Maintenance Mode

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. (Titus 3:8-15)

God's grace doesn't just save us from bad works—it saves us for good works we are called to maintain.

A Repeated Theme: Good Works

One of the privileges I have as a pastor is not only to teach the Bible but to teach people how to study it. When you study Scripture for yourself, take note of repeated ideas and phrases. Just as we repeat ourselves when we have a point to drive home, the authors of Scripture—inspired by the Spirit—do the same.

In Titus we see a concept that surfaces in 2:7, 2:14, 3:1, 3:8, and 3:14. Paul keeps returning to it, so clearly he is driving a point home, and it has to do with good works at work in the lives of Jesus's followers.

At the close of chapter 2, Paul says the grace of God has appeared to all people, bringing salvation and teaching us to live righteously, so that we would be a people zealous for good works. Then in chapter 3 he carries the same idea forward: God has saved us as a special people to be ready for every good work.

Saved Apart From Works, Saved For Works

When you look at the whole scope of this passage, it becomes very clear: God's grace saves us apart from our good works, but he saves us for good works. This is hit on throughout the New Testament. In Ephesians 2 Paul says:

For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

But he immediately adds that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. We're not saved by our good works; we're saved for good works. God's grace is in us like a fire heating the boiler of our life, engaging us to move toward good works.

We usually think of good works as the contrast to bad works—charity, service. But notice the good works Paul highlights here: obedience to authorities, wholesome speech that builds people up, peacemaking, gentleness, and humility. When these show up in a person's life, they are an external indication of something transformed internally, because we are not by nature humble, gentle peacemakers.

Born Again to a New Desire

How does this transformation work? The Bible describes the conversion experience as being born again, the words Jesus used in John 3 with a very religious man—one of the most religious people in Israel. Jesus told him, "Unless you are born again you will not enter the kingdom of God."

This born-again experience happens by the Spirit of God. It fulfills what Ezekiel prophesied 2,500 years ago: that God would establish a new covenant, remove the heart of stone, give us a heart of flesh, and indwell us by his Spirit. When the presence of God is in us, he begins to transform us by his grace. One of the first things a born-again person experiences is a new desire to do things in alignment with the character and command of God—those are good works at work.

In Titus 2:14, Paul says Christ gave himself to redeem us from every lawless deed and to purify for himself a special people, zealous for good works. If Jesus died to redeem us unto good works, then we must be those who, as 3:1 says, are ready for every good work.

Equipped by God's Word

How can we be ready for good works? One of the things that prepares us is the work of God's Word in our lives. In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul writes:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

There's that concept again. We are thoroughly equipped to be ready for every good work by the working of God's Word. That is why the very next verse charges, "Preach the word... be ready in season and out of season." So the Christian is redeemed from every lawless deed, set apart by grace to be zealous for good works, and equipped to complete them as the Word works in their life.

Be Careful to Maintain Good Works

With that in mind we come to verse 8: "This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly." Titus, overseeing a church on Crete 2,000 years ago, was to constantly affirm that those who believe should be careful to maintain good works.

That is point number one: be careful to maintain good works. I couldn't say it better than the passage does. And not so we can gain a better standing with God—you are already saved by grace; you didn't earn your position. But having been given a perfect standing through the sacrifice of Jesus, we should now be careful to maintain good works. Paul says it again in verse 14: "Let our people learn to maintain good works."

Two logical questions follow. What good works should we maintain, and why maintain them if we already have a perfect standing? The "what" is clear—humility, gentleness, peacemaking, really anything in accordance with the character and command of God.

Why Maintain Good Works

Why maintain them? First, good works are a right response to God's grace. When I consider that God saved me while I was still dead in trespasses, while I was his enemy, while I was yet a sinner Christ died for me—comprehending that magnitude should inspire me to walk in good works.

Second, it is honoring and glorifying to God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Third, our good works are a good witness in this world—the same verse points to this.

Fourth, they produce a good outcome for us. It's good that this is reason number four—we don't do works merely for the outcome—but Scripture is very clear we will reap a reward in eternity. There is a sowing-and-reaping principle in Scripture. It isn't Eastern karma, but you do reap what you sow, and these works are beneficial both now and in eternity. And as the text says at the end of verse 8, "These things are good and profitable to men."

Seek What Is Profitable for Yourself and Others

Point number two: seek those things that are profitable for yourself and others. Every one of us is inclined by nature to seek what's profitable for ourselves. God essentially created us that way; self-preservation is a first law of human nature. But the Christlike aspect is to seek what is profitable not only for ourselves but for others. That is where God's grace and Christ's likeness become evident.

You are the first person you think about when you wake up, and the first person you look for in a family picture. We're all good at loving ourselves. But we see God's work in us when we begin to love our neighbor as ourselves. Philippians 2 says:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Paul then describes the mind of Christ, who in the incarnation put our needs above himself. Our culture says you must learn to love yourself before you can love others, but I've never met someone who isn't already good at loving themselves. It's God's work in us that makes us seek the profit of others as well.

Avoid What Is Unprofitable and Useless

Verse 9 gives the contrast: "But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless." Seek what is profitable; reject what is unprofitable and useless.

All of us have limited bandwidth. We like to think we multitask, but research shows multitasking is largely a fallacy. Every wife knows you can't have a strong conversation with your husband during a football game—unless you want him to absentmindedly say yes to that new bracelet. We have limited time and limited bandwidth, so we must be decisive about what we don't engage. Paul says don't engage what is unprofitable and useless.

First, avoid foolish disputes. The Greek word for "foolish" is moros, where we get "moronic." Avoid moronic controversies. We're all good at latching onto stupid controversies—it's why so many crazy YouTube videos exist. I had a conversation this week with a highly intelligent person, someone I greatly respected (past tense), who is convinced we live on a flat earth. Part of me wanted to argue, but I'm avoiding foolish disputes.

