Titus 1 — Defending The Sound Faith

Theme: Be Sound In The Faith

Key Verse: Titus 1:13 - “Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.”

I. Begin With The Background Of Titus

A. What Kind Of Book Is Titus?

Titus is one of the books often called the Pastoral Epistles, along with 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy.

However, explain to the class that this title can be confusing because pastor, preacher, evangelist, and minister are not all the same work.

A better way to think of Titus is as one of the Preacher Epistles or Evangelist Epistles.

These books were written to men who were doing the work of preaching and teaching.

B. Basic Information

Author: Paul Recipient: Titus Date: Around 63–67 A.D. Theme: Be Sound In The Faith

Titus was probably written around the same time as 1 Timothy. Paul had likely been released from his first imprisonment and was doing more work among the churches before his second imprisonment.

C. Why Was Titus In Crete?

Paul left Titus in Crete for a purpose.

Titus 1:5 says:

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking…”

Titus had a work to do.

He was to:

Set in order things that were lacking.

Appoint elders in every city.

Teach sound doctrine.

Rebuke false teachers.

Help brethren become sound in the faith.

Teaching Emphasis

Titus was not just there to “hold meetings” or “encourage everybody.” He was there to correct problems, strengthen the churches, and defend the truth.

II. Explain The Key Word: “Sound”

A. Meaning Of Sound

The key word in Titus is sound.

The word means:

Healthy

Whole

Pure

Free from error

Sound doctrine is healthy doctrine.

Sound faith is faith that is healthy and based on truth.

Sound speech is speech that cannot rightly be condemned.

B. Where The Word Appears In Titus

The word “sound” appears several times:

Titus 1:9 — Sound doctrine

Titus 1:13 — Sound in the faith

Titus 2:1 — Sound doctrine

Titus 2:2 — Sound in faith

Titus 2:8 — Sound speech

C. Make The Point Clearly

A Christian cannot be spiritually healthy while believing error, teaching error, or living contrary to the truth.

To be sound in the faith means we must be right in:

What we believe.

What we teach.

How we live.

How we speak.

III. Give The Simple Outline Of The Book

IV. Titus 1:1–4 — The Sound Faith Has Been Revealed

A. Paul’s Authority

Paul begins by calling himself:

A bondservant of God.

An apostle of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s message did not come from men.

It was not based on:

His opinion.

Human tradition.

Popular ideas.

Personal preference.

Paul was an apostle according to the faith.

Teaching Emphasis

The sound faith is not something man invented. It came from God.

B. Truth And Godliness Belong Together

Paul speaks of:

“the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with godliness.”

Truth produces godliness.

Sound doctrine is not just something to argue about. It is truth that should produce holy living.

Make This Application

Some people act like doctrine does not matter as long as someone is sincere.

But Paul connects truth with godliness.

If we are going to live right, we must be taught right.

C. The Hope Of Eternal Life

Paul says this truth is connected with the hope of eternal life.

This reminds us that Christianity is not just about this life.

Our hope reaches beyond this world.

God promised eternal life before time began, and God cannot lie.

Teaching Emphasis

Men may lie. Men may change. Men may fail to keep their word.

But God cannot lie. Therefore, His promise can be trusted.

D. God Revealed His Word Through Preaching

God manifested His word through preaching.

That means the sound faith was revealed through God’s message.

Paul was entrusted with that message.

Today, we have that revealed message in Scripture.

Key Point

If we want to know the sound faith, we must go to the word of God.

E. Titus Was A True Son In The Common Faith

Paul calls Titus:

“a true son in our common faith.”

Paul and Titus shared the same faith because their faith was based on the same revealed truth.

Application

Christians today should still be united in the common faith.

Not many faiths.

Not man-made faiths.

One revealed faith.

V. Titus 1:5–9 — Elders Must Defend The Sound Faith

A. Titus Was To Set Things In Order

Paul left Titus in Crete to:

“set in order the things that are lacking.”

the illustration of a broken bone.

When a bone is broken, it has to be set properly. If it is not set correctly, it will not heal correctly.

In the same way, something was lacking among the churches in Crete.

They needed to be set in order.

B. What Was Lacking?

One major thing lacking was the appointment of elders.

Paul says Titus was to:

“appoint elders in every city.”

Teaching Emphasis

A church without elders may be scriptural if no men are qualified, but something is still lacking.

God’s complete arrangement for the local church includes qualified elders.

C. Four Conditions Of Church Organization

This section will help the class think clearly.

1. Scripturally Organized

This is when a church has qualified elders and qualified deacons serving under them.

This is God’s intended arrangement.

2. Scripturally Unorganized

This is when a church has no qualified men to serve as elders.

No elders should be appointed if no men are qualified.

