INTRODUCTION

1. The second chapter of Paul's letter to Titus begins and ends with an exhortation for Titus to speak the things contained within this chapter.

   1. Verse 1 says, "But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine."

   2. The last verse, verse 15, says, "These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority.  Let no one disregard you."

2. Therefore, it is evident that we need to be speaking the instructions contained in this chapter in order to uphold sound doctrine.

   1. These instructions teach conduct that is suitable for those who profess the sound doctrine of God.  This conduct is the sound doctrine of God applied in real life.

   2. Twice in these instructions, Paul reinforces the connection between this conduct and sound doctrine.

      1. In verse 5, this conduct is "so that the word of God will not be dishonored."

      2. In verse 10, this conduct is "so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect."

   3. These instructions may be unpopular, but they must be spoken by exhortation and reproof with all authority.  Teachers of these instructions must not be disregarded.

3. As we examine these instructions, let us consider whether our conduct is "fitting for sound doctrine."

   1. These instructions are divided by categories of persons within the Lord's church.

   2. Each Christian should consider his or her own category to learn how to adorn the doctrine of God.

       

THE THINGS WHICH ARE FITTING FOR SOUND DOCTRINE

1. Older men, are you fit for sound doctrine?

   1. The instruction for older men is found in verse 2:

      Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

   2. God has always expected older men to exhibit such traits, for they should possess the benefits of wisdom and experience from their years of life and maturity.  Older men should be a great source of calm strength and stability for the church.

2. Older women, are you fit for sound doctrine?

   1. The instruction for older women is found in verses 3-4:

      ³Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴so that they may encourage the young women...

   2. Older women have a similar role as older men (hence the word "likewise").  They should be busy in talking to other women not about gossip but about the teachings of God's word.  Their reverent behavior is a source of encouragement to younger women who look to them for leadership.

3. Younger women, are you fit for sound doctrine?

   1. The instruction for younger women is found in verses 4-5. The young women are...

      ⁴...to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

   2. Notice that each of these instructions for younger women is contradicted by the present culture of the world.  Feminists would revise these instructions to say that young women should...

      ...not bother with a husband, pay someone else to raise their children, do what pleases them, be promiscuous, hire someone else to work at home while they pursue a career, be domineering, never be subject to any man, and have no regard for the word of God.

   3. The pressure of the world for young women to comply with the feminist philosophy is tremendous.  Our young women desperately need the encouragement of the older women as this passage indicates.

4. Younger men, are you fit for sound doctrine?

   1. The instruction for younger men is found in verses 6-8:

      ⁶Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; ⁷in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, ⁸sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

   2. As with the young women, young men are also being taught a much different message from the world.  The worldly revision of these instructions to young men is as follows:

      Young men are to sow their wild oats, showing themselves to be examples of self-indulgence, with no concern for doctrine, no sense of dignity or honor, and no speech but that which is corrupted by filth and foolishness, so that the opponent will say that they are no different than the rest of the world.

   3. As with the young women, the pressure of the world is heavy upon young men to comply with the world's model.  The young men also need encouragement to overcome this pressure.

5. Servants, are you fit for sound doctrine?

   1. The instruction for bondslaves is found in verses 9-10:

      ⁹Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

   2. Of course, we have no bondslaves in our society, for slavery is illegal.  However, the principles of this instruction can be applied to the relationship of employees to their employers.

   3. Thus, employees should be honest and hard-working for their employers in return for their wages.  Their conduct will be perceived as a reflection on the doctrine of God which they profess.

       

WHAT THESE INSTRUCTIONS REALLY ARE

1. These instructions are not the arbitrary rules of Paul or Titus, but rather they are the instructions of God's own grace.

   1. These instructions are summarized in verses 11-14:

      ¹¹For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, ¹²instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, ¹³looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, ¹⁴who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

   2. These latter verses are not giving separate instructions, but rather they are enhancing the instructions already given in verses 2-10.

      1. The same grace of God that has brought salvation to all men has also given us these instructions. We cannot separate God's instructions concerning matters like faith, baptism, and the church from these matters of personal traits and behaviors.  We must abide by all of God's instructions.

      2. When we live according to the instructions of verses 2-10, we are denying ungodliness and worldly desires and living sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,. Indeed, we are overcoming the pressures of the present age and complying with the will of God.

      3. Our motivation for keeping these instructions is the hope we have in Jesus.  He died to redeem us from lawless deeds and to purify us for good deeds such as those described in verses 2-10.  If we reject His instructions, then we have dishonored His sacrifice.

2. We cannot keep the instructions of grace or uphold sound doctrine without keeping the instructions of Titus chapter 2.

   1. By grace, God has revealed these and other instructions like these for our own good.  They teach us how to change from our former, worldly ways to the ways of God.

   2. If we fail to heed these instructions, then we have rejected God's grace.  Anyone who thinks he or she can live in contradiction to God's instructions while also standing in His grace is deceived.

   3. We cannot uphold the sound doctrine of God while living contrary to it.  The conduct described in Titus 2 is "fitting for sound doctrine," while worldly conduct is unsuitable.

       

 CONCLUSION

1. Paul was very prescient when he wrote to Titus, "Let no one disregard you," for people have resisted these instructions and disregarded them for many years, even in the Lord's church.

2. However, let us embrace "the things which are fitting for sound doctrine."  Keeping God's instructions is the only way to "adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect."