WEBVTT 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:12.000 So before we get started, we are going to do 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:15.199 our doctrinal statement, but today we're actually 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:19.100 going to do the Nassian Creed, an amazing creed. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:21.420 I love this creed. So we're going to read it 00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:22.660 together and then I'm going to pray and then 00:00:22.660 --> 00:00:24.160 we're going to get into the word. You guys ready? 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:28.589 The Nassian Creed. We believe in one God, the 00:00:28.589 --> 00:00:32.530 Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, 00:00:32.710 --> 00:00:37.329 of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in 00:00:37.329 --> 00:00:41.250 one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, 00:00:41.530 --> 00:00:45.509 eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, 00:00:45.829 --> 00:00:50.590 light from a light, true God from true God, begotten, 00:00:50.590 --> 00:00:55.170 not made, of one being with the Father. Through 00:00:55.170 --> 00:00:59.670 him all things were made. For us and for our 00:00:59.670 --> 00:01:04.629 salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate 00:01:04.629 --> 00:01:08.530 of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became 00:01:08.530 --> 00:01:13.500 truly human. For our sake he was crucified under 00:01:13.500 --> 00:01:17.459 Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. 00:01:17.739 --> 00:01:20.980 On the third day he rose again in accordance 00:01:20.980 --> 00:01:24.239 with the scriptures. He ascended into heaven 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:27.299 and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:31.019 He will come again in glory to judge the living 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:34.819 and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:38.760 We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the 00:01:38.760 --> 00:01:41.959 giver of life. who proceeds from the Father and 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:46.439 the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:49.780 and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:54.400 We believe in one holy Christian church. We acknowledge 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:58.480 one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.659 for the resurrection of the dead and the life 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:06.000 of the world to come. Amen. What an amazing... 00:02:06.740 --> 00:02:11.340 creed, true God from true God. Do you get that? 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:16.840 That Christ is God. And it's out of all of the 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:20.780 creeds, this is probably my favorite. The language 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:23.860 is so clear. So let's pray. Father, I want to 00:02:23.860 --> 00:02:25.840 thank you so much that we can come before you, 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:29.379 that your word is true. That, Lord, you are working 00:02:29.379 --> 00:02:32.400 in us and conforming us and molding us into the 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:34.860 image of your Son. That you use all things for 00:02:34.860 --> 00:02:37.919 your purpose and your glory to bring about the... 00:02:38.919 --> 00:02:41.960 transformation of our lives as you sanctify our 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:45.159 lives and sanctify us in your word. Lord, I thank 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:47.020 you that your word is living and active, sharper 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:49.500 than a two -edged sword, divides soul and spirit, 00:02:49.580 --> 00:02:51.500 bone and marrow, and judges the thoughts and 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:54.180 intents of our heart. I pray that we learn as 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:56.699 men of God and women of God that we must be obedient, 00:02:56.979 --> 00:02:59.319 willing to honor and glorify you in all things, 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:01.280 that we would love you, love your word, love 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:03.159 your ways, and love your things, that you'd be 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:05.419 high and lifted up because you are the God of 00:03:05.419 --> 00:03:09.360 our lives. In Jesus' name, amen. So I'm going 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:11.879 to, this is about Titus. We are now on a journey 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:14.060 with Titus. I will tell you, the more I'm reading 00:03:14.060 --> 00:03:16.860 and doing this book, this letter, it's, oh. So 00:03:16.860 --> 00:03:19.020 good. So first thing I'm going to do is I'm going 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:21.960 to go through Titus' ministry history. Then we're 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:24.520 going to read 2 Corinthians, some scriptures 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:28.580 there to clarify Titus' character. And then we're 00:03:28.580 --> 00:03:31.460 going to get into Titus chapter 1. And I think 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:34.919 it's important so you understand why Paul or 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:38.659 why God has assigned to Titus the responsibility 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:42.639 to oversee the Cretan church or the church in 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:45.979 Crete. Let's go. Timothy's ministry history. 00:03:46.139 --> 00:03:49.240 First, Paul's first missionary journey. Paul 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:53.300 was present at Titus' conversion, Titus 1 -4. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:58.759 Titus went with Paul and Barnabas on Paul's second 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:01.400 visit to Jerusalem, to the church there, the 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:05.139 council, Acts 15, and is also mentioned in Galatians 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:07.919 2, verses 1 -3. And what you'll see is when they 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:11.500 go to... when they go to the church in Jerusalem 00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:13.900 in Acts 15, they're really dealing with the issue 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:17.899 of circumcision for the Gentiles. And so Paul 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:22.779 praises God and is so thankful that he didn't 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:26.259 have to rebuke the leaders at the church there 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:30.420 because they did not force Titus or anyone else, 00:04:30.439 --> 00:04:33.300 any other Gentiles, to receive circumcision. 00:04:33.980 --> 00:04:35.980 And then third missionary journey. There may 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:38.199 be some mention of second missionary journey, 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:41.379 but it's really not really clear in the scripture. 