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November 20, 2022
Character in Action¹, Pt. 2
Titus 2:2-15

Title: Character in Action, Pt. 2
Intro: Many commands in the Bible are for the child and the senior citizen together. But here we see commands for sub-groups. Applying these instructions we will read today will ensure we do not defame God but instead adorn the doctrine of God. The Creator of the universe has given orders to the people He has created and are made in His image. There’re not suggestions. Our God has expectations of His Church, and all He commands is for our good. He is our King, Lord, Master, God, and Hope, and we should work and strive to live our lives under his Headship. God knows the plans He has for us and His plans involve our submission.

6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

• 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
• Here the common character of self-control is taught.
• We find 2x linking older men > older women > younger men.
• urge = parakaleō = summon one’s friends to attend one in a trial >> admonish, exhort (LSJ, Thayer, et al.)
• urge the young men to be self-controlled is to possess godly thoughts, words, and actions.
• It is broad in it’s reach. It is one of the sources that many other character traits flow out of.
• Barclay said, “Self-discipline is not among the more glamorous of the virtues, but it is the very stuff of life.”
• We need to be reminded here that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit–a fruit of God in our lives.
• It is the Spirit and The Vine (Jesus) who are at work in our lives to keep us in control.
• We act like God because of God.
• Reliance on God’s work in us is paramount. We need to ask God continually for His help.
• With that said, we do participate in the process.
• “Stop sinning.”
• We are as holy as we want to be.
• There is no potential in God. It is one of the sources that many other character traits flow out of.

7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works,

• Paul goes singular in verse 7 because Titus was almost certainly a young man–at least compared to Paul. And Paul spoke to Titus directly.
• In ALL respects Titus was to be a model of good works.
• Titus was challenged by Paul to not hold any part of his life in reserve. No areas in mind, heart or action that are reserved for pet sins.
• Young men, your behavior matters. Your lifestyle is building the Church by or weakening it. We are one Body.

ILLUSTRATION

• AWANA > Journey
• Ethan Jones
• Vacuum in the group now. >> The young men are not committed to: in all respects, be a model of good works with integrity, dignity, and sound speech.

APPLICATION

• The Church ought to be filled with Ethans and Tituses.
• Young men, everyone is watching. Be a model of good works!
• Younger men have more opportunities to mess things up. From small mistakes to dumpster fire lives young men have done it. Young men have more freedom and temptations that have their pulls on them. They don’t yet have the responsibilities in life that keep them grounded. For these reasons younger men are told to be self-controlled. (Barclay)

7b and in your teaching

• Some young men ought to be teaching in the Church as Titus was.
• This should be approached with care.
• but any young married should be equipped to get up in front of the church and teach the Bible.
• he may not be gifted and therefore not called upon regularly, but he will be involved in Bible studies and small groups, and Sunday school classes.
• Also, teachers are better students. COMMENT
• In Titus’ teaching he was to show [three things: #1–look at it in 7b] integrity, … defined ALSO as = incorruptibility (OBU)
  • this has to due with actions in private and in public.
  • You know where you are at spiritually when no one but God is watching!
• show dignity ALSO = honour, purity (OBU)
  • The words chosen for instruction by Titus should be dignified. They should be honorable and pure.
  • Our culture is anything but dignified.
• 8 and [show] sound speech that cannot be condemned,
  • young men should know the Word.
  • everything Titus said should have been above reproach or unchallenged in the things of God. It should be accurate.
  • WHY? Look at 8b: so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

ILLUSTRATION

• Turn to Luke 20:27-40
• It would be easy to say, "Yes, but…Jesus is God. Yes. But he is the example to follow in our faith. He quieted his agitators through the Scriptures.

TWO APPLICATION POINTS HERE FOR YOUNG MEN

• #1 Some would say I am not a teacher >> Everyone’s a Theologian >> When we give our opinion of the Bible we are teaching.
• Young men you are challenged to do the same: as you speak about God you must show integrity in your actions, dignity in your delivery, and sound speech in you accuracy.
• Young men: you must know the word well enough to teach.
• Young men, when you know the Scriptures well, you are equipped with the wisdom of God.
• When you know the word well, then–and only then–is the potential to live accurately in the world available to you so that your opponents will have no evil to say about you.
• Young men: you must practice what you preach! Living teaching is a must. You are an ambassador.
• #2 Take on responsibility in the Church young men!
• Many young men ought to be teachers.
• But many if not most young Christian men could not teach a Bible lesson to save their life; it’s both their fault and the Church’s fault.
• Why? THREE REASONS
• #1 Christian families have failed their young Christian men in the home.
  • Families are focused on the cares of the world.
  • Many Fathers do not know the word of God so that they may teach it to their families.
  • Christ must have his proper place in the home—His throne! This is the most important thing in the home.
• #2 The Church has failed many young men.
  • Discipleship is not happening as it should. Nickels and noses are all the rage.
  • Older men need to teach younger how to teach.
  • Churches provide no chance for leadership in themselves for young men.
  • FOR INSTANCE: Young men should be invited to elder meeting when possible.
• #3 Many young men have failed themselves.
  • Focused on the cares of the world instead of Christ.
  • They are involved in sinful lifestyles, for they will not believe that a prodigal son can be real for them.
  • 33 >> extended adolescence.
• Get on track young men! If you are doing well, stay on track. God will not use every man to teach. But every man is a teacher in his family.

