Titus 2

Teach the hope of eternal life that results in self-control

When I was a new graduate working in the consulting firm mentioned last week - one of the first big jobs I worked on - involved putting an 8 storey extension on top of a 14 storey existing building.

That is no mean feat let me tell you, - after you take out the underground car park levels, - this extension effectively doubled the height of the building.

And being a new graduate - they didn’t let me undertake this on my own, - which was a good thing I might say, - but they assigned me to work under a head designer who was in his early 30’s.

And this guy was the golden boy of the section, - he was tall and athletic and he wore nice suits, - which is something of a statement if you’ve seen the state of attire - in the average engineering firm. And in contrast - this guy was a real French cuff sleeves and Windsor knot ties - sought of fellow.

Well I got under way with my initial tasks - and things went well enough. But as the tasks got harder and I needed more direction from my superior, - BUT I started to get the sneaking suspicion that this guy was not quite as knowledgeable - as the suits he wore made out!

One day I had a technical question - from the current design standards that we had to comply with, - and he looked blankly at me in response. And then admitted he still needed to use the superseded codes (that were superseded 6 years ago at this point!) and he mentioned he didn’t know how to use the new ones – the only ones we had learnt to use in university.

It became a very steep learning curve for me that project - and needless to say, - I had to source other avenues - for my advice.

I’m sure everyone knows that uncomfortable feeling of losing faith in a teacher, - then it’s all over for them as a source of learning for you isn’t it?
If they can’t show an integrity of their knowledge and their action, - a continuity between what they do and what they profess to know, - well what good are they?

For the Christian, as we learned from Titus chapter 1 last week, - knowledge leads to godliness. And as Paul points out in chapter 2 of Titus this week, - both knowledge and godliness are taught. Paul instructs Christians – and in particular Titus - to teach the good teaching.

And in addition in Chapter 2 - Paul will go on to spell out - how the knowledge of God will result in godliness, - how it will be displayed in our self-control. And in an interesting twist Paul shows that godliness - not only impacts on us as individuals, but it also impacts and governs our social relationships.

But first - we’re going to look at what Paul has to say - about the person of Jesus Christ and his work on our behalf. For Paul - any action he asks of Christians - is always grounded first in the action of Christ on their behalf.

If you like - we are always; passive recipients; - prior to our being active participants.
Or Christ has done, - so Now you! - Is another way of putting it.

Paul’s teaching about Jesus Christ - is our first idea for today that.

1. The truth about God is found in Jesus Christ

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
12 It teaches us [in order to] to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope--
the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us [in order to] to redeem us from all wickedness
and to purify for himself a people that are his very own,
eager to do what is good.

So what is this salvation that has appeared, well it is Jesus Christ. An In particular Christ’s person and work - to use a more technical description, on our behalf. In v11 - God’s grace that brings salvation, has appeared to all men. God has chosen to reveal himself specifically in his son, Jesus Christ.

God has chosen to save men by his gracious act, of sending his son to live the obedient and faithful life, that we could not do. He lived this obedient life out - in perfect relationship with God the father.

Jesus lived in perfect obedience - until his innocent death on a cross - for the sins of guilty men. A death that gives all men – who’ll receive it’s benefits, - a hope. A blessed hope of eternal life from V13, - a blessed hope that shapes life now in self-control - as we await the appearing of the Lord.

Jesus has redeemed us - from septic mire that is own sin. A redemption that cleanses us from our guilt and debt in order to that we may be purified as Christ’s people. Christ’s life and its’ reward becomes our benefit.

So we see that Christ is the grace that has come - and he will also return; And We live in these days between the cross and his return, and in our passiveness – we have NOW received this redemption that is our certain hope of salvation.

You see; if you want to know The truth about God [it] is found in Jesus Christ

But the truth about God in Jesus - never leaves us as these passive recipients; - the truth about God in Jesus - always - compels and commands us - to be active participants in response.

The truth about God is found in Jesus Christ - and it results in self-control.

So how are we to be active recipients, what we are to do? Well We are to learn from the grace we have received, and We are to be active in our self control. We are to Say no to (to deny) ungodliness. Self-control is Our denial of worldly passions, - like excessive drinking and sexual immorality of the Cretans.

The hope we have and the grace we have received teaches us to be self controlled. We are to learn to be specific and in control of our actions, and not out of control in our passions - like the Cretan unbelievers.

This redemption and salvation given to us is to result in us having an attitude, that is eager to do what is good. We aren’t to be some kind of ‘recalcitrant’ - to use a Keatingism. We aren’t to be the kind of people who need to be dragged kicking and screaming to godly self-controlled behaviour, but we are to eagerly desire it. We are to be zealous about doing good. And you know what, self-controlled godly behaviour is actually for our good! Why? well because it pleases God and is consistent with whom he has made us to be in the first place

Jesus Christ is our saviour - and in response we actively live out self-controlled lives. Our self-control – however, is for a purpose, - the purpose is that the teaching of God will be attractive to all men V10.

