For The Sake Of The Faith Of God's Elect And Their Knowledge Of The Truth
Notes
Transcript
Call To Worship Scripture:
Call To Worship Scripture:
Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?
If the Lord had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
When I thought, “My foot slips,”
your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
those who frame injustice by statute?
They band together against the life of the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
But the Lord has become my stronghold,
and my God the rock of my refuge.
He will bring back on them their iniquity
and wipe them out for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will wipe them out.
Psalm 94:
Sermon Scripture
Sermon Scripture
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.” This testimony is true. 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. 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.
LAST WEEK
As we concluded we saw God give David the opportunity to choose what punishment would become him for his pride in taking a census of Israel.
It went down as follows:
But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” And the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’ ” So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Choose what you will: either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”
And so we concluded from the statement of David, that the doctrine of God demonstrated by David, is that the mercy of God is great and as such it is a far better place to fall into than the hand of man.
However, observe the mercy of God:
So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”
1 Chronicles 21:
Doctrine:
The mercy of God is great
The discipline of the Lord is better than the vengeance of man
of the 70,000 men that fell (by the power of God) all of them belonged to God, none of them fell out of the grasp of God but rather were removed from King David’s care.
The discipline of the Lord is always working and completing something in us that leads to life, even when before us appears death. “Do not despise the instruction/the discipline of the Lord. David’s sin was that he became prideful, zealous of what belonged to God. Thus God dealt with what belonged to Him. He demonstrated that the blessing, protection, preservation and expansion of Israel were all subject to and dependent upon the mercy of God.
The righteous duty of the earthly king is to live in submission to the Heavenly king
The righteous leading of the people of God is in obedience to God, that His protection and mercy might be known and remembered.
We must be reminded from where our life, our blessing, our preservation and our instruction comes. This is the laying out and thus living of doctrine.
TWO WEEKS AGO:
We discussed how the emphasis of the church gathering for worship is teaching.
The purpose of that teaching is to lay out what is in accords with sound doctrine. We gather to learn and be instructed in that which has been taught.
LAST WEEK
This is of main emphasis to the pastor/elder. This is how the ox treads and the cause for double honor instructed. This is a work of faith.
As we come to Titus, the Spirit of God through the Word instructs us in this even more so.
TITUS:
Titus is a pastoral letter written by Paul to Titus probably written in the 60’s A.D..
Purposed in it are instruction, encouragement and wisdom. These things are needed because Titus is facing ongoing opposition from (I believe) for all intents and purposes within the church.
Thus Paul encourages Timothy to complete what he had been instructed in by Paul.
Appoint elders (overseers) under his care
Teach sound doctrine
These things are to form in place proper Christian behavior. This behavior is based on two things:
The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people…(therefore those who believe…)
Live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives, awaiting the return of Christ (2:11-13).
Before we jump down to , want to read to you why Paul remained upon this earth, and why Titus remained at Crete, and why I stand here, remain before you to this present day and you as well remain:
Titus 1:
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
“for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth...”
PAULS INSTRUCTION:
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
Titus 1:
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
THIS: The “this” in verse 5 is explained in a positive sense in verse 6-9, while the ultimate defining need for it is expanded upon in verse 10 which begins with “for”…
“this is why I left you in Crete…that you might put in order...for there are many who are insubordinate”
“this is why I left you in Crete…that you might put in order...for there are many who are insubordinate”
CRETE:
Crete is perhaps first seen in scripture (though not mentioned by name) in the OT.
The CHERETHITES, who formed part of David’s bodyguard, came from it, and the place-name *CAPHTOR probably referred to the island and the adjacent coastlands which fell within its dominion during the 2nd millennium BC.
In the NT we read of the Cretans in as being present at Pentecost
both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
Paul later journeyed to the Island of Crete on his journey to Rome.
and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.
Acts 17:
Acts 27:
We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.
so Paul was overruled and they did not remain at Crete.
Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.
It is evidently sometime after Paul’s imprisonment at Rom that he revisited Crete, and left Titus there to carry on the work.
