WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.200 There were individuals in the churches in Crete who believed and promoted ideas that actually 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:13.120 contradicted the gospel of Jesus and sound doctrine, healthy doctrine as we defined it 00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:17.480 last week, that actually produces spiritual fitness. 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:25.199 Paul said that they profess to know God, but their beliefs and their behaviors actually 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:28.019 deny the God that they say they know. 00:00:28.019 --> 00:00:34.960 They were a threat to the health of the church, and they needed to be confronted at least, 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:38.200 and if necessary, excommunicated. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:46.500 I'm calling this the Cretan problem, but we all know that the danger wasn't limited to Crete. 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:52.600 Assaults against the gospel are present in every church. 00:00:52.600 --> 00:01:01.000 The Cretan problem is a Cornelius problem, and it will need to continually be addressed in churches 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:03.480 until the Lord returns. 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:10.640 This will always be an issue that we have to confront, maybe even sometimes confront in and of ourselves. 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:18.319 Now, if we're going to understand this text appropriately, we need to recognize Paul is not moving on to a new 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:20.279 topic of conversation here. 00:01:20.899 --> 00:01:24.839 He's addressing the same subject that he's been covering in the last few verses, 00:01:24.839 --> 00:01:28.259 just from a different angle. 00:01:29.099 --> 00:01:32.939 He's dealing with the subject of faithful church elders, 00:01:32.939 --> 00:01:40.919 but from the perspective of the false teaching that they will need to confront when it begins to come into the church. 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:47.219 We need to also recognize that Paul is not concerned, at least at this point, 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:52.320 he's not concerned with the pagan culture outside of the church. 00:01:52.659 --> 00:02:03.420 He's not concerned with the antagonistic worldviews and behaviors of the culture that would assault the church externally. 00:02:03.700 --> 00:02:05.020 He's concerned about that. 00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:07.900 That's not irrelevant, but that's not his primary concern here. 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:15.439 Actually, his primary concern in this text is actually the assaults against the gospel that come from inside the church. 00:02:17.060 --> 00:02:27.520 People who have taken the gospel of Jesus and distorted it, perverted it, maybe even marginally done so, 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:32.480 but to the harm of their own faith and certainly to the harm of others. 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:35.580 It's the situation of my friend on the bus. 00:02:35.580 --> 00:02:44.860 He might have been a true believer, but even the marginal kind of detour from the truth of the gospel 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:49.100 that he was espousing, at least in that moment, was very harmful to others 00:02:49.100 --> 00:02:53.480 who might have subscribed as a result of it to something that's not actually true. 00:02:54.460 --> 00:02:59.040 So it was crucial for Titus then to take his task seriously. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:10.239 His task to appoint faithful elders that would protect the flock of God, preserve the gospel of Jesus in its fullness, 00:03:10.239 --> 00:03:16.299 and fight against any and all heresies that would contradict it. 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:21.159 Three primary things I want to point out to you in this text as we work through it. 00:03:21.319 --> 00:03:24.199 The first thing is we see Paul describing the problem. 00:03:24.959 --> 00:03:26.519 Paul is describing the problem. 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:27.460 Look at verse 10. 00:03:27.460 --> 00:03:36.580 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:44.080 They must be silent since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 00:03:44.920 --> 00:03:49.939 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons, 00:03:49.939 --> 00:03:52.560 and this testimony is true. 00:03:53.560 --> 00:04:05.240 Well, the opening four in verse 10 links the discussion back to the purpose and qualifications of an elder in verse 9. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:07.000 Just look at verse 9 with me again. 00:04:07.699 --> 00:04:11.300 That these elders must hold firm to the trustworthy word, 00:04:11.659 --> 00:04:14.919 that they may be able to give instruction and sound doctrine, 00:04:15.259 --> 00:04:18.060 and then also to rebuke those who contradict it. 00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:19.980 And then immediately after that, Paul says, 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:26.420 For there will be many who are insubordinate to the gospel. 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:31.399 Titus needed to appoint men who knew their Bibles well, 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:35.680 who were committed to the fullness of the gospel message, 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:42.899 and were able and willing to rebuke anyone who contradicted those truths. 00:04:42.899 --> 00:04:54.719 So the fundamental reason for healthy leadership in a church is rooted in the protection and preservation of God's people. 00:04:55.779 --> 00:05:02.939 So we spent now, this would be the third week that we've been dealing particularly with this topic in Titus chapter 1. 00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:08.019 And you may say that all of this stuff about leaders and polity and the things that we're going through right now, 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:09.379 is it really all that important? 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:16.399 And it actually is very important, at least foundationally important, to the survival of the church. 