Biblical Manhood: Older men and younger men

Titus 2:1-2 / Titus 2:6-8

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.

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, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Introduction: Paul wrote a short letter to encourage Titus who was the lead pastor in the island of Crete near Greece how to organise his church in sound doctrine and for men and women in the church to be excellent examples of godliness and purity in the church and outside the church. With the motive of helping the church to become of healthy and to be light of the world.

The culture in the island of Crete was obviously immoral and known as the island of liars. But several Jews were actually in Jerusalem during the feast of Pentecost and heard the gospel and the death and resurrection of Christ and believed the Gospel of Christ. Most probably they got converted. But had a shipwrecked and landed in Crete and had a short stint of the island in spreading the Gospel. Before he left the Island and planted the church, he assigned Titus to be the head pastor.

Transition: Now Paul gave a wise advise to pastor Titus how to become a light and health in Crete by applying sound doctrine and by applying some of the characteristics of biblical manhood.

Let us start with verse 1 it says,

Exposit: 1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

Paul was obviously speaking or writing to Titus a young missionary pastor to disciple the church. the admonition of Paul was for Timothy to encourage older men to be biblical men

Second, older women as spiritual leaders among younger women in the church. In short older men and women should show what it means to be a biblical man and woman of God.

The second part of this encourage the men in the church is for younger men to show the biblical characters of a young man in the church

Paul said the Titus “speak the things” this was a command from Paul to teach with all his heart the things he learned from Paul the Gospel of Jesus Christ which the sound doctrine. Titus should and must teach sound doctrine. the word fitting means what is more biblical, scriptural, theologically right, honest sincere with truthfulness. This is the same idea with the word sound. Titus must teach that is fitting and sound teachings. Not teaching his own ideas or self glorification. With the idea of equipping the saints in theology, doctrine and sanctification. building and firming a solid foundation of your local church.

Sound doctrine means to teach the Gospel focus on Jesus Christ His divinity and humanity, and Christian living. defending the truth of the Gospel, teaching godliness and holiness, repentance from sins. Who do not compromise his or her faith. strong and stand firm.

To define what is greek meaning for “sound” it means accurate, whole perfect and holy and totally correct and 100% pure and healthy.

2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

Older man: When we say older men in greek presbutes. a man who have a family, a wife, foundation of the family with the help of God. if you are old man you are associated with long lifer, as a man of wisdom or wise, more patience, knowledgeable. mature in thinking. but not as always true.

Most old men are weak in hearing and forgetful, slow, eyes weak and speaking could be hard or difficult. have a lot of body ache and physical issues. negativity.

For Christians who are already older in the faith we men who are older must show spiritual maturity, love and understanding, care and flexibility, compassion and love forgiveness. More love for God and more holiness and purity. More grateful and thankful.

When we say older men here we can or could estimate from over 40 years old or 60 or 90 years old Christians. Scriptures tell us that older men should be treated with respect, in spite of his grayheaded hair, demented time to time.

Paul encouraged Titus to always admonish the older men not to live immoral reckless and wasteful life. mediocre and un spiritual and immature. The first characteristic is

Older men are Temperate: To have self-control or able to contain his emotion and words and actions. able to possess to control his power. Has sobriety or sober-minded because he does not drink to be drunk. His life is full of patience and not careless. temperate in use of money and in anger. in speech, a gentleman is temperate man. he was not a one day millionaire. His time is focus on things that glorifies the Lord. He knows how to be content and how to live a simple life.

Older men are Dignified: he is a man of honour. or an honourable man. respectable, having a good character, worthy of respect. knows how to live a quiet life and how to live a godly life. He doesn’t live and support adultery or homosexuality. living and having a high standard of morality. He doesn’t support and love for sin and ungodly behaviour. who knows how to say no to temptation. Being dignified is to be serious and focused and using his time wisely.

Older men are Sensible: to sensible is to have the right mindset and his perspective is heavenward. proper and moderate in his speech and language and responses. in short he is being led by the Spirit of God. his mind and speech and actions are all modest and guided according to what God’s will and His words. His common sense is biblical. having a biblical and eternal perspective in life.

having good judgment and self control in everything. We desire God and seek the pleasures of God more than our own pleasures.

They walk with God with the idea that through life experiences they learn what is discernment and right and sound judgment.

Quote: “The more sensible we are of our own weakness and emptiness, the more pleasure God will take to fill us with his own fullness, and to perfect in us the work of holiness. Thomas Brooks

Quote: “They control their physical passions and they reject worldly standards and resist worldly attractions. MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1996). Titus (p. 74). Moody Press.

Being sensible is to be aware and thoughtful of what the best for God and for others. In short you are

Transition: To define what is greek meaning for “sound” it means accurate, whole perfect and holy and totally correct and 100% pure and healthy.

Older men are to be Sound in faith: this means their faith is found in the doctrines of Grace. he knows the full impact of the gospel. knows the true meaning and application of full Gospel narrative. He believes the teachings of the Gospel and the historical Gospel and purpose and meaning of the Gospel. His salvation is by faith alone and his faith is not dead but alive and active. he knows and loves to live out his faith in Christ. he has this growing understanding of what is faith alone in Christ means. he has this growing balance of theology, doctrine, and sanctification. His application of faith is right and truthful. he keeps excelling in his faith. Giving your best to be excellent and spiritually healthy but doing it according to God’s Word.

