Beautifying the Gospel
Titus 2: 1-15
Intro:
The exact doctrine that Paul is
addressing in this text is:
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
His exact wording
is "it is the doctrine of God, our Saviour".
It is the doc-
trine that calls all men of all nations, languages, tribes,
and tongues. No word or thoughts can surpass the beauty
of "the doctrine of God, our Saviour".
But we still read
that Paul admonishes them to "adorn the gospel".
What
a tremendous thought, but not impossible.
By revealing,
and displaying the contents of the gospel, we are adorn-
ing it. We should express the
depth, tenderness, and
beauty
of the gospel. Such as a star adorns
the night,
and a rose adorns the summer, we need to adorn the
glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should
adorn the gospel to:
1) all people(old and young,
rich and poor0
2) all places (at home and
around the world)
3) all professions (sacred
and secular)
4) all periods (instant in
season and out0
5) all phases (childhood,
youth, middle and old age)
In this passage, Paul instructs us in very definite ways as
to how we are to adorn the gospel.
I. Old Time Preaching
that cannot be Compromise
Tit 2:1 "But
speak thou the things which become sound doctrine"
The phrase ""but speak thou" reaches back to the previous chap-
ter and
draws a line between one who speaks for God and one
who does
not. He refer to the ones who did
not as:
deceivers
(v10) for filthy lucre's sake (vs
11) reprobate (vs16)
A) God needs the
Exceptional Man ("but
speak thou")
This is the man who will, without exception, preach the Word
of God without fear or favor from man.
We see so many today
that are preaching for profit and pleasure.
The only thing that
will ever straighten out crooked people is straight preaching.
B) God needs the
Essential Message
(vs 15 "these things
speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority")
The phrase "these things' include all things discussed up to
this point. To paraphrase it,
Paul was saying "stick to what I
have taught you. The facts of
this world demand that we as
God's men preach the essential message as straight as we
can. In light of:
1) knowing it will not return
void
2) knowing we are authrized
by Jesus himself
3) knowing it is appointed
unto man once to die
4) knowing we have to give an
account of ourselves
5) knowing the power of sin
in this world
I believe straight, powerful, and hard preaching adds beauty
to the gospel. How can anyone
believe it will help them, unless
they can discern that it has helped you?
II. Old Paths Faith
that cannot be Confused
(Vs 1:13
"Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound
in the faith")
Too many
preachers are confusing the faith.
When it comes to
preaching on how to be saved, Vance Havner once said, "We can-
not
add anymore to the process of salvation that the theif on the
cross
had". Some say you have to pray
through, the thief didn't.
Some
say you have to recite the Roman road, the theif didn't.
It
comes down to "Believe in thine heart, and confess with thy mouth".
A) The Plan of
Salvation (vs 11 "the
grace of God")
Salvation does not come by merit, but by mercy.
B) The Person of
Salvation (vs 13 "our
Saviour Jesus Christ")
Jesus is the way, truth and life.
There is salvation in no other.
C) The Period of
Salvation (vs 11 "hath
appeared")
an insurance policy has a grace period.
If premiums are not
paid during this period, then the protection is null and void.
Same is true with God's grace, we are in the grace period
of the protection provided at Calvary.
But the grace is going to
end soo.
D) The Price of
Salvation (vs 14 "who
gave himself for us")
III. Old Plain
Speech that Cannot be Condemned
(Vs
7-8 "in all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in
doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech,
that
cannot be condemned")
A) A Request was
made (vs 2:8 "sound
speech")
the false prophets of this world will always have much to say
for the devil. That will not
change. Our speech should be as
straight as can be, but seasoned with compassion.
B) A Reason was
given (vs 2:8 "that he
that is of the contrary
part be ashamed, have no evil thing to say of you")
The distasteful behaviour of others is no excuse for ours.
Sound doctrine said with sound speech cannot be condemned.
IV. Old Patterned
Living that cannot be Concealed
vs 12 "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world"
Vs 12 is a summary of all that was said in verses 2-10.
Sound
doctrine will allow nothing in sound speech that godliness will
not allow. We are to be:
A) Watered down
with Wisdom (vs 12
"soberly")
"soberly" means "sound minded".
This will produce a mind
that will be just in its views, wise in it aims, inflexible in its
principles, and right in relationship with God.
B) Withdrawn from
Wickedness (vs 12
"denying ungodliness
and worldly lusts")
Ungodliness is the state of a man when God is shut out of his
life.
God is all in all, or not at all.
C) Withstanding
through Works (vs12 "we
should live
righteously and godly")
The outward works of godliness and righteousness are
evidence of the inward work of grace.