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13 Dealing with the Disobedient – Part 4

Titus 1:9-16

“9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. 10 For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. 11 They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money. 12 Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” 13 This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. 14 They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.”

It’s here that Paul reminds us of the goal which is to:

3.         Reconcile the Rebellious – Vs 15-16

The context here refers to those who are devoted to the rules but don’t have a relationship with Jesus. The word translated “pure” is the same word used to describe those who have been washed clean by Jesus Christ. Verse 16 reminds us that even though an individual may claim to know God, how they live can cancel out their confession. A changed character leads to changed conduct. Proper belief must express itself in proper behavior. Isaiah 29:13: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” What Paul is saying here is that people do what they do because of what is in their hearts. Just because they speak about spiritual things doesn’t mean that they are saved. Its here that Paul uses some strong words.

Detestable. This comes from a word that means, “to emit a foul odor” and was used to describe that which is an abomination to God.

Disobedient. This word literally refers to one who refuses to be persuaded. There are those who don’t believe not because of insufficient evidence but because of proud hearts.

Worthless. Meaning that their lives don’t stand the test, it was used of metals that were rejected by refiners because of impurities.

So let me ask you a challenging question, are you a Christian or a counterfeit. Are you a follower of Jesus Christ or a fake? There are those who have convinced themselves that they are a Christian, but in reality you’re not. Paul gave a very serious challenge to church people in 2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” Have you ever really examined yourself?

There are people who profess Christ but don’t possess Christ. Some of you claim to be a Christian with your words but you prove that you are carnal with your walk. What about you are you a professor of faith or a possessor of faith? For many years John Wesley professed to be a believer and yet when he took the time to examine himself, he came to the conclusion that he was not a Christian. This is what he said in his sermon called, “The Almost Christian.”

“I did go thus for many years, as many of this place can testify; using diligence to eschew all evil, and to have a conscience void of offence; redeeming the time; buying up every opportunity of doing all good to all men; constantly and carefully using all the public and all the private means of grace; endeavoring, after a steady seriousness of behavior, at all times, and in all places: and God is my record, before whom I stand, doing all this in sincerity; having a real design to serve God; a hearty desire to do his will in all things; to please him who had called me to ‘fight the good fight,’ and to ‘lay hold on eternal life.’ Yet my own conscience bears me witness, in the Holy Ghost, that all this time I was but almost a Christian”

What about you are you a child of the King or a counterfeit?


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12. Dealing with the Disobedient – Part 3

Titus 1:9-16

“9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. 10 For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. 11 They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money. 12 Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” 13 This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. 14 They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.”

After recognizing the rebellious Paul calls us to

2.         Rebuke the Rebellious

Paul not only tells Titus what these people are like but he calls Titus to confront and not to cower. Titus is charged with the responsibility of reprimanding the rebellious, but notice that he is not called to dialog or debate or discuss, he is called to silence. The idea is to literally close the mouth by means of a muzzle. Why was Paul so adamant that these false teachers not be allowed to speak because Paul didn’t want them spreading their venom. They were advocating that the only way someone could be saved was by keeping the Old Testament Law. In other words, they were teaching that salvation does not come about by the death of Jesus on the cross, but rather that people can save themselves by keeping the Law. Paul had zero tolerance policy for a “works-based” theology because he knew first-hand that it did not work. Remember Paul was a religious rebel before he ran into Jesus on the road to Damascus. He also knew that this kind of teaching was trying to gut the doctrine of God’s grace. The word “rebuke” is in the present tense, meaning that this is something that must be done continuously. And Titus is to make sure that he rebukes “sharply” and not softly because of the stakes. The picture is to knock down a door with an ax when a house is on fire so as to save the occupants. You see the goal of a rebuke is not just to reprimand but to restore. Paul tells Titus to rebuke sharply “so that they will be sound or strong in the faith.” We’re not to blast someone just because we’re angry. A rebuke should lead to realignment and repentance. The goal is not to blast but to bless. The word “sound” is where we get word “hygiene” from and is used metaphorically to describe someone who is spiritually healthy. When the Bible speaks of “sound doctrine”, “sound faith” and “sound speech”, it is talking about “healthy doctrine”, “healthy faith” and “healthy speech”. This is the kind of doctrine, faith and speech that makes people healthy. A spiritual rebuke should have as its motivation a return to spiritual health. Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.” Jesus taught in Matthew 18:15 that we are to go to someone when they have sinned against us, not to destroy them, but to rebuild the relationship: “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” So let me ask you is that your goal when you discipline your kids? Are you just yelling or are you striving to help them make changes? When you confront fellow Christians, don’t holler and vomit all over them instead help them to become healthier and holier.