Truth or Trouble

Sermon Title: Truth or Trouble

Scripture: Titus 1:10-16

Occasion: The Lord’s Day

Date: May 4, 2025

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father,

We come before You now as needy people in a noisy world.

Our hearts are prone to wander, our minds to drift— but You, O Lord, are steady and true.

Speak to us through Your Word.

Expose what is false.

Establish what is true.

Guard us from error.

Ground us in Christ.

We do not come with confidence in ourselves, but with empty hands—ready to receive grace, ready to be shaped by truth, ready to behold the glory of Your Son.

So come, Lord— Shepherd Your people.

Strengthen Your church.

Save the lost.

And sanctify us all by the power of Your living Word.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Introduction

If you have ever been on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World, you have seen a vivid picture of what ancient Crete was like.

Drunken sailors laughing at sin.

Lawless men plundering cities.

Shameless liars, immoral dealings, greedy indulgence — all celebrated as normal.

That was Crete.

And that, Paul says, was the soil in which Christ planted His church.

The Cretans had a reputation that spanned centuries.

They were known for lying, cheating, stealing, gluttony, and laziness.

Even one of their own prophets testified to this as we will see today.

It was not an exaggeration.

It was truth.

And yet, right there, in the middle of a crooked and perverse society, God was building His church.

Right there, the gospel was advancing.

Right there, amid the pirates and the plunderers, the truth was shining.

But it was fragile.

It was vulnerable.

Because false teachers had crept into the churches — blending the sins of the culture with the word of God.

Teaching things they ought not to teach.

Destroying households.

Polluting the gospel.

This was no small matter.

Souls were at stake.

Churches were at risk.

The truth itself was under attack.

And beloved, the same is true today.

We live in a day where truth is cheapened, authority is despised, sin is normalized, and compromise is celebrated.

Even in the church, there are many who profess to know God, but deny Him by their lives.

Many who prefer empty talk over sound doctrine.

Many who are being quietly swept away — not by outward persecution, but by inward corruption.

That is why this passage is so relevant to us today.

This is why we must intently hear Paul’s words to Titus today.

Because the same dangers that threatened Crete threaten us today.

And the same charge to Titus is the charge to us: Guard the gospel with courage, or the gospel will be lost.

Our sermon this morning is titled: Truth or Trouble: Guarding the Gospel with Courage.

Truth or Trouble — there is no middle ground.

And to help us understand this passage, Paul gives us three clear movements:

First, he shows us the Character of the Troublemakers (verses 10–12).

Second, he gives Titus the Command to Confront (verses 13–14).

Third, he exposes the Corruption of False Religion (verses 15–16).

Transition:

So first, let us hear Paul describe the troubling reality inside the Cretan churches — the very character of the troublemakers who must be confronted if the truth is to survive.

Turn with me now to Titus chapter 1, beginning in verse 10.

1. The Character of the Troublemakers (vv. 10–12)

Look with me at Titus 1:10-12

Titus 1:10–12 ESV

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

Paul does not waste time with politeness.

He speaks with apostolic urgency — because lives, and most importantly, souls , are at stake.

And notice: the problem was not small!

It was not isolated.

It was “many”.

“Many” who professed Christ in word but denied Him in practice.

And what were they like?

Paul gives us three devastating descriptions.

A. They Rebel Against Authority ("insubordinate")

First, they were “insubordinate” — rebellious!

Another translations renders verse 10 this way, "There are a lot of rebels out there."

These insubordinate rebels refused to submit to God’s Word, to Christ’s authority, or to the leadership structure God had established through His apostles.

These were spiritual free agents, unwilling to be corrected, unwilling to be taught, unwilling to be held accountable.

Their hearts were marked not by joyful submission to Christ, but by stubborn pride.

And beloved, we see this same spirit all the time today.

A man gets upset at being lovingly corrected about sin in his life — so he leaves the church and hops to another one that won’t confront him.

A woman doesn't like what Scripture clearly teaches about marriage or holiness — so she accuses the pastor of being "controlling" or"legalistic" rather than submitting to God’s Word.

Or even more subtle — someone says, "I follow Jesus, not men," — but what they really mean is, "I will only listen to authority when it agrees with me."

This is the spirit of rebellion — spiritual autonomy masquerading as spirituality.

It’s the same spirit that infected Crete.

It’s the same spirit that can infect our hearts if we are not careful.

