A Study of the Book of Titus
Sermon # 5
“Final Warnings About Division”
Titus 3:8-15
Paul concludes his letter to his protégé
Titus with a cluster of seemingly miscellan-eous messages, but they have the commonality
that they all are requests or instructions for Titus to do something.
FIRST, AFFIRM PROFITABLE THINGS
(v. 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.”
If we back up to verse
eight, we see that Paul reminds the believers that as recipients of Grace they should be
doers of good. Salvation should lead to service. One of the themes of this letter would
have to be found in the expression “good works” which occurs many times
in this letter.
Pattern
for good works (Titus 2:7) “in all things showing yourself to
be ??a pattern of good works; in
doctrine showing integrity.”
Zealous for good works (Titus 2:14)
“who
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.”
Ready for Good works (Titus 3:1)
“Remind
them to be subject to
rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work.”
Maintain good works. (Titus 3:8)
“….those
who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.”
Meet the Needs of the Saints through good works
(Titus 3:14) “And let our people also learn to
maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”
He Was Not Only To Affirm Profitable Things but…
SECOND, AVOID UNPROFITABLE CONTROVERSIES (v.
9)
“But
avoid foolish
disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable
and useless.”
Having told Titus to
affirm or insist on certain things (v. 8) he now tells him to avoid certain others (v. 9).
In fact “avoid”
is in the imperative tense which means that it is a command.
Avoid these
Disputes because they Accomplish
Nothing.
Our struggle with this
command to “avoid… disputes” comes from
knowing that there are indeed some things that are worth fighting for even if as one
author put it “it
seems divisive to separate from divisive people?” [R. Kent Hughes. p. 364]. Paul
is not saying that we should not
defend the truth, rather he is warning against getting sucked into “foolish” and
pointless arguments. Paul has more to say on this subject in (2 Tim 2:14-17, 23) “Remind them of these
things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin
of the hearers. (15) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does
not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (16) But shun profane and idle
babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. (17) And their message will spread
like cancer….. (23) But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they
generate strife.”
No matter how brilliant or sophisticated or
scholarly the arguments may be if the object is to defend a position, rather than to know
the truth then any such discussion is
foolish and without purpose. These kinds of arguments can go on for hours over
insignificant theological points. The fact is that it is easier to argue the fine points of theology
than it is to be kind and considerate, to be helpful and loving at home, or to be
efficient and diligent at our place of employment.
Avoid these
Disputes because they lead to improper
Attitudes.
But if it should be that if we must defend
the truth is should be in the right way with the proper attitude. We should remain fair,
truthful and loving in our response which those with whom we disagree (1 Peter 3:15).
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear.”
Stuart Briscoe in his
book “Purifying the Church: What God Expects of You an Your Church”
provides enlightenment of how division occurs through an examination of the correlation of
three words, differences, difficulties and divisions.
ˇ Differences are inevitable.
ˇ Difficulties are probable. They are caused when:
positions that are not clear
perspectives that become clouded
personalities become involved
parties are formed
ˇ Division is possible.
[Stuart Briscoe in
his book “Purifying the Church: What God Expects of You an Your Church”
(Ventura, Calif, Regal Books, 1987) pp. 200-207]
Avoid these
Disputes because they lead to Division.
The reason that the believer is to avoid
disputes is because they lead to division. The idea of division within the church is an
idea completely repugnant to the Apostle Paul who wrote in 1 Cor 1:10, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that
you all speak the
same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined
together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
It is in this spirit that Bishop Burnet
wrote his preface to the classic work The Life of God in the Soul of Man, written
by Henry Scougal in the latter part of the seventeenth century. He said, “There is scarce a more
unaccountable thing to be imagined, than to see a company of men professing a religion,
one great and main precept whereof is mutual love, forbearance, gentleness of spirit, and
compassion to all sorts of persons, and agreeing in all the essential parts of its
doctrine, and differing only in some less material and more disputable things, yet
maintaining those differences with zeal so disproportioned to the value of them, and
prosecuting all that disagree from them with all possible violence; or if they want means
to use outward force, with all bitterness of spirit. They must needs astonish every
impartial beholder, and raise great prejudices against such persons’ religion, as
made up of contradictions; professing love, but breaking out in all the acts of hatred.”
[As quoted by Jack Deere. Surprised by the Power of the Spirit.,
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1993), pp. 176, 177.]
Paul says that such
division is “foolish” (moros) in the Greek it is the word from which we
get moron. We are to move away from moronic arguments.
He Is Told To Avoid Unprofitable Controversies….
THIRD, DISCIPLINE DIVISIVE PERSONS
(vv. 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.”
First, this person is
identified as a “divisive”
person (harietikon) is the word from which we get heretic. W.E. Vine defines heresy as “that which is chosen, hence an opinion; especially a self-willed
opinion which is substituted for submission to …truth and leads to division and the
formation of a sect or party.” Since it carries the meaning of choice, the
word denotes a person who chooses to follow erroneous opinions even at the expense of the unity of the church.
