Instructions regarding the insubordinate
Kingdom instructions for kingdom living • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 43:29
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Setting things in order
Setting things in order
The purpose of the epistle for for Titus to set things in order. Paul is giving a series of godly instructions. Reminders, instructions and descriptions, this morning we will continue to look at these things.
First order of business
Remind Titus why was left in Crete (Tit1:5)
expand briefly
To provide qualifications for elders (Tit1:6-9)
expand briefly
This morning, the reason elders are needed (TIt1:10-11)
The character of the insubordinate (Tit1:10-16)
The harm of the insubordinate
The treatment of the insubordinate
Character of the insubordinate
Character of the insubordinate
As Simply Christians we need to start with the word, to glean from it then will go from there this morning.
10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.
What did you see, notice, what sticks out to you?
What can you learn about the rebellious/insubordinate men (v.10)?
There are many, they are empty talkers, deceivers especially of the Jews
What are the instructions given (v.11)?
They must be silenced, for they are upsetting and are doing it all for profit
There are more instructions given in (v.13-14), what are they?
Don’t pay attention to myths and commandments of men and turn from the truth
Words and deeds don’t line up, can you see that in (vv. 15-16)?
(Transition) Now may we look at the character of the insubordinate
(Insert Character of the insubordinate PowerPoint here)
First may we start with the church in Crete.
They are empty (idle) talkers, deceivers (vv.10-13)
Barnes states “They are more given to talk than practical religion.”
Not only are they not honest, they honestly want to deceive others
This conduct, this character was impacting the character of the people in Crete
tit1:12-13 “12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,”
Their minds and their conscience are defiled (vv.15-16) (1Tim6:3-5)
You can find other describers of these defiled, deceivers
3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
They are abominable and disobedient (v.16) (Pro6:16-19)
Abominable means detestable to God
Disobedient means unwilling to be persuaded and obey.
We can find a list of abominable things to God
16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
In looking at (Pro6:16-19) what are the abominable things?
They are worthless (disqualified) for any good deed, work (v.16)
Disqualified according to Strong’s means: depraved, fail the test, rejected, unapproved, worthless.
So, of no value to God, who has created us for good works according to (Ref: Eph2:10)
(Transition) now from the Churches in Crete to a glimpse into the churches of today. Or, at least some thoughts on it.
Talkers more than doers, hence deceivers (Jm1:22-26)
They resist godly authority and direction from the scripture and are more than likely to talk more than to do.
They not only deceive themselves, but deceive others and that is dangerous to the church
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
A point to remember, look at (v.26) if one is an idle talker, does not bridle his tongue, what are the results?
They are self deceivers and their religion is worthless.
(Transition) can you see why we are taking time with this, it is dangerous and it can be harmful, and that is what we will look at next.
Harm of the Insubordinate
Harm of the Insubordinate
Harm, who likes to be harmed? Oh wait, it means to damage, to wrong, to hurt, to injure, to offend, to treat unjustly. So, again, who likes to be harmed? As we look at this next section the harm, the offence of the insubordinate let’s keep these things in mind.
Harm, to the churches of Crete
The insubordinate were subverting households (v.11)
They were teaching for the sake of dishonest gain (v.11)
11 They’ve got to be shut up. They’re disrupting entire families with their teaching, and all for the sake of a fast buck.
These are people who are disrupting, turning, upsetting, overthrowing whole families, who are subverting, ruining and destroying. Do you think these things are harmful?
They are turning people away from the faith. Once knowing the truth and trading it for something else (Rom1, Jude, 1John; Hebrews)
They were not just turning one person, but entire families even.
Why were many of these insubordinate people doing it? For dishonest gain, for popularity.
They become willing to compromise the truth nor to avoid the truth because the truth maybe offensive.
Harm, in the churches today (2Tim4:3)
Popularity impacting the message or driving the message vs the truth.
This is being fulfilled today as told to Timothy
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
or maybe consider another version
2tim4:3
3 The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear.
So, not only will people want ear tickling, they will not listen to sound doctrine. This is dangerous is it not?
Maybe a reminder from last week before we move on.
9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
Refute those who contradict, the insubordinate!
(Transition) - so, you know the problem, it has been identified, now what do you do in dealing with the problem. Our passage gives us some good instructions for them then and us today.
Treatment of insubordinate
Treatment of insubordinate
Treatment is how we apply something. Paul is instructing the church in conduct and standard regarding the insubordinate right now. We are now going to glean to see about how the instructions were given in treatment of these people.
11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
To the church in Crete
They were to be stopped
Barnes notes states, to halt, to check, to curb,to bridle, to restrain and to put to silence
Now, can we do that still with gentleness and respect, in a proper way?
They were to be rebuked, sharply
To rebuke, reproof someone in such a way to be understood, and would show them plainly the wickedness of such traits of character (Barnes notes)
Ibid states “not to be mealy-mouthed, but he was to call things by their right names and not spare their faults.”
(Transition) Pretty hard, but not harsh, corrective but not corrosive, direct to help them to line up with the scripture. For the goal is for them to be sound, strong, in faith and doctrine
Teaching them that they may be strong in faith (doctrine). (2Tim2:24-25; Tit1:9)
13 He certainly spoke the truth. Get on them right away. Stop that diseased talk of Jewish make-believe and made-up rules 14 so they can recover a robust faith.
Sorry, had to throw that in there. Robust faith, stopping diseased talk.
Stopping, rebuking, has a goal of helping to saving the erroring one, and to stop the spread of error.
24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
This is the responsibility of Titus, and in preparation for the elders who would be placed in all the churches in Crete.
9 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.
To the churches today
Take insubordination seriously
How can we take insubordination seriously as church members?
Do you think that church leaders should address, or are responsible to address insubordination?
Stop the spread of false teaching and error
How can we stop the spread? Might we suggest that it is addressed directly using scripture in a respectful way.
Remember that the persons very soul could be at risk and our goal is restoration not separation.
Let the evangelists, elders scriptually address issue
If no repentance, then there should be a withdrawal (final option, last option)
Why do you think there would be a time of withdrawal?
I should give some biblical examples here
17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
In looking at (Rom16:17-18), what are the instructions given?
Why are the instructions given?
Now consider
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.
Notice in (2The3:6) there is a command, what is it?
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Now, look at (2The3:14-15) there is more instruction on how to treat the insubordinate in (v.15), what is it?
Admonish as a brother! not an enemy
(drawing a conclusion)
Those who are insubordinate
Hurt themselves their mind, their conscience
Harm others by false, misleading teaching, contrary to that of the scripture
They must be stopped, by proper rebuking, correcting, admonishing, and if no repentance than a withdrawal as a last resort.
While elders and evangelists are the burden bearers in correcting someone who is divisive, insubordinate to the authority of the scripture and the leadership of the elders, every Christian bears responsibility to be on guard against the harmful influence of those who are insubordinate.
(Pray) (Exit)