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:44.779 So I don't want to get into possibilities. These 00:04:44.779 --> 00:04:48.779 are clear mentions of Titus being present in 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:50.819 missionary journeys. Paul's third missionary 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:53.699 journey. Titus is mentioned to be with Paul in 00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:57.139 Ephesus, was charged to deliver the Corinthian 00:04:57.139 --> 00:05:01.759 church his first letter and to assess the condition 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:06.519 of the church. Titus returned to Paul in Philippi. 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:10.839 That's in 2 Corinthians 7, 6 -7 and Acts 20, 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:16.110 1 -3. Titus willingly volunteers to go back to 00:05:16.110 --> 00:05:20.389 Corinth to deliver Paul's second letter and was 00:05:20.389 --> 00:05:23.069 given the stewardship of collecting the monies 00:05:23.069 --> 00:05:25.910 they vowed to give to the Jerusalem church. And 00:05:25.910 --> 00:05:29.230 that's 2 Corinthians 8, 16 through 17. So what 00:05:29.230 --> 00:05:32.589 happens is the Corinthian church was still struggling. 00:05:32.670 --> 00:05:35.509 Paul felt really compelled to send them a letter, 00:05:35.629 --> 00:05:41.209 a second letter. What's interesting is Titus 00:05:41.209 --> 00:05:45.449 willingly volunteers to take this letter to them. 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:48.779 He does it of his own accord. And I love what 00:05:48.779 --> 00:05:50.459 Paul says about him. And we're going to read 00:05:50.459 --> 00:05:53.420 that. And so he does. And he's there to collect 00:05:53.420 --> 00:05:55.959 the money so that they can take it to the Jerusalem 00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:58.639 church who was really suffering financially. 00:05:59.259 --> 00:06:01.740 All right. And that's 2 Corinthians chapter 8, 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:05.360 16 through 17. Fourth missionary journey. Paul's 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:08.680 fourth missionary journey. Paul left Titus as 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:12.850 the overseer of the Crete church to... Put what 00:06:12.850 --> 00:06:15.310 remained in order and appoint elders in every 00:06:15.310 --> 00:06:19.110 town, Titus 1 .5. So on his fourth missionary 00:06:19.110 --> 00:06:24.310 journey, as he is with him, Paul tells Titus, 00:06:24.310 --> 00:06:27.250 you need to go there and finish what was started. 00:06:27.509 --> 00:06:30.949 And so he sends him. After finishing his work 00:06:30.949 --> 00:06:36.069 in Crete, Titus... Titus meets Paul at Nicopolis. 00:06:36.550 --> 00:06:40.129 And you'll see that in Titus 3 verse 12. And 00:06:40.129 --> 00:06:43.910 then from there, Paul sends Titus to Dalmatia, 00:06:43.990 --> 00:06:47.810 which is, I think it's 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 00:06:47.810 --> 00:06:50.329 10. If it's not 1 Timothy, it's 2 Timothy. I 00:06:50.329 --> 00:06:52.649 know it's chapter 4 verse 10. I forgot the number 00:06:52.649 --> 00:06:54.730 there. And off the top of my head, I can't, I 00:06:54.730 --> 00:06:59.329 didn't memorize that part. So that's, Titus' 00:06:59.329 --> 00:07:02.329 ministry is quite busy. And there's some things 00:07:02.329 --> 00:07:06.829 I want you to notice about Titus during his time. 00:07:07.050 --> 00:07:09.790 So for you guys who are history buffs, I'm sure 00:07:09.790 --> 00:07:14.410 that sounded fun, right? There's a reason why 00:07:14.410 --> 00:07:18.730 Paul has this kind of confidence in Titus. Titus 00:07:18.730 --> 00:07:21.850 was with Paul from the very beginning. Paul sees 00:07:21.850 --> 00:07:25.230 him come to Christ. He then goes with Paul and 00:07:25.230 --> 00:07:28.230 Barnabas to Jerusalem as a witness, an example 00:07:28.230 --> 00:07:30.949 of why put a burden on the Gentiles that wasn't 00:07:30.949 --> 00:07:33.329 theirs to take. And then he sticks with Paul 00:07:33.329 --> 00:07:37.470 for almost most of his missionary journeys. And 00:07:37.470 --> 00:07:41.189 he's committed to the gospel. And we're going 00:07:41.189 --> 00:07:43.790 to see that. 2 Corinthians chapter 2. If you 00:07:43.790 --> 00:07:46.430 would turn there, please. 2 Corinthians chapter 00:07:46.430 --> 00:07:49.009 2. I'm going to read these verses and I'll give 00:07:49.009 --> 00:07:51.069 you the verses you can follow. 2 Corinthians 00:07:51.069 --> 00:07:57.370 chapter 2, verse 12 and 13. When I came to Troas 00:07:57.370 --> 00:08:01.009 to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a 00:08:01.009 --> 00:08:04.889 door was open for me in the Lord, my spirit was 00:08:04.889 --> 00:08:07.930 not at rest because I did not find my brother 00:08:07.930 --> 00:08:11.730 Titus there. So I took leave of them and went 00:08:11.730 --> 00:08:14.089 on to Macedonia. So I want you to notice that. 00:08:14.709 --> 00:08:22.149 So here, Paul is going to, came to Troas to preach 00:08:22.149 --> 00:08:24.550 the gospel there. And the Lord opened a door 00:08:24.550 --> 00:08:28.230 for him. This was an opportunity for him to do, 00:08:28.350 --> 00:08:33.129 to go. And it doesn't happen. Paul's like, Titus 00:08:33.129 --> 00:08:35.470 isn't here, so I just don't feel comfortable. 00:08:35.769 --> 00:08:39.049 And so he doesn't. Isn't that interesting? So 00:08:39.049 --> 00:08:41.929 how many times have we said, well, the Lord's 00:08:41.929 --> 00:08:44.890 opened the door. I think I should go. Right? 00:08:44.890 --> 00:08:47.070 Well, here's one of those moments where he wants 00:08:47.070 --> 00:08:50.029 a confidant. He wants Titus there. And he's like, 00:08:50.090 --> 00:08:52.509 nah, this is something I'm not comfortable with. 00:08:52.570 --> 00:08:55.309 I need to kind of wait. This may hit home for 00:08:55.309 --> 00:08:58.690 a couple of you guys. But then there's that moment 00:08:58.690 --> 00:09:01.990 in chapter 7. Turn there. Verse 5 through 9. 00:09:02.649 --> 00:09:04.990 This is when you know it's time. This is when 00:09:04.990 --> 00:09:09.789 Paul knew. Alright, my dude. Here we go. Chapter 00:09:09.789 --> 00:09:14.169 9. Chapter 7, verse 5. Even when we came into 00:09:14.169 --> 00:09:17.929 Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were 00:09:17.929 --> 00:09:22.169 afflicted at every turn, fighting without and 00:09:22.169 --> 00:09:26.350 fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, 00:09:26.610 --> 00:09:31.149 comforted us by the coming of Titus. It's like 00:09:31.149 --> 00:09:35.570 God has Titus show up exactly when it's necessary. