Titus 2:1-2

Book of Titus, chapter 2. I want to read verses 1 to 10. Our focus is really going to be on the first two verses this morning, or this evening. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity and patience. The age women likewise, that they be in behavior, that they be in behavior as be cometh holiness. not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chased, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded, in all things, showing thyself a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you. Exort servants to be obedient under their own masters and to please them well in all things, not answering again, not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. May God bless to us in the reading of His Sacred and Holy Word this evening. There was an unknown group that fought for the United States in the Revolutionary War that was made up of very old men, 80 German soldiers who had served on the continent of Europe under various governments, there, and they immigrated the United States, and they turned their swords into plow shares and became farmers. But when their nation needed them, they decided that they would form a company and fight for their country. And so they voluntarily formed themselves into a company and took up their weapons again for the cause of independence. Their captain was nearly 100 years old. he had been a soldier for 40 years. Now the babe, the junior of the group, was almost 70. And yet, this unique band here, fought bravely, as they aptly expressed it, we should be deficient in gratitude if we did not act in defense of a country which has afforded us a generous asylum and protected us from tyranny oppression. never entered into their minds that they should excuse themselves because of their age. Sadly, many elderly Christians seem to want to drop out of the spiritual warfare because of their age. Paul has told Titus to ordain elders in every city on the island of Crete where there was a band of Christians. This was necessary for two reasons. One, there are a lot of false teachers. that were leading people astray and undermining the faith of some people. And two, the people of God needed help with regard to living Christian lives, godly lives. Both of those issues were important. And so as the apostle begins chapter 2 of Titus here, he provides specific instruction for every age group. And he starts out with the aged men. God expects, even to age, as we see here, to serve him. So you need to be taught sound doctrine as the scripture indicates to us here in verse 1 of chapter 2. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. Here’s the basis for the teaching for every age class. Godliness of life is based on sound doctrine. Paul has already explained that godliness is the lifestyle that grows out of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that holiness is the inevitable outcome of believing sound doctrine. What the apostle indicates is that the principles governing how you conduct your life cannot be detached from doctrine. What you believe affects how you live. Those two things are intertwined, and you can’t escape that. False teaching always is going to lead to false living. It’s based on a subjective, self-centered outlook on life, which leads to ungodliness of life. For if you don’t hold sound doctrine, as we saw in chapter 1 and verse 16, you may profess that you know God, but in your works, in your behavior, in your actions, you will actually be denying him. Subjective living does that. When you focus on what pleases me or living by feelings, you are inevitably led to rebel against any kind of restrictions of any type of biblical moral code. This view of individual, freedom, I think, dominates our culture today. People wish to live any way that they please. People get divorced and desert their families because they want to feel free to be with someone else. People live together rather than getting married because they don’t want the restrictions of marriage. People lie or cheat to get what they want, regardless of who gets hurt because, after all, they’re the most important person. People seek personal happiness. to the ignoring of the things and responsibilities they have toward God. So a self-centered attitude encourages you to oppose any type of limitations, any type of duty that you might have to God, any moral code that might infringe on your desires. Paul sees this kind of lifestyle undermining and ruining families. So he commands Titus here to spell out to these believers or not. creed the lifestyle which is in accord with sound doctrine. This is duty is still necessary today. The practical implications of doctrine must be taught so that people live a godly life. So godliness of life is based on sound doctrine. Now sound doctrine must be taught regardless of the times. You know, Titus is living in a sound doctrine. a day, as we see from chapter 1 and verse 10, when there were many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers. This had to be discouraging to him. It had to make his task much more difficult. There is strong opposition to what he’s going to say. However, he must not be deterred by that. He must not be deterred just because it’s not popular to teach these things. He must speak the things which benefit sound doctrine. when I say sound doctrine here, what does this mean? I mean by sound doctrine, what sound doctrine declares things that are necessary to be believed and done. For example, if the scripture tells us that God is holy, that’s something we are to believe. And when God says, be you holy as I am holy, that’s