Titus 2

You matter… No, I haven’t fallen into humanism or the feel good about yourself movement, but that statement still stands that you matter. You matter to your peers, to your leadership, to the younger generation, to the local church, and to the cause of Christ. You matter, your behavior matters, your growth matters, your spiritual walk matters for a purpose far greater than what just resides within your mind.

After the striking of Pearl Harbor, thousands of young American men signed up to be the resounding response that America would send forward to those who stood against her. These young men were motivated by their patriotic love for their nation, their means of response was to stand and fight, and their mission was to express that in their hearts there was none greater than their home, America. That was the passion of the soldier's heart.

Just before COVID-19 struck, NPR released a study that found that 3 out of every 5 Americans feel as though they are lonely or don’t have belonging. It was found that 63% of men and 58% of women found themselves feeling isolated. Today, even in the midst of a world that has never had more ways to connect with others, people feel purposeless, alone, and even though we are constantly bombarded with entertainment, work, and social media, people feel as though their lives are pointless and alone.

Is that how you feel this morning? Have you ever found yourself coming to a point where you ask yourself, “Was I really put on this earth just to do xyz? Is that it?” Do you find yourself feeling disconnected from community as though you are just a ghost who is passing through life with just acquaintances who acknowledge you every now and again? Or do you feel as though there just isn’t enough ‘gas in the tank’ and you just can’t get motivated?

If that’s the case, I want to go ahead and tell you that you do have a purpose and whether you realize it or not, you have been created for the glory of God and those who have submitted to Christ have found themselves enlisted as soldiers in the Lord’s army, or ambassadors making His grace known widely as we represent Him. Much like the soldier who serves to make it known that he serves the greatest nation, you and I have been called to live to make the same declaration, which is that we serve the greatest of Kings, we have the greatest of citizenship, and we have the greatest and most powerful message ever heard. For those of us who know this truth and it’s power, we hold a great sense of duty and desire within our hearts that we do not bring shame to this message. And that is what Paul is making known to the ranks of the church from the old to the young, from the free to the enslaved, from the male to the female which is this: No condition and no period of life is to remain unaffected by the power of the gospel. As we look at the text today, we will find a bit about our purpose as the Word of God begins to work in our lives.

The What (v1, 5, 8, 10)

As we begin to take note of our purpose as representatives we find, first, our duty. Which is to live lives that compliment, or ‘are becoming to, sound doctrine. Notice something with me in v1, 5, 8, and 10.

Ragan’s favorite slogan is one that Ernie Mills uses over at the Durham Rescue Mission’s thrift store: “If it ain’t becoming to you, let it be coming to us!” And when it comes to the Gospel message in the eyes of the world it could be said, “If you ain’t becoming to it, then don’t let it be coming to us.”

Within these texts we find a heavy focus and consistent repetition on the importance of our lives and the way it represents the message we profess to the world. As Paul previously addressed the destructive doctrine and unchanged behavior of the false teachers in chapter 1, he then turns his head and says, “But as for you, Titus! You teach, or lead by example, a life that’s actions are fruitful of the truth we preach!” Paul is seemingly not only interested in the formal preaching of Titus in this particular verse, but this extends to all that he does as a leader! The word that Paul uses for “sound” here is ‘hygiainouses. It has the cognate adjective ‘hygies’ which means healthy. This word was used frequently in the Gospels for people who were made whole after suffering from a disability. This word was used in the case of the woman who suffered from internal bleeding at the pool of Bethesda and the cripple outside the temple in Jerusalem after they were so graciously healed!

It is like, to summarize verse 1, 7, and 8, Paul is saying, “Titus, you’ve seen the destruction these false teachers are causing in the lives of our brothers and sisters! You, as their loving pastor, are to both teach the only truth that has power to change their lives and you yourself are to live like it’s really done that for you!” The Cedar Grove translation might say, “You say you know the life changing truth of the Word and that you yourself have been made whole by the truth, so act like it!”

Do you, this morning, live a life that genuinely says, “Hey, I really believe the message I say I believe.”?

