"Christ Alone!"

24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25 NIV)

Jesus saw our sin, but rather than keeping an eye on us to condemn us, He carried our sins to the Cross. He paid the price and by His wounds we have been made whole. In John 3:17 we read, 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. The false teachers came to condemn, enslave, and burden people down with man made rules and regulations.

When Paul wrote to Titus about church leadership, he described the kind of leader that Titus was to put into place. Listen to Titus 1:7-9.

7Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless-not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:7-9 NIV)

There is a stark contrast between a godly church leader and someone who worms their way into leadership to lead others astray. Did you notice the qualities that Paul told Titus to look for in a leader? Not overbearing, one who is upright, disciplined, and someone who holds firmly to the message so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine. What Paul is describing is a leader who is under God’s authority.

On the other hand, everywhere Paul traveled he ran into folks who were seeking to lead others astray, away from God. While Paul was in Miletus, he sent for the elders of the church in Ephesus. When they arrived he spoke these words to them.

28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. (Acts 20:28-31 NIV)

Paul warned the elders of Ephesus to watch for those who would distort the Truth and lead people away so that they could have their own following. God leaders will never claim followers of themselves -they are leading people to Jesus!

Paul would not deviate from the one message he had been given - Christ alone is the means of salvation! Paul knew how important it was for those who led the Body of Christ to hold unswervingly to this one message. Paul resisted the false teachers because, as he writes, 5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. (Galatians 2:5 NIV)