Titus 1:1-16
Preached Wednesday April 15, 2009
Introduction:
Today we begin studying the last of the Pastoral Epistles. Titus was also an assistant to Paul. We will find some similar thoughts in this letter as we found in those written to Timothy.
Why do we need preachers? There are those that advocate a pooling of opinions from a group of believers and studying the Bible in a forum setting rather than hearing an authoritative sermon. Our passage gives us the answer to this question. There will always be false teachers, driven by lust and money, who seek to deceive the masses for their own personal gain. There will always be trusting and ignorant people who will follow these spiritual predators. The seasoned veteran, the Apostle Paul, warns Titus about these enemies of the truth. It is important that pastors be trained, ordained and ready to stand against lies and for the truth. When it comes to these clever false teachers, their mouths must be stopped.
I. The Minister of God must understand his divine role.
Titus 1:1-4
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
A. Servant of God= One who gives himself up to the will of another
B. Acknowledging truth
C. Anchored on the Hope of eternal life
D. Realize that God chose preaching to reveal His word to the world.
Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 Corinthians 1:21
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
E. The Word has been committed to God’s servant and he must be a good steward of that revelation.
1 Corinthians 4:1-4
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
II. The minister of God must understand his qualifications.
Titus 1:5-9
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
A. Churches need pastors
B. Blameless = that which cannot be called to account
C. Husband of one wife
D. Faithful children = reliable
1. Not accused of riot = wild partying
2. Not unruly
E. A good steward
F. Not self willed
2 Peter 2:10
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
G. Not soon angry
Proverbs 15:18
18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
H. Not given to wine
Proverbs 31:4-5
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
I. Not a striker = a brawler
J. Not ruled by a lust for money or material possessions
K. Loves hospitality
L. Companies with good men
M. Sober = of a sound mind
N. Just = doing what is right
O. Holy = pure, unpolluted
P. Temperate = self controlled
Q. Holding tenaciously to sound doctrine
Jude 3
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
III. The minister of God must deal with the enemies of the truth
A. Unruly deceivers
Titus 1:10
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
B. Their mouths must be stopped
Titus 1:11
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
C. They must be rebuked sharply
Titus 1:12-14
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
D. To the pure all things seem to be pure
E. To the unbelieving, nothing is pure
Titus 1:15-16
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.