The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
Commentary by Nick Boork
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October 28 – Titus 3
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. 12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In the final portion of Paul’s letter to Titus he wants again reiterate and emphasizes that Christianity is more than just a religion but rather a life transformation that happens because of the love of God bringing salvation through faith in Christ. This is also known as the new birth and Paul here describes it as a work of grace by the Holy Spirit causing a spiritual regeneration and renewal. Christians have connected with God spiritually through faith in Jesus Christ and now look forward to eternal life in the kingdom of God. Paul encourages Titus to constantly remind the people of God that they should be careful to maintain good works or in other words live a godly life that glorifies God. Aren’t you glad that you have been saved and born-again through the mercy of God and now look forward to heaven!
An issue that every pastor will need to deal with from time to time is people that are divisive and preach or teach doctrines that are contrary to the word of God. This is a very serious issue because the devil always seeks to divide the church and one of the ways that he attempts this is through false teachings. This is why Paul instructs Titus on how to deal with such people saying in verse 10-11 Amplified version: After a first and second warning reject a divisive man [who promotes heresy and causes dissension—ban him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him], well aware that such a person is twisted and is sinning; he is convicted and self-condemned [and is gratified by causing confusion among believers]. What pastors need to do when they encounter a person that is either twisting the truth or preaching false doctrine is to confront them and give them a warning that what they are preaching is unacceptable in the church. Paul says that they are to be warned twice and if they persist in their showing of discord they are to be removed from the church.
That may seem extreme but let me tell you I have seen the results of false teaching unchecked and it can polarize a congregation causing division and splits. David Yonggi Cho is the pastor of the largest church in the world in south Korea. He says that if you cannot cast the devil out of the man you must cast both the man and the devil out of the church. In other words there are times that after warning people not to spread false doctrines that they need to be confronted and asked to leave the fellowship permanently. Remember that the Lord Jesus Christ taught that a house divided against itself will fall. It is absolutely of supreme importance that your local church stand under the leadership of the senior pastor following the pure teaching of the word of God. False teachers and false prophets seek to undermine the authority of the pastor and split churches to draw disciples away after them to start their own church or ministry or even worst rebel against the pastor and have him removed because he’s just not allowing God to move or is out of touch with the new revelation these false prophets are bringing. Don’t give into them an inch!
The Lord Jesus Christ held the pastor at the church in Thyatira accountable because he allowed a woman to teach and seduce Christians to commit adultery. Revelation 2:20 Amplified says: “But I have this [charge] against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and she teaches and misleads My bond-servants so that they commit [acts of sexual] immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols.” Pastors are the shepherds of the sheep and part of their job is to guard against wolves and this woman was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Never allow anyone that teaches false doctrine saying it’s okay to break the moral laws of God to preach or teach in your church. This takes a lot of courage but the Lord will strengthen pastors to confront those that are causing division and confusion in the church. If they resist a first and second warning pastors have both the responsibility and authority based on the word of God to ask offenders to leave their local church and even rebuke them publicly if necessary.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) Christians are born again through the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.
2) We need to be careful to maintain good works and glorify God.
3) Pastors are instructed on how to deal with false prophets and teachers.
4) The goal of the devil is to divide the local church.
5) Pastors must be bold and confront those that preach false messages.
6) People that refuse to repent after warning them twice should be removed from the church.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. 12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In the final portion of Paul’s letter to Titus he wants again reiterate and emphasizes that Christianity is more than just a religion but rather a life transformation that happens because of the love of God bringing salvation through faith in Christ. This is also known as the new birth and Paul here describes it as a work of grace by the Holy Spirit causing a spiritual regeneration and renewal. Christians have connected with God spiritually through faith in Jesus Christ and now look forward to eternal life in the kingdom of God. Paul encourages Titus to constantly remind the people of God that they should be careful to maintain good works or in other words live a godly life that glorifies God. Aren’t you glad that you have been saved and born-again through the mercy of God and now look forward to heaven!
An issue that every pastor will need to deal with from time to time is people that are divisive and preach or teach doctrines that are contrary to the word of God. This is a very serious issue because the devil always seeks to divide the church and one of the ways that he attempts this is through false teachings. This is why Paul instructs Titus on how to deal with such people saying in verse 10-11 Amplified version: After a first and second warning reject a divisive man [who promotes heresy and causes dissension—ban him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him], well aware that such a person is twisted and is sinning; he is convicted and self-condemned [and is gratified by causing confusion among believers]. What pastors need to do when they encounter a person that is either twisting the truth or preaching false doctrine is to confront them and give them a warning that what they are preaching is unacceptable in the church. Paul says that they are to be warned twice and if they persist in their showing of discord they are to be removed from the church.
That may seem extreme but let me tell you I have seen the results of false teaching unchecked and it can polarize a congregation causing division and splits. David Yonggi Cho is the pastor of the largest church in the world in south Korea. He says that if you cannot cast the devil out of the man you must cast both the man and the devil out of the church. In other words there are times that after warning people not to spread false doctrines that they need to be confronted and asked to leave the fellowship permanently. Remember that the Lord Jesus Christ taught that a house divided against itself will fall. It is absolutely of supreme importance that your local church stand under the leadership of the senior pastor following the pure teaching of the word of God. False teachers and false prophets seek to undermine the authority of the pastor and split churches to draw disciples away after them to start their own church or ministry or even worst rebel against the pastor and have him removed because he’s just not allowing God to move or is out of touch with the new revelation these false prophets are bringing. Don’t give into them an inch!
The Lord Jesus Christ held the pastor at the church in Thyatira accountable because he allowed a woman to teach and seduce Christians to commit adultery. Revelation 2:20 Amplified says: “But I have this [charge] against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and she teaches and misleads My bond-servants so that they commit [acts of sexual] immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols.” Pastors are the shepherds of the sheep and part of their job is to guard against wolves and this woman was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Never allow anyone that teaches false doctrine saying it’s okay to break the moral laws of God to preach or teach in your church. This takes a lot of courage but the Lord will strengthen pastors to confront those that are causing division and confusion in the church. If they resist a first and second warning pastors have both the responsibility and authority based on the word of God to ask offenders to leave their local church and even rebuke them publicly if necessary.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) Christians are born again through the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.
2) We need to be careful to maintain good works and glorify God.
3) Pastors are instructed on how to deal with false prophets and teachers.
4) The goal of the devil is to divide the local church.
5) Pastors must be bold and confront those that preach false messages.
6) People that refuse to repent after warning them twice should be removed from the church.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll