Titus 1:9 - “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

The Holy Spirit’s description of the man who may be appointed an elder in the church includes the words above. Standing alone this last part of the sentence that begins in verse 7 clearly shows God’s answer to those who would discount the New Testament as a pattern for the church today. What men had already been taught when Paul wrote this letter (not later that A.D. 65), they were admonished by the Holy Spirit to hold fast. Men who serve as elders are not to forget, or forget to observe, all that Jesus and the apostles taught. The reason they are so instructed is important to the rest of us: by that sound (healthy) doctrine they are to exhort (admonish, beseech, instruct, teach) and to convince (reprove, rebuke, show the fault of) the gainsayers (those who speak against). Against what? Against anything that is taught in that sound doctrine. Whether our concern is the existence of God, the identity and purpose of Jesus, the identity and uniqueness of the church, it’s organization, work or worship - or even our own morality, attitudes and conduct - we are to look to the New Testament for instruction and guidance. If that’s not our pattern, we are to be rebuked. And elders who don’t teach and practice that are not fulfilling their purpose. Is God’s New Covenant the rule book you follow?

Titus 1:10-11 - “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”

Paul had just reminded Titus of the commission under which he was left in Crete. He was to work with the recently-established churches until elders were appointed in each of them (verse 5). The qualifications for serving as an elder had been repeated (verses 6-9), and now the reason for their appointment. The church needed overseers (Acts 20:17, 28) because there were “many” teaching false doctrine for selfish motives, and unwilling to submit to the rule of orderliness. The church which the Lord built (Matthew 16:18) has no provision for the housing of selfish, unruly people. The house of God (I Timothy 3:15) is no haven for the safe propagation of every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14), whether stirred up within the church or harnessed from a passing fury of falsehood (Revelation 22:15). The word of the Holy Spirit is clear, sure and firm: these “mouths must be stopped.” How many churches have been torn apart, or killed altogether - how many souls have been driven from Christ - because churches allowed a “vain talker” to persist, only Heaven knows. Qualified and responsible leadership is urgently needed. Saints sound in the faith (verse 13) must rise up and stop the deceivers by fervently teaching the truth of Almighty God.

Titus 1:16 - They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Elders were to be appointed (5-9) because there were people in the church (13) who were teaching things which they ought not (11). They were perverting the gospel, thus turning men from the truth of Christ, by mixing it with Jewish fables and commandments of men (14). And these false teachers professed that they knew God. There are many in our own time who teach what is neither taught in nor authorized by the Bible, yet profess to be God’s true spokesmen. It is common among them to charge preachers of what actually is taught in the Bible with denying God and preaching lies. But the truth can be known by all. An abundance of copies of the Bible, readily available in almost every language, is one of the great blessings of this age. Every soul can look for himself to know the truth. Everyone can know whether what he is hearing is truth or error. In Crete people didn’t have personal copies of the Bible, and were being led from the truth. But having the Bible, and reading it, are different things. Reading it and knowing it are not necessarily the same. Souls today are as susceptible to false doctrine as were the Cretians if they don’t know the Bible any better than those who never had it. God commended those who checked Paul’s preaching (Acts 17:11). Regardless who is preaching, YOU have the responsibility to know the truth, and to reject error.

Titus 2:14-15 - "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."

Did Jesus give Himself in vain? Was His terrible suffering for those six hours on the cross all for nothing? He felt Himself forsaken by God when He “gave Himself for us,” but the reason that He so gave Himself was that you and I might be restored to God instead of our iniquity against Him. What if we still hold to our pet sins after the redemption price is paid? He gave Himself that you and I might be purified, and thus be peculiarly His. What if we continue to wallow in the mire of sin? He chose to give Himself as a sacrifice so that you and I might be zealous for good works. How does our zeal to work for God compare with our zeal for the football game? for the grandchildren? Which occupies more of our thinking, our talking, and our constructive time? Did Jesus die in vain so far as your life is concerned?