00:05:17.339 --> 00:05:24.319 When I say survive, I don't mean to take the future of the church out of the hands of the Lord and put it into the hands of man, 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:30.860 but that the Lord uses the actions of men in order to accomplish His sovereign purposes. 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:32.659 We see that many times in the Bible. 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:38.240 And it's necessary that there be faithful pastors established, 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:41.779 because there are many enemies of the gospel. 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:47.360 And these enemies will inevitably come from unsuspecting places, 00:05:48.159 --> 00:05:50.480 even the church itself. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:54.680 Jesus said this in Matthew chapter 7. 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:55.439 He said, 00:05:55.660 --> 00:06:00.720 Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:04.300 Inwardly, they're ravening wolves. 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:05.960 But that's not what they look like. 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:12.980 They won't be the people that you first suspect when they walk through the door of the church. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:19.879 It may take some time to recognize exactly the condition and nature of their theology 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:23.480 and of their hearts, but beware, because it will happen. 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:28.899 There will be people that come into the church that do not actually belong to the flock, 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:31.240 and they will seek to destroy it. 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:32.800 That's a warning from Christ Himself. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:36.399 Paul says it to the Ephesian elders in Acts chapter 20. 00:06:36.899 --> 00:06:41.639 I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:43.480 not sparing the flock. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:48.699 And from among your own selves, these are the elders in the church. 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:54.699 He said there may even come a time where one of you start to speak twisted things 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:58.399 that actually turn people away from the gospel. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:01.519 And what would be the motive in that? 00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:06.899 Paul says to draw disciples after them to gain a following for themselves, 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:10.599 to build up a reputation for themselves at all costs. 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:16.540 Well, a pastor who doesn't know his Bible or isolates himself from the flock of God, 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:20.360 the people, will not be able to recognize these things. 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:25.600 He won't be able to confront these things because he won't know that they're there. 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:31.540 So Paul says, Titus, put faithful men there that know their Bibles, 00:07:31.960 --> 00:07:34.960 men who smell like sheep, who are going to be with the people, 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:38.439 who recognize these things and will deal with them as they come. 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:41.579 That's precisely what was happening in Crete. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:47.060 And it was Titus's responsibility to set things in order for the good of the church in the long term. 00:07:47.459 --> 00:07:50.199 And then Paul tells him in the midst of this, 00:07:50.299 --> 00:07:54.019 this is how you can spot these false teachers in the church. 00:07:54.019 --> 00:07:56.339 And he gives four things, I think, here that are helpful. 00:07:56.759 --> 00:07:58.620 Number one, he says, notice their talk. 00:07:59.240 --> 00:07:59.959 Notice their talk. 00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:00.859 Look at verse 10. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:05.560 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, 00:08:06.219 --> 00:08:08.839 especially those of the circumcision party. 00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:11.699 The first thing that must be examined is, 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:13.759 what are these people actually saying? 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:17.919 These people that are trying to influence you with their teaching and with their ideas, 00:08:18.359 --> 00:08:19.879 listen to what they're saying. 00:08:20.859 --> 00:08:22.120 What is their talk? 00:08:23.979 --> 00:08:27.199 Paul doesn't describe, at least at this point, the precise error. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:34.519 He deals with it more from a general teaching perspective. 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:36.439 And he names three things. 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:38.200 First, he says they're insubordinate, 00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:43.059 which in this case is not a rebellion against leadership directly. 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:45.960 It's a rebellion against the truth of the gospel, 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:50.100 the full fundamental message of the truth of Jesus. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:51.960 That's what they're insubordinate against. 00:08:52.379 --> 00:08:56.419 False teachers rarely outright deny the gospel, 00:08:56.419 --> 00:08:59.539 but they are never satisfied with the gospel either. 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:02.719 So watch for it. 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:04.079 They may be saying Jesus. 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:05.479 They may be saying baptism. 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:07.079 They may be saying all the things. 