Your faith is sound in heart, mind, words and actions. Your saving faith in the historicity of the Gospel, the Gospel can save people from their sins. and you believe and put your faith in the salvation of your soul to Christ alone.

Christ alone is the Creator, all wisdom God. His word is sufficient and enough. We learned it as we grow in age and our relationship with God. You do not complain or question God so you do not worry but give everything to God because He is Sovereign. You do not question is sovereign work in your life.

Older men are to be sound in love:

Again if we want to define “sound” in Paul’s used of the word in greek it means To define what is greek meaning for “sound” it means accurate, whole perfect and holy and totally correct and 100% pure and healthy.

Now, putting and or inserting the word love which means in greek agapao. This is to say that being a sound Christian there should be sound love. there is love in your heart. what kind of love? Your love for God is evident. Your for His word and your love for applying the words of God and Christ. much more now you are old. You and i are old enough to understand what it means to have love in your heart and the heart to love people with the love of God. In love here means the motivation of the older man in the faith is his experience of God’s peace in him and the character and the faithfulness of God’s Word and the promises of God’s word. and the assurance of the word of God. Now with all those experiences and biblical and theological understanding of the character you will or you would love God more and love others more and forgive others, help others know Christ. And encourage younger men to do the same.

Let us read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Transition: Next and last but not the least, is sound in perseverance.

Older men are to be sound in Perseverance: What does this mean? The greek word for perseverance is hypomone. This is to say older man must have a healthy whole heart and consistent life of long suffering, patience, endurance in loving God, in waiting for God and the coming of Christ. looking forward for heaven. This is a stronger commitment to keep abiding in spite of the many issues you are going through. depression and you are in the brink of losing hope. Or doubted the goodness of God. stay strong stay on the presence of God’s grace and goodness.

To persevere is to be steadfast in all situations in life and ministry. You endures in all season in life and you want to continue in that run of endurance in every season of personal life, work life, marriage life, family life, and church and ministry life.

Continue to wait and wait. Bear the pain. No pain no glory. Abide like a child that you do not want your mother to leave you. To remain in the faith instead of i will jump from the ship. but you said to yourself I will not. I will keep abiding in Christ. There is hope and there is a better place than this. Heaven is the better the place.

Quote: As an older man said to the younger man “You are just coming or joining the club of suffering, for me I have done wrong and good things, i have experienced bad and good thing sin life so therefore listen to me.” But for older Christians our resolve as Paul encouraged the church in Crete and pastor Titus to endure and persevere in desiring God and finding pleasures in God even you are already old. I don’t want to go back to my old ways. I regretted it.

This is for older men to learn to be more patient with steadfastness and endurance to stay faithful and loving. Older men who have an enduring faith and love they become more gracious and forgiving. They become more appreciative and they love the idea of God is sovereign and in control. God’s providence is always perfect for their good.

Apply: Romans 8:28

Transition: Now let us talk about younger men in the church.

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, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Younger men (vs 6-8): Now this is a command from Paul to the young people in the church especially young men.

Transition: Now Paul shifted his focus from older men to younger men in the church. what are the character development of young men in the church? Now older know already their responsibility as matured godly men.

Paul urged the young men to be spiritually mature actively seek it and pursue it with excellence and not to be mediocre Christianity. This command was a command from God to be a consistent, stable, growing in maturity. To urge is to invite and highly, highly encourage young men to grow in maturity:

But what kind of maturity and how consistent? what are the evidences of spirituality and maturity young men should have and possess? Or how would the demonstration maturity show in the church and in the world?

The first evidence or character evidence of spiritual maturity of young men in the church is first:

Sensible: What is sensible according top Paul? according to webster’s dictionary / Thesaurus it is being understanding, intelligent or discerning appreciative. young men should not be senseless. young men should be careful in words and actions. sensitive to the needs of the church. active and available and alive in faith and love for God and for the church. young men are sound or to have clear mindset, who have an eternal and biblical perspective.

His words and actions are sensible and worthy of respect and hearing. sensible is having good sound judgement or ability to act and decide things in life wisely because it is clear in conviction and biblical conviction.

His ability to think is sound because it is biblical and points to God and how God will be glorified. This is in short sound in mind. Godly reasoning and Christ-centred mind. Your mind is being controlled by the Spirit of God.

He knows in his mind he needs to pursue purity and godliness. he knows how to run away. He knows the consequences of sin. He doesn’t want to displease and dishonour God and the church.

For young men know how to submit to authority and older men in the church. submission and humility are in their hearts.

In short, being sensible is being in all things in areas of life be sensible. in private life and in public life. work school church marriage and family. This is to mean is to keep exercising self-control and sensibility.