And it always leads away from Christ, not toward Him.

True Christianity is not a solo act.

It’s a life of joyful submission to God’s Word, to Christ’s Lordship, and yes — to the shepherds God has placed over His flock for our good (Hebrews 13:17).

B. They Speak Much but Say Little ("empty talkers")

Second, they were empty talkers — wordy but weightless.

They had much to say, but said nothing that could nourish a soul.

Their speech was impressive on the surface — passionate, persuasive, even spiritual — but it was hollow inside.

Like a tree full of leaves but bearing no fruit.

As Paul warns us in 2 Timothy 2:16, their talk "will lead to further ungodliness" (2 Timothy 2:16).

And beloved, we see this too today.

We have entire platforms, podcasts, and pulpits filled with men who sound bold and inspiring —but instead of opening God's Word, they offer motivational speeches, personal opinions, political rants, or endless speculation.

They say a lot, but they say little of Christ.

They stir emotions, but they do not strengthen souls.

They may grow crowds, but they do not grow saints.

Their words are like cotton candy — sweet for a moment but dissolving into nothing.

They leave people entertained but empty, stirred but unchanged.

Application: If the Word of Christ is not central, the voice you’re listening to is not a true shepherd — it’s an empty talker leading you into deeper ungodliness.

C. They Twist Truth for Personal Gain ("deceivers")

Third, they were deceivers — twisting truth for personal gain.

Their words misled people away from Christ, promising freedom but delivering slavery.

Illustration:

It’s like biting into a beautiful apple — only to find it rotten on the inside.

It looks good.

It feels good in your hand.

It promises sweetness.

But the moment you take a bite, you realize it’s full of worms and rot — and if you keep eating, it will make you sick.

That’s what empty talkers do.

They offer something that looks good, sounds good, feels good — but the moment you digest it, it doesn’t nourish you.

It poisons you.

And who were they?

Paul says, especially those of “the circumcision party”.

This likely refers to Jewish-background believers who insisted that faith in Christ was not enough — you also had to follow Jewish customs, embrace man-made rules, observe external rituals to be truly spiritual.

In other words, they taught Christ plus religion — and by doing so, they nullified the gospel altogether.

Beloved, this is not just another issue the church can afford to ignore.

This is a central issue — because it strikes at the very heart of the only gospel that can save.

Theses are the voices that say to us, "Jesus saves you — but you also need to keep these rules, follow these rituals, belong to this tradition, or measure up in your own strength to stay in God's love."

It sounds spiritual.

It feels serious and holy.

But it empties the cross of its power and shifts the spotlight from Christ’s finished work to our unfinished efforts.

The gospel is not "Christ plus something."

It is "Christ alone."

Jesus plus anything equals nothing.

It’s a simple equation!

His perfect life, His atoning death, His victorious resurrection — that alone is our salvation.

To add anything to Christ is to subtract everything from grace.

And this is precisely way Paul says in verse 11, put your eyes on it…

Titus 1:11 ESV

They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

Because a false gospel ruins people.

It ruins families.

It sends people to hell.

There is no room for another gospel!

In the words of the apostle Paul to the church at Galatia..

Galatians 1:6–9 ESV

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed (banned! Anathema). As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

False teachers preaching a false gospel must be silenced.

By the way, these false teachers were not outsiders storming the gates.

They were inside the churches!

They used Christian vocabulary to navigate their way to power and position, but they had pagan hearts.

And to drive the point home, Paul quotes one of their very own prophets.

A Cretan philosopher named Epimenides (EPY-MANY-ANDES), who said of his own people:

"Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."

It is an indictment as dark as it is accurate.

Liars — truth was a tool, not a treasure. Evil beasts — living by instinct, not by wisdom or restraint. Lazy gluttons — ruled by their appetites, not by the fear of God.

These were the cretans. And they took pride in who they were!

Historical note:

In the ancient world, to "Cretanize" became a slang word meaning to lie shamelessly.

Even pagan historians like Polybius (Paw-Lee-Vee-AUS) and philosophers like Cicero spoke of the Cretans as men enslaved to greed, deception, and corruption.

Make no mistake, Paul is not making a racial slur here by any means.

He is simply speaking the facts or the truth of the Cretans that they “amen” to and take pride in.

Paul is masterfully exposing the spiritual climate into which the gospel had come — a climate where truthfulness, self-control, and godliness were despised, and sin was celebrated.

