BEING BLAMELESS
TITUS 1:6
This morning I would like begin my sermon by telling you somewhat of a tragic story. There was once this elderly women named Wilma. Now Wilma loved her pet dog very much. One day Wilma awoke to find her dog on the ground not moving and a little stiff. She immediately called the vet who told her to bring the dog in right a way! Wilma tell as she was told and brought the dog to the vet. After examining the dog the vet broke the news to Wilma, "Your dog is dead". In between sops she asked the doctor if there was anything more that he could do. Feeling sorry for her he stated well there is one more thing I could do.
He left the room and came back a shore time later with the big gray cat in a cage. The vet let the cat out, it proceeded to walk over to the dog, sniffed it head to toe then went back into the cage. The doctor looked at Wilma and said, "Well that settles it for sure, your dog is dead!".
Satisfied that the vet had done all he could she asked the vet how much she owed him. He stated that will be $330. Wilma was shocked! "What! $330! For what?"
Well the vet said, "$30 for the office visit, and $330 for the cat scan".
Now it what be very difficult to some how fit that into today’s sermon so I am not even going to try.
A few weeks ago we discussed leadership. I believe that while I was away David also preached on that particular subject. You may recall that Titus is given the task of assigning elders in the local churches. These were to be local men, Titus was to train some of the men who were already in the church to be leaders of that church.
We also made mention that each one of us, that each one who has made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ is to some degree a leader. Some of you are leaders at work, those with children are leaders, as you are to lead your children in bring them up to follow God. We are all leaders in the sense that we are called to lead others into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Up until this point we have looked at some general things concerning leadership, today we are going to begin to get into specifics of what a good leader is, or the shall we say the qualifications of a good leader.
Please turn with me to our passage for today, it comes from Titus chapter 1 verse 6, that would be page 1032 in your pew Bibles.
Now remember in verse 5 Paul has called on Titus to "set in order things that were lacking" in the church on Crete, and to "appoint elders". In our passage Today Paul begins to give the qualifications for elders or leaders in the church.
"if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination."
Here Paul lays the groundwork for what a qualified leader in the church ought to be and in a broader sense we are given here standards for living the Christian life, something which applies to all those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus for salvation.
What Paul is basically saying is that if you want to have a healthy church this is what you must look for in a leader, because it is these things which that leader must teach to the church. It is these things which the leaders must give as an example.
So Paul is not saying that the leaders are the only ones responsible to have these qualities but that these things must be passed along to the people. That is what a leaders does, he leads, leading the people of the church into blamelessness, being a moral example and so on.
Now the reason I am stressing this fact is that I do not want anyone to get the idea that these qualities or traits do not apply to them.
You see we will all be held accountable to God by these standards, not just Harley and I, but everyone in this room, whether you are saved or not. Because these are not man’s standards these are God’s standards. If you want a healthy church, if you want a healthy home life, if you want to impact this community for Jesus Christ then these are the qualities you need to have, here Paul gives us the way.
Another thing that I want us to realize before we get into the particular of this verse is that every saved man in this room should desire the position elder or the case of this church deacon. Every one of you!!!!!!
Listen to 1 Tim 3:1 "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work."
There are many church in America that are faltering because to many Christian men do not believe 1 Tim. 3:1. They do not believe that being a leader of the church is as Paul states "a good work". In our society we believe it to be a hassle, a pain, more trouble then it is worth.
But God states it is a good work.
Notice Paul uses the term "a faithful saying" that means it is a trustworthy saying, an important saying.
Listen to what Paul states in another faithful saying,
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
To me if Paul calls the coming of Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners a faithful saying, and then states that desiring to be bishop or elder (or deacon as it is used in our church), is faithful saying, I think it is mighty important for men to desire to be a leader in the church!!
But we have moved away from that in our time. It is something that is no longer desired, the only thing we desire about it is we desire someone else do it.
We figure there is to much stress involved, to much time involved. Or maybe we just to not want to held accountable by others to these standards.
Because if we do desire to be an elder or deacon then we have to accept the fact that we will be scrutinized by these standards. But we should have a burning desire to attain those standard, and when I say we I am referring to everyone here.
So men, you need to desire to be bishops, elders or in our case deacons, because it is a "good work" a good work that will be blessed by God.
Now let us take a look at our passage here this morning. You may notice from our verse that Paul begins with the "home life". He states a man should be "blameless, a husband of one wife, he should be a good parent.
As we go a long we will see that Paul then deals with the one "personal life", then He moves on to one "church live" of "religious life".
Today I want to talk about being "blameless". Paul states that if a man wants to be an elder he must be blameless. Now blameless sounds like perfection, that all our church leaders ought to be perfect, without sin.
Now in some cases in the scripture the word blameless means just that, perfect, without sin, spotless. But here that is not the case.
Now the Greek word here which is translated "blameless" which I will not even attempt to pronounce mean, "without reproach; one who cannot be laid hold of; who give no ground for accusation". Or as one scholar wrote, "… affording nothing that an adversary could use as the basis for an accusation".
I believe the NIV translates in very well, "the overseer must be above reproach". I also like the way the Amplified Bible puts it, "(These elders should be men who are of unquestionable integrity and are irreproachable,…"
Paul is not saying that elders are to be perfect, but they do be beyond accusation. They are to a good reputation. The need to be living their lives in such a way that for anyone to accuse them of serious sin would be immediately dismissed. They need to be a solid moral character.
Character matters to God and a should matter to his church.
Let me illustrate it this way. Norm and Alta Chase have been selling cars for alone time. In fact Norms dad sold cars before Norm. Now having talked with quite a few people who know Norm and Alta I know they have a reputation of being honest and fair in their dealings. Now if someone were to come around saying that Norm and Alta ripped them off, that they were dishonest and so forth. That accusation would be dismissed by those who know the Chases. WHY? Because in the area of car dealing, they blameless. They have a reputation of being fair and honest.