[W.E. Vine. An
Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. (Old Tappan, N.J.: Fleming Revell Co.,
1966) p. 557] It would seem that a heretic is more than
just some one who has an erroneous opinion, but he uses the opinions to create a division within the church. It is therefore
possible to have a false opinion concerning Scripture or the truth and not be heretic
because they are not contentious about them.
As John MacArthur
points out “here we have someone who has chosen some
unbiblical, some unacceptable way and he is gathering adherents and he is causing strife
and division and factions in the church…. He may be holding some novel
interpretation, some novel myth, some genealogical extrapolation or mystical
interpretation. He may be holding some ignorant interpretation of Scripture. He may be
also holding some action, some personal whim, some personal preference about behavior or
conduct or whatever. The issue is that he is divisive.” [John MacArthur. “The Last Word on
Relationships. Message on Titus 3:9-15. p. 10 www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/56-26.htm ]
Secondly, Titus is
told how to treat such a divisive person. There seems to be implied here a three stage
plan, the beginning with a two clear warnings, (v. 10) “…. after the first and second admonition…” Paul
is completely in tune with Jesus’ own admonitions in Matthew 18:15-17. The two
warnings are to be seen as redemptive because the person is warned not once but twice in
the hope that they will turn back, “admonish him as a brother.”
But what happens when
there is no response? Then, they are to be to “reject” or have nothing to do with such a person.
In other words, the uncooperative or rebellious person is to be treated as an outsider as
the Lord advised in Matthew 18:17. The goal of such treatment is not punishment but that such treatment will
bring the person to their senses and lead them to repentance
and restoration. This may refer to
either formal church discipline or social exclusion (Rom 16:17-18). “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and
offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. (18) For those who
are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and
flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
In 2 Thessalonians 3:14 Paul
advises, “And if anyone does not obey our word in this
epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.”
Don’t let them be a part so that they
can be ashamed and learn they can’t do that.
John MacArthur
states, “Boy, it
would sure change the complexion of the church today if the church would rise to that
level, wouldn’t it? We’ve got people running loose espousing all kinds of
bizarre mystical stuff, all kinds of unbiblical stuff and we have a tendency in the church
in the name of unity… not only to allow them but to give them a platform and honor
them.” [MacArthur.
p. 11]
Unfortunately today
people who fail to respond in repentance to the warnings given, compound the problem by
denying what they have done and simply transfer to another church.
The subject of Church discipline has
In more recent time the threat
of legal action in the courts and the possible resultant crippling damages, have made
church leaders even more reluctant to deal with erring members. But the fact remains that
if proper discipline is not applied where appropriate, the result will be the marked
decline in the spiritual nature of the church” and confusion to a lost world. [Briscoe. p. 212]
The heretic then is
one who causes division, by pressing his own destructive opinions on others. These
divisive people are characterized as “warped and sinning”
and “self-condemned.”
Since the erroneous opinion this person uses to cause division and strife in the church
was of his own choice they therefore bring condemnation upon themselves.
Final Messages (vv. 12-14)
In verses twelve
through fourteen we have three final tasks that are assigned to Titus.
First, (v. 12) When
your replacement arrives to take your place in Crete then you are to come and be with me
(Paul). “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 not sure at this point which of the
two men he will send to replace Titus, but one of these men will sent.
Aretemis is a man that we do not know
anything further about. He is mentioned here and he must have been a recognized servant or
he would not have even been considered for the job.
Tychicus, on the other hand is familiar to
the New Testament reader (Eph 6:21, Col 4:7). He accompanied Paul on his third missionary
journey from Corinth to Asia (Acts 20). He was the man entrusted to deliver the Ephesian
and the Colossian letters. And according to 2 Tim 4 he was the man sent to replace Timothy at Ephesus.
Second, (v.
13) Two other brethren are coming your way, help them on
their way. “Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with
haste, that they may lack nothing.”
Zenas is another
unknown, we do not even know what kind of lawyer he was (Roman or Jewish). An interesting
sidelight is that he is the only Christian
lawyer ever mentioned in Scripture.
Apollos, is well
known. He was the eloquent preacher from Alexandra who were are introduced to in Acts 18.
At first he knew only about the baptism of John the Baptist, but he was taken in by Aquila
and Priscilla who instructed him in the things of Christ. He later worked at the church at
Corinth and became a partner with Paul.
These two men are
apparently on their way to some missionary
endeavor and Titus is instructed to do everything in his power to see that they receive
whatever it is that they need so that they can be speeded on their way.
Third, (v. 14) Tell
everyone to help each other. “And let our people also learn
to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”
Paul says if everyone would learn to engage in good deeds they would be able
to meet the pressing needs within the congregation.
Paul’s final word
of farewell is found in