The Truth about Truth

Book of Titus  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Bible Reading

Musicians might need to sit down / about to give alot of attention to reading
Tonight our brother Mr. Birapka would like to share a word of greeting with out church family.
Hand out a copy of Titus with underlining for today.
Next 13 weeks: A faithful church in a confused culture.
I am not an “influencer” / word for those who influence the culture. I wore two color shoes at a church a couple years ago. It did not catch on.
Where we have little influence on the culture we have great responsibilities to one another and to see that this church remains faithful to sound doctrine.
We want the Word of God to “prevail” in our lives.
Something unique. We will read the entire Scripture. Greg suggested I have you stand like in Nehemiah. It will be about 7 minutes. So be standing on the inside / let’s “give attention” to the reading.

One comment about the culture of Crete [Slide of the island]

Titus 1 (KJV)
The lies of the culture get gloriously confronted in the very first few verse.
Cretans believed Greek gods were mere men and women elevated to deities through benevolent service and gifts to mankind. (different than the Marvel Comic or Olympian view)
They held that the majority of the gods were born on their island, including the chief “man-become-god,” Zeus, who was allegedly buried there.
In their minds, Crete was the central place of the worship of the gods.
The mythology was so entrenched in Cretan culture that the churches in Paul’s day were integrating their understanding of the Christian God with the prevailing views about the Greek gods, mainly Zeus. - Bible Project
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Description about the Vain Talkers and Deceivers (these people were in the room, that’s intense)
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
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Titus 2 (KJV)
Call to teach sound doctrine. It is a church-wide, multi-generational responsibility
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Grace of God should be of greater influence upon their lives than the confused culture
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for the return of Christ should shape our lives
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
These are truthes that we should declare regardless of how unfashionable it may be
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Titus 3 (KJV)
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Humbled by the awareness we were once deceived by the lies of this world as well.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Connection between correct doctrine and honest living -
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.
12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
Final Instruction
13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
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Pastoral Prayer

We pray the Holy Spirit will shape our church by the truth of God’s Word
Thankfulness for bringing the Birapka family to us
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Sermon Introduction

What does it mean to be a faithful church in a confused culture?
Question that needs to be asked and answered by us all.
“It is personal” / I pray you take this personal. Let’s not drift with the culture.
Most professing Christians do not live counter-cultural they simply live delayed culture. We aren’t the first to accept sin but we aren’t going to be the last ones either.
We need to be un-tethered from the culture and anchored in God’s Word.
Weekly I receive emails from organizations that want to provide couching how to make our church become more affirming of the lies of this culture. I know you experience this as well. IT IS PERSONAL
We live in the last days. We are waiting for nothing and we are watching as everything is coming together? [amen is a way to say you agree with what has been said]
Titus needed the encouragement that came from this letter. I have no doubt we need it as well. What we have in our hands is a gift for a church who wants to remain faithful in a confused culture!
Slide
Each generation of Christians must look to its beliefs. While truth itself is unchanging, the minds of men are porous vessels out of which truth can leak and into which error may seep to dilute the truth they contain. The human heart is heretical by nature and runs to error as naturally as a garden to weeds. All a man, a church or a denomination needs to guarantee deterioration of doctrine is to take everything for granted and do nothing. The unattended garden will soon be overrun with weeds; the heart that fails to cultivate truth and root out error will shortly be a theological wilderness; the church or denomination that grows careless on the highway of truth will before long find itself astray, bogged down in some mud flat from which there is no escape.
A.W Tozer in his book “Man- The Dwelling Place of God” Chapter 37: The Importance of Sound Doctrine
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We need the encouragement to remain faithful found in this passage.

Truth is coming to Crete / get ready to underling some things
Identity altering. Titus 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”
Absolute. Titus 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”
Sanctifying. Titus 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”
Unchangeable. Titus 1:2 “2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
Eternal. Titus 1:2 “2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
Communicable. Titus 1:3 “3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”
Accessible Titus 1:3 “3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”
Formidable Titus 1:3 “3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”
One-Size-Fits All Titus 1:4 “4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”

[SLIDE]

Backstory: Challenge to Titus

It appears Paul wrote this as two other Christian workers were about to go to Crete, so Paul sent this letter with them. Titus 3:13 “13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.”
Written about the same time as 1 Timothy
Timothy led churches in a different culture that were more established. / Before you think that Timothy got all the good assignments and Titus didn’t let me encourage to study up on that some more.
Paul quotes a man by the name of Epimenides, one of Crete’s own prophets, that makes a profound statement about his own people. Titus 1:12–13 “12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;” - The Men North of Richmond and the men of Crete were getting called out and everyone knew it.

Paul and Titus’s relationship

Titus 1:4 “4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
We learn that Paul and Titus worked together in Crete, spreading the gospel and establishing churches — but Paul had to leave. Titus 1:5 “5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:”
Titus stayed and worked among the congregations there.

God had prepared Titus for such a time as this.

