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Titus 2:6-8
Introduction
An unidentified Bible study author of an introduction to Paul's letter Titus agrees that Titus was Paul's trouble-shooter and problem-solver for the churches on the island of Crete.
Titus was a man for the tough tasks. According to Paul, he was dependable (2 Cor. 8:17), reliable (2 Cor. 7:6), and diligent (2 Cor. 8:17); and he had a great capacity for human affection (2 Cor. 7:13-15). Possessing both strength and tact, Titus calmed a desperate situation on more than one occasion. He is a good model for Christians who are called to live out their witness in trying circumstances.
http://www.angelfire.com/sc3/redentormio/Titus.html
The problem of immature and inconsistent behavior (which Paul wanted corrected) among those who claimed to be Christians seems to have originated from . . .
I. Lack of Qualified Leadership, Titus 1:5-9.
II. The Presence and Influence of False Teachers, Titus 1:10-16.
III. Lack of Good Instruction to Believers Concerning Proper Christian Conduct, Titus 2:1-10; 3:1-3.
(Titus 2:1 NIV) You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine to:.
A. The Older Men, Titus 2:1.
B. The Older Women, Titus 2:3-5
Now we consider what Paul wrote to Titus that must be taught to . . .
C. The Young Men, Titus 3:6-8
(Titus 2:6-8 NIV) Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. {7} In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness {8} and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Titus' assigned responsibilities to the young men were to . . .
1. Encourage (Gk., parakaleo = invite) the young men to be self-controlled (Gk., sophroneo = sound mind)
The use of this word for Titus' approach in teaching the young men suggests that Titus was to perform a ministry much like that of the Holy Spirit (Who is called a paraclete). This meant going alongside the young men as a mentor to strengthen and support the young in the pursuit of maturity by learning self-control rather than self-indulgence.
2. Set an example for the young men by his own life and teaching:
a. The importance of always doing what is good.
1) To bring praise to the Father in heaven
(Mat 5:16 NIV) In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
2) To fulfill a purpose God intended for our creation
(Eph 2:10 NIV) For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
3) To please God
(Heb 13:16 NIV) And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
4) To keep from sinning
(James 4:17 NIV) Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
5) To receive a good reward before the judgment seat of Christ
(2 Cor 5:10 NIV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
b. The importance of maintaining one's integrity (Gk., adiaphthoria = without corruption or "rottenness."
If Christians do not have integrity, if their lives do not match their profession of faith in Christ, then they will not be believed when they speak of Christ.
(Rom 12:2 NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The world needs to see validity of the Christian life and not the "fakes" who use the faith for their own purposes and are eventually shown to be what they are to the disgrace of Christ and His church.
(Rom 16:17-18 NIV) I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. {18} For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
c. The importance of approaching life with proper seriousness (Gk., semnote = honesty, decency)
How easy it is to fall into the trap of believing that our lives is our own to do with as we want. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have been given life to serve the Lord in all that we do. Living is a serious business because it is God's business we are meant to be doing and for which each of us will be held accountable.
(Col 3:23-25 NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, {24} since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. {25} Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
d. The importance of using sound speech (communication) (Gk., hugies = healthy or truthful with Gk., logos = communication)
(2 Cor 4:2 NIV) Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
It is the responsibility of believers to be "believable." Actions must match words and the words must be the truth. God does not need charlatans and or cunning salesmen to "market" the gospel. He just needs the truth lived and spoken with the seriousness it deserves considering that where one will spend eternity is at stake.
3. Practicing these things to put those who oppose you may be put to shame for their false representations (Gk., akatagnostos = not according to correct knowledge).
The world has become so corrupt that when they see honesty and openness, they don't know what to do with it. In our post-modern world, fewer believe that truth even exists or has any value. If a lie advances the cause, then a lie must be told. Nowhere is this seen so often and shamelessly than it politics.
Titus 2:8 speaks of using sound speech so that those who oppose the Christian message will be "ashamed" when their lies are exposed. Actually, the word "ashamed" is the Greek word from which we get our English word "entropy." If you remember your physics class, you will recall that entropy is the natural tendency of the universe to fall into disorder. Paul intends the speaking and living of the truth of the gospel by believers to cause all the false representations of our faith to fall apart when the truth becomes known, thus embarrassing those who promoted the lies.
Conclusion
1. We need to teach our young men to be self-controlled through the use of a sound mind able to make wise spiritual choices which are at times in conflict with their natural fleshly impulses.
2. We need to provide good examples for young men to emulate in such areas as . . .
a. Doing good
b. Maintaining integrity
c. Being serious about living for Christ
d. Matching Christian "talk" with a Christian "walk"
3. We need to teach our young men to so live their lives that no one can accuse them of being hypocritical.
Actually, we all need to be taught to live and speak in these ways for the glory of God.
