Maintenance Mode

Titus 3:8-15

Titus 3:8-15 ~ 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. 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. 12 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. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Introduction — One of the things that I do as a pastor/teacher is teach people how to study the Bible. In doing so, one of the things that I teach my students to do is to take note of repeated ideas, words and phrases in the Scriptures as they study through ThemEvery one of us, in our own speaking and writing, have a tendency to repeat our main thought or idea multiple times as we’re articulating it. The authors of Scripture, as inspired by God, were no different. That is very clear in the passage that is before us.
1. Here in this section we see the issue of “good works” repeated in Titus 2:7, 2:14, 3:1, 3:8 and 3:14.
2. Back at the end of Titus 2 Paul wrote that Jesus saved us by grace, to teach us how to live righteously, in hope of eternity as His purified people who are passionate for good works.
3. Paul continued right into the opening of chapter 3 writing that Titus was to remind us, as God’s saved and special people, to be ready for every good work.
  1. Grace saves us part from good works—that’s good news—but grace also prepares us for good works (see Ephesians 2:8-10).
    1. The work of God’s grace effectively ignites in my heart a burning desire to do good works. And that burning fire should, like a boiler in a steam engine, move me to engage in good works.
      1. These good works are things like what?
        
        Obedience to authorities
        
        Wholesome speech
        
        Peacemaking
        
        gentleness
        
        Humility
      2. The movement in my life toward these things is an external indication of an inner burning fire of God’s grace.
        
        In other words, every body in motion requires some force acting upon it to cause it’s motion. So, if you see movement in a life toward humility, gentleness, and obedience, then there is something acting upon the body to cause that motion, and there is also something (someone really) steering it towed those actions.
        
        I say that, because none of us act in this way by nature. We are not, by nature, obedient, humble, gentle peacemakers.
  2. So how does all this work?
    1. God, by His grace, saves us. The Bible describes this saving work as a “born again” experience, and at the time of this new birth God gives us a new heart. In addition to this new heart we also receive the presences of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit. And as a result of the new heart, and the presence of God’s Spirit, the new disciple begins to have a new desire to walk in a manner that is pleasing to God. In other words, they begin to desire to do good works.
      1. Titus 2:14 ~ [Christ] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
    2. So if it is true that Jesus died to redeem us unto good works, then we need to be those that are…
      1. Titus 3:1 ~ Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
    3. How can we be “ready for every good work?” Clearly the preaching and teaching of the Scriptures are very important in preparing God’s people (i.e. us) for good works.
      1. 2 Timothy 3:16 – 4:2 ~ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
    4. So then, the Christian is redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, so as to be set apart as God’s special people, zealous for, and ready to compete “every good work.”
      1. With that in mind, we read…
Titus 3:8 ~ 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.
1. Point 1 — Be careful to maintain good works.
  1. It’s worth nothing that Paul says this twice in the text… here in verse 8 and then again in verse 14; “And let our people also learn to maintain good works.”
    1. So we should learn to, and be careful to “maintain good works.”
  2. We are saved by grace, through faith, not of our good works, but for good works. Therefore, we must be careful to maintain good works.
    1. Two logical questions follow…
      1. What are the good works we should seek to maintain?
      2. Why should I be careful to maintain them (good works)?
2. What are the good works we should seek to maintain?
  1. Some of the good works we should seek to maintain are things mentioned in the text. And there are many other things we could draw out form the Scriptures that would be categorized as “good works.”
  2. Ultimately, anything that aligns/accords with the character and command of God is a good work.
3. Why should I be careful to maintain them (good works)?
  1. Good works are a right response to God’s grace.
  2. Good works honor and glorify God.
  3. Good works are a good witness in the world.
  4. Good works will produce a good outcome for you.
    1. You will reap what you have sown. And there’s a dual nature to this. First you will receive benefit here, but also in eternity.
  5. Finally … look at what the text says. “These things are good and profitable to men.”
    1. Not only do good works produce a good outcome for you, your good works are good for others, too.
4. Point 2 — Seek those things that are profitable for yourself and others.
  1. By nature we are all inclined to seek and to do those things that are best for ourselves. Self-preservation is hardwired into every one of us. And not just self-preservation. We are inclined to promotion and exaltation of ourselves, too.
    1. I’m not 100% sure that’s entirely wrong. Yes, we have a concept of self-denial taught by Christ in the Scriptures, but it’s self detail for the purpose of ultimately self preservation. Don’t believe me, consider it for yourself…
      1. Luke 9:23-25 ~ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
        
        So, it’s self-denial for the purpose of ultimate self-preservation. And I think it would be wrong-hearted, if it was purely self-focused. But the point was, “Seek those things that are profitable for yourself and others.”
        