That is what Paul is saying they live of elder should. One where any accusation of serious sin would be dismissed because of one reputation, because of what is known by the people who know the person. Because of the way that person lives their live.
Let us also realize that being "blameless" not only refers to moral purity, but as we will see it also refers to doctrinal purity. The elder must be a believer of the word of God as being infallible. The doctrine of the elder must be in line with historical orthodox Christianity.
To be blameless is basically to live like Christ. Jesus was often accused falsely by his enemies, but they could never make anything stick because he was perfect.
He states in John "Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?"
He silences His accuser by asking them which sin has He committed. Because he was blameless, beyond reproach they could not come up with anything.
Now we also must realize that we can take this to far, because their have been men and women who have been falsely accused. Our Lord of course was falsely accused and but to death for a crime he did not commit. So even thou we may indeed be blameless there may be those who would falsely accuse us.
Now let’s broaden this out a little bit. As I stress in the beginning of my sermon, being blameless is not just a call for the leaders of the church, but it is a call to every Christian. Everyone us, as Christians should be blameless. Should be beyond reproach. As Christian we are called to holiness, we are called to perfection.
I have stated this before. I have heard people say well God does not expect me to perfect. YES HE DOES! How can a perfect God, a Holy God expect anything less. For Him to expect less then perfection would take from His Holiness. God tell us "Be perfect as I am perfect". Now while we will never attain that perfection in these sinful bodies, we still are called to strive for it.
We are all to be blameless, above reproach. Listen to 1 Peter 2:14; "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;" Let me read that do you again.
Peter is not talking to just the elders in the church, he is talking to everybody. He is talking to you and to me, and to all Christendom.
Here is a question for you to ponder, "What did you do yesterday that only a Christian would do?" REPEAT. Anything? If not then you are not living a blameless live, not living above reproach as far as God is concerned.
Remember when we speak in terms of morals and character we are not speaking of the standards that men have, but the standards which God as put forth.
Being blameless is being like Christ, living like Christ, doing the Fathers will as Christ did regardless of the consequences that it may bring, it means praying like Christ prayed, daily and often.
Ask yourself another question "DO I make it easier or harder for people to believe in Jesus Christ?"
Being blameless means you make it easier for people to place their trust in Him. So many people stumble when confronted by the gospel because so many Christians are not blameless. We are not living above reproach, we are living like the world, doing what the world does.
Let us, as the body of Christ, be blameless. Let them see the difference in us. Let them see Christ in us.
Hudson Taylor who was a great missionary to China, once said, "If your father and mother, your sister and brother, if the very cat and dog in the house are not happier for your being a Christian, it is a question whether you really are."
As we examine whether we are living our lives in a blameless fashion let us realize that we are blameless in Christ and without Him there is not way we can be blameless. It is impossible for us to blameless without Him.
Listen to Col. 1;21-22 "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight;’
Is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we are holy, and the we blameless. It is Christ’s imputed holiness, not our own, but Christ’s holiness that we are above reproach not only in the eyes of men, but most importantly in the sight of God.
Think on that for a moment. While men may accuse you of sin, sometimes falsely, God will not if you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord.
Through Christ we are above reproach, blameless, not before men but before the most Holy God, the God scripture states is "HOLY HOLY HOLY!"
That whether you realize it or not is one of the most amazing things. Though I sin daily, though a falter and fall, through the blood of Christ, I am blameless before my HOLY God. That to me is beyond belief, beyond comprehension.
I want us each to understand that the first step in become blameless is recognizing how much we are to blameless. To many times we want to blame others for how we are.
We often here that it was my parents fault that I ma that way I am. It is their fault that a drink to much, it is their fault I do drugs, it is their fault that I have commit this sin of that sin.
Today people seek blamelessness not in Christ but by blaming others for their actions. But God is having none of that. We are accountable for our own actions regardless of how our parents raised us, regardless of what evil things people did to us. Regardless if the neighbors dog bit us. We are responsible for the sins we commit.
Again the first step in us becoming blameless in Christ is admitting that without Him we are sinners. The we are top blame for the evil in which we do.
Realize that if we lie that makes us a liar, that if we steal, even a pencil from work, that makes us a thief, that if we hate another person that makes us the same as a murderer in God’s eyes.
The problem I see with so many unsaved people is that they don’t believe that they have anything to be saved from. They don’t believe that they are sinners who sin, that they are full of blame, that they are living separated from God, and that separation will go into eternity if they are not made right with God.
So many people do not realize that they are not blameless.
Many you are one of those people. My prayer is that every person here today realizes that they are a sinner, realizes that they are in need of being forgiven, in need of being presented as blameless before God!!
Let us realize how much we need Jesus. How much we need his blood to cleanse us for our sin. How much we need his death on the cross, how much we need His resurrection to give us victory over death. How much we need Him to make us truly blameless.
If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you need to do that today, because tomorrow has no guarantees. Without Christ dwelling in you, you need to realize that if you were to die today you would slip into a torturous eternity separated from God. Don’t let that happen, trust in Him, place your faith Jesus to wash you of your sins. If you have ANY questions regarding your eternal state I would love the opportunity to talk with you and answer any questions that you might have.
In closing may I just say, men the call in this passage goes out to you specifically. You all should desire to be leaders in this church, and as leaders you must strive to be blameless, to be above reproach.
And to everyone this is a general call. A call for all have called upon the name of Jesus Christ for Salvation to be without blame, above reproach, to live in should a way that people see Christ. To live in such a way that people find it easier rather then harder to believe in HIM.
Let us all be blameless giving Glory to the one who has made us so!!
LET US PRAY
