Sermon for 2/4/2001
Able to refute, rebuke
Titus 1:9-16
Introduction:
Tevye, the Jewish dairy farmer in the Fiddler on the Roof, lives with his wife and five daughters in czarist Russia. Change is taking place all around him and the new patters are nowhere more obvious to Tevye than in the relationship between the sexes. First, one of his daughters announces that she and a young tailor have pledged themselves to each other, even though Tevye had already promised her to the village butcher, a widower. Initially Tevye will not hear of his daughter’’ plans, but he finally has an argument with himself and decides to give in to the young lover’s wishes. A second daughter also chooses the man she wants to marry: An idealist revolutionary. Tevye is rather fond of him, and, after another argument with himself, he again concedes to the changing times.
A while later, Tevye’s third daughter wishes to marry. She has fallen in love with a young Gentile. A no-no among faithful Jewish people. This violates Tevye’s deepest religious convictions: It is unthinkable that one of his daughters would marry outside the faith. Once again, he has an argument with himself. He knows that his daughter is deeply in love, and he does not want her to be unhappy. Still, he cannot deny his convictions. “How can I turn my back on my faith, my people?” he asks himself. “If I try and bend that far, I’ll break!” Tevye pauses and begins a response: “On the other hand…” He pauses again, and then he shouts: “No! There is no other hand!”
WBTU:
A. Last time we were talking about how the mature Christian will be able to teach in any and every situation.
1. Learn more and more of the Word of God
2. Believe more and more of the Word of God
3. Live more and more of the Word of God
B. We talked about how a good teacher will gently instruct.
C. Timothy and Titus are in different areas. Timothy is in Ephesus which has already had several years of the gospel in the region. Ephesus is a place of culture and a place of a strong church.
D. Titus on the other hand is not in that kind of surroundings. Crete has not had the gospel in its lands for many years. Crete also is a place where the people do not have a good reputation. Much like Nazareth. Our verses today tell us that the reputation they have is true.
E. Titus is told to be more stern with them. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. Titus 2:15.
F. When we come across people like this we need to refute them. Do it in a gentle, kind, understanding way. However, once this approach does not work we must be stern, rebuke them, correct them.
G. Refute- to prove to be false or erroneous; disprove.
H. Rebuke- To criticize or reprove sharply; reprimand.
I. Especially Christians who know better. Have been taught the Word of God and are not doing it and know that they are not doing it and have no regard for it, must rebuke them.
J. Read the passage Titus 1:9-16.
K. A mature man of God is to “hold fast” to the “faithful word.”
At the same time, he does not allow himself to get involved in (2 Tim 2:23 NIV) foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
L. A mature Christian knows when he needs to stand firm and when we needs to give some ground. Only way to know that is to know the Word of God. If the Word of God speaks about it, hold fast. If the Word of God does not speak about it or is unclear, compromise, give some ground.
M. Vs. 10 and Vs. 14
N. Tevye- With his first two daughters he gave some ground, compromised his positions. However, with his last daughter, he would not because he had to remain true to the Word of God. “No other hand.”
O. Must be silenced- especially in God’s church. Those who do not hold to the faithful teachings.
P. The difficulties in Crete were beyond the stage of “gentle” dialogue. Titus was facing those who were totally corrupt- men who had consciously rejected the “faithful word.” These people were deliberately setting out to thwart God’s purposes.
Q. These people that are described claim to be Christians. Vs. 16
R. They must be directly confronted with the Word of God by godly people. Paul’s hope was that these people would respond to this kind of direct confrontation.
S. How did Jesus react to those who distorted truth either by twisting Scripture or by living an ungodly life? Matthew 23- Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Woe to you, blind guides! Fools and blind! Serpents, brood of vipers!
T. In the book of Acts we see people who rebuked others.
1. Stephen- (Acts 7:51 NIV) "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
2. Simon the Sorcerer- (Acts 8:22 NIV) Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.(Acts 8:23 NIV) For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
3. Paul with the Jews.
U. This goes against my personality. However, we must do this to some people who we know, know better.
V. Your children. “You know better.”
W. A good teacher does not let his students be unruly, especially when he knows, they know better. Rebuke them.
X. Rebuke them with what? My opinions, my thoughts. Because I said so. No authority there. What will convict? (2 Tim 3:16 NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness
Y. There are several issues in today’s world that are twisted by professing Christians. They are deceivers and they must be stopped, silenced. They are teaching things which they ought not to teach, they are not sound in the faith.
Thesis: Let’s look at some of these contemporary issues.