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:39.620 exactly when it's necessary. And not only by 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:44.019 his coming, but also by the comfort with which 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:48.399 he was comforted by you. So not only did Titus 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:51.460 come as a comfort to them, but he was comforted 00:09:51.460 --> 00:09:55.419 by them, by the Corinthians. And he's coming 00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:59.279 to Paul as a comfort because of what had happened 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:03.909 with the Corinthians. He, as he told us, of your 00:10:03.909 --> 00:10:08.629 longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so 00:10:08.629 --> 00:10:15.009 that I rejoice still more. In other words, Paul's 00:10:15.009 --> 00:10:17.450 comfort not only in seeing his brother Titus, 00:10:17.570 --> 00:10:20.289 but in the fact of the news that the Corinthian 00:10:20.289 --> 00:10:24.490 church was doing well. For even if I made you 00:10:24.490 --> 00:10:28.389 grieve with my letter, I do not regret it. Though 00:10:28.389 --> 00:10:31.690 I did regret it, for I see that the letter grieved 00:10:31.690 --> 00:10:34.250 you. And this is what he means. He didn't regret 00:10:34.250 --> 00:10:37.490 writing the letter. He regretted the fact that 00:10:37.490 --> 00:10:39.370 they were hurting because he rebuked them for 00:10:39.370 --> 00:10:43.169 their sin. But the good news is, the reason why 00:10:43.169 --> 00:10:46.450 he's rejoicing is, even though he was grieved 00:10:46.450 --> 00:10:50.110 because of their sin and his rebuke was necessary, 00:10:50.490 --> 00:10:53.350 he is rejoicing in their repentance. Look what 00:10:53.350 --> 00:10:59.009 it says in verse 9. As it is, I rejoice, not 00:10:59.009 --> 00:11:02.049 because you were grieved, but because you were 00:11:02.049 --> 00:11:05.970 grieved into repenting. Like that's the key. 00:11:06.490 --> 00:11:09.629 He has a lot to rejoice about. I wrote you the 00:11:09.629 --> 00:11:12.610 letter and it was necessary, but it moved me. 00:11:12.629 --> 00:11:15.230 I felt so terrible that I had to rebuke you. 00:11:16.230 --> 00:11:18.750 But praise God it works because you repented 00:11:18.750 --> 00:11:21.120 of your sin. That's what he's saying here. For 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:24.460 you felt a godly grief so that you suffered no 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:27.059 loss through us. In other words, even though 00:11:27.059 --> 00:11:31.139 this brought you grief, you suffered no loss 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:34.500 on behalf of my rebuke. You didn't lose anybody. 00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:37.440 Nobody left. They were committed to each other. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:43.840 Verse 13 through 16. Therefore, we are comforted. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:46.700 And beside our own comfort, we rejoice still 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:50.879 more at the joy of Titus. Because his spirit 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:55.299 has been refreshed by all of you or by you all. 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:59.779 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:05.460 I was not put to shame. But just as everything 00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:10.779 we've said to you was true, so also are boasting 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:14.419 before Titus has proved to be true. Look what 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:18.080 it says. And his affliction for you is... is 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:21.100 even greater, or sorry, affection. And his affection 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:25.440 for you is even greater as he remembers the obedience 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:29.440 of you all. You have received him with fear and 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:32.899 trembling. I rejoice because I have complete 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:37.220 confidence in you. What an amazing man, Titus. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:41.120 That this is the kind of man that Paul can absolutely 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:44.080 depend on to get the job done. It's an amazing 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:47.980 thing. Chapter 8, verse 6 and 7. accordingly 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:54.159 we urge Titus that as he had started so he should 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:58.940 complete among you this act of grace but as you 00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:04.480 excel in everything In faith, in speech, in knowledge, 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:08.720 in all eagerness, and in our love for you, see 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:12.720 that you excel in this act of grace also. So 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:15.759 what Titus is coming to give you, you excel in 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.840 that too. Because you have excelled in everything 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:22.059 that I have challenged you to do. When you read 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:24.960 these letters of Corinth, you think that this 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:28.320 church has no hope. But here is this church that 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:32.269 is predominantly Greek. predominantly idolaters, 00:13:32.490 --> 00:13:35.409 have converted to Christ and Paul challenges 00:13:35.409 --> 00:13:39.789 them in such a way that they repent. Wow, what 00:13:39.789 --> 00:13:43.549 an amazing thing. Now, verse 16 through 24 of 00:13:43.549 --> 00:13:47.970 chapter 8. But thanks be to God who put it into 00:13:47.970 --> 00:13:52.029 the heart of Titus, the same earnest care I have 00:13:52.029 --> 00:13:55.289 for you. Do you see the character of Titus? Titus... 00:13:55.769 --> 00:13:59.669 loved the church of Corinth in the same way that 00:13:59.669 --> 00:14:02.990 Paul does. They were like -minded, like -hearted. 00:14:03.190 --> 00:14:07.110 They wanted the same things. For he not only 00:14:07.110 --> 00:14:11.990 accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, 00:14:12.190 --> 00:14:15.929 he is going to you of his own accord. Now, I 00:14:15.929 --> 00:14:18.070 want you to see that. This is what Paul says. 00:14:18.250 --> 00:14:21.730 When we presented this appeal to him, he was 00:14:21.730 --> 00:14:25.779 like, I will do it. Why? Because Titus is being 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:30.059 Titus. Can we say that about ourselves? Can someone 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:33.679 say to you, when a task is given to you by God 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:37.580 or by church leadership or any task that you're 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:40.580 given, and you go, yeah, I'm all about that. 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:43.259 I'll do it. And they go, you see that? That's 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:45.159 exactly why I asked them, because they're just 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:47.860 being themselves. They're just being as God intended 00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:50.779 them to be. That's the kind of men and women 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:52.919 we should be. I want God to be able to say of 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:56.120 me, that's just Joe being Joe. Because that's 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.200 the way I've created him to be. That's what I'm 00:14:58.200 --> 00:14:59.919 molding him to be. That's what I want him to 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:03.980 be. That really popped out at me. Now, verse 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:07.879 18. With him, we are sending the brother who 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:10.879 is famous among all the churches for his preaching 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:13.940 of the gospel. Now, I know. I'm like, see that? 