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:09.019 They're using all the words that you would like to hear, 00:09:09.099 --> 00:09:10.979 but listen to what they're actually saying. 00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:13.779 Are they satisfied with Christ alone, 00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:16.179 or are they happy to accommodate Christ 00:09:16.179 --> 00:09:19.339 so long as they can add their own kind of twist to it as well? 00:09:19.339 --> 00:09:21.399 They're insubordinate to the gospel, 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:23.939 at least to the faithful message of the gospel. 00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:28.800 He says they're empty talkers. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:34.480 This is the idea of worthless, unhelpful speech. 00:09:35.900 --> 00:09:37.740 The things that they talk about, 00:09:38.180 --> 00:09:40.520 you might feel motivated, 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:42.560 or maybe because of their charisma, 00:09:42.700 --> 00:09:44.640 it might help you feel a little bit better, 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.819 but you're not exactly sure what they actually said. 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:51.679 Just a cursory scroll through Facebook will show you many examples of this. 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:55.179 People kind of blindly share statements that don't really make any sense, 00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:57.100 and they're very excited, 00:09:57.659 --> 00:09:59.819 and you're not really sure why they're excited, 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:02.120 because you can't really understand what's actually happening, 00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:03.019 what's being said here. 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:05.199 Well, the truth is nothing's really being said. 00:10:07.340 --> 00:10:11.379 Donald Guthrie said they are empty-headed in their teaching, 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:15.179 doing much talking, but saying nothing. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.159 They're empty talkers. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:18.600 Then he says they're deceivers. 00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:25.419 They're those whose doctrine leads people away from knowing the truth. 00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:28.100 They're self-deceived, 00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:33.259 and in many cases will be willing to fabricate lies to gain a following 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:37.080 or give the appearance of spiritual elitism. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:40.060 We see this primarily in the cults. 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:42.720 The Joseph Smiths and the Mariette Bakers 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:45.560 and those who would fabricate entire lies 00:10:45.560 --> 00:10:49.120 in order to gain a following that they can then domineer over, 00:10:49.220 --> 00:10:53.759 that they can then establish for themselves, 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:55.720 not actually based on the truth of God. 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:59.120 Of course, there's other versions to see of that as well. 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.420 So we look at their talk. 00:11:00.660 --> 00:11:02.580 Number two, he says, look at their effect. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:04.460 Look at their effect. 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:07.779 Look again at verse 11, just the first part of it. 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:13.100 They must be silenced since they are upsetting whole families. 00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:15.740 What's the effect of their teaching? 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:22.019 How does that affect the unity of the church? 00:11:23.300 --> 00:11:25.399 There's only two other places in the New Testament 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:30.539 where this word or this phrase for upsetting is used. 00:11:31.059 --> 00:11:34.279 One is in 2 Timothy 2. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:37.639 Paul says that because they were teaching 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:40.980 that Jesus' second coming had already occurred, 00:11:41.699 --> 00:11:46.100 that Hymenaeus and Philetus were upsetting the faith of some. 00:11:47.079 --> 00:11:50.579 The second time it's used is in John 2 and verse 15, 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:54.100 when Jesus was flipping tables in the temple. 00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:57.139 And it's this same word for upsetting. 00:11:57.940 --> 00:12:00.800 The idea here is that the teaching of these people, 00:12:00.900 --> 00:12:03.080 what they're doing, maybe in the things that they're saying 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:04.639 or maybe in the way that they're saying it, 00:12:04.800 --> 00:12:09.540 it's like flipping over the faith of people in the church. 00:12:09.540 --> 00:12:10.680 It's destructive. 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:12.980 It doesn't edify the church. 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:16.220 It doesn't unite the church around the person and the work of Christ. 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:18.420 It actually divides the church. 00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:19.779 It's destructive. 00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:23.899 Then he says, check their motives. 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:26.800 What do their motives seem to be in their teaching? 00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:28.500 What are they trying to accomplish? 00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:31.340 Well, Paul says they're upsetting whole families 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:35.060 by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:37.939 The implication being they know it isn't true. 