Modern parallel:

Is it really any different today though?

We too live in an age where deception is normal, appetites rule the day, and rebellion against authority is worn as a badge of honor.

Our culture calls sin "authenticity" and praises rebellion as "courage."

And tragically, these same patterns can seep into the church if we are not vigilant.

Real Examples:

It happens when churches redefine holiness as "being true to yourself" instead of being conformed to Christ.

When pastors are pressured to preach what is popular instead of what is true.

When members pick and choose which parts of Scripture they will obey — treating God's Word like a salad bar instead of a King’s command.

It doesn’t come all at once.

It creeps in quietly — under the banner of love, tolerance, or personal freedom — until the gospel itself is lost and reshaped in the image of the culture rather than the character of Christ.

Illustration:

Imagine a doctor diagnosing a deadly infection in a patient but refusing to tell them the truth because he does not want to upset them.

He smiles.

He soothes.

And the disease spreads silently until it kills.

What would we call that?

We would call it cruelty disguised as kindness, wouldn't we?

In the same way, to ignore false teaching inside the church is not love — it is cruelty.

It is negligence.

It is failure to protect the flock Christ bought with His own blood.

Paul is not being harsh here.

He is being a loving and faithful under shepherd.

Because when wolves rise among the sheep, shepherds must not stay silent.

They must rise and act, even at great personal cost.

This is what faithful ministry demands.

This is what Christ Himself modeled- the Good Shepherd who said, “I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

Jesus did not merely teach the truth; He died for it.

He stood against every lie, every distortion, every wolf — even when it led Him to a cross.

And beloved, if we follow Him, we too must be willing to suffer for the truth, to bear reproach with Christ, and to lay down our comfort — even our very lives — for the sake of His gospel.

And this is what Paul now commands Titus — and through him, commands every faithful christian and church.

Transition:

But Paul does not only describe the danger.

He also gives Titus his marching orders.

The gospel must be guarded, and that means confrontation is unavoidable.

So now, let us hear the command: The gospel must not only be proclaimed; it must be protected.

2. The Command to Confront (vv. 13–14)

Look with me at Titus 1:13–14

Titus 1:13–14 ESV

…. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

Paul does not call for negotiation.

He does not suggest patience with error or quiet tolerance in the name of "peace."

He says plainly:

"Rebuke them sharply." (v.13)

The word means to cut cleanly — to confront clearly, urgently, even painfully if necessary.

Not out of pride.

Not out of harshness.

But out of love.

Because real love tells the truth, even when it hurts.

In the words of 1 Corinthians 13:6

1 Corinthians 13:6 ESV

[LOVE] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

And notice the goal of rebuking sharply:

"That they may be sound in the faith."

The goal is not to humiliate, but to heal.

The aim is not to crush, but to correct — so that wandering hearts would be brought back to the solid ground of Christ.

Healthy.

Rooted.

Sound in the true gospel.

Faithful confrontation is not an act of hate.

It is an act of hope.

Paul points to two dangers that must be confronted:

A. Jewish Myths These were invented religious stories — fictions dressed up as faith and truth.

They sounded spiritual, but they were detached from Scripture, floating on the winds of speculation and superstition.

Today, we still face "Christian myths":

Health-and-wealth gospels that promise riches if you "have enough faith."

Legalistic systems that replace the freedom of grace with endless rules.

New "spiritual revelations" that people claim are just as important as the Bible.

Beloved, truth is not invented.

It is revealed.

And it is found in the Word of God alone.

The author of Hebrews says it this way…

Hebrews 1:1–2 ESV

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Christ is the final Word.

The Scriptures are the firm foundation upon which we must stand.

Or as the old hymn “How Firm a Foundation” we sang this morning declares:

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in God's excellent Word! What more can be said than to you God hath said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

What more could God say than what He has already spoken in His Son?

What more could we need than the Word He has already laid beneath our feet?

To chase after myths is to build your life on sand.

But to cling to Christ in His Word is to stand unshakable when the storms come.

B. Commands of Men

The first danger Paul points out is Jewish Myths and the second is the commands of men.

These are man-made rules — systems built on human opinions rather than divine revelation.

In Paul's day, it was "Jesus plus circumcision."

Today, it’s often:

Jesus plus political loyalty.

Jesus plus a certain social cause.

Jesus plus your performance in church life.