Acts 27:2
Thus, when we read “what remained” we understand that from as well as from Pauls journey’s the gospel had gone out to Crete, but as we read in Titus, there is a lack of order.
WHAT REMAINED
When Paul says “what remained” he is saying “what is presently lacking, falling behind or coming up short”
What is lacking is:
proper elders
continued teaching of sound doctrine
proper defence of the faith
I am of the persuasion that the context here is that there is a group of Cretans that had either through Pentecost or Paul’s journey there, been introduced and received the gospel. There is a church (as in a body of believers) at Crete that need guidance and instruction. They are lacking in these things which is why Paul left Titus and why he left him with specific instruction as to how to care for such lacking. Thus, what is being described are challenges to the faith which arise from within the church itself.
The first instruction of Paul to Titus is to appoint elders that Titus might not venture alone. To do this, Titus must not just assign people a title of elder but he must appoint them “as Paul directed him”. This is the only way that elders will be of benefit rather than further burden. Thus we have the direction:
if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Titus 1:6
The instruction begins with the individual, then the family, then the civil corespondance (debauchery and insubordination) dealing with how one deals with instruction and law…debauchery - inciting unruly riots (such as the drunkard Eph 5:18)…insubordination - being unruly.
The posotives that are given to the elder as “God’s steward” are that he must be,
hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined - this all dealing with ones temperate
The final instruction moves from conduct to ability or rather ability which is birthed from conduct.
conduct: hold firm to the trustworthy word “as taught”
ability: give instruction in sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it
SOUND DOCTRINE:
Sound: to be in health. Good, safe, whole.
Doctrine: Teaching, the act of teaching and it is used in the passive sense meaning: the act of teaching that which has been taught. There is no new doctrine in the church there is only right and wrong doctrine, healthy and unhealthy. That which aligns with the teachings and gospel of Christ and that which does not and is thus a false gospel.
Titus and the elders which he appoints are to instruct and rebuke using the whole of what has been taught to them in the Word of God through Paul - through Christ…dont venture outside of it.
Thats the instruction. What are the circumstances within the church:
For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
Those fitting for eldership will not be easy to find…there are many who are
insubordinate - rebellious - not open to rule, indevidualistic…refusing to be disciplined
empty talkers - this would be the opposite of healthy/whole, they wonder in “vain discussion” (1Tim1:6). There talk is idol, useless, purposeless and fruitless
decievers - more than just talking idolly the deciever misleads and speaks wrongly
espessially those of the circumsision party
the circumcision party - (primarily legalism) most of the “insubordinate” talk has to do with biblical law. The circumcision party is those of the circumsision (ie. Jewish). These would be those trying to add to the gospel of Christ wether through the ceremonial or moral law of the OT, refusing to see the law as fulfilled in Christ Jesus, but rather still left to some form of human fulfillment and thus binding the church to it for acceptance. (this party is also seen in critisizing Peter for going to uncircumcised men and eating with them)
the circumcision party - (primarily legalism) most of the “insubordinate” talk has to do with biblical law. The circumcision party is those of the circumsision (ie. Jewish)
They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
Titus 1:
Such teachings must be stopped.
“must be stopped” present active infinity…it is a constant conflict...a primary motive is greed, money
“must be stopped” present active infinity…it is a constant conflict...a primary motive is greed, money, self, a need of conscience...
One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. 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.
The prophet here is believed to be referencing the poet Epimenides of Crete who is also quoted in …In a sense it says…here is a liar who spoke the truth.
lazy, glutens...this appears to be speaking of their activity in biblical truth. They were lazy in Bible truth and devoted to Jewish myths. They held to what they new rather than what God said.
lazy, glutens...this appears to be speaking of their activity in biblical truth
The Biblically lazy can often tend to love religious laws or get easily caught in new found fables or conspiracies and the Jews had some 400 volumes of legal mumbo jumbo.
Laziness must be rebuked, not entertained, so that faith might become sound rather than a shallow driffting.
