What I Would Do Differently
Lesson 5: Titus 2:1-10 Hold to Truth and Live It Out 3.3.21
Lesson 5: Titus 2:1-10 Hold to Truth and Live It Out
shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservant 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.
The “but” as well as the instructions to “teach what accords with sound doctrine” point directly back to the end of chapter one where Paul is telling them to be aware of false teachers who are spreading good sounding lies and leading people and families astray. At its most basic level, Paul is instructing Titus to teach the church God’s Word and teach them about the One True God so Christians will know these liars and not believe what they are saying.
Positively, one of the clear results of people knowing God and God’s Word is in how they live and interact with others. Paul goes on to highlight five application points of this directive in the lives of “older men (v.2), older and younger women (vv.3-5), young men (v.6), Titus himself (vv.7-8), and slaves (9-10).”19 Verses 2-6, “older men are to be sober minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in
steadfastness” while “older women are to be reverent [or respectful] in behavior, not slanderers [don’t talk bad about others] or slaves to much wine.” In fact, they are to teach what is good and train younger women to be good wives and mothers. Even the young men, look in verse six, are to be self-controlled. Something they see and learn from the older men. Titus is then addressed being told to, in word, and action, to live in such a way that no one can shame him or the church. Then Paul closes this section telling slaves the same thing – be respectful and don’t talk bad about your master behind their back. Now, why does this matter and how do we apply it?
It matters because sound doctrine matters. Doctrine is a set of beliefs that are held to and taught. Doctrine, what you actually believe to be true, will impact how you live and interact with the world around you. False doctrine will lead you away from God and the life He calls you to while sound doctrine will lead you towards God and the life He calls you to.
Secondly, all this matters, how you live matters, what you believe matters, because ultimately this life is not about you. False doctrine, lies of the world, tell you life is about you, about you being happy and discovering yourself. These are lies that will leave you broken and empty and without purpose and without hope. Instead, think of the sound doctrine of the Bible – life is not about you. It’s about God. Look at every reason Paul gives to us as to why our doctrine and behavior matter. Older men and women and younger women are addressed and Paul says at the end of v.5, so “that the word of God may not be reviled.” If you claim to be a Christian and follow the Bibles teaching but live in ways that are not in line with its teachings, you cause others to question and even have a distaste for the Word of God. Titus is addressed as a pastor and told that it is so no one will have anything “evil to say about us.” The us is referring to all Christians.20 Those who bear the title Christ follower. Live as a Christ follower for the sake of the name and honor of Christ and His church! Finally, after addressing slaves, Paul says, at the end of verse 10, “so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” It’s all about Him.
19 Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, 508.
20 Mounce, Pastoral Epistles, 414.
When life is about us, we miss our purpose. When life is about God and His glory and His Kingdom, and making Him known – we have more purpose and hope in this life than we could ever fulfill. This is why sound doctrine and application matter. Our lives are given by God, redeemed by God, and called by God, so it makes sense that we know and apply God’s Word to our lives. So how do we apply this. Three quick
questions: how often are you seeking to know and apply the Word of God? what areas of your life are more about you than about God? And, who are you looking up to as an example and who is looking at you as an example? We’ll talk about that more in small groups.
Knowing and applying God’s Word matters because we are not paying attention to the soundness of our doctrine, to how biblically accurate something we are being taught is, we eventually by into things about God that are like this broken plate – it looks good, seems just like everything else, but when push comes to shove and you actually need it, it’s a broken mess. We must know and live out the truth, the Bible, and we must live it out. We must know the truth, the Bible, and we must live it out.
Pray
Lesson 6: Titus 2:11-15 Jesus, Our Motivation