Titus

[Invicta]

That is OK to a point, but is no use preaching Jesus to unbelievers if they don't know who God is,   We need to preach the holiness of God and his hatred of sin, etc before we can preach Jesus,or they will be believing in a false Jesus.

[Alan]

Brethren,

I want to thank you all for the good discussions and thoughts. Great posting.

Alan

[John81]

 

I think where the problem started is that IFBs began focusing solely on evangelism and let discipleship go by the wayside.  I think somewhere along the line they though that by simply being in church they will "grow" through osmosis or something.  It didn't happen.  So we ended up with a couple generations who went to church because they were supposed to, not because they really got anything out of it.  They never matured. Then their kids saw how "pointless" church was, how it didn't spill over into life, and quit going when they moved out of the house, and of course their kids weren't raised in church.  The idea that church doesn't have anything to offer has been perpetuated over the generations until we have a godless society.  A hundred years ago someone might not go to church, but they respected the building, the minister, and spoke respectfully of God and the Bible.  Not today, there is no respect whatsoever.

We need to get back to Ephesians 4. Send out the evangelists to bring in the new converts, then the teachers disciple them.  Building up the church is that two-fold process, it is a team effort.  But, of course, we need to grow those teachers....

I have seen that and still hear folks talking about churches like that. The constant message is "if they are in a good church (of course, meaning their own church) they will hear good preaching and be good Christians". We (IFB) should have known better and we should know better now. Just sitting in a pew, even if hearing a good sermon isn't the same thing as being discipled.

Some of our churches also got into the "easy believism" or "1,2,3, repeat after me", "just say this 'sinners prayer' and you'll go to heaven" method of evangelism which tends to lead to many false "conversions". Along with chasing numbers (of supposed conversions) came the idea that was all that was important and with the end times upon us there was no time for follow-up or discipleship.

Bad, unbiblical moves which have given us vulnerable churches, folks who think they are saved but are not, believers  who remain babes in Christ, and now growing divisions between and among IFBs.

[John81]

That is OK to a point, but is no use preaching Jesus to unbelievers if they don't know who God is,   We need to preach the holiness of God and his hatred of sin, etc before we can preach Jesus,or they will be believing in a false Jesus.

Yes, that's the message lost sinners need to hear. That's not the message the congregation needs to hear over and over again, they need to be built up in Christ through the preaching of the Word. The Sunday school and Bible studies and youth groups should all be making disciples.

I recall one church I visited several weeks in a row when I was away from home and every sermon was a "come to Jesus" sermon. At the end of each sermon they played "Come to Jesus" over and over again while calling for someone to come to the front. It was a small congregation so the pastor should have known who he was preaching to and if there was anyone new in the pews. Even so, at the end of each service they played that song over and over and over again pleading with someone to surrender to Christ and be saved. Eventually, at each service, someone from the congregation would finally go stand at the front, they would sing the song once or twice more and plead some more, and then they would pray over that member of the congregation and finally close the service.

No meat at all for the saved congregation, and no outward soul winning, they were one of those churches which believes simply asking someone to attend their church is soul winning and their preacher preached as if the place was filled with new arrivals who had never heard of Jesus.

Absolutely, preach Christ, preach the reality of sin and the need to repent and be born again to the lost sinners. Afterward disciple the babes in Christ so they grow into mature men and women of God.

[Alan]

Paul had previously said to Timothy, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2

One of the qulifications of the pastor that we read in Titus 1:9 was that the pastor was to teach 'sound doctrine.'

Alan

[John81]

Too many pastors/churches today proclaim with an air of "holiness" they don't care about doctrine, they just want to follow Jesus. Sure, sounds good to the unlearned and biblically illiterate masses, but it's not in accord with Scripture or actually following Jesus!

How can folks follow Jesus if they don't know what Jesus said, don't know what God expects of His people, don't know the foundations of the faith, all of which is DOCTRINE.

Forget carrying a Bible with you to church, never mind even having one at home (no time to read that anyway), just listen to a pleasant sermon at church, maybe catch a pleasant radio or TV preacher, play some Hillsong music, toss a little prayer in here and there, say "amen" once in awhile, and there ya go, following Jesus with no need to bother with that pesky doctrine.

Sounds more like a huge water slide they are on with no sure idea of where it leads or ends. In other words: DANGER!

