Titus 2:1-15 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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While We Wait for Jesus
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Memory Verse: 2:4
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A MAP OF PAUL'S TRANSFER TO ROME

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I. Teach Sound Doctrine (1-5)

>1. What is required of all Bible teachers? (1)

* Titus 2:1 "You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine."

* Every moment time advances awareness of unavoidable changes taking place in the body. Eventually, there are more younger body people than older body people compared to ourselves. Many approaches exist to aging. These verses deal with how older men believers in Jesus are to live.

Older men are to be temperate, show self-control, and are level-headed. They are as cool as a cucumber. Their emotions don't completely take control of their disposition. Such men are dignified and respected by most.

Older men should have noticeable faith in Jesus. Faith is often expressed in love towards everyone. Faith is also expressed in endurance.

I have met several older men who are grumpy and bitter. Others have openly expressed that they want to die. I've wondered, "How does one not end up in later years like that?" My current conclusion is that it is best to practice the character traits in verse 2 early in life so that they are habits before others begin calling them an older man.

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>What is sound doctrine?

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>Why is this so important?

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>2. What does sound doctrine have to say about older men? (2)

* Titus 2:2 "Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance."

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>Since this must be taught what can be learned about man's fallen state?

* "Teach" -Anything not done naturally must be taught. Therefore, all the things listed here are not part of man's fallen nature.

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>3. What does sound doctrine have to say about older women? (3)

* Titus 2:3 "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good."

* Every moment time advances awareness of unavoidable changes taking place in the body. Eventually, there are more younger body people than older body people compared to ourselves. Many approaches exist to aging. These verses deal with how older women believers in Jesus are to live.

Older women are to be reverent in the way they live, dedicated to God, and show deep and solemn respect to God (3). How does one do that? I think of Anna who was there when Jesus was dedicated at the temple when he was eight days old (Luke 2:36-38). She was old and had been a widow for many years. She worshiped God in the temple, prayed, and fasted. She thanked God for the baby Jesus and spoke to her friends about Jesus (4). She reminds me of some women I know like Muriel who celebrated her 90 something birthday this week.

Verse 4 sentence structure is interesting. Never realized that it was possible to "train" someone to love their spouse. It takes a special lady to be able to train women to love their husbands and children. Young wives would be wise to seek out older reverent women if they want their marriages to mature. Reminds me of the true story "The War Room" released in 2015.

Older women should be self-controlled and pure (5). Being busy at home helps keep away from drinking too much wine. Other men always take note and are jealous when they see a fellow whose wife publically shows her husband respect and submission. I've seen it every time. Wives if you desire your husband to display the love you desire, then you can show him public respect.

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>Why is it better for older women to teach younger women the way of the Lord? (4-5)

* Titus 2:4-5 "Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

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>What should they teach?

* "Teach" -Anything not done naturally must be taught. Therefore, all the things listed here are not part of man's fallen nature.

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II. Self Controlled and Trustworthy (6-10)

>4. What does young men need to be taught and why? (6)

* Titus 2:6 "Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled."

* Young men are by nature not self-controlled. Many have written books on the wild nature of young men, some even give advice on the subject. Most people believe that in time young men naturally gain control over their bodies and emotions. They believe that once the chemical imbalance normalizes they will become a mature respectable adult. Some disdain young men who lack self-control. Others celebrate the wild James Dean young man.

However, there is something missing from these beliefs and reactions. Young men need strong self-controlled adult men as role models in their life. A mature stable adult male needs to encourage a young man to be self-controlled (6). He must set an example by doing what is good and teach him integrity (7).

Young men strongly try to figure out how to maintain and build society's respect. They lack self-confidence. They desire acceptance and want to control. They are a mixture of pride and self-condemnation. They want to figure out life themselves. Without a good adult male role model, a young man may never change into a mature adult.

Lord the field is ripe for harvest. The workers are few. Send workers into the field. (Luke 10:2)

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>What are some of the teaching directions given in verses 7 thru 8?

* Titus 2:7-8 "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

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>What is another benefit of living this way? (8b)

* "so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us"

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>5. How can verse 9 be applied to today's world?