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:17.360 There goes another. Got to be a Billy Graham. 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:21.940 Not really. I'm just joking. But. You don't ever 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:24.259 know this guy's name. You ever notice that Paul 00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:27.620 never mentions this guy's name? We just know 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:29.480 he's famous among the churches because the dude 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:32.440 can preach, but he never mentions him because 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:34.639 good preaching doesn't produce healthy churches. 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:37.460 Godly shepherding produces healthy churches. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:40.980 God's word produces healthy churches. Preaching 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:43.820 the full counsel of God's word, expository preaching 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:47.220 produces healthy churches. A willingness to work 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:49.220 amongst each other, even dealing with each other, 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:51.759 produces healthy churches. Titus is all about 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:54.740 that. Titus gets it. He never mentions this guy. 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:58.500 It's very interesting. And not only that, but 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:00.919 he has been appointed by the churches to travel 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:04.860 with us as we carry out this act of grace that 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:08.259 is being ministered by us for the glory of the 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:13.120 Lord himself to show our goodwill. So this guy's 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.779 been assigned by the church to go with Paul. 00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:18.679 Like this guy could preach better than Paul can 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:21.940 preach, but he's never mentioned. I just find 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:24.399 that really interesting. We take this course 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:28.740 so that no one should blame us without this generous 00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:32.840 gift that is being administered by us. For we 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:36.860 aim at what is honorable, not only in the Lord's 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:40.440 sight, but also in the sight of men. See Paul's 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:44.620 heart, see Titus' heart. We aim for honor, not 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:50.000 for fame, okay? Then he says, And with them, 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:53.360 we are sending our brother whom we have often 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:56.899 tested and found earnest in many matters, but 00:16:56.899 --> 00:17:01.519 who is now more earnest than ever because of 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:05.720 his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:10.079 is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:14.099 And as for our brothers, they are messengers 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:17.819 of the churches, the glory of Christ. So give. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:21.319 Proof before the churches of your love and of 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:24.240 your boasting about you to these men. But he 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:28.680 mentions only Titus. Why? Titus is my partner 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:32.599 and fellow worker for your benefit. For your 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:37.180 benefit. Very interesting. Now, flip over to 00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:41.539 chapter 12, verse 17 and 18. 17 and 18. So I'm 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:44.000 giving you some history so when we get into Titus 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:47.480 1, you see why Paul speaks and challenges Titus 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:49.759 the way he does. Chapter 12, verse 17 and 18. 00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:53.859 Did I take advantage of you though through any 00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:56.180 of those whom I sent to you? In other words, 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.759 Paul's saying, I sent these men to you. Did I 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:02.299 take advantage of you? Nope. I urged Titus to 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:06.799 go and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:11.000 advantage of you? Nope. Did we act in the same 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:15.839 spirit? Did we not take the same steps? What 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.160 do you notice about Titus? When you see Titus, 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.319 you see Paul. And when you see Paul, you see 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:23.660 Jesus. And what does Titus say? Follow me as 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:27.420 I follow. Titus is following Paul and Paul is 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:30.859 following Christ. Titus is acting the way Jesus 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:33.640 would because Paul is acting the way Jesus would. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:37.519 Very interesting. Very important. Very good stuff. 00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:41.420 Now, Turn to Titus chapter 1. I'm going to give 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:44.539 you three very important principles. Okay? Three 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:46.740 very important principles to understand what 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:49.730 it is to be a godly man. Now this is specifically 00:18:49.730 --> 00:18:53.430 to men, but I am also going to challenge you, 00:18:53.490 --> 00:18:56.369 even if you're a woman, that the principles of 00:18:56.369 --> 00:18:59.250 these things are clear in the way you should 00:18:59.250 --> 00:19:03.009 live too. Just because it's directed to men, 00:19:03.349 --> 00:19:06.910 right, as the key example in the head, it is 00:19:06.910 --> 00:19:11.390 also required of women to act the same way in 00:19:11.390 --> 00:19:14.150 accordance with other women, especially daughters. 00:19:14.569 --> 00:19:16.970 So this is important. And that's what we're going 00:19:16.970 --> 00:19:20.619 to see here. Godly men are faithful in preaching 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:24.400 the gospel. Verse 1. Godly men are faithful in 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:28.079 preaching the gospel. 