Now, in some Christian circles there is a false teaching of “hyper-separationism” that makes Christians into societal recluses hiding away from the rest of the culture, but this is not the case in genuine Christendom as Christ has called us to be both salt and light. One commentator took note that Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7, urges Christians to continue in their places in society that they may see that there has been a genuine change in the life of their friend, co-worker, boss, employee. Christian living within society, that promotes mission while not compromising God’s values, is a part of God’s will. We are to live as such that we may, as v10, says “adorn” the doctrine of God. This means that our lives decorate this great truth that we hold. Are you an ornament for Christ? As you hang to His finished work on Calvary, does the world see your life as one shining with grace to decorate that tree to which you cleave?

But how? And this is where we find ourselves heading into the next part of this passage which are verses 2-10.

The How (v2-10)

It seems that famed scientist Albert Einstein had more trouble finding his way home from work than he did finding the key to atomic power. One evening as Einstein sat deep in thought aboard the train that brought him home each night, the porter approached to collect his ticket. Einstein rummaged around in his coat, through his pockets, in his shirt, and everywhere else he could think of, growing alarmed at his inability to find the ticket.

"That's okay, Dr. Einstein," said the porter. "I know you ride this train every day. I can collect tomorrow."

"That's fine for you, young man," Einstein replied, "but how am I supposed to know where to get off the train without my ticket?"

There are many of us who would lose our own heads if they weren’t attached for us and when the needs of life come requiring our commitment we worry and ask, “How!?” Luckily for us, as we view this text we see that Paul has taken the Church at Crete and has divided into 5 sections. As he begins to list the individuals we see that he shows us the behavior of lives that are living for the adorning of the gospel, because of the power of the gospel. Let’s quickly take note of these 5.

Paul begins with the older men of the congregation.

Older men would have been considered those who had children who were old enough to be starting their own families. It is these men who are to be spiritual role models to the rest of the church. These men are to exhibit three initial characteristics which are:

Sober-minded: These men are to be clear minded men who are focused and capable of making good judgment.

Grave: This word means, “worthy of respect”. The older men of the church shouldn’t behave foolishly as men unworthy of respect.

Temperate: These men are those who should be self-controlled. Not easily moved by emotions and random wims of passion.

These next three seem to be deeper cores of the first three traits. This may be quickly summarized in saying that these men, who are grounded by sound doctrine, are sound in their faith-these are men who have strong trust in their Lord. Next, they are strong in sacrificial and serving love for others, and lastly they are to be men of patience- in the midst of false teaching, temptations of the flesh, and a wicked culture those fighting for truth may grow weary but Paul encourages them to stand press onward! With the fading of abilities and senses men are said to face feelings of uselessness as they aren’t able to do all that once made them so proud, yet amidst the trials of fading bodies Paul doesn’t call those aging warriors to take a knee, but to press on with greater stride forever which he himself did as he fought the good fight until the end of his life.

The Older Women

Older women were those who had children old enough to have their own families.

Reverential Living ‘Behaviour as becometh holiness’

This adjective rendered “reverent” here comes from a compound word that means “living in a way that is befitting to a holy person” or it could depict “acting like a priestess within a temple”. This suggests that the older women are to live every day with the demeanor of a priest in a temple. They are to allow the magnitude of the presence of God to revolutionize their whole lives.

Striving to avoid moral failure

These women are not to be slanderers, which comes from the word “diabolos” which is often translated as Devil in the Bible. This is a sermon in itself, such a destructive sin is nothing but the work of Satan himself.

They are also to not be under the control of alcohol.

Teach younger women

Instead of using their God-given mouths to slander and commit themselves to their addiction, they are called to invest in the younger generation. There is a great need in every congregation for the ministry of mature women. They can share their wisdom and experience with the rising generation, prepare brides for their wedding, and later advise them about parenthood.

Younger Women

They are to be trained to love their husbands and children

Love is the first and foremost basis of marriage and parenting in this text, not so much the love of emotion and romance, still less of eroticism, but rather of sacrifice and service. The young wives are to be ‘trained’ in this, which implies that it can be brought under their control.

They are to be trained to be self-controlled, pure, and busy at home

It may be understood that “self-controlled and pure” may be in reference to marital faithfulness and be used as a call from the older women to the younger of the importance of their roles.

Busy at home does not mean that a woman is not allowed to work a job, as a matter of fact the Bible does not teach that a woman is not allowed to have a job, we note that the woman in Proverbs 31 herself was a woman who worked. This text, however, teaches that if a woman accepts the vocation of marriage, and has a husband and children, she will love and not neglect them. She will be a woman who is committed to effective management of her house.