The truth about God is found in Jesus Christ -and it results in self-control.

The 2nd idea we see in Titus chapter 2 - looks forward from the received teaching - and focuses on the action of Christians in response, - actions that will have a relational focus.

2. Christianity is taught!

2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled,
and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Paul commands Titus to teach, - to teach the good teaching. And this will be the key theme throughout this chapter. In the NIV - ‘Teaching’ pops up 8 times in these 15 verses

The older Christian men are to be temperate. They are to be sober in regard to alcohol. They are to live in a way that earns respect. They are to be men who are worthy of respect, - not just people who demand respect. It is something that is to be received by them, - not taken.

They are to be sound in faith, love and endurance. This is an approach that seems to imitate the resounding - faith, hope and love of 1 Corinthians 13, - with the exception that they are to ‘endure’.

Paul instructs Titus is to teach both sound doctrine, - the good teaching, - and sound lifestyle. The knowledge of God - is to result in godliness. And godliness is self-control.

Self-Control is the key element of the godly life commended for all the groups in chapter 2 - as it will enable believers to commend the Word of God - in every way.

In Verse 3 Paul continues
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live,
not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine,
but to teach what is good.
The older ladies are to be reverent in lifestyle, - to be respectful and modest. They are not to be slanderous - with the words that come from their mouths.

[APPLICATION] It has been reported - that in any given day, - an average woman will speak three times as many words as an average man. I can believe that. So if you are going to speak three times as many words, - you’d need to be three times as careful about the words that are about to come out of your mouth, wouldn’t you? Our godly self-control - has to exhibit itself in our speech.
And Paul goes on to explain why - it is so important that the older women are self-controlled, - the purpose of their good life and teaching is

4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind,
and to be subject to their husbands,
so that no one will malign the word of God.

Just like the elders in chapter 1 last week, - the people at the top have a unique opportunity to influence the culture of the whole group. The older women are to be self-controlled - to facilitate the younger women being likewise.

In contrast to the older women, - self-control for the younger women, - is focused upon them loving their husbands and loving their children, - to care for them and their interests, even at the expense of their own interests.

The younger women are to be self-controlled - and in particular sexually pure, - not immoral or even questionable in their behaviour. Paul emphasizes that women are to be industrious and constructive with their time. - To be busy, not busy bodies.

[APPL] I’m sure all of us know the curse that it is, - to have to much time on our hands, - it leads to idleness - and idle thoughts. Too much time is a bad thing – so the passage is instructing younger women - to find active ways of using their time.

Let’s be clear - this isn’t primarily a command to stay at home, - it is a primarily a command to be self-controlled, - and to be self-controlled - by being constructive in the use of their time.

All our behaviour needs to stem from the good teaching we have received - in order that we may live in a way that commends the same good teaching, - the good teaching of the gospel of Christ.

The relationship exhibited between husbands and wives - is a key relationship to commend the Gospel to others, - it commends the Gospel - in the way husband and wives lovingly, caringly and kindly express their ordered relationship.

[STORY] Now I reckon - you need to do something fairly special to grab people’s attention - as you walk up the road from our old place - and go down King Street Newtown. If you’re a man - walking down King St dressed as I am, - some people may look, - but it would be no surprise to anyone.

If you were a man - and you dressed as a woman and walked down King St, - you’d get a few more looks I’d imagine, - but still not many people would be surprised.

Now If you were a man - and you walked down King St with no clothes, - I think you would get a lot more looks - and most people would be surprised, - but not everyone.

BUT if - you walked down King St - saying ‘wives must subject to their husbands’ - I guarantee you - that everyone would look - and everyone would be surprised!

Wearing funny clothes - or tattoos - or what ever else floats your boat, - might feel like you are being counter cultural, -
but is really only playing at being counter cultural. If you really want to ruffle some feathers, - say ‘wives must be subject to their husbands’.

While we don’t have time - to go into a detailed and exhaustive discussion - of what Biblical relations between men and women to look like, - it is worth making a couple of comments at this point.

The word ‘sub-ject’ - is seen as an ugly word - with suspect overtones - in our day and age. In our context - it often means oppression, - it often means an exercise of power of a stronger person, over a weaker one. It’s use is seen as - a tool of an authoritarian.

And you know what, - I think there is something in that. When sinful humans get power, to varying degrees, - they seem to be incapable of not using the power - for their own interests, - and I think the Bible would lead us to agree with this - at one level.