1 Corinthians 4, verse 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:32.680 1 and 2. This is how one should regard us as 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:36.440 servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:39.819 of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards 00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:43.359 that they be found faithful. What's the mysteries 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:47.000 of God? The doctrines of God and the gospel of 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:50.059 God. That's what he's talking about here. Titus 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:53.519 chapter 1, verse 1 through 3. Paul, a servant 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:57.279 of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:01.099 sake of the faith of God's elect. Do you see 00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:06.339 that? Paul is a slave of God and an apostle of 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:11.279 God for their sake, not for his own. That's Paul's 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:16.339 duty, is to, for the sake of God's elect. Make 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:20.420 the knowledge of the truth firm. That's the idea. 00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:23.279 Let's keep reading. For the sake of the faith 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:26.039 of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:30.000 which accords with godliness in hope of eternal 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.000 life, which God, who never lies, promised before 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:37.759 the ages began. Do you see that? What's Paul's 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:40.940 purpose? Preach the gospel. Teach the truth. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:45.160 He's going to tell Titus the same thing. Here's 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:47.680 the key. How do we know that this is important? 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:51.460 Because before the ages began, at the proper 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:55.559 time manifested in his word through the preaching 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:59.440 with which the command of God, our Savior, has 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.900 entrusted to me. In other words, at the exact 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:05.559 proper time when it was necessary, I was given 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:09.119 this trust as a steward, which is the word of 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:13.279 God and the gospel of Christ, to preach it. As 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:15.740 God has commanded, go and make disciples of all 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:18.559 nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.940 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:23.960 them to observe all that I've commanded you. 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:28.240 Matthew 28, 19 and 20. That is what Paul's doing. 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:32.279 The fullness of ministry. The fullness of ministry. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:36.339 This is a calling. This is a duty. It's a difficult 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:39.859 thing, okay? And so God has commanded us to preach 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:44.259 and to teach. godly men faithfully fulfill their 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:47.539 duty by completing the task assigned to them 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:51.259 they are required by god to fulfill what god 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:53.799 has given to them that's exactly what we taught 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:58.160 taught these young ones today John 17, 4, Jesus 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:01.900 said, I glorified you on earth, having accomplished 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:04.819 the work that you gave me to do. Christ didn't 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:07.680 come just because he wanted to. He had a responsibility 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:11.880 to fulfill, a task that was given by the Father. 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:14.720 If you have any questions about that, read Ephesians 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:17.119 chapter 1. God the Father set the plan. God the 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:19.339 Son came and fulfilled the plan. And God the 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:22.359 Holy Spirit sealed the plan and guarantees our 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:25.460 inheritance. Very important. Now, Titus chapter 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:29.200 1, verse 4 through 9. To Titus, my true child 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:34.700 in common faith. So there it is. This is Paul 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:38.000 saying, this is the young man I brought up in 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:40.819 Christ. And this is the young man that God had 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:45.299 given as a responsibility to me to guide and 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:48.619 mentor and develop in faith because God saved 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:51.420 him. My true child in common faith. Grace and 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:54.930 peace from God the Father. Christ Jesus, our 00:22:54.930 --> 00:22:57.990 savior. So he's giving him encouragement. Now, 00:22:58.009 --> 00:23:01.569 here's where the nit and grit happens. This is 00:23:01.569 --> 00:23:04.250 Titus's responsibility. Here's his duty, his 00:23:04.250 --> 00:23:07.569 task. This is why I left you in Crete so that 00:23:07.569 --> 00:23:12.130 you might put what remained into order and appoint, 00:23:12.490 --> 00:23:18.190 cathistame, give, put in charge elders in every 00:23:18.190 --> 00:23:21.109 town as I directed you. So Titus, here's your 00:23:21.109 --> 00:23:24.390 responsibility. Put together, put in order everything 00:23:24.390 --> 00:23:27.730 that's remained and assign elders for these churches, 00:23:27.849 --> 00:23:31.609 for these gatherings in the city of Crete or 00:23:31.609 --> 00:23:35.009 in the island of Crete. Now, do you guys know 00:23:35.009 --> 00:23:38.849 that Crete still exists today? And it's called 00:23:38.849 --> 00:23:46.890 Crete. Crete was established in like 65. Crete 00:23:46.890 --> 00:23:51.849 has been Crete since they started Crete. Now. 00:23:52.250 --> 00:23:55.089 That's important because all the other cities 00:23:55.089 --> 00:23:58.009 that were ministered to, they don't exist anymore. 00:23:59.269 --> 00:24:03.150 Anybody know, ever heard of Philippi in the Bible? 