That is scriptural, but something is still lacking.

3. Unscripturally Organized

This is when a church has elders or deacons who do not meet the qualifications.

They may have organization, but it is not scriptural organization.

4. Unscripturally Unorganized

This is when a church has qualified men but refuses to appoint them.

If qualified men are present, they should serve.

Teaching Emphasis

The solution to lacking elders is not appointing unqualified men.

The solution is developing and appointing qualified men.

D. Qualifications Of Elders

Titus 1:6–8 gives the qualifications.

An elder must be:

Blameless

The husband of one wife

Having faithful children

Not accused of dissipation or insubordination

A steward of God

Not self-willed

Not quick-tempered

Not given to wine

Not violent

Not greedy for money

Hospitable

A lover of what is good

Sober-minded

Just

Holy

Self-controlled

Teaching Emphasis

These are not suggestions.

These are God’s qualifications.

Titus was not free to appoint just anyone. He had to appoint men who met God’s standard.

E. Elders Must Hold Fast The Faithful Word

Titus 1:9 says an elder must be:

“holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught.”

This means an elder must cling to the truth.

He must not be loose with doctrine.

He must not be easily moved by new ideas.

He must hold firmly to the word of God.

F. Elders Must Be Able To Exhort And Convict

Titus 1:9 continues:

“that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

This explains what it means for an elder to be apt to teach.

It does not merely mean he can give a short talk.

It means he can use the word of God to:

Teach truth.

Encourage the faithful.

Correct error.

Answer false doctrine.

Convict those who contradict.

Defend the sound faith.

Teaching Emphasis

An elder does not have to know every answer instantly.

But he must be able to study, reason from Scripture, and defend the truth.

If a man cannot defend the truth, he is not qualified to oversee the flock.

VI. Titus 1:10–16 — Titus Must Rebuke Error So Men Can Be Sound

A. The Problem: False Teachers

Paul says there were many who were:

Insubordinate

Idle talkers

Deceivers

These men were not submitting to the truth.

Their words were empty.

Their teaching was misleading others.

Some were especially of the circumcision, meaning they were likely Jewish teachers trying to bind parts of the old law.

B. The Damage: Whole Households Were Being Subverted

Titus 1:11 says they were:

“subverting whole households.”

False teaching does not just affect one person.

It can affect families.

It can affect congregations.

It can lead souls away from the truth.

Teaching Emphasis

This is why sound teaching matters.

A congregation that is not grounded in the truth is vulnerable to error.

C. The Motive: Dishonest Gain

They were teaching things they ought not for the sake of dishonest gain.

They were using religion for selfish purposes.

False teachers may be motivated by:

Money

Popularity

Control

Influence

Pride

Application

Not every religious teacher is teaching because he loves truth.

Some teach what people want to hear because it benefits them.

D. The Description Of The Cretans

Paul quotes one of their own prophets:

“Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

Paul says this testimony was true.

emphasis is on their lying and deception.

They were deceiving people and turning them away from the sound faith.

E. The Solution: Rebuke Them Sharply

Paul tells Titus:

“Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.”

Titus was not to ignore the problem.

He was not to act afraid.

He was not to speak as if the matter was uncertain.

He had to rebuke them firmly.

Important Balance

There is a difference between being firm and being mean.

A rebuke should not come from hatred.

It should come from love for God, love for truth, and love for souls.

You Could Say It This Way

“Titus, these men are in error. Their teaching is hurting souls. You must speak plainly, firmly, and scripturally, so that they may be corrected and become sound in the faith.”

F. The Purpose Of Rebuke

The purpose was not to win an argument.

The purpose was not to embarrass someone.

The purpose was not to be harsh for the sake of being harsh.

The purpose was:

“that they may be sound in the faith.”

Teaching Emphasis

Biblical rebuke is corrective and restorative.

It is meant to bring people back to spiritual health.

G. What They Must Avoid

Titus 1:14 says they must not give heed to:

Jewish fables

Commandments of men

Those who turn from the truth

Application

Human traditions must never replace God’s word.

The issue is not whether something sounds religious.

The issue is whether God authorized it.

H. The Deeper Problem: Defiled Minds And Consciences

Titus 1:15 says:

“To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure.”

Their problem was not merely external.

Their minds were defiled.

Their consciences were defiled.

When the mind and conscience are corrupted, the person’s judgment is corrupted too.

I. Their Profession Did Not Match Their Practice

Titus 1:16 says:

“They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.”

This is one of the strongest statements in the chapter.

They claimed to know God.

But their works said otherwise.

Paul describes them as:

Abominable

Disobedient

Disqualified for every good work

Teaching Emphasis

A person’s works reveal the kind of faith he has.

It is possible to profess God with the mouth and deny Him by the life.