        Philippians 2:3-4 ~ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
        
        This is Christlikeness to the core (meditate on the verses following … Philippians 2:5-11).
Titus 2:9 ~ But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
1. Point 3 — Avoid what is ultimately unprofitable.
  1. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but each of us only have a limited amount of bandwidth. You might pride yourself for being able to multitask, but the fact is, multitasking is almost a complete fallacy.
    1. You’re ability to do multiple things at once, and to do them well … it ultimately produces diminishing returns. Which means, we need to focus our efforts, energy, attention and most importantly, our time. Because even if you consider yourself really good at multitasking, we all ultimately have the same amount of time in a day.
      1. I’ve been petitioning God for an extra hour or two added onto the day for a long time, it hasn’t happened yet.
      2. That being the case, we need to make sure that we avoid things that are ultimately unprofitable. And these things aren’t only unprofitable, they’re absolutely useless.
        
        What kinds of things?
        
        Foolish disputes — the word “foolish” is the Greek word(μωρός) from which we get the English “moron.” Don’t get involved with moronic controversies.
        
        What is a foolish and moronic controversy? I’m sure you could come up with a few ideas if you think about it.
        
        Genealogies — Apparently there were those in the first century church context who put a lot of stock in their stock.
        
        This was the kind of religious mindset Paul had before his conversion (see Philippians 3:5-6).
        
        There are people today who think it means something that they came to faith at some special church, during some special time and were baptized by some special person. These things are erroneously thought to have religious significance, but are actually meaningless and useless.
        
        The present vitality of your faith is far more important than the past people, places and times associated with it.
        
        What does it matter if you were ‘saved’ under Billy Graham, baptized by Chuck Smith and married at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa?
        
        Contentions — or also rightly translated ‘debates’ or ‘arguments.’
        
        It’s perfectly fine to have strong convictions about your faith. There is rarely any fruit produced by those that arecontentious and argumentative in their convictions.
        
        Proverbs 16:24 ~ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
        
        Colossians 4:6 ~ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
        NLT ~ Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
        
        Strivings about the law — the literal idea is like going to armed conflict over disputes of the Law of Scripture.
        
        I’ve certainly never had such a fight over the Law. At least not one that descended to a physical fight. But I can tell you that I’ve had some people come to my office over the years armed to the teeth with out of context passages wanting to quarrel and contend their viewpoint.
        
        I’ve not found any such engagement to ever be fruitful. In fact, every time it’s been unprofitable and useless.
        
        Anything unprofitable and useless is not worth your time.
        
        And we’re not only advised to avoid such foolish, unprofitable and ultimately useless situations, but also those that constantly return to them…
Titus 3:10-11 ~ Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
1. Point 4 — Reject those that are self-seeking and divisive.
  1. I say self-seeking and divisive because the word “divisive” is the Greek word αἱρετικός. It’s the word from which we get our English word heretic. And a heretic in this sense is not just someone who holds a divergent doctrine. Rather this is a person that has decided that they are right and everyone else is wrong. Met any such heretics before? I certainly have.
    1. Such a person divides for the purpose of gathering people to their side. So Paul says, in the most emphatic and strong sense, “Reject the divisive one.”
    2. You might be of the more gracious demeanor, so you have a hard time with that. So Paul says, “Avoid, shun, and reject them after the first and second admonition.” You can give them a chance to repent and change, but if they don’t reject them?
      1. Why so harsh?
        
        Because such constant and habitual divisiveness is an indication of a character issue.
        
        Christ can surely change and transform the divisive person, but the Pastor cannot allow such a one to divide God’s church.
        
        Reject the divisive person having gained the knowledge, through repeated exhortation, that such a person has become warped. Something about their character has become corrupted.
        
        Jordan Peterson — “Lying warps the fabric of your soul.”
        
        He said that deceptiveness actually creates neural pathways in the brain that eventually create a pattern or habit of deceptiveness. I’d say that the same is true with divisiveness.
        
        One commentator (Walter Liefeld) writes, “This does not mean that grace is never extended, for the person has already had a second chance.”
        
        Another (Wiersbe) writes, “Some sympathizing but untaught saints might say, “But perhaps they have reformed this time.” Paul points out in v. 11 that such people will not reform; they are “turned inside out” (subverted) and in a state of constant sin; that is, they are beyond remedy. Our local churches would have fewer divisions if pastors and officers would observe this important principle.”
        
        So, reject those that are self-seeking and divisive.
2. So Paul then closes his letter…
Titus 3:12-15 ~ 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. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
1. Artemas and Tychicus, disciples and co-laborers of Paul, no doubt, would eventually be Titus’ replacements on Crete. When they arrived Titus was to journey to Paul in the City of Nicopolis (far western coast of Greece, near the heal of the boot of Italy). Zenas and Apollos were likely the curriers of Paul’s letter to Titus.
2. And they apparently had more work to do, therefore Titus, and the church on Crete, were to provision them and send them on their journey quickly.
3. Finally Paul returns to his initial point for one final exhortation, writing, “let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”
  1. Point 5 — Let your fruitfulness abound to the needs of others.
    1. Christ’s love at work in His church is manifest through the way the church produces they very practical fruit of meeting the needs of those that have them.
    2. William Barclay — 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. Such discussion can be nothing other than avoidance of Christian duties.Paul was certain that the real task for Christians lay in Christian action. That is not to say that there is no place for Christian discussion; but the discussion which does not end in action is very largely wasted time.
4. Closing exhortation…
  1. Pray for laborers…
    1. Matthew 9:36-38 ~ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”