[Alan]

The Aged Women

     Verse 3 - 5

     (3) The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

     (4) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

     (5) To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Paul now writes about, and to, the aged women. As with the men, Paul is dealing with their behaviour. It is very obvious that Paul expects that our walk with the Lord will produce good fruit, or behaviour. Paul is correct. As we abide in Christ, the Lord Jesus produces good fruit in our heart and outward behaviour.

There are a total of twelve characteristics that Paul mentions. The first four, in verse 3, deal with their personal walk while the other eight, in verse 4 and 5, deal with teaching the younger women. We will comment on them in that manner.

We also need to take careful note that when a woman professes to be a Christian, and is not godly, and is in bad behaviour, then, she brings reproach upon Christ and the word of God is blasphemed by the lost.

One of the benefits of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been the uplifting of the status of women wherever the gospel is preached and taught. This has been true to the Chinese society in general and to the women in particular. Generally speaking, pagan beliefs and worldly philosophy downgrades women while Christianity upgrades them.

In the history of Christianity in China this was brought out dramatically. In order to better understand the situation in China better we will quote somewhat extensively from the foremost historical record on China, The Cambridge History of China:

Traditionally, Chinese women were expected to show total submissiveness before parents and Husband within the family, while their opportunities for self-expression and social involvement outside the family were minimal. Formal education for females was non-existent. Women were forbidden to compete in the civil service examinations or to serve in any official capacity. The prevalence of concubinage, female infanticide and above all of the custom of footbinding stood as both symbol and consequence of the inferior social position occupied by the Chinese female. (Vol. 10).[1]

 

As Christianity was introduced, and accepted, by the Chinese society, some of the pagan practices, such as; illiteracy among women, inferior social position of women, foot-binding, and infanticide were done away with.

The Aged Women’s Personal Walk

     1. Holiness.

      Our walk with the Lord produces holiness. The closer one walks with the Lord the more that person realizes their unworthiness and the holiness of God. Hopefully, by the time a woman is old

she will have holiness in her life. This characteristic is true with women in all ages. A women who is godly, or virtuous, is an outward sign of her devotion to God. And, she is valuable in the sight of God and in her husband. “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10

A godly woman, of any age, is a blessing to all those lives that she comes in contact with. And, because she fully trusts in God for her needs, God will move others to help her in her wants. Ruth is a shining example of a godly and virtuous woman.

     Boaz said of Ruth, “And now, my daughter, fear not; for I will do thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” Ruth 3:11

     2. Not False Accusers.

     God does not want anything false in our lives. This includes hypocritical actions and words. Sometimes, when a person listens to, and gossips about others, then eventually they believe and spread false accusations about others. God wants the aged women, (and all of us I may add), to stop spreading false accusations about others. “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:5 & 6

     Any time we hear of an accusation against another we need to go to that person and get the truth about the matter. Then, if the matter is false, we need to tell the person who told the false accusation to stop spreading gossip.

     3. Not Given to much wine.

     As in 1 Timothy 5:23, wine is only permissible for medicinal purposes.

     4. Teachers of Good Things.

     A lot of times, women are the best teachers to others, especially to children and young adults. They usually have more patience and concern for others than men do. God can use this ability to teach others by letting the women teach children and young adults in church, camps, Vacation Bible Schools (VBS), ladies meetings, and other church activities.

     Aged women usually have a lot of wisdom that they can pass on to others that young people do not always have.

The Aged Women Teaching the Younger Women

God has given aged women in the faith, talents, and wisdom that no other person has. Naomi taught Ruth how to take care of Boaz. Please study Ruth 3:1-5. Ruth 3:6 then says, “And she [Ruth] went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law [Naomi] bade her.” God used Naomi to teach Ruth how to act with Boaz, afterward, Boaz married Ruth. Then God used their marriage to bring about the eventual birth of Jesus Christ through their lineage.

It was an aged woman, Elisabeth, that Mary, the mother of Jesus, went to when she realized that she was pregnant with the Lord Jesus, Luke 1:24-56. In fact, the scriptures tell us that Mary was with Elisabeth for three months; Luke 1:56, “And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.” During those three months Elisabeth, among other things, explained to Mary how to take care of her husband to-be, Joseph, and her future child, Jesus.

In order to become a good help to their own husbands, the younger women need to be taught by the older women, in how to be a godly woman and wife.

8 additional characteristics of a Godly Aged Woman

Paul now writes to Titus, and to all of his saints, eight characteristics that the aged women should have in order to teach the younger women how to serve the Lord.

