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Title: Graced Public Relations Part 2 Text: Titus 3:8-11 FCF: We often struggle insisting on what we ought to hold loosely and holding loosely what we ought to insist on. Prop: Because the gospel preached and lived is profitable for all men, we must teach and live the gospel and excommunicate all who refuse. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Titus chapter 3. I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be back in Titus. However, I must admit that I am a little embarrassed that we are just now coming back to part 2 of this sermon. It has been over a month since you heard the first part of this message. I trust you were able to go back and listen to the previous sermon, but just in case you didn’t, I’ll take a little time to review what we saw from the first 7 verses of this passage. Paul is in the midst of telling Titus what to teach the people there on the island of Crete. In chapter 2, Paul explained how the gospel produces certain lifestyles in those who have truly received it. Lifestyles aimed at those within the church. Older men and women being examples and mentors to those younger men and women. Younger men and women teaching and Discipling their families. Paul hangs all of this on the fact that God’s grace, when it appears, saves His people to the uttermost. It does not provide a potential salvation, but rather a certain salvation. Those who experience His grace are set free from lawlessness and become eager to do good. Therefore Titus should insist on this kind of lifestyle in the church toward one another. In chapter 3 Paul turns that same message toward the unbelieving world. He begins by telling Titus to remind the Cretan Christians to submit to their ruling authorities, to be obedient, and generally to live holy lives of love and honor toward those who are outside the church. Why should Cretan Christians do this? Because they too were once the same way as the unbelieving world. They were foolish, slaves to sin, not desiring to seek God, nor even being capable of seeking God. But God invaded their life with his love and kindness. He saved them not by something they did but by His mercy, sending the spirit to wash and renew them, all made possible by the work of Christ. This declared righteousness comes by the grace of God and produces a confident faith in eternal life. They should live holy lives toward unbelievers because they have no room to boast. They would be exactly the same, if it were not for God doing something. So with that backdrop, let’s start our reading in verse 1 again and we will read through verse 11. I’ll be reading from the ESV today which you can follow in the pew bible on page 1346. Transition: Today, Paul will continue to show the Cretan Christians, how the gospel should be preached in purity and lived out in conduct. When they do this, it benefits all men. But for those who do not, action must be taken. I.) The gospel preached and lived is profitable for all men, so we must teach and live the gospel. (8) a. [Slide 2] 8 – The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, i. So right off the bat we have to wonder which saying this is talking about. ii. First, we must consider is this pointing back at what precedes it, or forward in what follows? iii. To answer that question, we need to go forward in the text a bit and see if there is anything that would be counted as a “faithful saying.” In order to be a faithful saying it needs to be something that is doctrinally full and somewhat memorable. Something that could be repeated like a Catechism or creed. iv. As we do that, we don’t really find anything. In fact, of all the “Faithful sayings” texts in the Pastoral Epistles, this seems to be the clearest when it comes to direction. It seems to very obviously point backward. v. However, that doesn’t fully answer our question. How far back does it go? Well what are our options? 1. [Slide 3] It is possible that it goes all the way back to verse 1. a. Chapter 2 ends with Paul telling Titus to not allow people in the church to dismiss His teaching. b. Then in chapter 3 he continues to instruct him what to teach. c. So, all he has said since verse 1 could be this saying. d. There are some reasons to doubt this though. i. Length is one of them. This is quite a “saying” if it encompasses these 7 verses. It seems a little long. ii. Paul’s words in verse 1 seem to be personal instruction to Titus and not a general saying for the whole of Christendom. Not that there is no application there, but it doesn’t seem to fit the mold of a “faithful saying” 2. [Slide 4] It is possible the saying goes back to verse 3. a. Here Paul turns to speaking truisms or stating theology or doctrine. b. He begins with man and who we are and ends with God’s work toward all who are His people. c. However, there are a couple issues with the saying going back this far. i. Again, length. It seems to be a little long to be a truism or statement of creed or confession. ii. Although Paul includes himself, and all Christians in this statement, it seems to hinge directly on the preceding verses. 3. [Slide 5] It is possible the saying goes back to verse 4. a. This is a much stronger possibility. b. All of what Paul says in these verses are said to “we” or “us” meaning Christians in general. c. It speaks of God and what HE does which makes for much better confessional or creedal material. d. It is a connected sentence with dependent clauses hanging on one another. You cannot really separate anything from 4-7 from each other. e. Really the only reason that this wouldn’t be the faithful saying is that it is lengthy. 