“If you want to know what God is calling you to do in ministry, take an inventory of your pain.” - Bryan Loritts
Titus had a hard assignment: Titus 1:10–11 “10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”
These false teachers were teaching “which they ought not”
It was not just the wild, pagans but it was the religious crowd that was causing so much confusion.

Great lesson about living in a confused culture.

Timothy was circumcised. Acts 16:3 “3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.”
Titus wasn’t circumcised. Galatians 2:3–5 “3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”
It was with a desire for the advancement of the Gospel that Paul did not to allow Titus to be circumcised and it was freedom that led Paul to allow Timothy to be circumcised.
Gospel clarity and not the acceptance of avoidance of culture dictated their decisions.
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Truth about the truth for those living in a culture who say there is no truth.

Identity altering. Titus 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”
This is a strong word; means servant or slave.
He additionally mentioned his “apostolic authority” / “an apostle of Jesus Christ”
Reminder God had a special role in history for the apostles. Acts 2:42 “42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
We are built upon the teaching giving to and by these Apostles. Ephesians 2:20 “20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”
If there is anything this world and your family needs it is for us to stop living for self, stop being shaped by this culture, and renew our minds with God’s Word as we see ourselves as His servants.
Absolute. Titus 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”
A people who were captivated and enslaved in a confused culture are about to encounter the absolute truth of the Gospel.
It is coming from God from an apostle, but it is being shared by servants; people now captured by the Gospel.
Timothy is not an apostle nor is the men and women of chapter 2 whom he passes the baton.
When a man stops believing in God he does not in nothing but in everything.
Acknowledging absolute truth will make you a servant. Refusing to acknowledge it will enslave you as well. You must choose your master.
Sanctifying. Titus 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”
The truth, found in God’s Word, is what will sanctify us.
Paul’s ministry was aimed at both the salvation and sanctification of God’s people.
God’s Word provides instruction.
Un-changeable. Titus 1:2 “2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
Favorite T-Shirt: Truth is immortal
Truth is never changing because it is the truth from a God who cannot lie!
Hope is an anticipation founded not on wishful thinking, but on a promise from the God who cannot lie.
Eternal. Titus 1:2 “2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
You know they cannot cancel our hope.
We are living in times when cynicism is not only acceptable, but in some places, it is expected.
What cynicism gets right is that we are indeed living in a fallen world.
Everyone knew there was a problem with sin, even though they wouldn’t call it that. Titus 1:12 “12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.”
Hope frees the people of faith to be zealous, productive, godly doers not cynics.
We believe that this world is messed up in many ways, and that there’s a lot to be critical of. And we believe that the story doesn’t end there. We believe in redemption. We believe in change. We believe in grace. We believe in Jesus. We have hope — genuine hope. We reject cynicism. We have hope.
Communicable. Titus 1:3 “3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”
I love preaching. Not just doing it, but hearing it. This week I listened to a sermon and responded with an action immediately.
Bible preaching demands a verdict.
Preaching is more than just seeing the truth and showing it to you. The Devil could do that.
Preaching does not come after worship in the order of the service.
Preaching is worship.
In preaching we are wanting to lead you to a worshipful response by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Much more to be said about this. I think I might just preach a message about it in the days to come.
Accessible Titus 1:3 “3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”
Paul knew the work of preaching was entrusted to him, but not to him only.
We have an obligation to teach God’s Word.
The same God who manifested Himself in the flesh reveals Himself to us now through the preaching of His Word.
God has made Himself known! God allows us the responsibility to make Him known.
Formidable Titus 1:3 “3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”
One-Size-Fits All Titus 1:4 “4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
We all are not finding different ways to God.
Our salvation comes in the same way to all. Jude 3 “3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
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Challenge to You

Transition: Pause & get pastoral / men and women in here trying to navigate the corporate world. Know that you are setting a path for the next generation. The liberal agenda that once was more prominent in the arts and entertainment has now found its place to every area of our culture.
The next generation is going to be hard for our children. It is is going to be even possible if you don’t show them the way.
This letter was written to Titus, but it was also written to the Christians on the island of Crete. It was also sent for you!
Recognize that in acknowledging truth we have acknowledge the Lordship of Christ in our lives. We are servants of God. Context nor culture changes this.
God’s truth is absolutely true and absolute. Know it, love it, live it. (Some in here might have been blessed with some borrowed convictions growing up. It is now time to take ownership and know right from wrong.
Recognize that God’s Word has instruction. You can share this with others. It is loving.
You can’t have your own truth. You can have God’s or you wont have any at all.
Our view of Heaven keeps us from being cynical. The story is not over.
This truth has been communicated to us. We can and should communicate it to others.
The same truth that changed your life is the same person who can change the life of anyone you meet.
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Time of Response

Going to ask you to carry this Scripture this week and meditate on it. It is for you. You need it.
Take it personal.
You need to make a decision today about the “truth of truth”
Don’t move. Regain ground.
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