Titus 2:1-15[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, January 30th, 2010
There is a connection between believing the gospel and doing good works. In Titus, Paul tends to teach it this way; Sound Doctrine Brings Good Works. Genuine faith in Christ leads to obedience. Belief in Christ brings a different behavior. In chapter one we considered the grace of God and the knowledge of the truth, the qualifications for elders, and then learned that ungodly men must be silenced in the church. Today we come to chapter two where Paul tells Titus – essentially – teach them to wear the gospel well. We're going to cover the entire chapter and there is a lot here, so let's jump in.
Titus 2:1-15
1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,
4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Let's pray. Teach them to wear the gospel well through godly character and good works; for we have God's grace. We see here the message of the book in bold print: sound doctrine brings good works.
Titus is commanded to teach the church how to live in a way that makes the gospel look good and honor God. Let's look at that first…
The Pastor's Job, (1, 7-8, 15): To teach what 'accords with sound doctrine'. Maybe if I said it this way: "Teach and show the church how to live in such a way that the gospel is brought honor by your behavior, and their lives are fruitful." Or even simpler: "Teach them to wear the gospel well." Titus was told to do this boldly, directly, and with authority. "Declare, exhort, and rebuke with all authority", Paul says to the young pastor. Regardless of how a man sees himself as a pastor he must consider these words in this pastoral letter, and lead in a manner that befits the office! Before the church can wear the gospel well the pastor must teach the gospel and godly living well! Here again we see God's order of authority in the church. And between 'teach' in v 1 and with all authority in v 15 we have the reminder of living the example in verses 7-8. Teach and live with integrity and honor, wearing the gospel well yourself so that your witness is intact. That's the work given to young Titus here; teach, live, and lead with godly character and authority in the church.
Older Men, verse 2. What is old? Based on what I've read, 'older' generally meant past child-bearing and child-raising age; roughly 60 years old (as Paul's instructions to Timothy on care for widows says, 1 Tim 5:9). These men were to carry themselves with sobriety, dignity, and a demeanor that garnered respect among the church. These aren't necessarily elders in the church, but older men are to live godly and self-controlled. We will see this one a lot, so let's consider it: self-controlled. This is not letting the passions and desires rule you, but rather living by wisdom and purpose. Many of these desires are God-given, but still must be reigned in and ordered. Paul compares this in 1 Corinthians to the strict regimen an athlete must inflict on himself in order to be ready to compete. These men must be the rock of the faith community; sound in faith, steadfast in their love for Christ, family, and the church.
Older Women, verses 3-4. These women also must be self-controlled, not loose talkers or drinkers. Here we have women who's primary, daily responsibilities are dramatically decreased; so Paul urges the role of teaching the younger women how to live on these godly older ladies. How else would the younger women learn these things? From teaching and the example of the godly older women. Ladies, you are to grow in godly character and self-discipline so you can teach godly character to the younger women! This isn't for the chosen few, this was to be normal among God's people.
Younger Women, verses 4-5. Ah, the controversy this could bring! Rather, let's drop all that and receive God's truth from God. The primary responsibilities of the married younger woman are to her husband and to her children. This is God's wise plan, and it is hard work to keep a home and raise children. You, young ladies, are to be submissive to your husband, and live for him and for your children. It is NOT the time in life to be selfish; it is the time to live for others and work hard. God has a reward for you; but don't miss the reward of a godly witness and ministry NOW as you live your role faithfully before Christ. Your role in that home is critical to any society, wives and mothers; don't let that beautiful calling be spoken down to by this foolish culture.
Young Men, verse 6. Teach the young men to be self-controlled – stop. Short telegraph here, huh! I have to chuckle here; it's almost like, 'the boys gotta reign it in', and that's it. It is fascinating why he has so little to say for the young men, until you consider that, without self-control, any learning is wasted anyway, for the young man will live a wasted foolish life otherwise. In the highly visible, immediate-success era we live in, young men in entertainment and sports with incredible talent and skills flame out all the time. The most gifted cornerback to come out of the draft in the past few years couldn't stop fighting in bars, and after a big game was found in Las Vegas cashing $30,000 and throwing it like rain down onto the dance floor, which – as you might guess – caused a bit of a disturbance. Self-control, young men; we aren't animals; we don't have to live by base urges.
Slaves, verses 9-10. We don't have slaves today in this culture, unless you count minimum wage workers. But let's consider this admonition as useful for all who work, our lives are also to be submissive, respectful and we are to be faithful, trustworthy laborers. A man or woman who works hard, humbly receives instructions and corrections without a lot of mouthing off is a blessing. Joseph, from the book of Genesis, is an extraordinary example of such character for us. Now in summary we come to two questions; why and how.
Why: because we are a witness to Christ. Here Paul employs one of the most beautiful phrases in Scripture; "so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior". Here we get back to the roots of why we live godly lives; to be a godly witness. The church needs to see it and the world needs to see it – the church living godly lives. And this is where I get this phrase 'wear the gospel well', because Paul says adorn the doctrine'; put it on with honor and dignity. Father, help us to do so! We have Christ in us, church; we are the gospel witness to a dying world; to deny Him by our works is such a DISgrace! So we are taught to honor Christ by our good works. To represent Christ well as a body, that's why we live godly lives. And in a godless world it is hard, but God is our Savior, God is One with Jesus, and has offered us rich, free grace. Let's see about that in verses 11-14. Here's…
How: by God's grace in us, verses 11-14. This bears reading again, for it is so very rich! For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
It is a saving grace. This grace, and here Paul clearly speaks of the person of grace – Jesus Christ – is a saving grace. We who were far from God were brought near through God's choice to offer His Son on that cross! This grace is free to all men; not every person will be saved, church – this isn't a watery universalism – but rather, this grace if for all people, not just Jews, and not just Greeks in our area; it is for all people!
It is a cleansing grace. When we receive this grace we renounce – publicly reject, and part association with – ungodliness, and we turn to live a holy and upright life. Because grace is free many have mistakenly assumed that they can keep their own course of sinful, selfish living; that's not the Christian gospel. The call to believe and follow Christ comes with a call to renounce disobedience to God, our Creator, and to walk a life worthy of Christ!
It is a hopeful grace. It points us to the return of the One we love and believe in! We sing of this, we pray for this, we hold this as our hope – He will come to rescue His church, and resurrect our bodies! I like what Larry Osborne says in Sticky Teams[2] about His church's doctrine on the return of Christ; "We like to say we're on the welcoming committee, not the planning committee." That's good wisdom!
It is a costly grace. "Who gave Himself". This, the sinless, righteous, Son of God came to Calvary to suffer my indignity, shame, beatings, nakedness, humiliation, pain, and death. I have disobeyed God, as have you – like sheep, we've gone astray. But Christ thought it right to come and die for us, all who would believe, from every tribe, tongue, and nation. He shed His own blood, though innocent. And with this great price He purchased pardon for sinners.
He paid the debt in full; with resurrection power and new life in us, we can, by this saving, cleansing, hopeful, costly grace – we can live new lives, godly lives.
We, having received the gospel, can live to adorn the gospel of grace. Church, by His grace, - old men, women, and young men and women – we can wear the gospel well.
This young pastor is told: Titus, Teach them to wear the gospel well through godly character and good works; for we have God's grace. For the sake of the good name of Christ in us, let us wear the gospel well.
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