A Biblical Life

PRAY WITH ME PLEASE

If you have a copy of the Scriptures with you this morning, please turn back with me to Paul’s letter to Titus. (READ LATER)

Introduction

Last week, we began our abbreviated view of this letter to Titus. We looked at the Island of Crete, and the poor reputation of the people who inhabited that Island.

We see that Titus, a protege of the Apostle Paul was left on the Island, for the purpose, as Titus 1:5 says, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.”

We saw that these Elders, Titus was to appoint, were to “hold fast to the faithful word of God,” both in their conduct and theology.

They were meant to exhibit the power of the Gospel through their transformed lives as they led the congregation they were a part of—>this conduct was in stark contrast to the general reputation of Island.

They were also meant to refute anything that falls short of the truth of the Word of God.

As there were false teachers there, adulterating the Word of God for their own benefit, pilfering money, and deceiving many into error and filthy living.

This week, we’ll see Paul exhort Titus, as he “sets in order what remains,” to address the lives of those who called themselves Christians. He is meant to preach & teach correct doctrine, because that leads to godly lives for all those who adhere to what is taught.

Anything less, leads to disunity and conflict in the body at best, and people who live godless lives while being deceived into thinking they are believers at worst. Both bringing reproach to Christ.

So…as we look into Titus chapter 2 today, we are going to see 3 things:

Life follows after doctrine (v. 1).

The Gospel instructs godly living (vv. 11-15).

The Christian’s Biblical Life…what does a godly life look like (vv. 2-10).

Let’s read Titus chapter 2.

1. Life follows after doctrine (v. 1).

Paul introduces this entire chapter of this letter by telling Titus, “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.”

The word “sound” literally means “healthy.” We see this used in Titus 1:9, where Paul says that the elder should be, “able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to reprove those who contradict.”

This exhortation is not simply about correcting a body of knowledge that all people are supposed to make a mental assent towards, or to acknowledge as the truth.

No, Paul has in mind here the Spiritual health of the churches on Crete, as entire families are being “upset”.

Also, those who are teaching the false doctrine have consciences that are defiled, leading them to being unable to respond to the truth.

This leaves them in their deception, to the point that they think they are teaching the truth of God, but they are actually totally useless for Him, because their lives remain unfit and they are characterized by their disobedience (1:15, 16).

Therefore, the world and the church were indistinguishable.

As Titus, then, begins to set in order the conduct of the members of the churches on Crete, he is to do quite the opposite of the false teachers, by speaking the things that are proper for sound doctrine. These “things” are the things that follow in verses 2-10. Here, he addresses 5 groups of people: Older men, Older women, younger women, younger men, and slaves. We’ll talk about these in greater detail in point number 3.

but notice, how Paul begins to build this case with Titus, by pointing out with each group of people that their conduct is connected to the Word of God.

v. 2: With the older men, they are to be “sound in faith”. There does seem to be a definite article with the word “faith” in the Greek. This means that it could read, “sound in the faith.” (The faith meaning body of doctrine) So they are to live their lives according to a sound body of doctrine.

Again the word “sound” means “healthy”, therefore, the lives of the older men are meant to be accompanied and governed by healthy doctrine.

With the older women it is somewhat three-fold.

v. 3a: They are meant be “reverent in behavior” which means that they are to always live with God in view.

I appreciated the way Homer Kent said it: “The mature Christian woman should always exhibit in her manner a recognition of the sacredness of every aspect of life to the child of God.”

v. 3c: They are to meant to “teach what is good.” Paul explains here how the older women are to disciple the younger women in biblical womanhood.

To be able to do this, they should know and model what that is, so that they are able to teach the younger.

The third point is connected with the younger women.

v. 5: While pointed towards the younger women’s conduct, the phrase “so that the word of God will not be slandered” is connected with what the older women teach the younger.

The conduct of the younger woman has the reputation of the doctrine of the word of God at hand.

If they claim the name Christian, and yet live an ungodly life, the word of God may be mocked by those around them.

This means that it is vital, that what the older women teach is thoroughly biblical.

v. 8, we see that the conduct of the young men should be godly in that, “the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us (the Church or Christians).”

v. 10: The slave is to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in everything.”

As Titus speaks the things which are proper for sound doctrine, he emphasizes that this is what it means to live according to the Word of God.