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:39.639 They know they shouldn't teach it, 00:12:39.699 --> 00:12:43.539 but they're teaching it anyways to benefit themselves in some way. 00:12:46.359 --> 00:12:48.939 Paul had warned Timothy that there would come a time 00:12:48.939 --> 00:12:53.439 when the churches would accumulate to themselves 00:12:53.439 --> 00:12:55.599 teachers having itching ears 00:12:55.599 --> 00:12:58.799 that will scratch whatever their particular itch was. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:04.199 that he would teach them whatever was accommodating 00:13:04.199 --> 00:13:05.839 to their desires and passions. 00:13:06.479 --> 00:13:08.559 And here he says there's going to come men 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:10.519 who take advantage of that situation, 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:12.659 who will recognize that there are people 00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:15.539 that just want to be taught what they want to be taught, 00:13:15.719 --> 00:13:17.859 and they're only going to find the people who will do it, 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:19.620 and they'll pay good money for those who will. 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:22.839 These people will abuse the church. 00:13:23.959 --> 00:13:26.059 Brian Chappell said this expression 00:13:26.059 --> 00:13:29.279 communicates their mercenary intent. 00:13:30.439 --> 00:13:33.139 What drives such men is the base motive 00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:35.899 of selfish advantage. 00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:40.199 They're taking advantage of the people of God 00:13:40.199 --> 00:13:44.259 rather than actually seeking to shepherd the people of God. 00:13:45.099 --> 00:13:46.799 Finally, he says look at their model. 00:13:47.839 --> 00:13:48.579 Look at their model. 00:13:49.859 --> 00:13:52.179 Verse 12, this is where he makes the statement 00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:55.699 quoting, I can't remember the man, 00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:57.319 if I tried to pronounce his name, 00:13:57.359 --> 00:13:58.459 it would probably be wrong, 00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.959 but this prophet from Crete, 00:14:01.359 --> 00:14:03.819 about 600 years BC, made this statement, 00:14:04.479 --> 00:14:06.079 Cretans are always liars, 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:08.279 evil beasts, lazy gluttons, 00:14:08.339 --> 00:14:08.959 and this is true. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.359 That seems to be a bit of a departure 00:14:11.359 --> 00:14:13.159 from what Paul is saying, isn't it? 00:14:13.219 --> 00:14:15.419 Like where does this come from in the text? 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:17.139 Why is he actually making this statement 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:18.619 at this particular time, 00:14:18.619 --> 00:14:20.879 and why does it seem to be so insulting? 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:26.600 Well, he's saying that what I've just described 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:28.860 to be true of these false teachers 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:31.039 is actually showing that they're modeling 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:34.600 their lives after the culture around them, 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:36.980 not actually after the scriptures 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:39.539 and the things that Christ has modeled for us. 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:43.200 He says this is true because it was true. 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:46.080 Cretans were known for their lies. 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.740 Their most famous lie was that 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.860 they possessed the tomb of the god Zeus. 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:53.580 They were known so much for their lies 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:56.200 that there's a Greek word established 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:57.799 hundreds of years before Christ 00:14:57.799 --> 00:14:59.659 that came from the word Crete, 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:01.019 and it means to lie. 00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:04.480 The Greek language was shaped around the fact 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.899 that Cretans were known to be liars. 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:09.039 He says they're evil beasts. 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:11.919 Crete was known to not actually have 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.360 any wild animals on it. 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:13.940 It's an island. 00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:15.539 Didn't have wild animals. 00:15:15.539 --> 00:15:18.399 But other people, even secular, 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:21.059 non-Christian writers of that time, 00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:23.659 acknowledged that though they did not have wild beasts, 00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:25.059 I think this was Plutarch said this, 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:27.039 though they did not have wild beasts, 00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:29.339 the people themselves took the responsibility 00:15:29.339 --> 00:15:31.219 of behaving like wild beasts. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:34.179 It's what they were known for as a culture. 00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:41.120 Paul says this is exactly what these 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:44.560 false teachers are like. 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.519 Cretans are liars, 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:48.799 and he's already called the false teachers deceivers. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:51.240 Cretans are evil beasts. 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:53.980 False teachers are upsetting whole families. 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:55.320 They're ravaging the flock. 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:59.500 Cretans are lazy gluttons. