"THE EPISTLE TO TITUS" Those Who Resist Authority (1:10-16) INTRODUCTION 1. In his epistle to Titus, Paul's first order of business was to... a. Remind Titus why he was left on the island of Crete - Tit 1:5 b. Provide the qualifications needed for the appointment of elders - Tit 1:6-9 2. The need for such elders is described in the rest of the first chapter... a. Because of those described as insubordinate - Tit 1:10 b. Who were negatively impacting the churches on Crete - Tit 1:11 3. What does it mean to be an insubordinate...? a. Insubordinate: one who does not submit to authority, mutinous b. Insubordination is therefore disobedience and resistance to authority 4. In the setting of our text, that would mean the authority of the apostles of Christ... b. In whose teachings the early church continued steadfastly - e.g., Ac 2:42 c. Whose teachings were to be considered on par with the Lord's - cf. 1Co 14:37; 1Th 2:13 [Insubordination can be a problem in churches today, so we do well to carefully consider text of our study (Tit 1:10-16). First, notice what is revealed concerning...] I. THE CHARACTER OF INSUBORDINATES A. IN THE CHURCHES OF CRETE... 1. They were idle talkers and deceivers - Tit 1:10 a. "More given to talk than practical religion" - Barnes b. Not honest, seeking to deceive others c. Such conduct had permeated the character of those living on Crete - Tit 1:12-13a d. It was also true of those among the circumcision (Judaizers who sought to bind the Law on Gentiles - cf. Ac 15:1) 2. Their minds and consciences were defiled - Tit 1:15 a. A natural consequence of deceiving others b. Their minds and consciences have become corrupted c. Notice Paul's description of such people in 1Ti 6:3-5 3. They had become abominable and disobedient - Tit 1:16 a. Abominable: detestable to God b. Disobedient: unwilling to be persuaded and obey c. Guilty of six things that are an abomination to God - cf. Pr 6:16-19 4. They were disqualified for every good work - Tit 1:16 a. Disqualified: literally, reprobate, worthless b. Of no real value to God, who has created us to walk in good works - cf. Ep 2:10 B. IN CHURCHES TODAY... 1. Those who resist the authority of the Word are more likely to be given to talk than doing 2. We should beware of those prone to be talkers and not doers 3. They not only deceive others, but themselves as well - cf. Ja 1:22-26 4. Following them will make our religion useless - ibid. [Resisting the authority of God's Word is a serious offense. It is also has the potential of great harm...] II. THE HARM OF INSUBORDINATES A. IN THE CHURCHES OF CRETE... 1. They were subverting whole households - Tit 1:11 a. Turning them away from the faith b. Not just one member, but entire families! 2. They were teaching things they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain - Tit 1:11 a. Motivated more by popularity and monetary gain b. Willing therefore to teach things that were not true B. IN CHURCHES TODAY... 1. Insubordinates are also motivated by such things as popularity and monetary gain 2. Who will teach what others want to hear, rather than the Word of God 3. Whose influence will not stop with just one or two, but impact entire families! [Where insubordinates exist, how should they be treated...?] III. THE TREATMENT OF INSUBORDINATES A. IN THE CHURCHES OF CRETE... 1. Their mouths were to be stopped - Tit 1:11 a. It means, properly, to check, or curb, as with a bridle; to restrain, or bridle in; and then, to put to silence - Barnes b. It is, of course, implied here that this was to be done in a proper way, and in accordance with the spirit of the gospel - ibid. 2. They were to be rebuked sharply - Tit 1:13 a. The reproof should be such as would be understood, and would show them plainly the wickedness of such traits of character - Barnes b. He was not to be mealy-mouthed, but he was to call things by their right names, and not to spare their faults - ibid. 3. With the goal of helping them to be sound in the faith - Tit 1: 13 a. Confronting error has the objective of saving the one in error b. Not just stopping the spread of error - cf. 2Ti 2:24-25 4. This was the duty, not just of Titus, but of the elders - cf. Tit 1:9 B. IN CHURCHES TODAY... 1. We must take insubordination seriously 2. We must stop the spread of false teaching by addressing it plainly 3. We must have in view the salvation of those guilty of insubordination and error 4. This is the duty of both evangelists and elders 5. If the insubordinate fails to repent, then withdrawal is the final option a. As Paul commanded the church in Rome - Ro 16:17-18 b. As he commanded the church in Thessalonica - cf. 2Th 3:6, 14-15 CONCLUSION 1. We have seen that those who resist the authority of God's Word... a. Hurt themselves by corrupting their minds and consciences b. Harm those whom they influence through their teaching 2. Insubordinates must be stopped... a. By rebuking them sharply, hoping they will become sound in the faith b. If they do not repent, then we must withdraw ourselves from them Elders and evangelists are especially charged with the responsibility of dealing with insubordinates. But every Christian should be on guard against the harmful influence of those who are disobedient and resistant to the authority of God's Word...xecutable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
