Titus 1:10-16

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.  One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”  This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.  To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.  They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

The reason strong leaders are so vital to the health of the church is because there are so many attacks on the faith an on the truth.  Satan is always seeking to destroy the message of the Gospel and distract people from the truth.  The church needs leaders who are capable of recognizing and neutralizing these threats.

SILENCE THE LEGALIST: There are people who do not follow the teachings of Scripture or submit to authority established by God.  They talk big but what they say is false.  The legalistic Jews had this reputation for requiring adherence to obscure man-made laws while living in disobedience to the spirit of the Law as inspired by God.  This only leads to self-righteousness and can never save but leads to the condemnation of others.  These false teachers end up leading many people astray and destroy families.  Their motive is to get money or fame for themselves.  Those who use the Gospel for the purpose of personal gain are harmful to the church and themselves.  Paul warns that these people must be silenced.  They cannot be given space in the church to spread their false teachings.  They must be exposed and expelled from any teaching roles.   

REBUKE THE LAZY: Paul quotes a poem that someone made up about the inhabitants of Crete.  This poem criticized Cretans as being dishonest, violent, and lazy.  Apparently, the reputation was accurate.  However, it did not need to be permanent in the lives of believers.  God is able to transform any person and even entire cultures by the power of the Gospel.  By God’s grace and the power of the Spirit Cretans could become honest, loving, and industrious.  This transformation can only occur when leaders like Titus have the courage to rebuke the sinful people and proclaim the Gospel.  Rebuking people is not an easy thing to do, but it is often necessary.                                                                              

IDENTIFY THE LOST: There are people who are attending the church but do not follow the teaching of Scripture.  They remain defiled and are unbelievers.  They see nothing as being pure in the blood of Christ.  Since they are striving to be justified by their own works they constantly compare themselves with others and have to find or invent things as being defiled.  They claim to be Christians, but they deny the work of Christ, so they are truly unbelievers and remain lost in their sin.  They must be warned of their lost condition and they must be exposed to the rest of the congregation so this reality will not spread to others.

APPLICATION: Be courageous to confront and silence those who spread false teaching.  Trust the power of the Gospel to transform the lives of people so stand firm and rebuke those who disobey God’s Word.  Warn those who claim to be Christians that, apart from Christ, they have no hope of being saved.