Today you should read: Titus 1:10-16
I’m so excited about our brief journey in the book of Titus – This letter, of course, was written to Titus by Paul and deals with order in the church among other critical themes. It’s what we call a Pastoral Epistle. Titus is the pastor on the island of Crete.
Paul begins this letter get right into the thick of it – The danger of misusing our words in God’s church. This was a problem in the early church and is still a problem today.
Whoever said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” – was crazy! Words are our primary weapon of choice to inflict pain on others. As we so often say at Center Point – before you speak you should ask three questions and then speak accordingly:
- Is it true?
- Is it kind?
- Is it necessary?
Let’s do a short Bible study today on these few verses and see what God teaches us.
- We are RESPONSIBLE for our words. (v.10)
Paul tells Titus to deal with the following issues in the church:
- Rebellious people
- Engaging in useless talk
- Deceiving others
We must be cautious of all of these – not having a rebellious heart – not practicing useless talk (and we do), and not deceiving others.
Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes–these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. Ephesians 5:4
It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. Luke 17:2
NOTE: This is especially true regarding salvation (v.10b). The critical danger in adding anything (like works or baptism) to salvation or taking anything away is overwhelming.
- The DANGER: Turning from truth to false teaching. (v.11)
People follow false teaching because they haven’t been taught truth. Truth is the solution to false doctrine. When you know truth – you won’t accept error. We must be extremely careful about this today. There are many top selling authors and “preachers” who are marketing false doctrine and Christians are buying it by the millions. And I DO MEAN millions – remember what verse 11b says – they do it only for money. BE CAREFUL!
- We must not hold on to myths – but TRUTH with a pure heart. (v.14)
We worship myths and traditions often more than the truth of God’s Word. Stop listening to myths and check everything out with Scripture.
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11
- What we say and do REFLECTS our relationship with God. (v.16)
Remember it’s easy to proclaim our faith – but our faith isn’t confirmed by what we say – it’s by what we do.
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23
You can claim to know God with your lips but deny Him with you life.
What’s God speaking to you about today? What do you need to tweak in your walk with Him?
Posted by: Tim Parsons
JumpstartCPC.com 