     1. To be Sober.

     Like the pastor, and the aged men, the mature women in the church need to be sober in body and in spirit.

     2. To Love their Husbands.

      Men need love. Men need love that comes from the heart and physical love. Like Adam, we need to have a help-meet to take care of us. Only a woman can provide this love. I fully understand that at times, men do not deserve love, but we still need it. Maybe this is why God commanded women to love their husbands?

     3. To Love their Children.

      Most women have a deep maternal love that men do not possess. This is God-given, and with the help of the aged women, the younger women can fully develop this maternal love. Children come from the Lord. It is God that blesses the fruit of the womb. “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Psalm 127:3

A godly woman realizes that her children come from God and she will love those children as a gift from God. She will be like Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11. Hannah was a godly woman who knew that God prevented her from having children so she prayed that God would give her a child. When God answered her prayer with the birth of Samuel, she raised him up as a child sent from God.

     In these last days, we are seeing women lose their natural love for children and having their babies in the womb aborted. These women are in direct rebellion to the will of God in aborting children.

     4. To be discreet.

      The meaning of discreet is; (1) having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and speech: prudent. A woman who desires to be godly will show good discernment in her conduct and in her speech. She will be discreet.

      The best one to teach a young woman to be a godly woman is an older, mature, godly woman. The world, and all of its modern methods of communication, cannot teach a woman how to be discreet.

     5. Chaste.

     The meaning of chaste is; (1) innocent of unlawful sexual intercourse. (2) pure in thought and act: modest. Again, the world cannot teach a younger woman to be chaste. In fact, the world teaches the exact opposite. Men who are ungodly want to have intercourse with as many women as possible and the world will permit, and encourage, women to not be chaste.

     God wants His women, yea, and every saint, to be pure in body. God will judge all those who commit fornication and/or adultery. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4. God wants His women to be chaste and to be modest in dress and in actions.

     A godly woman will dress modestly, an ungodly woman will not. In Proverbs 7:6-23 God gives us an illustration of a whorish woman. In that passage, God lets us know that women who are not chaste, will try to attract men who want to have unlawful intercourse, by the way they dress. Proverbs 7:10 says, “And, behold there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.” Like Satan, a harlot uses subtlety to deceive men. In this case, a harlot uses her clothing, or lack of clothing, to attract a man.

     A Godly woman will dress modestly: an ungodly woman will not dress modestly. God wants those women who desire to know Him, and His word, to be chaste.

     6. Keepers at Home.

     The proper place for a godly woman is at home taking care of the physical needs of her husband and children. “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” Proverbs 14:1

     In these last days, due to the pride of many women, ungodly women do not desire to stay at home and raise a family. They are more interested in making money and proving themselves to be like men. This type of ungodly attitude is in direct rebellion against God.

     Godly women will realize that her proper place is at home taking care of the physical and emotional needs of her husband and her children. A house becomes a home because the wife brings happiness, love, joy, and companionship to her family.

     It is natural, and godly, for a woman to stay at home and take care of the needs of her family. It is unnatural, and ungodly, for a woman to leave her family and try to compete in the world for money, pleasures, and worldly possessions.

     7. Good.

     The meaning of good is: (1) Sufficient of satisfactory for its purpose, (2) Possessing attractive qualities; specifically: (a) kind; friendly, (b) well behaved, and (3) Virtuous; also, pious or devout.

     “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10. The aged women are to teach, and be an example to, how the younger women should be good or virtuous. They should teach the younger women how to be satisfactory to their purpose as a wife to their husband. A woman was specifically made to satisfy the physical needs of a man, her husband. If a woman is good, then she will satisfy her husband, if she is bad, then she will not satisfy the physical needs of her husband.

     “Neither was the man created for the woman: but the woman for the man.” 1 Corinthians 11:9. The scriptures are very plain that God created women for men. And, all attempts to go against the natural use of a woman are in direct rebellion against God.

     Also, a good woman will be pious or devout. She will be a godly woman. She will not only be a Christian, but she will serve the Lord with a happy, friendly attitude. The end result of a good, or virtuous, woman is a happy and joyful home.

     8. Obedient to their Own Husbands.

     “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” Ephesians 5: 22-24

     The aged, mature, godly women are to teach the younger women to submit to their husbands. Whether or not her husband is saved, or living for the Lord, is immaterial. All women are commanded to be in submission to their own husbands. “Unto the woman [Eve] he [God] said, “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Genesis 3:16. It is natural for a woman to desire her husband to rule over her and unnatural for a woman to desire to be disobedient to her husband.