something to be done. Sound doctrine is derived from scripture. it agrees with the whole teaching of the Word of God. And it directs you to Christ. The laws are a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, the gospel is centered upon the good news about Jesus Christ. So in all these things, these are the things that make for sound doctrine. I’m afraid sound doctrine is not popular today. The vast majority of religious preachers and teachers are promoting the subjective lifestyle of pop psychologist. I just got in the mail this past week, this Geneva magazine, and what struck me, it says it’s a core’s value edition. I thought, well, I ought to look at it, see what kind of core values that they have. Now, what struck me, interestingly enough, was an article here on one of their core values was honoring one of their core values. other. And it’s about a person in their college at work for a number of years now has retired. But it says here, she decided early on to look at each student as the unique individual person of God that he or she is. We have this self-esteem teaching here coming out. You might say, well, how do you know it’s self-esteem teaching? Look at the name of the article here. You are beautiful just the way you’ll be. are. I’ll think about that. Would you ever say you’re beautiful just the way you are? Just because you’re a creature of God? Are you beautiful? I’m afraid Paul would say, I’m a wretched man, and I wait for Christ to change me. We studied it last week from the Song of Solomon. That in Christ, we’re blameless. Not just the way we are, because that way we are or chief of sinners. But in Christ, we can be viewed as beautiful. And so I suggest you this is the kind of thing that even in colleges you would think would be, this is supposedly a reform college, you think that this kind of stuff wouldn’t be found, but here it is. You find it on a lot of campuses. I don’t want you to be unnecessarily negative. It just popped off the page. As soon as I read it, it just struck me immediately. They’re teaching this idea, you’re to love yourself, you are valuable just because you’re a creature of God. Norman Vincent Peel is the Bible that is used by many people. The liberal churches preach anti-Christian ideas. In fact, if you really study it carefully, you’ll find it many of the liberal churches are actually preaching the communist manifesto under the guise of Christian language. Social actions have taken the place of godliness of life. Doctrine is the last thing people want sometimes when they come to church. One of my elders, Randy one time told me that he was talking with someone and they were happy with the church they’re going to, they don’t get bogged down with doctrine. They don’t get bogged down with doctrine. Sound doctrine is detested because it’s flesh withering. When we talk about the depravity of man, when we talk about the sovereignty of God, when we talk about the final judgment, when we talk about hellfire, when we talk about blood atonement, when we talk about divine election, when we talk about holiness of life, people don’t want to hear these kind of things and what our responsibility is before God. And yet the faithful teacher is supposed to preach the truth of what God says in his word. There was a very short man that wanted to put a nail on the wall because his wife wanted him to hang this large pitcher. And so he stood on a chair but he wasn’t high enough. So his wife put a box on the chair, but he’s still short of the goal. So she put a stool on top of the box on the top of the chair. And there he was, on top of all of this, trying to put a nail on the wall. Well, it was pretty precarious, and so he’s sort of carefully trying to tap the nail. His wife said, why don’t you just, you know, give it a good hit. And he said, how can a man hit anything hard on a shaky foundation like this? How can we do anything that’s really going to be a value for the kingdom of God if we have a shaky foundation? We can’t. Do you want to hear sound doctrine? Is that your desire that the preacher would actually tell you what the word of God says? Or do you just simply want to hear something that might be pleasing to a year about how maybe how wonderful you are. Yes, people may denounce the church as being too narrow-minded, too harsh, too doctrinal. Let them. When was the message of Christ’s popular anyway? Sound doctrine must be taught regardless of the town. Times. Notice that sound doctrine is needed for every group of believers. Versus 2 to 10. we have five special groups of people. mentioned here that are exhorted. The aged men in verse 2, the age women in verses 3 to 5, the young women in verses 4 and 5, and the young men in verse 6 and the servants and verse 9 and 10. Not only must these various groups be exhorted by Titus, but he as a young man must set an example himself, it seems, from verse 7 and 8. Your young man, you set the example for them. Thus God’s truth must be applied to every age, every sex, every condition of people. Every faithful minister must teach these groups of people what they need to hear. Now it’s true that all the virtues command and all the vices that are forbidden would apply to every Christian. But there’s a sense in which a particular Christian group should shine in this particular area that’s mentioned here. It should stand out in this particular area. If not, then there’s just a blemish on our character with regard to this area. Remember when John the Baptist preached that he told people they were supposed to bring forth fruits, meat, suitable for repentance. And people