The Church’s conduct was ruining the reputation of the Gospel, so Paul then reminds them of what the Gospel is and what it accomplishes in the life of the believer, which brings us to point number two:

2. The Gospel’s Instruction (vv. 11-15).

“For...” connects everything that came before in the previous thought to this. We are able to live as godly older and younger men, godly older and younger women, and as godly slaves/employees because this: God has brought us salvation.

Because we have placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we now reckon ourselves dead to sin, and alive to God in Christ Jesus, as Paul puts it in Romans 6:11.

This is how the Gospel “instructs us”. To deny sin, and to live in righteousness.

Why would we live in the sin that Christ spilt His blood for?

in this age, we deny worldly desires, as we live for the age to come!

This world and its lusts are passing away. Let them die! Live for the age to come!

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor 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 and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”

1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Eternal Life encompasses not only the quantity of life, but the quality of life as well.

Christ redeemed us. He purchased us by paying the ransom price for us from slavery to sin, unto slavery to righteousness: Romans 6:15-23. Notice how Paul brings this to what “pattern of teaching” we believe. Doctrine matters! Our actions flow out of the pattern teaching that we follow, whether unto sin or unto righteousness.

In the same vein, 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

Sin is no longer our Master, our holy and righteous and just and merciful and loving God is!

He dealt with the penalty of sin, which is His righteous wrath, by pouring it out on His Son on the cross. Christ died, where we were meant to die. To prove that God’s wrath had been satisfied for sin, and that Jesus’s death was not some random Jewish man’s death, He rose again, defeating death and sin. Now, all who believe and trust in Him as Savior and Lord are forgiven all their sin debt, to the point that Paul says that the death warrant has been canceled:

Colossians 2:13-15 “And you being dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him, having graciously forgiven us all our transgressions. Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us which was hostile to us, He also has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them in Him.”

And we are made new, as Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,”

No longer to remain dominated by sin, but to live a life of constant and growing victory over it.

Because of the immense length He went, and the great love He showed, if we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are Christ’s treasured possession.

Like Israel, redeemed as Yahweh’s treasured possession from Egypt.

Exodus 19:3-6 “Now Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. ‘So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.””

Deuteronomy 4:5-8 illustrates how Israel’s godly testimony was to affect the nations around her.

We are to declare His excellencies: 1 Peter 2:9-12, our conduct is meant to cause those that may mock us to glorify God on the day of visitation (whether judgment or salvation).

According to Paul in this passage, what does that conduct look like?

3. The Christian’s Biblical Life (vv. 2-10).

Each of us are addressed in these verses. Whether you are young or old, male or female…even an employee. These five sections point the the life of a godly believer.

First, godly older men.

temperate

Has been translated “sober” in conjunction with the use of alcohol, but is generally used for self-control.

dignified

The old word for this is “grave” which connotes a sort of seriousness. It means more of leading a life worthy of respect and honor.

sensible

This means “sound-minded”. It means mastery of oneself, controlling desires and impulses, and having sound judgment. This is the opposite of carelessness. Every action is carefully measured.

healthy (sound)

in faith

We talked about this before, meaning that the older man is to be sound in his doctrine, as it leads to godliness.

in love

This is agape’ love. Not love, the feeling, but love the action.

This is what is expect of the believer, as Jesus put in John 13:34 ““A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

As an older man, are you and example in loving the brethren?

in perseverance

The older man should lead in the ability to endure life’s trials and hardships, as he looks for the return of the Lord.

The world today paints a picture of men as weak and bumbling fools. According to the world, men don’t know what they are talking about, and certainly are not worthy of any honor. Any cursory glance at the men in a television show will reveal what the world thinks about them.

worldly men believe it and combat it in one of two ways:

Male Shovanist.

Toxic Masculinity.

Emasculated Male.

Someone who apologizes for their maleness.

The biblical man, the one who stands healthily in the faith, love, and perseverance, will stand out in stark contrast to that. In so doing, he will be a witness to the transformation of the Gospel.

The Older Women & Younger Women.

This section, unsurprisingly is controversial, both in non-Christian and Christian circles. As the feminist movement rocked the world in the 20th century, they were continuing the call from the worldly women on Crete, that sprung from the Garden. But Christian women, rather than following the sinful cultural urge of bucking off all that God created them to be, should seek to model exactly what He created them to be, because that is what glorifies Him.