I know that his is contrary to the teaching of our modern era, but it is still applicable to the woman who desires to serve the Lord and follow the commandments in the scriptures.

Submission to another person is one of the hardest attributes a person can develop. Humility is the exact opposite of pride and pride is in the heart of all of us. So, this is probably the hardest characteristic that a woman needs to develop.

      An example of a godly woman in submission to her own husband is Sarah. “Even as Sara [Sarah] obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” 1 Peter 3:6

     Genesis 18:12 reveals to all of us how Sarah, in her heart, felt about Abraham, “Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord [Abraham] being old also?” In Sarah’s heart and life, Abraham was her lord. Because Sarah was a godly woman, she obeyed and followed Abraham. A woman who becomes a Christian is a spiritual daughter of Sarah. As a spiritual daughter of Sarah, she he needs to follow Sarah’s example. A Christian woman, who desires to walk in the Spirit, will treat her husband as her lord. If she does, then she becomes, “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.” Proverbs 12:4. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. She is a rare jewel indeed.

     A virtuous woman compliments the man, but, conversely, a woman that is not virtuous, and will not obey her husband, brings disrespect to her husband and is not a godly woman.

     A woman who is not virtuous is like Queen Vashti in Esther chapter 1. Queen Vashti would not be obedient to her husband, King Ahasuerus. Please note that King Ahasuerus may or not have been a godly man. That is not the question. A lot of haughty women say that they do not have to be obedient to an ungodly husband. That is not true, nor is it a good excuse to disobey God.

     So Vashti, for whatever reason she gave, caused King Ahasuerus shame in front of his people, and his subordinates. This disrespectful attitude of Queen Vashti eventually destroyed her marriage. That is usually the result, or fruit, of a woman being disobedient to her own husband, (saved, or lost). Vashti, like other disobedient women, are as rottenness to their husbands lives.

     Queen Vashti, like a lot of the women in the feminist movement, do not truly love their husbands, nor are they virtuous women. Most modern women, especially in the feminist movement, are haughty, fame seekers and desire to prove they can be like a man. They do not want to have Christ as their Lord nor do they want to submit to anybody. It is a sad situation indeed.

Godly Women - Conclusion

In conclusion, the Christian woman who desires to follow Christ should seek to have all of the above qualities that Paul mentions here in her life. These characteristics will enable her to have a clear conscience and a happy home. Also, because there is a spiritual battle between God and Satan, Satan desires to destroy the Christian and his home. A virtuous woman can prevent Satan from wrecking their home and bringing reproach upon God and His word.

Why? Paul told us the answer to that question, “…that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

 

 

---

[1] Fairbank, John K. and Denis Twitchett The Cambridge History of China. (Vol. 10. Taipei, Taiwan: Caves Books, Ltd., 1986) Page 582.

Edited August 20, 2016 by Alan
grammer spelling Aug. 21, 2016

[John81]

Many pastors seem afraid to preach on this! So much radical feminism has crept into the churches that even though they are saved many older women carry over much of that radical feminism they grew up in the midst of, or even participated in years ago. It's so common to see the older women chop their hair off so they look like a man, especially from the back, to gather together in a group with little opening for others, and to either try and backseat drive or outright run the church.

Those older women in the Lord who actually live for the Lord and keep His Word stand out in stark, beautiful contrast to those above. Not only their godly hair, but their godly demeanor and servants hearts shine bright the light of Christ. These women are open to befriending the younger women, to hear their questions, to spend time helping them and to disciple them.

What a great blessing a few mature godly women are in a church! I don't understand why some Christian women think being a biblical, godly women is demeaning or beneath them.

[Alan]

Many pastors seem afraid to preach on this! So much radical feminism has crept into the churches that even though they are saved many older women carry over much of that radical feminism they grew up in the midst of, or even participated in years ago. It's so common to see the older women chop their hair off so they look like a man, especially from the back, to gather together in a group with little opening for others, and to either try and backseat drive or outright run the church.

Those older women in the Lord who actually live for the Lord and keep His Word stand out in stark, beautiful contrast to those above. Not only their godly hair, but their godly demeanor and servants hearts shine bright the light of Christ. These women are open to befriending the younger women, to hear their questions, to spend time helping them and to disciple them.

What a great blessing a few mature godly women are in a church! I don't understand why some Christian women think being a biblical, godly women is demeaning or beneath them.

