Titus Chapter 3 Verse 9

 Paul gives Titus four things to avoid for two reasons. And this word

for avoid in the Greek means absolutely to avoid but one of the

definitions I just get a tickle from. To turn one’s self about for the

purpose of avoiding something. The picture I get in my mind is

someone talking about something and you just turn your back to them!

HA! Or juke them like a running back! HA! Ok, maybe that’s just

me…

 But Paul, in all seriousness, of how to flip Crete for the Lord and save

those people and drastically HELP each and everyone of them, four

things to avoid for two reasons. The first is foolish disputes.

 This is to say that some disputes are not foolish. A good conversation

that includes a healthy debate is not always a bad thing. However, and

the first time I said this was probably fifteen years ago, we need to

practice discernment in debating with folks because in a debate, there

are two types of people. Seekers and suckers.

 Some are seeking to learn. To further their own understanding with

diverse ideas and conversation and contemplation. These are great

to debate and converse with. And then there are suckers. Folks that are

not trying to converse at all but just trying to tell you what they know

like its everything or just get their point across over and over again.

Not willing to consider what you have to say or listen or be corrected.

These just suck your time away and your interest in the topic.

 I love talking with seekers especially concerning anything with the

Bible. But I have no time nor patience for suckers! Avoid them, Paul

says. Foolish disputes. The word for foolish is “moros” where we get

our word “moron.” Let me tell you a few expressions of the moronic.

 Full on doctrines or theologies that you find nowhere in any way,

shape or form in the scriptures. Fun, take a look, ok interesting, but not

worth any significant amount of time or focus.

 Here’s another form of a foolish dispute. Biblical truths taken out of

context to the advantage of one person over another. Said a little bit

differently, verses used to accuse someone or harm them. It’s just

foolish because the example, character and principle of God in the

scriptures is to give your life for them. Any verse used as a weapon

against someone else is automatically taken out of context and

foolish.

 Maybe one more…, any invested focus, prolonged scrutinizing of any

Biblical topic that doesn’t include the theme, tone or topic of the

Gospel. The Gospel is the foundation of all theology and doctrine. It is

always the focus…, always. Foolish to find yourself in a prolonged

focus on anything else.

 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that

which is laid, which is Christ Jesus.” Revelation Chapter 2 verses 2-4,

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot

bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are

apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have

persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake

and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that

you have left your first love.”

 Juke ‘em out Titus. Foolish disputes are unprofitable, which means

they are founded in the flesh, and useless. In the end, so what? Doesn’t

set anyone free or set anyone right.

 Second thing to avoid is genealogies. Now this one is interesting

because to the Jew, genealogy was everything. Today, we give

someone a resume to detail our qualifications. Then, it was your

genealogy. Christianity changed all of this.

 All genealogies in the faith are the same. All one Heavenly Father.

One God. One Savior. Who paid the one single and only price for all.

And all saved by grace through faith. Paul went on and on about his

genealogical qualifications in Philippians chapter 3 and then said in

verses 7 – 8, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence

of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered

the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain

Christ, but what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for

Christ.”

 Here’s the point. When you come to Jesus, there are some things that

are left behind. Self-importance, self-distinction due to what you’ve

done, what you have, what school you went to, whatever… Romans

12:10, Paul said, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly

love, in honor giving preference to one another…” So, Titus, anyone

not get that…, there’s a problem with them, avoid them…

 Third thing to avoid is contentions. Or one could put these together

and say contentions and strivings about the law. They probably go

together but in general contentions and strivings don’t fit well with

serving a God who gave Himself for His enemies!

 But Paul does say specifically contentions and strivings about the law.

Now, this isn’t law as in like the speed limit or the law against

damaging a rock in a Colorado State Park (which is a real law by the

way). This is speaking about the Jewish law. The 613 dos and don’ts

of the Mishnah which was the oral Torah of the rabbinic sages.

 Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the

law of the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Galatians

3:24-25 says, “The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we

might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer

under a tutor.”

 At this time there was conversation, striving, debate and division in

the church over circumcision, dietary restrictions, clothing norms, and

several other pieces of the Old Covenant law. Just like today. But the

Bible is so very clear that the person that finds themselves concerned

with the things of the law is the one that needs to grow a bit in their

faith. Specifically in the grace of God through Christ and the

incredible freedom that God has secured for us from all things of the

flesh through the breaking of His own!

 Romans 14 nails this subject authoritatively. Romans 14:1-2, “Receive

one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only

vegetables.” Ultimately this disputes over the law cause Christians,

churches and even families to divide. Paul is clear about all of that

here…, it is all unprofitable and useless.

Titus Chapter 3 Verses 10 – 11

 These are strong words and don’t entirely align with the Christian

narrative that the world has for the church and even that the church

has for the church. Here’s why. Theirs and our narrative is wrong.

Deeply seeded in human reason and sentiment…, when what God

wants to do is actually change that person for the better!

 So, this is clear. We are to admonish a divisive person two times and

then reject them. Ok, what does that look like. First of all, an

opinionated, passionate, driven, ambitious person…, that is not

automatically divisive. It’s when there is an insisting regarding

something that is not essential, or the insisting is ungodly. That

simple… It’s self-will over God’s-will, when that is met with those

things…, that person will be divisive.

 The word in the Greek for divisive is “hairetikos,” where we get our

word, “heretic.” It means to be factious over wrong or unimportant

ideas and subjects. Paul gives clear direction here, admonish that

person, which means encourage them to drop it and move on for the

better of themselves and the church, you do that two times…, and then

you reject them. That word is hard…, it means refuse them…

 Look, I despise confrontation just as much as the next guy, but I don’t

avoid it at all costs. A church that does that will not be a church for

very long…, or it will split. Over the years I’ve only had to remove

someone from fellowship a few times and each time I’ve hated it but it

was necessary. Are they welcome back? Of course! As long as they

receive the admonition! Not a fun topic or a fun thing to do but

something we will do even if it doesn’t fit into the mental narrative

most in and out of the faith have about the love of the church.

Titus Chapter 3 Verse 12

 Now we get to some that serve the church and care for each other. Two

of them here that are with Paul and serving alongside him. And I love

that Paul just makes a statement here that he has decided to spend the

winter in Nicopolis. No deep prayer mentioned, nothing spiritual, just

practically living unto the Lord.

Titus Chapter 3 Verse 13

 Zenas would later become the warrior princess! HA! This is proof text

that lawyers can be Christians! HA! I’m sorry! But notice that Paul

wants his brothers to lack nothing. Is that your heart for those in the

Body of Christ? Most want themselves to lack nothing… This is the

contrasting character to what we have studied thus far today.

Titus Chapter 3 Verses 14 – 15

 Final words from Paul to Titus and they are pointed. Even strategic.

Three things. Maintain good works. How? By being ready, (reference

the beginning of this chapter). To meet urgent/important needs of the

brethren, and bear a ton of fruit!

 And greet those who love us… What about those that don’t Paul?

Strategic message to Titus. Crete is a tough place, and they’re not all

going to love you, and that’s ok…, minister on by them, brother.

Haters gonna hate, you stay on mission and unto an audience of One.

Even so, grace to them all, ready to be given at all and any times even

time and time again…, because that is the heart and will of God!