Three Warnings to Believers
Three Warnings to Believers
Titus 3:8-11AMP
This message is most trustworthy, and concerning these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those who have believed in (trusted in, relied on) God may be careful to apply themselves to honorable occupations and to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent and right [in themselves], but [they are] good and profitable for the people.
9 But avoid stupid and foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and wrangling about the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile.
10 [As for] a man who is factious [a heretical sectarian and cause of divisions], after admonishing him a first and second time, reject [him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him],
11 Well aware that such a person has utterly changed (is perverted and corrupted); he goes on sinning [though he] is convicted of guilt and self-condemned.
Intro: This is a vital message to all believers with three warnings.
1. Do Good Works and don’t stop doing them!
2. Turn away from foolish questions, genealogies. Contentions.
3. Reject a Heretic
We must be diligent in doing good works. And we must never stop doing those works. We have no right to say when we can stop. We must keep doing the work till the job is finished not till we are tired or think we are led another work that we don’t intend to finish either.
God saves us to do good works!
Ephesians 2:10AMP
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Matthew 5:16KJV
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Hebrews 10:24KJV
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
James 2:17-18KJV
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Verse 9 – Strife, Time wasting, Division, Theological discussion.
It has been said there is a danger that a man may think himself religious because he discusses religious questions. There is a discussion group that argues simply for the sake of arguing. This kind of group sits around for hours talking about theological discussion. There is no virtue in sitting around discussing theological questions when there is much work to be done in the field!
John 4:35-36KJV
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
1 Timothy 1:4KJV
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1 Timothy 6:4-5AMP
He is puffed up with pride and stupefied with conceit, [although he is] woefully ignorant. He has a morbid fondness for controversy and disputes and strife about words, which result in (produce) envy and jealousy, quarrels and dissension, abuse and insults and slander, and base suspicions,
5 And protracted wrangling and wearing discussion and perpetual friction among men who are corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, who imagine that godliness or righteousness is a source of profit [a moneymaking business, a means of livelihood]. From such withdraw.
Philippians 2:3KJV
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Verse 10 – 11 Heresy, false teaching. The third warning – we as believers must reject heretics. The Greek word for heresy means to take for oneself. A heretic is a person who chooses what he is to believe. He or she rejects all authority no matter what it is God Christ, the Word of God. The church man no matter what! He/she alone becomes the authority and believes what he/ she determines is the truth. They don’t know because the Word of God tells them, - they only know because they know!
Most heretics remain in church, holding to some basic teachings but rejecting those they don’t like; or are uncomfortable with, even adding to some as they like.
1 Timothy 4:1-2AMP
BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach,
2 Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized),
Admonish him the first and second time then reject him from your fellowship!
2 Peter 2:1-2KJV
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.