarrasses Jesus.
  3. Grace teaches and trains us to live good lives inwardly (self-controlled), outwardly (righteous), and upwardly (godly). Much like the expectations for elders in Chapter 1.
  4. This is the very reason that Christ came. Paul says he gave himself.
  5. To redeem a people from wickedness. People who are no longer committed to their own desires.
  6. To purify a people for good. People who love what is good, who are enthusiastic about goodness. Goodness is the tag of ownership. Christ’s people have been redeemed and purified and are eager to do what is good.
  7. Ultimately, He came and gave to create heirs with the hope of eternity. Titus 3:3-7 says, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
  8. We have a past riddled with negative behavior, selfish attitudes and decisions, aggression, maybe even violence. He saved us anyway.
  9. When everything about us was wrong, He saved us to make us right(eous). Why? Because of mercy: “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.” God desires to help us, and saves us through grace.

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