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:00.840 False teachers were, 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:02.779 they're just concerned about shameful gain. 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:05.879 You say, well, what does this mean for us 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:07.700 in Cornelius, North Carolina? 00:16:07.700 --> 00:16:09.220 Well, we have our own culture. 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.780 We can identify its markers. 00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:14.180 Materialism is one of them. 00:16:15.020 --> 00:16:16.580 Pride and arrogance would be another. 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:18.879 We can start to establish this is all the things 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:22.560 that would identify the Western American culture 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.620 that we live in. 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.860 And then we start to look at the teachers 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:27.120 that we've put, 00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:29.060 the influencers that we've allowed 00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:30.940 to come into our homes and into our churches. 00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:33.140 And we say, what is their life 00:16:33.140 --> 00:16:34.440 and ministry actually modeled after? 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:36.259 Does this look like Christ? 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:38.220 Or does this actually look like the world 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:39.120 in which we live? 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:42.639 He says, this is an identifying marker. 00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:44.439 You need to watch out. 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.279 Well, there's many enemies of the gospel. 00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.879 Identifying markers are the same. 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:54.139 Churches need faithful shepherds 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:57.139 who will help God's people recognize error 00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:59.779 and confront these teachers 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:01.059 when they assault the gospel. 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.700 That's the point here. 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.859 So he describes the problem. 00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:07.359 Second, he tells us how to deal with the problem. 00:17:07.939 --> 00:17:09.079 How to deal with the problem. 00:17:10.219 --> 00:17:13.619 Paul says the only proper way of dealing with it 00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.939 is direct confrontation. 00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:19.419 Something that most of us probably are loathe to do. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:21.279 I mean, who really likes confrontation? 00:17:22.419 --> 00:17:24.240 You're weird if you like confrontation. 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.799 That's not normal. 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:31.759 Modern sensibilities would push against 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.319 Paul's methods and language here. 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:35.859 But we need to understand what's at stake. 00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:40.059 He wasn't advocating for arrogance. 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.519 He's not advocating harshness. 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:45.400 But he knew that tolerating error 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:47.779 would destroy the church, not preserve it. 00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:49.299 That's what's at stake. 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:51.539 We look at the big picture here of Titus. 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:55.519 Paul's concerned that this church will survive, 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:58.579 that the gospel will be preserved in the long term, 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:00.879 not just in the time of the apostles. 00:18:01.879 --> 00:18:05.000 A friend of mine wisely, I think, said a few years ago, 00:18:05.439 --> 00:18:08.519 avoiding hard conversations doesn't preserve unity. 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.859 It fakes it. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.379 It doesn't preserve unity. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.539 It fakes it. 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:19.940 The lowest common denominator idea of doctrinal fidelity 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:22.680 is not the path to unity in the church. 00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:25.759 It's not going to actually produce unity in the long run. 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:28.799 Error needs to be confronted. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:33.759 And the text provides two ways for us to do it. 00:18:34.379 --> 00:18:37.159 The first way is redemptive rebuke. 00:18:38.139 --> 00:18:39.099 Redemptive rebuke. 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:40.200 Look at verse 13. 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:44.640 Therefore, rebuke them sharply, he says, 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:47.880 that they may be sound in the faith, 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:50.519 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:52.880 and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:56.140 It's interesting, in this instance, 00:18:56.279 --> 00:19:00.380 Paul, he's coming short of demanding excommunication. 00:19:00.580 --> 00:19:03.680 That's different from how he commanded Timothy 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:06.880 in 1 Timothy in dealing with the false teachers there. