Titus 2:1-10
Preached Wednesday April 22, 2009
Introduction:
There is a special skill required to dress well. Certain styles of clothing can only be worn with a specific matching piece. We have all witnessed fashion tragedies when striped ties are combined with plaid coats. Guys in Bible College are taught that we are not to mix busy with busy. Some people have a special skill, not only to avoid the awful but also to blend style, fabric, color, and body type perfectly. When that perfect outfit is recognized sometimes we use the phrase, “That outfit really becomes you.”
The word “becomes” means that one has been distinguished by a thing. It means that the clothing fits together perfectly. The Christian life is made up of several areas that are to go together like a matching outfit. They must not be considered separately, but as they match each other. The Christian is to have love, but a professed love alone does not please the Lord. The Corinthian Church was warned that they needed more than their love feasts in order to please the Lord. The Christian is to have good doctrine, but doctrine alone does not please the Lord. The Church at Ephesus was commended for their doctrine, but rebuked and warned because they had lost their first love. The Christian is to have good behavior, but keeping a list of rules alone is not enough. The Pharisees were sternly warned that their legalistic approach alone did not please God.
Often we tend to focus on one of these areas rather than blending all into a very well matched spiritual outfit. Paul told Titus that He needed not only to teach love for Jesus and expound sound doctrine, but also encourage behavior that becomes, or matches the other qualities.
God is very organized. I was reading in my devotions today how each family and clan in the Levite tribe had a specific function regarding worship and the Tabernacle. Each person was born with the ability to fulfill a specific role. Each of us have different roles, depending upon who we are. Paul told Titus that no matter what role we fulfill, our lifestyle must match our doctrine. We need to adorn beautiful behavior.
I. Aged Men
Titus 2:2
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
A. Be sober = abstaining from wine entirely.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-7
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
B. Be grave = reverent
C. Be temperate = curbing one’s desires and impulses, to be self controlled.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
James 1:20
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
D. Be sound ( healthy) in:
1. Faith = The Faith – basic body of Christian doctrine.
2. Love = Agape love produced in the heart of a saint yielded to the Holy Spirit.
3. Patience = the ability to remain under trials and afflictions.
James 1:3
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
II. Aged Women
Titus 2:3
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
A. Behavior that is befitting of a sacred place
1 Timothy 2:9-10
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
B. Not false accusers = diablos = a slanderer. This is the same word translated as “devil” in other scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
C. Not given to much wine. = Not a slave to wine.
D. Teachers of good things = to younger women.
Hebrews 5:12
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
III. Young Women
Titus 2:4-5
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
A. Taught to be sober = sane, to be recalled to one’s senses.
Romans 6:11
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
B. Taught to love their husbands.
C. Taught to love their children.
D. Taught to be discreet = having a sound mind, being careful about what one does or says.
E. Taught to be chaste = not indulging in unlawful sexual activity.
1 Peter 3:1-2
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
F. Taught to be keepers at home = caring for their own home rather than running from house to house with gossip.
1 Timothy 5:13
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
G. Taught to be good = kind, unselfish
H. Taught to be obedient = a military word acknowledging rank.
1. So that God’s Word is not blasphemed ( spoken reproachfully of)
2. Because the wife pictures Christ’s relationship to the church.
Ephesians 5:22-24
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
IV. Young men
Titus 2:6-8
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
A. Admonished to be sober minded = demonstrating self control, curbing one’s passions.
B. Admonished to be a good example
1. In doctrine
2. In uncorruptness = purity
2 Corinthians 2:17
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
3. In sound speech = speech that cannot be condemned by those who wish to discredit your ministry.
V. Servants – employees
Titus 2:9-10
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
A. Obedient
B. Please the boss in all things
C. Do not back talk after orders are given.
D. Not purloining = carrying away for one’s self – stealing
E. Fidelity = faithfulness, care and exact observance of duty
Conclusion:
Does your behavior fit with your doctrine? You claim to believe in God, His Word, and His Son. You say that He has made you a new creature. If you are saved, you are right. Does your behavior match? Do you behave as God would have you to as an aged man or woman, as a younger woman or man, as an employee? We must examine our lives and adorn beautiful behavior.