APPLICATION FOR THE CHURCH

• Church: young men ought to have a place to teach.
• We need to continue to engage all young men who are in the church. And by God’s grace we will.
• At CrossPoint: 18 year-old devos — mid 20s have preached at least once under the guidance of older men.

TRANSITION

Now that we have seen that young men ought to lead in Christian character in the community, lets’ see what the least of these in the society were instructed by Paul to do in the first century.

9 Bondservants [slaves] are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

• Slavery was a part of first century culture in all the know world. It differed to American slavery in most cases–but it was still slavery. Owning humans after war was common for many millennia. It was also used to provide a way to pay off extreme indebtedness and was a fail safe for abject poverty as well. The exact treatment of of first century slaves from home to home is as broad as any topic. Some were treated very well, others poorly, others heinously.
• 9 Bondservants [slaves] are to be submissive to their own masters in everything;
• We see submission here again. >> Def.: place under or arrange under, assign, post in the shelter of, draw up behind (LSJ)
• Slave was to place himself under his master.
• Image being a slave and representing Christ well.
• It’s hard to be submissive. THE FLESH HATES IT.
• 9b they are to be well-pleasing, or acceptable, or pleasant >> 9b not argumentative,
• 10 not pilfering, [or stealing in many translations].
• temptations to make my own rules.
• run a small “side business.”
• but showing all good faith,
• PURPOSE: so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
• adorn: 1 to put in order or arrange, … to ornament to decorate (Thayer)
• Slaves could add ornaments to God’s words and make it more attractive. WOW.

ILLUSTRATION

• Joseph was a model of being a good slave.
• He was submissive, didn’t steal, showed good faith in all he did.

APPLICATION

• It would be easy to ignore this section of Scripture, but that would be a mistake.
• Argument from the lesser to the greater.
• Bloom were you are planted.
• Woman, man, young, old, leader, follower >> bloom there. Adorn the doctrine of God.

TRANSITION

We see the assignments for the people of faith in the Church; Paul then explained the reasons for these commands in verses 11 and following.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

• ALL! people.
• There is a legitimate offer of salvation to all people.
• Jesus is the proof of God’s grace.
• John 1:9-13, The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

• Training us to renounce … renounce = deny, disown, refuse, decline >> ungodliness and worldly passions
• What kind of salvation are we talking about? A salvation that has appeared to all people AND a salvation that teaches the CHURCH.
• Salvation to the Christian is in daily sanctification. That’s what ought to be our priorities in life.

“More Like Jesus” ²

Oh Lord, change me like only You can
Here with my heart in Your hands
Father I pray make me more like Jesus
You’ve shown us the way to Your heart
So Father I pray make me more like Jesus
Oh Lord, change me like only You can
Here with my heart in Your hands
Father I pray make me more like Jesus

• Is that our deep desire this morning?
• Am I getting rid of the worldly passion through God’s enabling?
• We all have to fight the flesh and the spiritual forces at work against the Church.
• We are now taught! >> ACT
• We continue to see the idea of acting on what we believe HERE as the priority.
• There are no second chances on yesterday.
• Daily holiness now.

We live this disciplined way while we wait our whole lives. Look at verse 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

• This is what drive the New Testament: the promise of our victorious Lord coming to our rescue. This is our great Christian hope >> the Second Coming of our hero King! COMMENT
• redeem us >> from the slavery of ALL lawlessness >> in a NT context = withholding love.
• Redemption for a purpose >> Purify us for Himself.

APPLICATION

• When we respond to the word of God we will find that zealousness we long for.
• Holiness results in zealousness!
• We belong to Jesus. He will purify us all in the end, but he wants us to commit to the process here.
• We want to be caught doing the things we should be doing when our Lord returns for us or when we transition into the now unseen kingdom.

15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

• Our lives are not in neutral nor are they surmised by our testimonies alone. Either we make God more appealing or less We are making men think better of God’s truth, or we are making them think worse of it. (MacLaren)
• We have been exhorted with the authority of the Word.
• Let us take the action we need today by the grace and power of God to change.

Notes:

¹ The title is from a Barclay sentence.

² Ligertwood, Brooke, et al. “More Like Jesus.” Sourced from A to Z Lyrics, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/passion/morelikejesus.html.

Bibliography and Works Cited

• NOTE: Please click here to access the web-page for all of the works cited—save those above in “Note(s)” (if any) and those below under the “Other Works Cited” (if any). Most of the works cited on the web-page, correspond to the verses they are outlined with. In the case of background information and other general reference citations, one will find cited material with the Bible books the citations are associated with.
• Scripture quotations [unless otherwise noted] are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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