John 81,

Thank you for your observation. Radical feminism ( and other forms of activism), has indeed crept into our churches and, like a cancer, has destroyed some of our women into ungodly thinking and behavoir. The thinking that being submissive to her husband is demeaning, or beneath them, is not godly but worldly. God gave each individual their own natural talents, or abilities, and they need to use their talents and abilities as God plainly wrote in the scriptures.  Pride and haughtiness (among other ungodly attributes), are the 'marks' of a radical femenist. 

In our age, all forms of 'activism' are destroying, and 'spoiling,' the thought and behavoir process of many men, women, and children in our churches. So often Christians  make their decisions based upon the philosophy of the world, or the news of the day, or the political correctness, and not on a daily walk with the Lord Jesus.

The apostle Paul saw this problem in his age. Paul wrote, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, and the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8  

Alan

[John81]

John 81,

Thank you for your observation. Radical feminism ( and other forms of activism), has indeed crept into our churches and, like a cancer, has destroyed some of our women into ungodly thinking and behavoir. The thinking that being submissive to her husband is demeaning, or beneath them, is not godly but worldly. God gave each individual their own natural talents, or abilities, and they need to use their talents and abilities as God plainly wrote in the scriptures.  Pride and haughtiness (among other ungodly attributes), are the 'marks' of a radical femenist. 

In our age, all forms of 'activism' are destroying, and 'spoiling,' the thought and behavoir process of many men, women, and children in our churches. So often Christians  make their decisions based upon the philosophy of the world, or the news of the day, or the political correctness, and not on a daily walk with the Lord Jesus.

The apostle Paul saw this problem in his age. Paul wrote, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, and the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8  

Alan

One of the big areas I see "activist" problems is among those who take to the so-called "social gospel" and the political activists.

The social gospel crowd loves to try and guilt trip people into supporting big government solutions to the problems Scripture clearly teaches that individual Christians and local churches are to tend to. Nowhere does Scripture even hint that Christians should try and make governments do what they themselves are called to do.

Meanwhile the political activists tend to promote electing Republicans as the answer to so many things, and every four years we hear that if only there was a Republican president the nation would get so much better. Since 1968 we have had five Republican presidents and the country has continued to get worse. Even with six years of a Republican president and Republican controlled congress the country went from bad to worse. There is nothing wrong with voting but the only real help for America is revival and another Great Awakening.

We find ourselves at a time when many professing Christians are willing to be active in the social gospel and political activists arena, many others are content to hunker down in their homes or churches and hide from the world, and only a few are willing to pray, fast, share the Gospel, disciple and build the kingdom of God.

Trump, Cruz, Paul or Bush in the White House won't stop America from continuing down the wrong road. Hillary, Biden or Sanders in the White House won't bring an end to poverty or humans suffering.

Salvation in Jesus Christ, living for Christ, that is what the lost and dying in America needs and the only hope America has.

[Alan]

Anybody else have any thoughts, or subjects in this lesson, that you want discussed before we go to the next lesson in Titus?   I'll take a cup of coffee while I wait.

[John81]

How do godly men (pastors, husbands, dads, etc.) try to rightly address this problem with those saved women who are entangled with radical feminist ideas?

A very important part of this is the men in those women's lives. How do we encourage, teach and help the weak or unlearned or even fearful men in their lives who should be instructing their wives, daughters, congregation, to recognize worldly thoughts and ways; to cast such off and put on the Lord Jesus Christ?

I've only had very limited success in this area and have only ever seen limited success from others who have tried to deal with this matter. Most of the women infected with radical feminism are set in their ways and have convinced themselves their views are in line with Scripture. They tend to become very defensive at the simple mention of the topic and are most often quick to take the offense if the subject isn't immediately dropped. Meanwhile, the men in their lives are often also infected with some aspects of radical feminism, while also being at least somewhat biblically ignorant, and are too weak willed and fearful to even consider trying to address the matter.

 

[WellWithMySoul]

I have enjoyed reading this study and have been blessed by it.  I don't usually take part with comments, but I do have some thoughts that I 'd like to share in response to John81.  However I cannot comment just yet because I have a houseful of company.  I will pray that the Lord would bring the opportune time for me, and that He would give me the utterance in what I say that would be both encouraging and be a blessing.

[Alan]

WellWithMySoul,

I am very happy that the Lord has blessed you with the study. We do welcome your participation as you feel led to comment.

