Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Trustworthiness is a rare commodity in our world. It used to be a common thought that you could not trust a car salesman. That is probably still true today. It was also quite common to know that most lawyers are not trustworthy. It has also become quite a common fact that politicians are liars.
God told Paul to remind Titus that the Cretians had a reputation for being liars. In the midst of that, God’s Word is faithful. Titus did not need to accept those who wanted to discredit the Word of God. Those who are chosen by God to be spiritual leaders need boldness. The devil is always out to try to discredit God’s Word. He deceived Eve with leading questions. Jesus declared that he is a liar. In our time there are far too many perversions of God’s Word that are being used by deceivers who stand in front of their cameras and their podiums and they happily deceive gullible people.
No one has an excuse for being deceived. God’s Word is readily available and we can know the truth. Preachers need to constantly affirm the truth. Those who are saved need to be careful to maintain good works. New Evangelicalism lies about that. If you are a true child of God, then you are saved unto good works:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Good works are defined by the Bible, not man’s opinions. It is foolishness to think you can be a child of God and still love the world. The world’s music has no place in the saved person’s life. The language of the saved person must be clean.
James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Liquor has no place in the saved person’s life. There are many things that saved people are not a part of. It is not a drudgery for those who are truly born again. The saved person does not want to stumble and fall. He wants to shine as a light in a dark world. A true Bible-believing church is not an option for the saved person. It is a blessing to be able to be a part of a true church where you can grow and where your family can see what true saints look like.
Paul tells us these things are good and profitable unto men. The world needs to see what clean, godly living looks like. It is a blessing their souls long for but they cannot have because they reject the truth. It is a shame to see what is taking place in New Evangelical churches.
In verse 9 we read of foolish questions. It is important to ask questions. However, there were people in Paul’s day who were not interested in truth. They were only interested in trying to trap the saints. That is certainly true today as well. The pastor needs discernment. He needs to understand who it is that is being led to seek after truth. He needs to avoid those who just want to lay a trap.
A godly pastor desires to help people to know God’s peace. We see as well that there are those who are obsessed with genealogies. It is nice to know some family background. However, it is not something that is worth fighting over. In relation to the Jews, God knows every tribe and He knows who belongs in which tribe. The Jews may not know that, but it is certain there is no lost tribe of Israel. There are things that are more important than to know our genealogical record.
There is also the wasted time on strivings about the law.
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
1 Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
God’s law is not open for discussion. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that no one can keep God’s law perfectly. That is God’s requirement, but He knows we cannot do so. The Bible tells us that God’s law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. As we see we cannot keep it, it troubles us. Most find ungodly diversions to harden themselves against the truth. A few will be drawn to repentance toward God and true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lawlessness is not taught in the Bible. The Pharisees had many laws that were a corruption of God’s law. There are laws today that are also against God’s Word. We just came through an experiment where the government tried to impose ungodly laws on us. Far too many people bowed to the government rather than to God.
Entertaining ungodly things is unprofitable and vain. While in Bible school, we were supposed to learn how to debate one another. We were given topics and needed to choose which side we would take. I refused to debate on the side of something I did not believe in. I do not need to learn anything that way. I will discuss the Word of God with those who want to learn. As we have seen in our text, it is a waste of time to discuss Biblical doctrines with someone who just wants to justify their rebellion.
In verse 10 we are warned about an heretick. A heretick is someone who is pushing false doctrine and is trying to divide people with his heresies. Calvinists are hereticks. They choose to believe a lie and they want to encourage others to do the same. They need to be exposed for what they are. We are told here to admonish hereticks two times and then reject them. It is pointless to keep going back to such a person. The pride of man might entice him to keep going back to such. The saved person must understand that pride is sin. The heretick is closing the door to salvation because he refuses to repent toward God. His pride will not allow him to admit he is wrong. Thus he pushes his way into hell.
The heretick is subverted. He is someone who twists the truth for his own ends. We need to contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. We don’t prove anything because we try to compete with men like Charlie Kirk or others in that field. They are just grandstanding. They say some nice things but they are not God-fearing men.
Let the hereticks believe their lies. They will face the Lord soon enough. God says such a person sinneth and condemns himself. Let that person gather his crowd. He may be content with that in public. In his heart he knows he is wrong. Some might get saved eventually. Most will remain under condemnation.
Today is the Lord’s Day. True saints should see the importance of seeking out a good church to attend and join. Keep in mind this is a faithful saying. Jesus put much emphasis on the local church. How can those who claim that He is their Saviour and Lord dismiss that which He declared Himself the Builder and Head of? If you are a true child of God, submit to His will and let Him bless you.
Pastor Bartel