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:09.760 That suggests that the issue in Crete 00:19:09.760 --> 00:19:13.060 wasn't quite as developed as it was in Ephesus. 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.180 But Titus was to rebuke these false teachers 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:20.280 and their doctrines with urgency and with authority. 00:19:20.840 --> 00:19:22.880 We see the authority actually in chapter 2. 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:25.040 Look at verse 15 of chapter 2. 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.580 Declare these things, Titus. 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:29.280 Exhort and rebuke with all authority. 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:31.720 Let no one disregard you. 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:36.319 So there was a spirit with which Titus was to lovingly, 00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:40.240 graciously, but firmly, authoritatively 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:43.220 deal with these false teachers in the church. 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:48.720 This was going to set a pattern for these elders 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.740 that he was establishing. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:52.180 Something that would be intended by Paul then 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:56.200 to continue on in the way that error is dealt with. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.839 But there's two questions that I think have, 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:00.940 that we need to consider as we think about this idea of rebuke 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:02.620 and especially sharp rebuke. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.320 The first question is this. 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:08.279 We need to ask, what merits rebuke? 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:11.039 What actually, that's a strong word. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:14.259 And the way that Paul uses it here, rebuking sharply, 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:19.539 is that he's using rebuke in the most severest sense possible. 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.980 So what actually merits this? 00:20:23.100 --> 00:20:25.120 What is it that we should be concerned 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:28.259 to rebuke in this way? 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:31.279 And I think the first answer is we have to acknowledge 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:35.480 that not every disagreement necessitates 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:38.339 the kind of rebuke intended in this text. 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:41.680 In fact, I think we'd all agree that 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:44.940 not every disagreement requires rebuke at all 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:47.099 or dressing at all. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:51.579 It's not the Bible's way of giving us permission 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:54.220 to just let everybody know what we don't like about them 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.779 and how they need to be more like us. 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:59.359 I tell Julie all the time, if everybody was just like me, 00:20:59.899 --> 00:21:01.759 that's not really what's happening here. 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:04.019 Sometimes we will take passages like this 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.859 and we'll kind of use this as an excuse 00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:08.440 to just constantly confront people. 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:10.440 That's the weird people that like confrontation 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:11.420 for some reason. 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:13.839 That's not really what he's saying to do. 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:16.500 In fact, too much division happens 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:18.899 when self-appointed watchdogs 00:21:18.899 --> 00:21:21.160 castigate other believers 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:24.420 for disagreements that are unrelated to the gospel. 00:21:25.300 --> 00:21:26.840 If there's anything we've learned 00:21:26.840 --> 00:21:28.120 in the last two and a half years, 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:30.300 it's that Christianity is prone to this. 00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:34.880 Taking things that are not directly related to the gospel 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:38.080 and elevating them to the level of the gospel 00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:40.180 so that we start to castigate, 00:21:40.320 --> 00:21:42.279 even publicly through social media, 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.779 all the things we don't like 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:45.400 about what all the other Christians are doing 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:47.500 that actually doesn't have anything to do with Christ. 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:50.539 Some of you are in the medical field 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:52.559 and you understand what medical triage is. 00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:55.440 Medical triage is a pattern. 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:58.420 It's a systematic way of looking 00:21:58.420 --> 00:22:01.019 and assessing a patient's needs 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:04.220 to determine which order 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:06.039 and with what level of urgency 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.339 those needs need to be met. 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:10.579 It prevents us from looking at someone 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.700 with a broken finger 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:14.220 and treating them with the same kind of urgency 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:17.019 as timing as someone who has cardiac arrest. 