They are to be kind and submitted to their husbands

Next, they are to be kind which may refer to being hospitable.

And they are to be submitted to their husbands. This text is not teaching the inferiority of women to men. Scripture teaches that there is equal value between the sexes. However, God has established a created order of male-leadership in the home, not as a dictator, but love and care with responsibility.

Younger Men

In a wicked culture that has a church with false teachers in it, self-control is a trait that is far removed from the church in Crete. However, Paul makes it clear that this is a trait that should be held by believers. Paul is calling the young men of the Church to be men of self-control over their tongues, their tempers, and their sexual urges that they may live a life of purity

Slaves

Slaves are to seek to please their masters

Slaves are to be fully compliant

Slaves are to be people of honor and integrity who live lives that honor the gospel

As Paul has addressed everyone, both male and female, old and young, slave and free, we see that everyone is called to live a life that is being changed and nourished by the sound doctrine of the word of God. Here we have seen Paul has listen really two things that spring from the healthy teaching of the Word: First is that the core of our lives, our very behavior, are changed! And second, we not only see change, but commitment to making investment into those around us.

Does this seem like your life? Are you changed? Are you investing in the next generation that they may be strengthened up? Are you encouraging your fellow believers that they may press forward together with you? This is the life that is changed by the truths of the Word and changed for the adorning of it’s message! But, that’s a lot of work isn’t it? So what’s our motivation in this life? Let’s close with this final and climactic point.

The Why (v11-14)

The Passion of Grace’s Coming (v11)

Now, the question is did grace simply not exist or did it lay dormant before this appearing and what exactly was this appearing?

First, notice the plan of grace in 2 Timothy 1:9. So we see that this was not something that merely sprung up at a random time but was planned before creation itself existed!

Second, notice it’s passion in Titus 3:4-7! This is what the appearing was. We see this in Titus 2:14. Which shows that Christ’s coming presented the gospel call to all men as seen in Romans 10. This is NOT teaching universalism, but instead proves that Christ’s crucifixion will be known to have been universally presented by His life, death, and resurrection! Now, let’s look at those who have been graciously saved in point two.

The Present Work of Grace’s Coming (12)

As we have been saved because of the gracious work of God, we are now being taught by grace. So, simply put, you and I have been bought by grace and are now being taught by grace. This work of grace is teaching us two things:

What we should deny

How we should live

The Anticipation of Grace’s Return (13)

Now, Paul does something interesting here. In this paragraph everything is referring to the first coming of Christ. But in the middle of it all Paul has sandwiched in the second coming of Christ. It, most simply put, shows us that we are walking the tight wire between His first and second coming and in the middle of this limbo we look back to His first coming and we joyfully await His return. This is the motivation of the Church! This is what presses us onward! Knowing that whether we look backward or forward we are surrounded by the gloriously undeniable reality that God has revealed grace to US!

To summarize this text:

Christ, denying Himself, gave Himself for us that we might be redeemed. In our redemption we have been filled with eager anticipation of His coming. In this eager anticipation, we are being transformed by grace as we reflect on His actions and wait for His return. Therefore, as we have been redeemed, we are to see our lives being changed into one’s that live in a focused, righteous, and godly way just as our Lord. Who denied Himself for the loving good of His people. We too, as our lives are changed in remembrance and anticipation should deny ourselves for the good of others.

Conclusion

Seeing this truth before us, we must obviously note that all of this. The change in a wicked man’s life, the birth of the Church, the nurture of the old to the young, and the strength of the home is all a revolving around what Christ did for us at Calvary. We, as His church, have been bought with the price of His very blood. He took the sin and the shame of the sinner and laid it upon Himself that we may rejoice in the day of His return. Had it not been for His grace, the familial like nurture of the Church would not be, and even more we would be lost to our sin, hopeless in this world, and in the day that we stand before Him, we would be cast into Hell.

Do you have the confident reassurance of grace this morning? Has your life been radically changed? (Not cheap grace). Have you entrusted your hope, your righteousness, your soul to the keeping of the One who rules over all? If you see yourself as a sinner this morning, repent of your sin and cling to the work of Christ and if you bow the knee to Him as Lord over your life. You will be saved!

Grace is the steam to the locomotive of the believers heart. Rest in it, rejoice in it, run forward to fight by His strengthening grace and for His ultimate glory, Church. He is worthy.