But is this exactly - what the Bible means with it’s use of the term ‘sub-ject’? I looked up every New Testament reference to this word ‘sub-ject’, - and all of them expressed a relationship were one party had a sense of authority - in relation to another party. And in the most frequent instances - it was used to describe the relationship between husbands and wives. In other cases it was used of parents and children - and other relationships of the like.

Two things are worth noting - about a position of authority - in the Bible; Firstly, - all authority is a derivative authority - received from God’s ultimate authority. (And as a consequence all derivative authority will ultimately be subjected to God’s final judgment -which those of us who have received authority from God would do well to remember this); Secondly, All submission to worldly authority - is a derivative act - of our ultimate submission to God’s authority.


It reflects our confidence in God’s sovereignty, (including his ultimate justice - and his resolution to work in all things - for the good of those who love him). It enables us to trust his command - as our creator and saviour - about the world he has made and redeemed. Including the relationships that exist in this broken world. Even when society thinks it looks quite crazy.

Authority in the Bible - always emphasizes the responsibility of the position - as the priority -over any power - associated with the role. The person with the authority - has to see themselves in light of the responsibility before God himself - with their task to care for the other.

Authority in the Bible - does not need to be an expression of power that is godless and oppressive, - in fact order (or authority) is part of the creator’s creation - and a part that has been redeemed in the same way as people. As husband and wives are redeemed from their sin, - so the marriage relationship has been redeemed.

Paul highlights - that submission (or reverence) - is an act of self-control by the wife –self-control expressed in her love and honour of her husband. Her self-control expressed in this way - will silence the opponents of the Gospel - and they will not be able to malign, - (or more literally blaspheme) - the word of God.

And that’s some thought isn’t it, - someone could blaspheme God, - because of your behaviour! So the younger women, - just like the older women, - just like the older men, they are to be self-controlled - for the sake of the Word of God.

Christianity is taught! – So Teach sound doctrine as it will enable believers to commend the Word of God - in every way.

And just as the older women were to train the younger women, Titus is to be an example to the younger men

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good.
In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned,
so that those who oppose you may be ashamed
because they have nothing bad to say about us.

And this godly life - will cause the opposition in Crete - to be silenced, - it will mean they are unable to say anything bad about us.

Mark 14:55-59
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.'" 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

A godly life - is a powerful testimony - that silences mouths

Self-Control commends the Gospel.

And this doesn’t just mean the private piety of clean living - and clean speech, - but also importantly the nature of our relationships - commends the Gospel.

Are you kind to your spouse? –
Are you kind to your children or parents? –
Are you an honest employee, - or are you one who ducks off 20 mins early, with a bag full of stationary, - because ‘you’ve had a big day!’?

The Christian Gospel - commends itself in the integrity of the lives of Christian people!!

Christianity is taught! – So Teach sound doctrine as it will enable believers to commend the Word of God - in every way.

You may have noticed we’ve skipped the slaves issue! It was a little to big to fit in today so We’ll be able to pick that up next week.

So Paul summarizes his main argument in the third idea in verses 2:15 to 3:2, Paul tells Titus.

3. So Teach!

15 These, then, are the things you should teach.
Encourage and rebuke with all authority.
Do not let anyone despise you.

The Chapter ends where it starts - in Paul’s command to Titus to ‘teach’. In verse one he is to ‘speak’ the things – that are in accordance with good teaching, -
and this idea is tied to the end of the chapter in verse 15 - where again he is to ‘teach’, to ‘speak’ the things in accordance with good teaching.

Our good teaching - is based upon the gifts we have received from Christ, - it’s based upon the gift - of the hope of eternal life. And it is this gift - that will result in our active self-control and our good teaching.

It is a teaching and lifestyle - that will impact those who see it. Our lives will Commend and defend - the Gospel of Christ - and in the process they will silence our opposition!

And one final thought of application, I think this passage is encouraging us, if not explicitly, then by implication, that Christian things should happen in Christian homes. Our society is very comfortable with outsourcing most aspects of our children’s education to others. Now as much as we thank God for all the 19 year olds who volunteer to teach our children in an average church, our children’s Christian education is a little too important to leave in the hands of a volunteer.

I think the passage is reminding us of the importance of Christian teaching, so be encouraged to ensure Christian things like prayer, bible reading and talk of the things of God happens in Christian homes.

[help for this!!]

Yet another difficult challenge from the book of Titus, so why don’t I prayer for us that God’s help in these things.

Prayer
What does the passage want you to know?
The Grace of God, Jesus Christ our saviour has appeared, and we wait with a blessed hope until he returns and makes us a pure people of his own
What does the passage want you to do?
Both learn and teach all that is in accordance with sound doctrine, so that you may live self controlled and ordered lives, in order that you may commend (and no one may malign) the word of God our saviour.