For instances:
I. Sexuality.
A. Anything goes. “What I do in the bedroom is my business.”
B. Homosexuality.
1. The Roanoke Times.
a) Gay in Roanoke. Series of articles.
b) This past year it was a tragedy what happened at the Backstreet Café. Ronald Gay shot several people and one person is dead. A gay bar.
c) Made the gay population stand out.
d) The Rev. Catherine Houchins preaches to the congregation at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Blue Ridge. This church welcomes and condones homosexuals in their lifestyle.
e) In the section Extra, it tells of a homosexual couple who are raising a daughter.
f) The press wants us to accept these people as normal. “A lot of them are the stories of men and women who wanted people to know they’re just regular folks- except for that sexual thing.”
g) The Boy Scouts and their stand. Will not approve of homosexual troop leaders. United Way and many organizations and people will not give them support financially or otherwise. In some places, because of their stand, they have been refused to use public buildings and some troops have been forced to disband because of lack of sponsors.
2. The Bible.
a) A grievous sin in days of Patriarchs- Sodom.
b) A capital crime under Law of Moses.
c) In the New Testament. (1 Cor 6:9 NIV) Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders(1 Cor 6:10 NIV) nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.(1 Cor 6:11 NIV) And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
3. The church.
a) Teach the truth in love. Do not need to hate these people. They need help and Jesus.
b) Expose homosexuality for the sin that it is. Do not need to abandon the Bible.
c) Lovingly accept and assist those who come to Jesus in an effort to overcome this tenacious sin. Many churches will not do that. Back to Scripture.
d) Exodus International.
C. Pre-marital sex.
1. TV.
2. Over 70% of High School Seniors have had sex.
3. As long as we are in a loving relationship.
4. Engaged.
5. It’s not adultery.
6. Have to have some fun.
7. The Bible.
a) (1 Cor 6:9 NIV) Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral …will inherit the kingdom of God.(1 Cor 6:11 NIV) And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
b) (1 Cor 6:16 NIV) Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."
c) It is meant for marriage.
D. Living together.
1. We need to live together to see if we are compatible.
2. We can avoid the marriage tax.
3. If it doesn’t work out, then we can separate and not get a divorce.
4. The Bible.
a) (1 Pet 4:3 NIV) For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
b) (Eph 5:31 NIV) "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
E. Marriage.
1. I hate marriage.
2. Have an open marriage.
3. (Heb 13:4 NIV) Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
II. Abortion.
A. I have had sex and now I want to get rid of this thing.
B. Roanoke Times- David Sandridge, Back Pew, Cody Lowe- Always a religious man, Sandridge became convinced that the Bible teaches that God disapproves of abortion and that God will always help find other solutions for women with unintended pregnancies.
C. (Psa 139:13 NIV) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
D. Jeremiah- "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
E. Thou shalt not murder.
F. Need to be there for those who need to give up for adoption, those who have little help.
G. Do not condone the sin, but maybe this sin will lead them closer to God.
H. So many want babies.
III. Addictions.
A. Drugs.
B. Alcohol.
C. (Eph 5:18 NIV) Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
D. (1 Th 4:3 NIV) It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;(1 Th 4:4 NIV) that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
E. Pornography- (Mat 5:28 NIV) But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
F. Entertainment- (Phil 4:8 NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
IV. Truth.
A. No such thing as truth. Truth is subjective. It is whatever you think.
B. (John 18:37 NIV) "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."(John 18:38 NIV) "What is truth?" Pilate asked.
C. Richard Foster- The catch-word people use for this sweeping change in our cultural landscape is “Post-modernism,” and it simply means that we have cut ourselves off from all the ancient anchors of reality, truth, and virtue. For the post-modernist “reality” is what we are making up as we go along, “Truth” is what we decide it is, and “virtue” is reduced to being politically correct.
D. Bible is not true. Can explain away anything.
E. Ethics are relative, subjective. We can speak bad about mom and dad every once in a while. It is OK to murder people in some situations. It is a good thing to have an affair. It is good to steal from time to time. It is good to lie. It is good to covet, it helps to push us on to bigger and better things.
F. History can be changed. Given a different perspective. Rewriting the history books.
G. Pluralism- Many ways to God.
H. I am the way, the truth, and the life…
I. There is truth.
Transition: Maybe I have offended you this morning.
A. Think upon God’s Word and it will help you.
B. Pray about your belief and what the Bible says. Help me to believe.
C. Repent of sins.
D. Childlike faith.
E. My belief in marriage.
F. Don’t take it out on me. We either believe the truth, or we do not.
G. Jesus- "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
H. Athanasius, Christian leader in Alexandria, strongly opposed the teachings of Arius, who declared that Christ was not the eternal Son of God, but a subordinate being. Suffering through 5 exiles, he was finally summoned before the emperor Theodosius, who demanded he cease his opposition to Arius. The emperor reproved him and asked, “Do you not realize that all the world is against you?” Athanasius quickly answered, “Then I am against all the world.”
Conclusion:
A. Must be born again.
B. Baptism.
