TITUS 2:6

In Titus chapter 2 detailed instructions had been given to older Christian men, older Christian women, and younger Christian women. Now in Titus 2:6 it is time to give instructions to the young Christian men. It says, “Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.” There are several things to notice about this verse. First it is quite noticeable that just one thing is told to the young men. It is also notable that the one thing said to the young men was also said to the older men and to the young women. The young Christian men are told “to be sober minded.” The phrase “to be sober-mined” refers to more than just staying away from alcohol. It also means to have disciplined, controlled thoughts. If only the young men would think what they ought to think in each situation, then they will stay out of trouble, they will make the right decisions, they will do what God wants them to do. Many young men have made some wild or crazy decision that took them years and even decades to recover from. If only they had been sober minded, how much better things would have turned out.

In Titus 2:7-8 the apostle Paul gives instructions for Titus himself to put into practice. Titus 2:7 says, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.” This verse starts off by declaring the importance of a teacher being a good example first of all. It does little good to teach others unless you are yourself living by those teachings. Actions speak louder than words. As a matter of fact someone who teaches the Bible and then turns around and fails to live by it will do much more harm than if nothing at all was taught. No wonder that Jesus said in Matthew 5:19, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Paul was a great teacher, but he was concerned about his own ability to practice what he preached. Paul wrote in First Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

Paul told Titus that Titus should be a “pattern” of good works. Everyone is an example to others in some way. You are either an example of good or an example of bad in the things that you do. The first thing listed for Titus to be an example of was “doctrine.” Everything starts with doctrine. For example, one of the most important Christian doctrines is that Christians should love one another. Jesus called this His “new commandment.” The apostle John said that whoever did not obey this new commandment could not be a true believer. Only if you teach the right thing about Christian love do you have any hope of putting it into practice in your own relationships with other Christians, and only then will you be a proper example to other Christians on the matter.

Titus was also told to be an example in regards to “gravity.” A similar word was used in Titus 2:2 to describe behavior that older Christian men should have. They were told to be grave. Titus also as a preacher of the gospel should also be honorable and respectable in all that he does. He should also be sincere. Sincerity refers to the internal truthfulness and purity of what one is all about. Far too many people on this earth have an agenda, and they are going about to deceive. They do not want anyone to know what they are trying to accomplish. They are not straight-forward. They cannot be trusted. A preacher of the gospel will never come across that way because he is characterized by gravity and sincerity.

Remember that Titus has been set up as an example to other preachers as well as to entire congregations. In Titus 2:8 he is told that he should be characterized by “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.” This verse emphasizes the importance of words. The words that we say make a difference. The right words said in the right way at the right time can do a lot of good. On the other hand the wrong words can do a lot of bad.

This verse says that Titus should have “sound speech.” The word that is translated “sound” means “healthy.” This means that there is speech that is unhealthy. Speech that is unhealthy has a bad effect both on the person doing the speaking and the person doing the hearing. Proverbs 21:9 says, “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” This is an example of unhealthy speech.

It is interesting to note how the word “sound” has been used by the Holy Spirit as He gave the epistle of Titus through the pen of the Apostle Paul. The word is used five times. In Titus 1:9 we are told of “sound doctrine.” In Titus 1:13 we are told to be “sound in the faith.” In Titus 2:1 we are told again of “sound doctrine,” and in Titus 2:2 we are told again to be “sound in the faith.” The order that these phrases are given is not by accident either. You must have sound doctrine in order to have sound faith. There must be something concrete to base your faith upon. If you have sound doctrine and sound faith, then and only then can you have sound speech. Healthy speech is biblical speech. Healthy speech is based upon faith in God and in His Word. Any speech that departs from God and His Word is unhealthy speech.