came up to him and they said to him, various groups, what should we do? And the common people, he said, he that had two coats let him impart to him that hath none? He that hath meat, let him do likewise. When the publicans came to him and the tax collectors, they said, well, what should we do? What did he say? Exact no more than that which is appointed to you. Don’t overcharge. When the soldiers, Roman soldiers, I take it, came up to him, being converted, they said, well, what should we do? and he said to them, do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, be content with your wages. So, Each group had a message. The Word of God is like that. Never think that because of your youth or your old age, you’re exempt somehow. No, everybody is included. Everybody has a duty to perform. So, you need to be taught sound doctor. Now, my second point tonight, as we look at the first part of verse 2, as an older Christian man, you need sound doctrine. He says here in verse too, that the aged man be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith in charity and patience. Now, your Christian life, your Christian life should demonstrate spiritual maturity. Let me focus this evening on three words here. The being sober, being grave, being temperate, and Lord willing, and another study will pick up other things. Paul doesn’t exempt the older men here from living lies which be fit sound doctrine. If anything, you’re expected to show more spiritual maturity than other Christians because of your age. As your days, so shall your strength be. That’s what it should be spiritually. Your knowledge of the word of God. You’re experiencing Christian warfare. should have grown year by year. So that at this point, as you reach this age where you’re older, you should exhibit great progress in the faith because you’ve been growing. You’ve been learning. You should be able to encourage others in their Christian walk, providing a living testimony of what the grace of God can do in your life. The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 1631. Sadly, this is not always the case. Sometimes, the aged men are still babes in Christ rather than mature believers. Look with me at the book of Hebrews briefly tonight. Chapter 5 in verses 11 to 14. Hebrews chapter 5, beginning with verse 11, of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing. For when, for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Now here is an example of those who Paul thinks need to be taught just the very ABCs of the Christian faith still. He said, you ought to be teachers of other people by this time. You ought to be far advanced from where you are. And yet they were not. And thus, the criticism that he puts on. They’re unskilful in the word of righteousness. They don’t have their senses exercised to discern good and evil as they should. You remember the story of Nicodemus that came to Jesus by night, and Jesus begins talking about you must be born again, where you can’t enter to the kingdom of God. And Nicodemus has no clue about what Jesus is saying. He said, what do you mean? I have to go back into my mother’s womb and be born again. And what does Jesus have to tell them? Are you a master in Israel? Are you a master teacher in Israel? Highly respected. And you don’t even know these things? You don’t even know what a spiritual birth is? And yet we see that this can happen. If the aged are still immature in the faith, what kind of adverse effect does this have on the younger people? that are coming up. If you’re, you know, bitter or irritable or harsh or difficult or always complaining as an aged believer and you show a lack of spiritual graces, it has a negative effect. We ought to be a delight to others. We ought to use our senses, our tongues, exercise in a way of righteousness. We ought to be conversant when it comes to the scriptures. Haven’t you been taught of God at all during all the years you’ve been a Christian? You should realize, that your final salvation is nearer now than when you first believed. Here you are, closing in on eternity. The hourglass is running out with regard to your life. You’re soon going to see your Lord and Savior. Shouldn’t you be preparing for that day? Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day, 2 Corinthians 416. It should be a balancing act in your life. As you’re getting older, your physical body deteriorates. Things don’t work as well as they use to work. You’re declining in some ways. But your spiritual vigor and progress should be increasing. So that one is balancing out the other. While you are deteriorating physically, you ought to be growing spiritually. There was an elderly Christian man whose righteous life and graceful carriage won the admiration of all that were in the church. that he attended. As the man crossed the room, someone said to his friend, oh, what a wonderful old Christian man. He is. I hope that I can be like him when I reach his age. And his friend said, yes, that would be great. But if you wish to paint such a beautiful picture as that in the future, you’ve got to start mixing the colors now. So your life should demonstrate spiritual maturity. By the power of the spirit working in you, you ought to be growing in grace so that you are progressing in the things of the Lord. You should demonstrate spiritual maturity. Now, the moral characteristics of an older Christian man, let’s look at these. He says, first of all, you’re to be sober. Now, obviously, when we think of the word sober, we use it today more in a sense of not being under the influence of alcohol. We’re not drunk. However, the