“reverent in their behavior”: we saw that earlier, as their lives are to be lived in view as every moment is sacred.

“malicious gossips”: this is the word “diabolous” in the Greek. Literally means devil. Which points to the fact that to gossip about someone is to do the devil’s work.

To offer any information that is not yours to give is gossip, and is is expressly forbidden by scripture. Don’t fall into the trap of the “stereotypical women” passing on the latest gossip in bathroom, or hair salon, or on the phone.

The dangers of unguarded speech are obvious.

To gossip at all is to harm the body of Christ.

Next, to be enslaved to much wine seems to be obvious. There is not a prohibition to alcohol here, however, there is a prohibition to be under the influence, or under the control of any substance in view here.

We talked about it last week. Ephesians 5:18 says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,”

The godly life is to be lived under the control of and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

“teach what is good” & “instruct the young women”.

This is the discipleship of younger women in Christian womanhood.

Quite practically, Titus could not do this.

While he could give general instruction, out of the word of God with the Church gathered, to find himself alone with a young woman not his wife could cause question of his testimony.

This discipleship of the younger women began by the modelling of biblical womanhood.

That is:

Sensibility

We said this before for the men. This means “sound-minded”. It means mastery of oneself, controlling desires and impulses, and having sound judgment. This is the opposite of carelessness. Every action is carefully measured.

it is used twice here, but seems to be emphasized with loving husbands and children.

loving their husbands

There used to be a saying that wives are never commanded in Scripture to love their husbands, but only to respect them. Well, here it is.

It has a similar force to it as for the Elder to be a “one woman man”. A wife is to be a one man, woman, having eyes only for her husband.

It is a command.

loving their children

Her children are not to be ignored, or see as a curse on her social life. She is to love them and care for them.

pure

A woman should be pure in her heart towards her responsibilities as a wife and a mother.

workers at home.

While not forbidding working outside the home, it points to the fact that a wife and a mother’s first duty is her home, or household.

1 Timothy 5:14, talks about the responsibility of younger widows of getting remarried and “keep house”.

Literally the feminine form of despot. The wife & mother rules the home, to bless her husband and her children.

kind

She is not at ogre as she keeps her home.

submission to husbands.

This is the middle voice in the Greek, which points to the voluntary submission of the wife to her husband. She willfully seeks to submit to her husband, as God design marriage.

The biblical wife is to submit to her husbands leadership.

Whether believer or unbeliever.

The older women were to train the younger women in this. It is not simply a telling them what to do, but a modelling and explaining the biblical purposes behind it.

3. Younger men. I’m not sure there needs to be much explanation of these. Other than saying that Scripture expects a lot of even young men. This goes to the age of 12 or 13. The world spends much time given “freedom” to “sew their wild oats” or to live however they want until they hit the time when they are to mature. It should not be so for the Christian young man.

sensible

We’ve talked about this a lot, which shows its importance. This is the opposite of carelessness. Measure action.

model of good works

purity in doctrine

Teenage young people can understand doctrine.

dignified—>Seriousness. Leading a life worthy of respect and honor.

Sound in word—>Speech is becoming of a blood bought Christian. Filth is no longer in your vocabulary.

Life isn’t a game until your 18 or 21. stop living like it. We should expect more of our young men.

This is why Paul tells Titus to “urge” them. This comes from the understanding of exhortation, reproof, and rebuke.

4. Slaves. While horrible in its own right, ancient Roman slavery wasn’t always like what we understand as slavery in the United States.

Slaves were given education and were often paid enough to provide for their families.

So, the exhortation that Paul tells Titus to give the slaves can in many ways be applied to employees, or those that have jobs.

subject to masters

Submitting themselves to their masters.

Colossians 3:22-24 “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but with integrity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ.”

not contradicting

Not doing the opposite of their master

not pilfering

Not taking off the top, or stealing money from their masters.

demonstrating good faith.

This is loyalty to their masters.

Conclusion

This is the life of the believer. A life that models the doctrine that we claim to believe, so that God’s Word will not be slandered.

Our way of living, being in stark contrast with the world, should be a light to the world.

Paul says in Philippians 2:12-16 “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, so that you will be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life...”

As we go from this place this morning, consider how God wants you to live, consider the Gospel He saved you with, to empower you to live that way.