00:24:03.230 --> 00:24:05.210 But how about today? How about Ephesus? Is there 00:24:05.210 --> 00:24:09.910 a city named Ephesus? No. But Crete exists. As 00:24:09.910 --> 00:24:14.789 a matter of fact, the church that Titus was ordained 00:24:14.789 --> 00:24:19.650 as the overseer still exists today. And it's 00:24:19.650 --> 00:24:23.059 called... the church of St. Titus. Isn't this 00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:26.680 interesting? That speaks volumes of Titus's legacy, 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:31.500 doesn't it? Now, Titus is important. Look what 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:34.220 it says. This is why I left you in Crete so that 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:36.980 you might put what remained in order and appoint, 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:40.299 put in charge elders in every town as I directed 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:44.579 you. If anyone is above reproach, a one woman 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:47.599 man or a husband of one wife, And his children 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:49.940 are believers and not open to the discharge of 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:53.900 debauchery, meaning being without control or 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:57.559 insubordinate, disobedient. This is the men you 00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:59.720 should be looking for. Notice the one thing he 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:03.539 says here, above reproach. It's the very first 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:06.319 thing that comes out of Paul's mouth to Titus. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:09.839 If anyone is above reproach, first thing, notice 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:13.220 what it says in verse 7. For an overseer, as 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:17.250 God's steward, must be above reproach. There 00:25:17.250 --> 00:25:21.509 you go. What's the first standard of every overseer, 00:25:21.529 --> 00:25:24.710 of every elder, of every pastor? Be above reproach. 00:25:25.049 --> 00:25:28.769 You got to be living in such a way where there 00:25:28.769 --> 00:25:33.089 aren't genuine, real accusations about your life. 00:25:33.269 --> 00:25:36.410 Very interesting. Must be above reproach. He 00:25:36.410 --> 00:25:39.170 must not be arrogant. This word arrogant means 00:25:39.170 --> 00:25:42.990 self -pleasing or self -willed, quick -tempered 00:25:42.990 --> 00:25:46.920 or a drunkard or violent. or greedy for gain. 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:50.859 He must be hospitable. Philoxenos is the word 00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:53.680 here. Generous to the guests. He must go out 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:57.140 of his way to not only touch every new person 00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:59.700 that walks in the building, but if he has enough 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:01.960 time to try to touch everybody that is here. 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:05.279 Not only the family, but especially the guests. 00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:09.519 A lover of good. It's very simple. How can we 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:12.940 be a lover of good? It's in our purpose statement. 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.680 Love God, love his word, love his ways, love 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:16.819 his things. If you love God, you'll love his 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:18.400 word. If you love his word, you'll love his ways. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.759 If you love his ways, you'll love his things. 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:22.859 If you steward his things, if you love his things, 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:24.859 you're living his ways. That means you're loving 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:26.579 his ways because you're living them. If you're 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:28.240 living his ways, you're loving his word because 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.200 you're being obedient to his word. And if you're 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.720 obedient to his word, you're going to love God 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:33.940 because that's the sign of obedience. If you 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:36.640 love me, you'll obey me. Very interesting. I 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:41.259 love that. Love that. Now, He must be self -controlled. 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.960 I don't know why they put self -controlled here 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:44.819 because it's a totally different word than self 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:47.380 -controlled. This word actually means to be sober 00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:49.980 -minded, level -headed. He's got to be able to 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:53.259 make decisions within a crisis that is immediate 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:58.019 and not be emotional in the moment, but be wise. 00:26:58.119 --> 00:27:00.240 And he has to make those decisions according 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:04.839 to the word of God. That is his standard. He 00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:07.859 must be upright. That means to be righteous in 00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:10.960 his living. He must be holy, sanctified, different. 00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:13.400 He must be disciplined. This word disciplined 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:16.119 means self -controlled. He can't let his emotions 00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:19.539 dominate him. He must hold firm to the trustworthy, 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:23.960 faithful word as taught. Not as I want it to 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:26.640 be, but as it's taught, as it's taught by the 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:29.160 spirit and as it's taught in the scripture so 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:33.440 that he may be able to give instruction and exhort 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:37.930 in sound doctrine. The only way that a man of 00:27:37.930 --> 00:27:40.829 God can direct his family and teach his family 00:27:40.829 --> 00:27:44.289 and shepherd the church, this is not just pastors, 00:27:44.309 --> 00:27:50.210 but any man, you must be able to teach the trustworthy 00:27:50.210 --> 00:27:53.430 word as taught to you so that you can exhort 00:27:53.430 --> 00:27:57.910 in sound doctrine to your family. Now, notice 00:27:57.910 --> 00:28:02.119 he says also. That if you are able to stick with 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:04.819 the trustworthy faithful word as taught and able 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:08.359 to exhort in sound doctrine, then you also to 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:11.400 rebuke, to bring to light, to expose those who 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:15.480 contradict it. That is not fun. Now, godly men 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:19.700 faithfully contend for the faith. Godly men faithfully 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:24.019 contend for the faith. Jude 3. Jude is one chapter. 