If not dealt with, such laziness in Biblical truth can turn themselves and others away from the faith. “turn themselves away from truth” - Jewish fables and commandments of men or improper application or misinterpretation is/ are not called truth.
not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
to fall from grace is not to “commit a sin” here so to speak as in a moral sin... but to turn back to law.
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.
Titus 1:
To those who are elect, who are of God, who are of the true gospel…all things are pure, why? Jesus.
Thus they are free to come, to seek to learn, to grow in a knowledge of the truth, to grow in faith and in love and in steadfastness to the things of God. Moral and/or cerimonial lackings are not a blockage anymore but are rather found all fufilled in Christ.
To those who are defiled (perfect passive participle) meaning not just have they never believed and they currently are unbelieving, but that they in a past time (not a single work of themselves) have been defiled. To be defiled is to be in a sense as died with another color…to be of another, to be marked.
This is not someone who has lost salvation but who has never been pure
both their minds and their consciences are defiled. There are those in the church professing to know God, but they are not the elect, for they deny him by their works…by the things that they add to the gospel. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work for they trample upon the work of Christ.
APPLICATION:
cannot be seperated from .
Titus is within a church which has those who are elect and yet turning from grace and those who are not elect (have never turned to grace)
Titus must set the church in order even though it all looks the same and all looks completley out of order.
The question is “how?”
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
The teaching of sound doctrine filters out who are God’s. The truth is the church can be a messy place and as the puritans said, “the same sun that melts the ice, hardens the clay”.
We do not know, speaking of myself and the elders who are the elect. I perhaps wish that I did, but the truth is that we do not know whose names God has. The truth is that one can look a saint and be full in their rebellion against God, while another can be percieved as a great sinner who simply needs to hear the doctrine of God.
If Timothy is going to put anything in order in the church, then he must teach the full health of what has been taught and this will work as a filter. It will correct those who need correcting, persevere with those who need to be persevered with, give grace to those who need grace, extend love to those who need love, and show the door to those who reject and who are used only for division and confusion.
Timothy must get others in place who are able to do the same (elders).
And church the same is true to us today.
He must get others in place who are able to do the same. And church the same is true to us today.
The word for rebuke is also translated expose. In this it exposes the error to someone in one sense allowing correction and in another sense exposing who someone truly is or who they belong to.
My position is not to judge who God’s elect are, but of the elect I am to put in order what remains before us, by the teaching of sound doctrine, and this exposes truth. The Word of God is the sword, not I, and thus it must be wielded properly and surgically in these present times.
Church I pray that you see the beauty of this. Paul goes on here to instruct in a very applicable manner how one is to live based upon not ones ability or tradition but based upon:
the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior having appeared and saved us
not by works done by us in righteousness,
but according to his own mercy
by the washing of regeneration (the mark of defilement gone) and renewal of the Holy Spirit...
Thus in this, being justified by his grace…being given the right by his grace, we become heirs according to the hope of eternal life and we live,
self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age...
and we do this waiting for our blessed hope, which is,
the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
this appears to be speaking of the elect on the Island of Crete
a primary motive is greed, money
Cretan (a prophet…he told the truth)…if cretans are liars and a cretan says they are liars…is he lying?…here is one that is a liar that spoke the truth…
this appears to be speaking of the elect on the Island of Crete
this appears to be speaking of the elect on the Island of Crete
pure all things… -
Jews had 400 volumes of legal...
Jews had 400 volumes of legal...
“turn themselves away from truth” - Jewish fables and commandments of men are not called truth.
to fall from grace is not to commit a sin but to turn back to law
pure all things… -
but (perfect passive participle)
defiled
filtering out who are God’s
defiled - died with another color
defiled - died with another color
mind & conscience has....perfect passive indicative
They profess they know God (perfect tense) (they have always known God)
They deny him (present tense)( constantly denying Him.)
A new creation in Christ Jesus must/does exhibit some characteristics of that.
Can some be saved and show no evidence of that.
A sound teaching of truth will lead to separation between the elect and non-elect and that is left to the Holy Spirit
elenco - expose, convict, punish, rebuke, convince
pronoun - they refers to those not members of the body of Christ....vs.13 - they may reference the believing congregation