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:18.460 Okay, there's a difference. 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.319 You understand that. 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:23.220 Al Mohler routinely encourages churches 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:25.500 to institute what we would call 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:28.859 spiritual triage or theological triage 00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:30.839 where we systematically, 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:32.220 with a disciplined effort, 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:34.859 look at the controversies that are around, 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:37.920 that we look at the issues that arise in the church 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:42.019 and we helpfully and prayerfully discern 00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:44.660 which thing needs urgent attention, 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:48.040 which thing needs attention, 00:22:48.040 --> 00:22:49.240 but maybe not urgently, 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:52.940 which things don't need really attention at all. 00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:53.900 They're going to be fine. 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:56.000 They're going to heal themselves over time. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:00.839 I think we would be helped to do this as churches. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:04.259 We would be helped to do this as believers. 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:08.059 Maybe before you decide to rebuke somebody, 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.819 maybe here's some questions you could ask. 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:17.380 Does their belief or behavior deny or distort the gospel? 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:20.640 Is it a gospel issue here? 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.840 And if it is, it needs to be dealt with. 00:23:24.060 --> 00:23:25.180 It has to be confronted. 00:23:25.800 --> 00:23:28.880 If it's not confronted, they may be okay, 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:31.680 but everybody that's listened to them will not be okay. 00:23:32.520 --> 00:23:33.880 For the good of the church 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:35.680 and for the good of the preservation of the gospel, 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:37.700 those things must be dealt with. 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:42.040 Is the disagreement a secondary issue that's important, 00:23:42.580 --> 00:23:45.880 but doesn't necessitate a sharp rebuke? 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:49.480 Maybe a passionate discussion, 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:52.680 but not a sharp rebuke. 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:57.400 We need to be able to discern the difference in those things. 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:03.460 Are they committed to willful, blatant sin against God? 00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:05.580 That's a gospel issue. 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:08.360 Those things need to be confronted. 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:12.500 We have plenty of help in the New Testament to discern that. 00:24:12.840 --> 00:24:14.600 Is the issue a matter of conscience? 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:18.700 Or is it plainly revealed to us in the Bible? 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.800 And by plainly revealed, 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:23.020 I don't mean you have to jump through three or four hoops 00:24:23.020 --> 00:24:24.560 to get to your position. 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:27.600 I mean, it's just like the main things are the plain things 00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:29.220 and the plain things are the main things, right? 00:24:29.300 --> 00:24:32.400 Is the Bible actually very plain that this is wrong, 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:34.100 that they have a wrong position on this? 00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:35.500 And it's not just that we disagree 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:37.700 in the way that we've come to our conclusions. 00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:39.280 We need to ask ourselves that. 00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:42.840 Are they leading people away from Christ? 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.300 Needs confrontation. 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:49.800 Is it a speck and beam type situation? 00:24:51.340 --> 00:24:52.920 Remember when Jesus talked about judgment, 00:24:53.020 --> 00:24:54.120 he said, some of you are going around, 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:56.480 you're trying to take the speck out of people's eyes 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.220 and you got this log coming out of your head. 00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:01.140 He says, go deal with the log that's in your head 00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:03.280 and then you can come and deal with other people's issues too. 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:06.560 You're trying to clean everybody else's closets. 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.840 Barry Bond said one time, he said, 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:09.700 you're trying to clean up everybody else's closet. 00:25:09.820 --> 00:25:11.140 You need to go clean your own closet first, 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.660 then you can go deal with somebody else's closet. 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:16.200 He said, he's a great theologian, Barry Bonds. 00:25:19.040 --> 00:25:20.440 Maybe the last question would be, 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:22.279 do I really understand what's happening? 