4. [Slide 6] Finally, it is possible that the faithful saying is only verse 7 “being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” a. This is far shorter and encompasses great teaching. b. However, there are actually a couple problems here i. It may be too short. Verse 8 says that Titus should insist on these things. And with such a short statement, there isn’t a whole lot there to insist on. ii. This is very much a part of what was said previously to the extent that to divide it off seems to cut off part of what the saying is referring to. vi. [Slide 7] And so, I believe the best option, despite its length, is to go back to verse 3, especially since all that he says about God and His work in salvation is predicated upon man’s utter inability to save himself. vii. In this, Titus is to insist on these truths. He is to make it plain that these things MUST BE accepted as absolute truth of the church. viii. But why? Why are these things necessary to believe? b. [Slide 8] So that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. i. Ok. What is the connection here? ii. The summary of this statement of truth is what? That God does everything for our salvation and that we do nothing, because we can do nothing. His kindness, love, and grace appears and when that happens he saves us based on his mercy alone through Spiritual resurrection by the Spirit whereby he brings what was dead to life, all of which is made possible by the work of Christ. iii. In all of this the only thing we bring to our own salvation is the sin which made it necessary. iv. But how does that correlate with this statement – “so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.” v. Well let’s break it down. What does it mean to “believe in God” here? vi. It does NOT mean to believe in His existence. It does not mean a simple assent to the truths mentioned in the statement. Instead, it is someone who has not only confessed that these things are true, but is depending on these things being true. vii. Believing in God is hoping exclusively in the fact of His work alone in our salvation – apart from anything we have done, including our own faith and good works! viii. Ok so what does “may be careful to devote themselves” mean? ix. “To be careful” means to put much thought, energy, time, and attention into something. x. “To devote” means to preside over or to appoint. However, this is in the middle voice, which is complicated to understand but it does change the meaning slightly, in that typically in the middle it is an action you are doing to or for yourself. And so, you are appointing yourself over. xi. What that does to the meaning is that it takes on a devotion. So, ways to translate it would be “to undertake resolutely” or “to practice diligently” or “to maintain the practice of” xii. Let’s put it all together. xiii. We must believe all that Paul has taught since verse 3. Why? xiv. So that those who were unable to seek God and are depending on God alone to save them, would put much thought and energy into diligently and resolutely practicing good works. xv. This amounts to the same thing from Galatians 5. Whom the Son has set free, is free indeed, but use your freedom for good works. Or Ephesians 2, where God’s gift of grace leading to faith and salvation, produces a person doing good works that God the Father has laid out for them before the foundation of the world. You see we must understand that before Christ we were wretches unable to do good works to the standard of God (who by the way defines all that is good, since he is the definition of good). Jesus said to the rich young ruler – why do you call me good? There is none good but God. But by God alone we are changed. And that truth we receive in faith, frees us from ever attempting by works what we could never earn. But it also frees us to be godly people and to live righteously. We are now able to devote ourselves to good works, but before God’s grace we were doomed to be judged by our works. xvi. The only path to a life that may be careful to devote itself to good works, is a life where it was once dead and God made it alive in Christ. xvii. So, we have our bookend. Paul began this chapter exhorting Titus to remind the people to live holy lives toward unbelievers, why? Because of doctrine. Because of what we believe about ourselves and our salvation. And what will right doctrine produce? Holy lives toward others. xviii. Paul continues… c. [Slide 9] These things are excellent and profitable for people. i. What things? ii. Good works? Or the truths from the faithful saying? iii. Certainly, the good works of believers are excellent and profitable for people. iv. Certainly, we are a city on a hill, we are salt, our good works will drive people to glorify God. All this is true. v. However, Paul is not focused on the result of our good works, but rather the cause of them. vi. Indeed, the root cause of our good works and all good entirely is God’s lovingkindness which He lavishes on those who are His people. That love is excellent and profitable for people. vii. Even unbelievers benefit from God’s goodness to His elect. Even unbelievers profit from the truths of total depravity and God’s acting alone to save His people. viii. How do we know this? Well, we live in a society that has rejected the concept that man is inherently evil and wicked. We live in a world where man is good from birth. Not simply neutral which would be were Pelagian the heretic would have landed. Not potentially good which is where Jacobus Arminius would have landed. No. We have progressed now to mankind being born good. ix. So, question… has this worldview been profitable and excellent for people? x. Christianity in America has been overtaken with the belief that man can actually do something to get salvation from God. From as much as sacraments, penance, and ritual to as little as belief, most of Christianity in America believes that man must do something in order for God to give him salvation. He must cooperate with God in order for God to forgive him of sin. xi. So, question… has that been profitable for the visible church? Has the visible church been growing with true disciples? Or is it shrinking? xii. Indeed, if the church in America would