* Titus 2:9 "Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,"

* "slave" -Lowest working in society in the Roman world.

* Modern workers can apply these words to their job.

* The word slave is often in the Bible, sometimes in the context of the life position. Paul addresses people in slavery in many letters; 1 Cor. 7, Gal. 3, Eph. 6, Col. 3, and Phm. 1. Peter addressed slaves in 1 Pet. 2. The early church surely consisted of a large number of slaves.

The Bible's main focus is not a person's position in life. Rather, the Bible's focus is a person's conduct while in the position. Ethics and morality are the focus no matter the occupation and social position. Why? Because God orchestrates life events and opportunities, we orchestrate our response to them. The freedom of choice is to peacefully accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and thank God for the wisdom to know the difference.

God expects a slave's response to accept the fact that they are subject to their master in everything, to try to please them, to not talk back to them (9). What should be the response if a master instructs a slave to violate God's law? A slave, like all, must recognize that the Lord Jesus is the master of all. Joseph, when asked by his master's beautiful wife to have sex with her refused and ran away. He obeyed the master of eternity, rather than the master of impermanence.

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>What further direction and effect of that direction is found in verse 10?

* Titus 2:10 "and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive."

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>How is Joseph and Daniel good examples? (Genesis 39:3-10; Daniel 2:14-16, 27-28)

* Genesis 39:3-10 "When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her."

* Daniel 2:14-16 "When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him."

* Daniel 2:27-28 "Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:"

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III. While We Wait (11-15)

>6. What is the grace of God that brings salvation? (11; John 1:14, 17)

* Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men."

* John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

* John 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

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>7. How are we to be different than those who aren't true believers? (12)

* Titus 2:12 "It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,"

* Self-control is the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, desires, and behavior especially when confronted with temptations and impulses. Self-control is how we direct ourselves. There are several types of self-control including perceived control, cognitive control, emotional control, motivational control, desire control, inhibitory control, social control, ego control, effort control, etc. Self-control and will are linked. How much I control myself depends on how much willpower I have.

An example of self-control is when I want to lose weight and gain muscle mass. Doing this involves controlling what and how much I eat and when and how long I exercise. Resisting the temptation to eat free donuts at work starts with the will to keep to my plan to lose weight. If my will is strong I will resist thoughts of imagining the experience of eating donuts, suppress the emotion of anticipation, remind myself of my goals, and walk away and forget the donuts are there. Exercise donut self-control enough leads to diminished donut temptation's power to break my will.

Self-control is learned (12). It is a core body function that can be strengthened with use just like muscles are strengthened. Salvation from the weak will and weak self-control is a gracious gift of God through the Holy Spirit (11). The Holy Spirit teaches us to say "No" (12).

God's concern is with character for it is where the core body functions reside. God enables and educates me so that my character is like Jesus'. As I mature in Christ my will and self-control are strengthened so I can say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions. God develops me so that I can live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life in this present age (12). I am redeemed and being redeemed from all self-wickedness (14). I am purified (14). One item that is purified in me through the Spirit is self-control.

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>What does "this present age" imply about the soon to begin next age? (Rev. 20:4-6)

* Revelation 20:4-6 "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."

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>8. What is our hope? (13)

* Titus 2:13 "while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ"

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>Does anyone know the exact day or hour he will come and how should this play into our day to day life? (Matt. 24:42-44)

* Matthew 24:42-44 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

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>9. What does the word "redeem" mean in verse 14?

* Titus 2:14 "who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

* "to redeem us"

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>Who purified us and how did he do that? (Rev. 1:5-6)

* "who gave himself for us"

* Revelation 1:5-6 "and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."

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>Why did he purify us?

* "a people that are his very own,"

* "eager to do what is good"

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>10. How are encouragement and rebuke alike and unique? (15)

* Titus 2:15 "These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you."

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>Why might people despise us and how should we do our best to avoid it? (Isaiah 66:5; Matt. 10:24-25; John 15:18-21)

* "Do not let anyone despise you"

* Isaiah 66:5 "Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy!' Yet they will be put to shame."

* Matthew 10:24-25 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!"

* John 15:18-21 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me."

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