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:27.579 So this is Jude verse 3. It's not Jude chapter 00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:29.680 1 verse 3. There is no chapter 1. It is just 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:34.480 Jude. Okay. So Jude verse 3. Beloved, although 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:37.660 I was very eager to write to you about our common 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:42.000 salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:45.440 to you to contend for the faith that was once 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:48.559 for all delivered to the saints. What is the 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:51.700 responsibility of every godly man to fight for 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:56.880 the gospel? To fight for the gospel. For there 00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:00.480 are many who are insubordinate, disobedient, 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:05.539 rebellious. There are. They're empty talkers. 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:08.019 They're babblers and they talk nonsense. That's 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:10.859 what that word means. And deceivers, meaning 00:29:10.859 --> 00:29:13.480 seducers, especially those of the circumcision 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:16.740 party. So what is Paul saying here? Paul, you're 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:18.579 going to be dealing with men who are going to 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:21.140 come in and they're going to be disobedient. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.940 and rebellious, and they're going to babble and 00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:26.779 talk nonsense, and they're going to try to seduce 00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:29.880 people, especially those who are of this group. 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:33.880 And this is what Paul says to Titus. Titus, they 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:38.099 must, it is necessary for them to be silenced, 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:41.680 muzzled. In other words, they need to shut their 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:46.059 mouth. I mean, it's pretty clear what Paul's 00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:48.460 saying here. I want to give you something. I 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:53.299 heard several years ago, And I was watching Vodou 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:55.380 Bakum this morning, and he brought it up, and 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:57.859 I was like, that fits perfectly. Actually, not 00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:59.359 only fits perfectly, it fits perfectly in our 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:03.759 day and time. Okay? And here it is. Hard men 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:08.480 make good times. Good times make weak men. Weak 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:11.420 men make bad times. Guess what time we're living 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:15.740 in? A bunch of sissified men. Weak men in this 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:18.839 country. Weak men in our churches. There's weak 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:23.119 men who won't lead. It's terrible. And we lost 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:28.339 one who was not weak but strong, a brother, John 00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:30.799 MacArthur. He was the only one who would stand 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:33.859 up against nonsense concerning the church. Nothing 00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:35.720 determines what the church should and shouldn't 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:38.059 do except for Christ, who is the king of her, 00:30:38.200 --> 00:30:43.539 period. But what do we have? Weak men who aren't 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:45.880 willing to point out issue and deal with issue. 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:51.140 So hard men make good times, good times. Make 00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:54.859 weak men, weak men make bad times. We live in 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:59.539 bad times. But God is raising up hard men out 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:03.359 of bad times. Now, that's why he says they must. 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:07.579 I love he's, Timothy is already tough. Timothy 00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:10.279 is not only a godly man, but a hard man. So it's 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:12.880 okay to be a hard man. It's okay. It's all right. 00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:15.579 And he's like, yo, these guys need to shut up. 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:18.539 Basically what he's saying without saying it, 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:21.910 be silenced is the word. Close their mouth, literally. 00:31:22.450 --> 00:31:26.690 Since they are upsetting, they are overthrowing, 00:31:26.750 --> 00:31:29.549 overturning, destroying, and subverting whole 00:31:29.549 --> 00:31:34.609 families by teaching for shameful gain. Not to 00:31:34.609 --> 00:31:38.349 be taught. Do you guard your family against bad 00:31:38.349 --> 00:31:40.930 teaching? I was just talking to someone a little 00:31:40.930 --> 00:31:44.650 earlier today after first service that they had 00:31:44.650 --> 00:31:47.410 walked in, happened to do some work at the hospital, 00:31:47.609 --> 00:31:49.710 I guess. And they walk in and they're watching 00:31:49.710 --> 00:31:52.690 this older lady who's watching David Jeremiah. 00:31:53.329 --> 00:31:56.130 And the first thing David says as she heard it 00:31:56.130 --> 00:32:00.250 is, buy both my books. Really? How about the 00:32:00.250 --> 00:32:02.529 gospel, man? How about if you don't even sell 00:32:02.529 --> 00:32:05.890 a book? How about if you just sit in front of 00:32:05.890 --> 00:32:09.029 the TV or the camera because you got millions 00:32:09.029 --> 00:32:10.569 of dollars. It's not like you need your book 00:32:10.569 --> 00:32:12.589 sold. How about if you just preach the gospel? 