only grasp and understand these concepts – that man is wicked and that God alone acts to save them from the slavery of their sin… the visible church would be very small – but it would also be quite healthy with far fewer fake Christians. d. [Slide 10] Passage Truth: So Paul tells Titus that faith in these teachings, the teachings of the gospel, produces what we need to devote ourselves to good works. The gospel flows naturally to good works. And the gospel which flows naturally to good works, is excellent and profitable for all people. e. Passage Application: So in application Titus must insist upon these teachings. He must not allow any wiggle room here. The teachings of man’s depravity and God acting alone to save him from it are absolute necessities if the gospel is to remain untainted and effective. f. [Slide 11] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out from this text to the whole of scripture we arrive at the exact same conclusion. The gospel of Christ, whispered in the 3rd chapter of Genesis, Loudly proclaimed in the final words of Revelation, and expounded through the pages in between, this gospel, when applied to the heart of a man, does irrevocably change that man to be a doer of good. A keeper of the law. A fruit bearing Christ imitator. And through history in the scriptures and beyond them, we’ve seen the profitability for all mankind when the true gospel is believed and lived by God’s people. g. Broader Biblical Application: Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that we INSIST upon this teaching. Verses 3 through 7 are not questionable teachings. They are not grey areas we must agree to disagree on. No. They are the core of the gospel. That mankind – all mankind – are slaves to sin, unwilling and unable to seek God, and that God alone, apart from any effort or work of man, does save men to the uttermost. If you struggle with either of these teachings… you need to come talk to me. You need to get this right. This is the gospel, and you cannot walk through this life disagreeing with the core of the gospel while thinking you still have it somehow. The true gospel is what brings forth life in us. Make sure you have it! Transition: [Slide 12] So, we have seen that the gospel when preached and lived, has a positive effect on the world. That means it is all the more important that we insist on these teachings and live them out. But what if someone doesn’t? What if someone is less interested in insisting on the gospel and more interested in insisting upon their own opinions or teachings? What do we do with these teachings? What do we do with them? II.) The gospel preached and lived is profitable for all men, so we must excommunicate those who refuse. (9-11) a. [Slide 13] 9 – But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies., dissensions, and quarrels about the law, i. As we’ve seen, this entire section focuses on the gospel being lived out toward different groups of people. ii. First to the church in chapter 2, then to unbelievers in chapter 3. iii. Now it seems that Paul may be moving to a third group. iv. Well, if we are talking about those in the church and those not in the church – who else is there? v. What about those who are false teachers? Those who are causing trouble in the church. The reason these people don’t quite fit into the church or those outside the church is because they seem like they are a part of the church but they are teaching things that are worthless and unprofitable. vi. Paul advises that true gospel believers, people whose lives have been radically changed by the gospel will do what? vii. They will not seek out and engage in foolish controversies. viii. So, what constitutes a foolish controversy? ix. This is fairly difficult to try to define. x. And I think we are tempted in two different directions. 1. We are tempted to under-interpret this. Meaning that there is no such thing as a foolish controversy over anything in the scripture. So, everything in scripture is worthy of controversy and integral to the gospel. Therefore, it must be defended. If we interpret foolish controversies this way – we will always be fighting with one another. Such people bounce from church to church having been “run out” of every one because “the church was not concerned about the scriptures.” 2. On the other hand, we can be tempted to over-interpret this. Meaning that almost everything in scripture is not worth defending. If we interpret foolish controversies this way. key doctrines start falling by the wayside. This results in people rejecting the inspiration of the bible, the 6 day creation, the law of God, original sin, and pretty soon you have a church that stands for very little except a vague notion of Jesus that is not quite found in scripture. xi. So how do we strike that balance? How do we make sure we are not engaging in a foolish controversy, but that we also defend the things that actually matter. I think Paul has given us some clues in this very text. Both from what came before and what comes after. 1. First, he told Titus to insist upon the truths of the faithful saying. That mankind is wicked and depraved, slaves to sin, and unable to seek God – that seems like something that is not a foolish controversy. If that teaching is under attack – defend it. That God the triune does act alone to save a man from this state is also a truth worthy of defense. Even separation. Paul says – insist on these things. 