Titus Series - Handling Controversy with Grace, Love, and Truth

 

Handling Controversy with Grace, Love, and Truth

Titus 3:5-11

Drawing back to the last lesson, when we see the power and movement of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people, let us remember the purpose of the work of God is to bring salvation to a lost world. For we are saved by grace through faith, and Paul acknowledges this is by the mercy of the Lord, and salvation is not by our own righteous behavior. For it is God's grace that justifies us before him through the Lord Jesus Christ’s blood shed for the sins of mankind. So let’s pick up from last week the next portion of the text. “...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.”

The working of salvation in the hearts and souls of mankind is Paul’s focus as he instructs Titus to keep this as his focus. It is during and after the work of salvation that the Holy Spirit powerfully works to cleanse and renew the believers. The working of the Holy Spirit came to seal and to change the believers into the image of the Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit being poured out generously, again symbolic of living water. For Paul likens the acts of the Holy Spirit at and after salvation as washing or cleansing. It is also “because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Tim. 4:5) He taught the Thessalonians that “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).  And Jesus twice mentioned the sanctification or consecration of the believers came by the washing of the Word of God. “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you” and “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 15:3).(Jn. 15:3, 17:17) 

Paul knew the power of God, and He knew that time spent praying and in the Word of God permeates the believer, bringing change in their lives and this not by their abilities or righteousness. It is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wanted Titus to teach the Cretans that they were heirs of eternal life and to await the blessed hope in Christ Jesus. He wanted Titus to stress these things into the hearts and minds of the Cretans. For Titus and the Cretans were to trust in God, for it is out of this trust that they would devote themselves to do good works. “so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.”

Application - Oh how we need the sanctifying and consecrated work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in our lives today. As Paul taught all his fellow laborers in Christ Jesus to pray and read and study the Word of God, for in doing this the permeation of the Word and the Spirit will change, build up, and edify the body of believers. 

We see a church today that feeds on snippets of the Word and drinks in sips of the living water. I am reminded of my mom and aunts who had worked at preparing a nourishing meal and they wouldn’t listen to I’m not hungry because I snacked on the sweet things of the world. It was considered an insult to not partake of what was prepared for us with love and understanding of what we really needed. 

As they say, “You are what you eat.” So why don’t we put away the sweets of the world and the energy drinks that bring us up to only see us crash after the energy rush. Let’s partake of the Word of God and “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34”8a) Let’s us be filled with His Holy Spirit as Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit…” (Jn. 7:38-39a) and like the disciples in the early church “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:52)

Now Paul again refers back to the attitudes of the heart and mind. So let’s read the final portion of the text, “These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.”

 Paul knew that controversies were inevitable, for he had faced them from the beginning of his own conversion. Titus too would have experienced these controversies and quarrels over legalism and unsound doctrines derived from emotions and experiences instead of from the Word of God.

 Paul's defense was to avoid conflict and if at all possible controversial teachings derived from man. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Rom. 12:17-18a) But he would deal with it if it became a divisive issue. “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Tim. 2:23-26) 

Again neither Paul nor Titus enjoyed the reality of confrontations, but it must be dealt with in gentleness, truth, and love. The worst case scenario would be to shun the divisive person because the ulterior source of the problem was sin, and if unrepentant after being warned twice, they were to be repudiated.

Application - Again I draw back to the teaching and training of Timothy and Titus, “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” (2 Tim. 2:23-26; Titus 3:9)

Every leader and person in the church today has been faced with controversial topics and teaching that come from the fleshly world or the demonic world. It is how we deal with it that matters. First and foremost, we must know the truth of the Word of God to be able to discern the false teaching of the world. Second, we must understand that God wants us to be imitators of Jesus just as Paul stated “Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Cor. 10:33-11:1)

Third, it is the objective and purpose of the Gospel to bring the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life in the kingdom of God in heaven. We don’t need to be entangled and ensnared into arguments and controversies about non-Biblical issues. We must be imitators of the goodness of God not the evil of this world. Though God will judge this world in righteousness and justice in His appointed timing, it is our responsibility to manifest and bear the Holy Spirit’s fruit, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

If it comes to shunning, the scripture again refers back to God as the judge. John wrote of the church in Thyatira, which had a prophetess who was leading people astray with her teachings and lifestyle. Jesus said that he warned her twice to repent and she declined, ultimately ending in her sickness and the death of her children. “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” (Rev. 2:20-23)

God is not playing around with controversy and false teachings, nor the arguing and proliferation of the teachings of this world or demonic doctrines in the church, the body of Christ. God deals with it justly and righteously, giving everyone time to repent of these controversial teachings and ways. 

 

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today. Thank you http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com