One of the good results of having sound speech is given in Titus 2:8. It says “that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” What we are talking about are opposing ideas: the ideas of the world in opposition to the ideas of God’s Word. The ideas and philosophies of the unsaved are often in opposition to the biblical ideas that a believer has. This is what can happen: an unbeliever sees the difference between himself and a believer. In other words Jesus Christ uses His followers as lights in a dark world. The unbeliever eventually becomes convicted because of this difference. That is why believers are supposed to be “in” the world, but not “of” the world: so that the difference will be clear. That is why believers are supposed to have “sound speech:” so that those who hear them speak will be aware of the difference. Once an unbeliever becomes convicted of his unbelief, sometimes the unbeliever will look for excuses to stay in unbelief. If you are a believer, you do not want your poor behavior or improper conversation to be the excuse that someone gives for not coming to Christ. Of course, no one will ever have a valid excuse for not believing in the Christ who died for them and it would be a shame if a believer was such a bad example. It would be best if the unbelievers that you know have “no evil thing to say of you.”

In Titus 2:9 the Bible addresses those who are not financially independent, but who live under the authority of “masters.” It says, “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again.” Even those who are financially independent still have those who are expecting some kind of performance from them. In other words everyone has a “master” even though everyone is not a “servant” in the strict sense of the word. Find out who your master is or who your masters are and serve them. The Bible says that you should be “obedient.” This is the same word that was used in Titus 2:5 where wives were told to be “obedient” to their own husbands. No one can force you to be obedient in this way. Your will is strong enough such that you can lie down in front of a tank, refusing to do what another person wants. The Lord does not want a wife to have that kind of resistance to her husband, and the Lord does not want a “servant” to have that kind of resistance to a “master.” One reason for this may be because God Himself is the ultimate authority and He has set up all others. Resistance against an authority easily becomes resistance against God also.

The Bible continues to teach about the attitude of a servant to a master and says in Titus 2:10, “Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” The phrase that is translated “not purloining” comes from a word that has to do with being separate or removing oneself from something. If you are a servant, your master has certain goals. Help him fulfill those goals. Do not remove yourself from his desires. Make sure that you are a willing participant, not a reluctant one. According to this verse, such an attitude is an important part of making the doctrine of God attractive to the people of the world. Hopefully you are going to study the teachings, you are going to believe the teachings, and you are going to speak forth the teachings; but all of that is still not enough. You must also make the teachings attractive by how well you fit under the authorities where God has placed you. Christians should be the best citizens and the best workers wherever they live in the world.

Do not miss the phrase “God our Savior” in Titus 2:10. The same basic phrase was used in Titus 1:3 where it spoke of “the commandment of God our Savior.” Combine both of these verses with Titus 1:4 where it spoke of “The Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.” These verses and many others like them in the Bible tell us very clearly that Jesus is God.

Because Jesus is the Savior, He wants to save every soul. Titus 2:11 says, “For that grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Of course, this is a verse that clearly tells us that salvation is by grace. No one deserves to be saved. “All we like sheep have gone astray and have turned everyone to his way.” Everyone left to themselves is as a lost sheep with no hope. Except for the great love of Christ, all would perish. Everyone needs to be saved, and “all men” can be saved. All are saved in the same way: by “grace.” All can be saved because Jesus has grace that is greater than all our sins. Grace speaks of a free gift. God gives. God gives salvation, because no man can earn salvation. No one is qualified to earn it, because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Notice that Titus 2:11 says that the grace of God “hath appeared.” That phrase means “has been brought to light.” It already has happened. The grace of God has already appeared to all men. Jesus came into the world. John 1V17, “The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” In addition to the actual appearance of Christ on the earth, there is the continuing work of God in the heart of every person. John 1:9 was speaking of Jesus as the Light of the world, and says, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Jesus is the Light. His truth shines into the mind and conscience and heart of every human being. The question then becomes, “How will each person respond to the Light?”

If you have not received the salvation of God that comes freely through the grace that is in Christ, today you can turn to Jesus, ask for forgiveness, and become a true believer and follower of Christ.

___________________________________________________