Second, avoid genealogies. In the early church, some put great stock in their lineage. Paul himself, in Philippians 3, recounts his former pride as a Pharisee of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews. We do this too. People take pride in their spiritual stock—"I was saved at a Billy Graham crusade," "I went to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa at the tent," "I was baptized by Chuck Smith," "I was married by Romaine." These may mean nothing to you, but to some they're a big deal. The point is that the present vitality of our faith matters more than our past experience. Where are you at today?

Gracious Speech Over Contentious Debate

Third, avoid contentions—debates and arguments. It's fine to have strong convictions; we should. But there's rarely any fruit produced by contentious, argumentative debate. People who become argumentative in their convictions become people you'd rather not be around. I've told people "I agree with you," only to hear, "No, but you need to understand"—when we already agreed.

The Proverbs are true: "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24). And Colossians 4:6 in the New Living Translation: "Let your conversation be gracious and attractive." Do people want to talk with you, or do they avoid you? If many avoid conversations with you, it's not them.

Fourth, avoid strivings about the law. The word literally means armed conflict. I've never had a Bible conversation descend into physical harm, but plenty of people come armed to the teeth with all their reasons. A strong apologetic is good, but it's all in the way you speak it. Anything unprofitable and useless is not worth your limited time and bandwidth.

Reject Those Who Are Self-Seeking and Divisive

We are advised not only to avoid useless things but to avoid people who routinely return to them. Verse 10: "Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned."

Point number four: reject those that are self-seeking and divisive. The word "divisive" is the Greek hairetikos, from which we get "heretic." Your idea of "heretic" is probably shaped more by medieval Christianity than by this text. Here it isn't merely someone who holds a divergent doctrine, but someone who has decided they are right and everyone else is wrong, and who divides the body of Christ because they want people to come to their side.

If you have a gracious, merciful temperament—God bless you, I love such people because I'm not one—you might say, "Give them another chance." Paul does: he allows for a first and second admonition. But constantly harsh, habitually divisive behavior is generally an indication of a deeper character problem. Christ can transform a divisive person, but the pastor cannot allow such a person to remain unless they are transformed, because they will cause division. Paul says such a person has become warped.

I heard a man this week say that "lying warps the fabric of your soul," noting neurological research that deceptive people form new neural pathways making them more likely to deceive in the future. The more deceptive you are, the more deceptive you become—and I believe the same is true of divisiveness. Warren Wiersbe—about the most encouraging commentator you could find—wrote, "Our local churches would have fewer divisions if pastors and officers would observe this important principle." When even Wiersbe speaks strongly, take note.

Paul's Closing Instructions

In verse 12 Paul gives final words: "When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there." Paul is journeying through Greece, having left Titus on Crete. Nicopolis is on the west coast of Greece, near the heel of Italy—a nice place to winter. Paul's a bit of a snowbird.

When Artemas or Tychicus arrives to relieve Titus, Titus is to come quickly. Meanwhile, Zenas the lawyer and Apollos—probably the men who carried this letter—are to be sent on their way with haste, that they may "lack nothing." That is provision.

Let Your Fruitfulness Abound to Others

Then verse 14: "And let our people"—I love that Paul calls the church "our people"—"learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful."

Point number five: let your fruitfulness abound to the needs of others. Christ's love in his church is manifest through the practical fruit of meeting needs. One danger for a church is becoming an insular crowd that all holds the same view on every minor point, pushing out anyone who differs and arguing among themselves until it is no longer a church of the living God but a dead debating society. As a result, the very work God called us to—good works—loses out.

William Barclay said it well: "It has been said that there is a danger that people might think themselves religious because they discuss religious questions. It is much easier to discuss theological questions than to be kind and considerate and helpful at home, or efficient and conscientious and honest at work. There is no virtue in sitting discussing deep theological questions when the simple tasks of the Christian life are waiting to be done... The discussion which does not end in action is very largely wasted time." We don't have much time, so we must focus on the work God has called us to—work in response to grace, honoring to him, a good witness, beneficial for us now and in eternity, and profitable to all we engage.

Two Closing Exhortations

First, a simple way to meet needs: this month our Spanish Ministry will hold a back-to-school backpack outreach for kids in need in our community. Last year we gave out about 200; I'd like to do the same. It comes up July 22nd, and the information to give or serve is on the back of your sermon guide.

Second, at a pastors conference this week one pastor shared that he's begun encouraging his church to pray Matthew 9:38. Verse 36 says, "When Jesus saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." Then He told His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

Every Sunday I drive north on the 15 past so many homes, so many people in our community who need Jesus, weary like sheep without a shepherd. I find myself moved with compassion, not knowing how to reach them—but Jesus said to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers. I'd ask you to pray that simple prayer this week and the coming weeks. A little warning: in the very next chapter, Jesus sent His disciples out. Still, pray it—and you might find a new passion for good works growing in you to reach this community, where so many need the grace of Christ.

Closing Prayer

Father, I thank you for the challenge of the Scriptures. Some of these things, Lord, we may have heard before, but it's good to be reminded again. First I praise you that we have been saved by your grace, not of our works, but you have saved us for good works. I pray we would see a growing passion in our hearts for good works, that by the working of your Word we would be ready for them, and that we would step out to maintain them. Pour out your Spirit to enable us. And Lord, as the Scriptures say, you are the Lord of the harvest. Within ten miles of this building there are nearly half a million people, so many weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd. We pray that you would send forth laborers into that harvest, laborers who would share the good news of your grace and compassion. We thank you for your grace; do work in our lives by that same grace. We ask it in Jesus's name, amen.