word sober. has a broader concept in this, but have you ever tried to reason with a drunk person? They can’t think clearly. It’s very difficult to do. They’re not capable of that. The power of reason is lost because of the alcohol that’s consumed. Sober means to be characterized by reason, prudence, self-control, discretion. In other words, you’re a person of sound mind. You have right thinking, not foolish, thinking. You’re expected to use wise judgment in your decision-making. Be a sensible person, not act rashly. Ephesians 518 says, be not drunk with wine where it is in his excess, but be filled with the spirit. But the Christian being sober means being directed or guided by the spirit. It should not be a person that acts impulsively without thinking about what. God’s word says to you. I’ve known people profess to know the Lord who came off as what I’ll call plastic or unrealistic or foolish. They have no real spiritual basis for the decision. They fly by the seat of their pants and the decision-making process. They do things by emotions. That’s the opposite of being sober. Being mature in Christ requires a mind which is able to problem-solve using the scriptures. To tell you. Take principles from the Word of God, apply them to your life, so that you make proper decisions. So you’re to be sober. You’re also to be grave here. This means to be honored, venerated, respected. It carries the idea of being serious. It’s not the idea here of a gloomy, introvert, incapable of any fun. You can have fun in the Christian life. But you’re never allowed to have fun that goes beyond biblical boundaries. There’s a weightiness to be about your character, a gentle dignity about how you conduct yourself. Aged men ought to live their lives in such a manner that they’re honored and respected by younger Christians. And this will occur if you are sound in doctrine and godly in life. Blackmailers once sent a message to the London person. pastor, C.H. Spurgeon, a letter to the effect that if he didn’t place a certain amount of money in a certain place at a railroad station, he would live to regret it. They were going to blackmailing. They threatened to publish some things in the newspaper that would defame him and ruin his character. Well, Spurgeon went to the station, and he did leave something behind in an envelope. It read, you and your like are requesting. to publish all you know about me to the heavens. He knew his life was blameless in the eyes of men. He knew what kind of life he lived, and they couldn’t touch his character. He was properly honored and respected for the kind of man that he was. So you as a Christian gentleman, do you respect you, do others respect you? Do they see in you the kind of person that deserves to be honored and held in high esteem? It’s you to be grave. He also says you’re to be temperate here. Temperate means to have power over something here. To be in control. As an age Christian, you’re to be self-controlled in all areas of life. Now, this means all your bodily appetites, all the desires must be under control. You must be the master of your will, able to, you you know, moderate your anger, your sorrow, even in your joy. You’re to rule over your desires and not have your desires rule over you. In Crete, Paul has made it plain that some men were acting like brute beast and slow bellies or lazy glutton’s. They weren’t controlling their appetites. Now, the modern picture of the heavy drinking, constantly eating, chain smoking, womanizer, you know, the James Bond type as being a real man is a lie. That’s not a strong man. That’s a weak person who is controlled by all his vices. He’s a slave to his own sinful appetites. He’s unable to break free of their dominion. Peter, in his second epistle, says he speaks about false teachers, having eyes full of adultery, who cannot cease from sin. They’re so controlled by sexual desire that they are constantly sinning. They can’t cease from their sinful ways. He also says in that same chapter, while they, the false teachers promised them liberty, freedom, they themselves are the servants of corruption, for whom a man has overcome the same as he brought into bondage. He said, these people talk about freedom, but actually they’re in bondage to their own sin, their own corruption, their own wicked desires. Now, this is all in contrast to the word temperate. The self-control that the Christian is to have. Paul elsewhere wrote about keeping his body in subjection. Keeping his body in subjection. He spoke of all things that he was free to do as a Christian, yet he added, in 1st Corinthians 612, yet I will not be brought under the power of any. He wasn’t going to be controlled by any of the things of this life. Is temperance something you seek from God in prayer to shape you into a mature Christian? Do you seek the necessity, I should say, of such self-control in your life? So as an older man, you need sound doctor? you need to be sober, grave, temperate. Those old German soldiers who fought for American freedom during a revolutionary war didn’t come up with an excuse because of their old age. As an elderly Christian man, realize you’re growing, you’re expected to grow and progress in the faith. It’s essential. There is no exception because of your age. You’re supposed to be an example to the younger Christians. Look carefully over your life. Consider your spiritual maturity. Are you exhibiting the spiritual character that would encourage others? Are you sober, grave, and temperate? And we’ll look at Lord willing the other aspects at or later day. Let us close with a word of praise.