But the gospel is not "Jesus plus."

It is Christ alone.

As Paul says in Galatians:

Galatians 2:21 ESV

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

In the words of the song we sang this morning…

(1st Stanza)

In Christ alone, my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song.

(2nd Stanza)

'Til on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live.

Here in the death of Christ I live!

Real-life example:

There are many among us today who believe they are "good with God" because they vote a certain way, attend church a few times a year, or avoid a few big sins — yet have never truly bowed the knee to Christ in repentance and faith.

They have Christ plus their self-made righteousness — and they are just as lost as the prodigal son in the far country.

Beloved, hear this:

Jesus plus anything equals nothing.

But Jesus plus nothing equals everything.

He alone is our hope.

He alone is our righteousness.

He alone is our salvation.

Illustration:

Imagine seeing a child wandering toward the edge of a cliff.

Would you whisper softly, afraid to upset them?

Or would you cry out — urgently, boldly — even if it startled them, because their life was at stake?

I’ll never forget standing with my sons, Leo and Caydan, at the cliffs overlooking Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe.

They were laughing and playing, inching dangerously close to the edge — completely unaware of how real the danger was.

I didn’t calmly suggest they step back.

I shouted.

I ran.

I grabbed them and pulled them away.

They didn’t realize the peril they were in.

But I did.

And because I loved them, I acted — not softly, but urgently, without apology.

In the same way, the Spirit speaks through the apostle Paul:

"Titus, speak clearly. Speak sharply. Rescue the wandering before it is too late."

True love does not stay silent when souls are in danger.

True shepherds do not watch wolves from a distance — they run to the fight!

They wield the sword of truth, not to wound, but to rescue and heal.

Transition to Point 3:

And now, Paul presses even deeper.

Why is all of this so urgent?

Because false teaching doesn't just confuse minds.

It corrupts hearts.

It doesn't just mislead —it poisons!

And it leaves souls unfit for every good work.

This leads us to the final point:

3. The Corruption of False Religion (vv. 15–16)

Look with me at Titus 1:15–16

Titus 1:15–16 ESV

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Here Paul peels back the mask and shows us the devastating end of false religion.

Outward rules cannot purify a corrupt heart.

External rituals cannot cleanse a guilty conscience.

Only the gospel can reach that deep.

Paul draws a sharp contrast:

"To the pure, all things are pure."

Meaning, that those who have been cleansed by Christ — by His blood and righteousness — can rightly enjoy God’s good gifts with thanksgiving.

Their hearts have been made new, and so their relationship to the world is new.

They see life not through the lens of superstition or fear, but through the freedom of grace.

BUT... “to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure."

When the heart remains unchanged, even the best gifts of God become corrupted.

No amount of religious practice can fix a heart that has never been reborn.

The problem is not the world outside them (us) — it’s the rebellion inside them (us). (Repeat!)

In the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:11

Matthew 15:11 ESV

it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

In other words, The problem is not our defiled actions but our rebellious hearts.

We need a new heart!

We need a heart change.

And the beauty of the gospel promises exactly that…

Ezekiel 36:26 ESV

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone …

If you put your faith in the gospel today, the Lord will give you a new heart that beats for him.

So, Paul here in verse 15-16 exposes the root issue of a defiled heart:

Their minds are polluted (“Defiled”) — meaning their thinking is twisted.

Their consciences are polluted — meaning their moral compass is broken.

They profess to know God.

They say the right things.

They post Bible verses.

They attend church services.

But their lives tell a completely different story.

Their lives are a tattletale on their hearts.

These people deny Jesus, not by their words, but by their works!

Their creed says one thing; their conduct says another.

They post Bible verses on social media, but speak with bitterness at home.

They serve on Sunday, but cut corners in business on Monday.

They claim to follow Jesus, but their lives preach a different gospel.

Their lips say “Lord, Lord,” but their lives say “Me first.”

They deny Christ — not with their mouths, but with their actions.

They boast about knowing Jesus, but their lives make Him look like a stranger.

These people are like trees bragging about their roots, while their fruit tells the truth.

Paul’s verdict then is utterly devastating:

They are…Detestable (disgusting before God) — morally revolting before a holy God.

They are disgusting to God — not because they are messy, but because they pretend to be clean.

They are…Disobedient — persistently rebellious, not joyfully submitted.

They refuse to follow God — choosing their own way instead of bowing to His.