2. Second, earlier in chapter 2 he tells Titus to not allow people to ignore his teaching, about what? The fact that God’s grace radically changes us to be free of lawlessness and to become a people who are eager to do good. So clearly Paul puts this in the “defend this teaching” camp. 3. Finally, in the things that follow we see some common threads. a. Genealogies. What is meant by this? Well in I Timothy we saw how at this time genealogies were used to add legends to or mythicize the scriptures. Turning them into words to build upon. So generally, any teaching that adds to the plain teaching of scripture, and does not attack the truths we just mentioned, should be something we avoid being drawn into fights over. b. Dissensions. Things that cause people to lose their tempers, or become needlessly heated are indications of things that ought to be avoided. If something is the truth no matter who believes it, it is easier to remain calm when defending it. If something is what you believe, it almost becomes a defense of yourself when someone attacks it. Therefore, instead of defending, you attack. That is a clue that it may be something to avoid fighting over. c. Quarrels about the law – This probably refers to the level to which someone should conform to the law of Moses. How Jewish does a Christian need to look? It is important to note that this is not in a pre-conversion context. In that, people need to be Jewish before being a Christian. Such a controversy would be worth defending the truth, as Paul does in Galatians. But, after becoming a Christian and then quarreling over the dietary laws, or meat offered to idols or other such things… this is what Paul is referring to. And so, controversies about things that concern practice and are somewhat grey in scripture – are to be avoided. When they aren’t avoided, they divide people and the diversity of the church diminishes. And by diversity I am not referring to race, but rather to perspective and practice. Christian metal enthusiasts and Hymns only Christians should be able to worship together. Sadly – they do not. And many churches actually separate the services so they don’t have to see each other. What a shame. b. [Slide 14] For they are unprofitable and worthless. i. Such conflicts over things that do not matter are wholly worthless and unprofitable. No one grows by them, no one learns by them, and all leave wounded from them. ii. This stands in direct contrast to the excellent and profitable nature of the truths in the faithful saying from verses 3 through 7. iii. So, Paul has shown what true believers are to do with the teachings of these people. Namely, they must avoid the teachings and the controversies. But what about the people themselves? c. [Slide 15] 10 – As for a person who stirs up division, i. So again, these are folks who appear to be a part of the church, but have come in and starting insisting on these foolish controversies, raising up strife, and ultimately not profiting the church or the watching world around them. ii. It should be noted that a person does not necessarily need to be a false teacher or promote a worthless or unprofitable teaching in order to be one who stirs up division. iii. Certainly, this seems to be where Paul is going – but the principle is sound and should be applied to all who stir up division. iv. So, what should the Cretans do with such a person who is stirring up division? d. [Slide 16] After warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, i. Three strikes and you are out. ii. What is going on here? iii. This gives us a pattern for how to deal with those who wish to insist upon controversial or foolish disputes. iv. First, the church as a whole, probably the leadership themselves will warn the individual that such teaching to which they are so aggressively clinging, is not excellent or profitable. It is not something that conforms to the level of faithful truth that we should insist upon and cling to. v. Therefore, they should stop insisting upon this teaching and stop stirring up division. vi. Applying this to any sort of division making, we can follow similar rules as it conforms to the general pattern for church discipline. Except of course that it is already a public matter. vii. After a second warning, the church is to excommunicate the individual if they persist. viii. This seems harsh right? Why should the church do this? e. [Slide 17] 11 – knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. i. A person who is unwilling to listen to the warnings of the church leadership and the church body… ii. A person who is so tied to his own opinion that he is willing to stir up division in the church over it… iii. Such a person is both full of sin and twisted. They are self-condemned. What does this last part mean? They are self-condemned? iv. Their desire for division and to be always right is what condemns them to excommunication. Although the church actually puts them in the “nothing to do with” category – ultimately the divisive person has no one to blame but themselves. f. [Slide 18] Passage Truth: Paul continues to put forward the idea that the gospel preached and lived is profitable for all men. But not only must Titus insist upon these teachings… g. Passage Application: Titus must insist on these teachings to the extent that any who continues to oppose and divide the church over other teachings, are excommunicated. h. [Slide 19] Broader Biblical Truth: Again we don’t need to look far to find that the true gospel preached and lived is impacting on the church and the world around us. i. Broader Biblical Application: But the other application in this text from this truth, is that the gospel’s purity and living needs to be kept to the extent that those who would cause division would be excommunicated from the church. This applies to any who would overemphasize teachings that are not the gospel, or underemphasize teachings that are, or teachings that cast aside good works. The overall perspective is a submission to the apostles teachings and the gospel given down through the church age. Any who would divide over the clear gospel, must be warned twice and then excommunicated. Conclusion: [Slide 20]So how can we apply this text to our lives today at CBC? What should we as a church take away from all this? Actually, this message today is extremely applicable to the state of the universal church in America and our church locally. I know – you are so shocked right?