00:32:13.470 --> 00:32:18.000 No, not going to happen. You know why? Because 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:20.640 it's the small churches that the full gospel 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:22.839 and the sound doctrine and the teaching is being 00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:25.779 taught. Small churches. Big churches are full 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:29.039 of people that are being taught bad stuff. It's 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:32.259 crazy. Look what it says. Since they are upsetting, 00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:35.140 subverting, destroying whole families by teaching 00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:37.960 for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:41.460 They're not teachers. And Paul says this. He 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:43.619 says, one of the Cretans, a prophet of their 00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:47.539 own said, Cretans are. always liars, evil beasts, 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:53.359 and lazy gluttons. I love Paul. He just says 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:56.339 it. And then he turns around and says, this testimony 00:32:56.339 --> 00:33:00.119 is true. He doesn't go, well, that's kind of 00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:04.480 rough. He actually says, no, they are. Can you 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:10.019 imagine if you as Titus have been set as overseer, 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:13.609 the pastor, of the churches, of the Cretan church, 00:33:13.829 --> 00:33:17.049 all the gatherings that are happening. And he 00:33:17.049 --> 00:33:20.269 says concerning these people, listen, they're 00:33:20.269 --> 00:33:22.390 liars all the time. They're evil beasts and lazy 00:33:22.390 --> 00:33:26.869 gluttons. You need to rebuke them. That's exactly 00:33:26.869 --> 00:33:30.369 what he says. Now, can you imagine Titus is rebuking 00:33:30.369 --> 00:33:33.230 the entire island? Like, what are you doing, 00:33:33.329 --> 00:33:38.250 you crazy gluttons and evil beasts? therefore 00:33:38.250 --> 00:33:42.009 rebuke them, expose them sharply, harshly, severely, 00:33:42.190 --> 00:33:46.829 rigorously, that they may be sound, healthy in 00:33:46.829 --> 00:33:49.849 faith. So he says, listen, these guys who are 00:33:49.849 --> 00:33:53.230 liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons, you need 00:33:53.230 --> 00:33:56.410 to expose them for what they are, harshly and 00:33:56.410 --> 00:33:59.789 severely and rigorously do it with the hope that 00:33:59.789 --> 00:34:02.390 they become healthy in faith, that they repent. 00:34:04.670 --> 00:34:08.300 Because if they don't, That means they're actually 00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:11.119 going to be doing this, verse 14. Not devoting 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:13.920 themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:17.000 people who turn away, rebel, desert from the 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:21.780 truth. Because if they don't become healthy in 00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:24.400 faith, they are going to rebel and desert from 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:30.539 the truth. Why? Here's why. To the pure, all 00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:33.840 things are pure. But to the defiled and unbelieving, 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:40.690 nothing is pure. To those who love God, all things 00:34:40.690 --> 00:34:44.570 concerning God are pure. But to the unbelieving, 00:34:44.610 --> 00:34:47.889 to those who hate God, who refuse to believe, 00:34:48.150 --> 00:34:52.269 not even the purest thing is pure to them. But 00:34:52.269 --> 00:34:56.010 both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 00:34:57.050 --> 00:34:59.949 They profess to know God, but they deny him. 00:35:00.010 --> 00:35:03.409 They disown him. They repudiate him by their 00:35:03.409 --> 00:35:06.030 works or by their deeds or by their actions. 00:35:06.130 --> 00:35:11.989 Their very life is a contradiction to him. They 00:35:11.989 --> 00:35:14.289 are detestable. The word detestable here means 00:35:14.289 --> 00:35:20.190 an abomination. They are disobedient and unfit 00:35:20.190 --> 00:35:23.829 for any good work. This is what Paul is saying 00:35:23.829 --> 00:35:30.139 to Titus. Absolutely worthless. How do you feel 00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:34.219 about a statement like that? In a country where, 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:38.119 and in churches, where we've taken the importance 00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:41.059 of the image of God and the value of the image 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:45.000 of God to a level where we look at someone's 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:48.960 bad, sinful behavior and just ignore it. Because 00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:50.940 everybody has a chance. God's a God of second 00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:56.460 chances. No. God is God of the only chance. The 00:35:56.460 --> 00:36:03.320 only chance. That's hard. They are detestable, 00:36:03.320 --> 00:36:06.320 an abomination. They are disobedient, unfit for 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:09.159 any good work. They're unusable. That's what 00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:15.440 he's saying. How I was this way. I was detestable. 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:18.179 I was an abomination. I was disobedient and unfit 00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:22.079 for any good work. How can I be changed to be 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:26.079 usable for all of his work? By the power of the 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:28.880 living God who takes and converts a broken man 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:33.179 like me, a sinful, disgusting man like me, and 00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:36.019 he saves me. And not only does he save me, he 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:40.460 makes me useful, a vessel of honorable use. If 00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:43.480 he's done that for me, he will absolutely do 00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:47.519 it for you. Christ died for you, was buried and 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:50.380 rose again on the third day for you. He will 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:53.739 save his people. The question is, are you part 00:36:53.739 --> 00:36:56.440 of the family? I can't answer that. I don't know. 00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:59.099 For those who haven't come to faith in Christ 00:36:59.099 --> 00:37:03.119 yet. God knows if you're his. So if you are absolutely 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:05.719 being convicted of the truth, of the reality 00:37:05.719 --> 00:37:08.880 that Jesus is God, the Lord of all creation, 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:14.579 submit to him now and repent. Now. Not when you 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:16.199 got to think up, you got to clean up your life. 00:37:16.780 --> 00:37:18.920 You ain't good enough to clean up your life. 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:22.519 And even the best that you can do is dirty. You 00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:24.679 just go make everything dirty. Just be real. 00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:30.380 Come to Christ. That's chapter one. All right. 00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:32.880 Father, I want to thank you so much for your 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:34.400 goodness and faithfulness. Thank you for your 00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:36.940 word. Thank you that you are living and active 00:37:36.940 --> 00:37:39.880 in our lives, that you are accomplishing your 00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:41.780 purpose and will. And I pray that you are high 00:37:41.780 --> 00:37:44.780 and lifted up and glorified. We praise you and 00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:47.260 thank you in Jesus' name. Amen.