They are…Unfit for any good work — incapable of true obedience, no matter how religious they appear.

They look busy for God, but they are useless for anything that truly matters for the kingdom of God.

They may do good things, but they don’t have a new heart.

Without a new heart, no one can do anything truly good for God and His Kingdom and His glory in his sight.

Our works apart from a new heart are filthy rags before a holy God.

Historical Illustration:

In the days leading up to the Reformation, the visible church was covered with a thick layer of religious activity.

Pilgrimages, indulgences, relics, elaborate ceremonies — everywhere there was the appearance of devotion.

But underneath, the gospel was buried under man-made traditions.

Salvation had become a transaction, not a transformation.

The church had become what Paul warns about here — a people professing God with their lips but denying Him with their lives.

Martin Luther and the Reformers did not rise to tweak the system.

They came to recover the true gospel.

They clung to what they called the Solas — Latin for "Alones" — later summarized in the 20th century as the Five Solas:

Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for the glory of God alone.

Not religion built by man — but redemption secured by Christ.

Paul’s point is the same here in our text:

External religion without internal regeneration is not Christianity.

It is death masquerading as life.

It is a man-centered effort dressed up in God-talk.

And beloved, this is not just a danger "out there."

It is a danger for us — here, today.

Whenever we trust in our traditions, our rule-keeping, our achievements, or even our theological precision instead of Christ, we fall into the same corruption.

Only the gospel — only Christ crucified, risen, and reigning — can purify the heart, cleanse the conscience, and empower true obedience.

Transition to Conclusion:

And so, Paul leaves no middle ground.

Titus must appoint elders who guard the gospel.

He must silence wolves who distort it.

And he must call the church — and us — to cling to Christ alone.

Because only in Christ can we stand pure, free, forgiven, and truly alive.

And only as we cling to Him can we be a faithful witness in this world — a light shining in the darkness, holding out the Word of life to a world desperate for hope.

Conclusion

Beloved, the question before us today is simple but searching:

Truth or trouble?

Christ or corruption?

The gospel or man-made religion?

There is no middle ground.

Paul's charge to Titus is Christ’s charge to us:

Guard the truth.

Confront error.

Cling to Christ.

We live in a world not unlike ancient Crete — a world where rebellion parades as freedom, where deception is normalized, where truth is traded for empty myths and self-made religion.

And yet, right here — right now — God has planted His church.

Right here, amid the pirates and the plunderers, amid the liars and the gluttons, the light of the gospel still shines.

But it must be guarded.

It must be guarded by qualified pastors who hold fast to the trustworthy word as taught.(v.9)

It must be guarded by churches who love Christ more than comfort.

It must be guarded by people — like you and me — who are willing to live by the truth, suffer for the truth, and if necessary, die for the truth.

And if you are here today and realize that much of your life has been empty talk — religion without regeneration, good works without a new heart — then hear the good news:

Christ came not to decorate dead trees, but to make dead men live.

He came to rescue rebels like us, to cleanse polluted hearts, to seat prodigals at the Father's table by His grace alone.

You don’t need to add to what He has done.

You only need to come with empty hands and trust Him.

Christ alone.

Grace alone.

Faith alone.

Scripture alone.

For the glory of God alone.

Come, then — not with confidence in yourself, but with full assurance in Christ’s finished work and His perfect sufficiency.

Come to Him with empty hands—hands that renounce self-sufficiency, that abandon all pretense, and cling to the cross alone, declaring:

“If Christ is not enough, then I am lost.”

And as we prepare to sing, let these words be the cry of your heart:

Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling; naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace; foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.

Wash us, Savior, or we die.

Amen.

PRAYER

Gracious Father,

We come before You now as a people in need.

Some of us weary from the fight for truth.

Others, perhaps, for the first time aware that we’ve been clinging to shadows and not the Savior.

For those who believe — strengthen our hearts to hold fast to Christ, to speak truth with love, and to shine as lights in the darkness.

Keep us from drifting, from dullness, from compromise.

Make us bold and tender — bold to guard the gospel, tender to call the wandering home.

For those who do not yet believe — awaken faith.

Strip away the lies we’ve believed, the masks we’ve worn, the works we’ve trusted.

Let today be the day they come with empty hands and cling to the cross alone.

Lord Jesus, wash us, or we die.

But in You, we live.

We pray all this in the only name that saves — Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.