Examples of a sensible young man:

a. Show your good deeds: in all things do good, be kind, be gracious and merciful. show compassion and be generous. Be hospitable. Be responsible and do not be lazy or do not be a burden but be an encouragement. In all things be an example in doing good works.

No one is good. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of good deeds. As believers in Christ we have an example of good works and good deeds. let us follow Christ and be like Christ.

However, do good deeds that only the Father in heaven knows it. Matthew 6:3-4

Matthew 6:3–4 (NASB95)

“But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Ephesians 2:10

b. Show your purity in Doctrine: As young men in the church Paul said not only good deeds or works but second, purity of doctrine. what does this mean? purity can be define as in greek definition it is sound, whole, without partiality, there is wholeness sincerity and truthfulness. It is without corruption or compromise. It is serious and you are not playing youth.

Doctrine in greek means didasko. the teaching the instruction of the Word of God is all truth and nothing but the truth.

It is good to understand as young people and young men in the church that you should be sensible with self control, you have good deeds and your doctrine and theology is right and pure. trying your best to know the truth and seeking the truth of the Scriptures. like bereans who searched the scriptures if Paul and the rest of the apostles’ teaching sand doctrines are right. The full Gospel was being taught.

So therefore young men teach the purity of the Gospel. with clear theology and salvation. you know the gospel you know the assurance of your salvation. You teach the Christian faith. You are fully devoted to God’s word and love the Scriptures and you want to spread the word of God to as many people as possible.

We should be always on guard to protect and teach the purity of the Christian faith. doctrine and biblical theology are good but the next important thing we should do is to be perfect in good deeds.

c. Show you are dignified: Third is for young men to be dignified or honourable young man in behaviour. Respectable in reputation. With seriousness in life and ministry. He is not playing commitment. Your reputation is above reproach even though people will try to destroy your name or your good name in the public arena of life as long as your morality and purity and your doctrine is sound and in God’s eyes your conscience is pure and right. Not perfect and sinless life but righteous and blameless life who walks with God faithfully.

Young men who are worthy of respect because of your godly behaviour and attitude. Character and words and deeds are pleasing in God’s eyes and in the eyes of the public. They know what is important in the Kingdom of God and what is rubbish in this world.

No moral failures, repentant, have self control and not a gossiper or a slanderer.

d. Show your sound in speech that is beyond reproach: The fourth example of being sensible is his speech. what is speech in this context? their is truthfulness and honesty and purity of speech. not a slanderer or a gossiper. his speech is season with salt that honours God. who knows how to give kind words and gracious. His over all speech or the collective speech of a young man is season with salt.

As a result of your sound speech in the church and in public you receive respect and they see you as very honourable and respectable. In short, young men should pursue being above beyond reproach they cannot see any evil or demonic and wickedness words coming out from your lips. They cannot criticise you because he properly handle your words with truth. You know how to speak the truth in love. and you speak the truth because you know the words of Christ and you follow Christ.

Conclusion: The effects: Let us conclude this short message we have in our men’s fellowship.

If we are sensible young men

and we are showing examples of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified in all things, and our our speech is sound and beyond or above reproach what will be the result the effects to people especially the unbelievers?

Our opponent will be put to shame: Paul said our opponent. who were the opponents or the opponent? either all false teachers and and demons and satan himself will be put to shame. they might not get the divine judgement of God but in the near future God’s judgement and punishment will be sentenced to them. God will soon crush the head of the serpent and all his false prophets and demons to hell and to their eternal destruction.

Those who are trying to destroy their reputation and trying to destroy the church and tempt all followers and disciples of Christ to turn away from Christ will be put to shame because they see in you young men your sensibility, your good works and deeds in all things, your purity in doctrine this is your teaching is biblical and from the Scriptures. and your example of being dignified respectable and honourable young man. and lastly, your sound speech which is above reproach or beyond reproach.

Shaming is the way to defeat an opponent. To embarrass you is a discouragement. But If you put them to shame because of your excellent examples as a young person this to show you defeated them

Your church life, our church, our teaching our purity, our behaviour and character are all above reproach. it is a shame for them to be stunned that we are perfect in Christ righteous and blameless. Hopefully as they see our good works they will call upon Him and give Him all the glory. Glorifying the Father who is in heaven. God willing they will become born again and join our church.

Nothing bad to say about us: Another effect and result of our excellent example of being a sensible young person in the church is they will give up in criticising us because they cannot find any criticism. all they see is your good works your speech and your wisdom and understanding. Your teaching is the full Gospel of Christ. God is being glorified and the church is being edified because we seriously applying the words of Christ in your life.

They will quit and stop destroying the church and dividing the church because the truth is in you and you know so well the words of God.

Hopefully because of our excellent testimony among the unbelievers they too will seek Christ and follow Christ with them. the “Us” here means Paul included himself in the good works, sound judgement, and sensibility and in speech. when both of them have seem the characters of a godly man whether old and young they will be put to shame and never come back in criticising them. Hopefully those outside the church will believe Christ and be born again. and say to themselves Faith in Christ is a healthy and growing church.

Apply: Jesus Christ is the perfect example of biblical manhood. Jesus is our model how to become a man of God and become a healthy growing church.