Alan

[Alan]

The Young Men

Titus 2:6-8

     Verse 6-8

     (6) Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

     (7) In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

     (8) Sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Again, as in the situation with all believers, a belief in sound doctrine will bring holiness, and good works, to our lives. The young men are admonished to have the following characteristics.

     1. To Be Sober.

     Sober means, “(1) unhurried; calm; (2) marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character of demeanor.”

     As in the life of the pastor, aged men and women, the young believer in Christ needs to be sober in their lives. A young man who is rash in his disposition is not of much value to the work of the Lord. Our decisions and actions need to be marked by prayer and thoughtful demeanor.

     A classic example of a young man who was not sober-minded was King Rehoboam. Please study 1 Kings 12:1-20. Because of the rashness and ungrateful character of Rehoboam, he made an irrational decision and destroyed the nation of Israel.

     2. A Pattern of Good Works.

     The good works that are of a spiritual nature is faithful in church attendance, soul winning, Bible studies, prayer, and faithful giving of their tithes and offerings and helping others in their time of needs. The young man that truly wants to follow the lord needs to be consistent in his service in the church.

      3. Sound in Doctrine.

      As in all of Paul’s’ epistles he stresses the need to be sound in doctrine. This is the fifth time in the book of Titus that Paul mentioned the necessity of sound doctrine in the life of the believer: i.e., 1:9, 13 2:1 and 2. Sound doctrine will help us in our service to the Lord and will enable us to please the Lord. If a saint desires to please the Lord than he will learn sound doctrine.

     4. Gravity.

     The definition for gravity is: (1) State or quality of being grave; seriousness; solemnity; importance; enormity.

     Again, like the aged men, the young men of the church need to be grave. We need to realize that life is serious in nature and that our decisions will affect our lives and the lives of those around us. This includes the eternal things as well.

     The opposite of being grave is being foolish. God does not want the men of the church to be a foolish person in any aspect. When we are not grave, but act foolishly, in our lives we bring reproach to the Lord. “Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.” Proverbs 9:6

     5. Sincerity.

     A person who is sincere can, usually, be believed and trusted in his speech and actions. God knows our hearts, motives and intentions. He knows whether or not we are sincere in our dedication to Christ. It should be our desire to serve the Lord out of a sincere, or truthful, heart. Joshua said it best when he said, “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.” Joshua 24:14

     A person who is insincere will say anything that will get him ahead in his life and is untrustworthy. He is a hypocrite in his service to the Lord, and anybody else for that matter, and should be avoided at all costs.

     It is very interesting to note that people, lost or saved, who are insincere in their work, will eventually corrupt whatever work they do. This is because their motive is wrong. It seems to me, their true motive is to serve their own agenda or their denominations agenda, and/or doctrinal slant.

     For example. Modern Bible translators are not really sincere, or honest, in their reasoning for revising the Bible. One of the real main reasons for modern translators revising the Bible is to promote their own denomination. This is why the Catholics have their Douay-Rheims Bible, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have their New World Translation, the liberals have their Revised Standard Version, the Mormons have their Book of Mormon, and the various religious denominations all have their own version of the Bible that they promote.

     Besides promoting their own religious beliefs, another reason why modern Bible translators revise the Bible is for money. This is why we have the Living Bible, The New American Standard Bible, The New International Version (NIV), the New King James Bible, and other translations coming out every year. Making new translations of the Bible for people to purchase is a real moneymaker. The Bile calls this, “filthy lucre.”

     The end result of men being insincere is corruption. Paul said it best when he said, “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17. As God is sincere (honest), so should we.

     6. Sound Speech.

     Our speech should be of a nature that after we finished talking, nobody could find fault with it. That, my friend, is not easy to do and it behooves all of us to think clearly before we speak and to hold our tongue as we should.

     This includes controlling our boasting, foul language, gossiping, bitter, and spiteful words, cursing and any other type of wrong language. God will judge us for what we say and how we say it. The Lord Jesus said, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:37

     “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” James 3:10

   “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21

Characteristics of Young Men Conclusion

In conclusion, Paul is teaching the young men of the church, and may I add, to all of us in some ways, that our words, motives and actions should be of good nature that the world will not be able to say anything evil about us. By way of a personal testimony, I know that is not easy to do, as we all fail on occasion, but we should attempt, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to do better.

Often, I have to remind myself of the prayer of David in the regard of my own speech. “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3