00:25:24.040 --> 00:25:26.680 Do I have a full understanding of exactly 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:28.900 what this person thinks and is doing 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:30.880 and is participating in? 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:33.380 Or am I kind of just making some assumptions 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.519 that I probably shouldn't make 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:37.080 before I create division and contention? 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:39.460 Those things will be helpful to us, won't they? 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:43.980 In the context of this passage, 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:47.460 sharp rebuke is reserved for anything 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:49.639 that contradicts verse nine, 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:51.960 the trustworthy word of the gospel 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:57.000 and sound doctrine that produces spiritual fitness. 00:25:58.460 --> 00:26:00.859 Those are the things that require the rebuke. 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:04.500 That's the measure that Paul gives us 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:06.959 for the things that we actually need to confront. 00:26:07.199 --> 00:26:08.179 So that's the first question, 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:09.240 and we need to think about it. 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:12.459 What merits this kind of rebuke before we do it? 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.740 The second question is this. 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:15.779 What's actually the goal of our rebuke? 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:19.179 What are we trying to accomplish in this? 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.159 Well, Paul helps us here. 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.599 Look again at verse 13. 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:24.059 Therefore, rebuke them sharply 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:28.740 that they may be sound in the faith. 00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:33.240 Notice the redemptive purpose of the rebuke. 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:37.839 It served the purpose of restoring these individuals 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:40.319 to soundness in the faith. 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:44.079 It was to rescue them from devotion 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:46.039 to Jewish myths and commands. 00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:49.179 In other words, it wasn't rebuke for rebuke's sake. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:53.079 The purpose of the one confronting the error 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:55.519 should not be merely to win an argument 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:57.519 or to demonstrate authority. 00:26:58.460 --> 00:27:01.339 His heart's desire should be the restoration 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:03.619 of the one who has fallen. 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:07.500 Every time we see confrontation in the New Testament, 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:11.500 even in the harshest forms of church discipline 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.460 in the New Testament, 00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:14.659 the spirit of the confrontation, 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:16.740 the end goal of what is happening 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:20.379 is not just to gain a victory over one person, 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:22.619 but to win them for Christ. 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:24.699 To win them to the gospel, 00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:27.779 to restore them to faithfulness. 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:30.519 Brian Chappell wrote, 00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:33.299 to love the gospel, to fight for it, 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:35.579 and at the same time desire 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:38.739 that its truths capture the hearts of our enemies 00:27:38.739 --> 00:27:41.339 is what God requires of those 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.739 who would differ from the world. 00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:47.379 The world understands hating those who oppose you. 00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:50.800 What contrasts those true to the Savior 00:27:50.800 --> 00:27:53.460 is the desire that all, 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:55.320 even our opponents, 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:57.880 would come to the knowledge of the truth. 00:27:58.600 --> 00:28:00.780 Now, I have to remind myself of this routinely. 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:04.099 That when something comes up 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:06.859 and I want to fire off a pulse about it 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:08.559 or whatever it is, 00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:10.019 or want to deal with something 00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.440 or pick a fight with somebody 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:13.480 that I'm in a discussion with, 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.819 a theological discussion with, 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:18.799 I have to fight against my own spirit in it. 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:20.579 Like, what am I actually trying to do here? 00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:24.599 Am I actually trying to hurt this person? 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:26.000 Am I trying to just, 00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:29.079 is this a prideful action on my part? 00:28:30.219 --> 00:28:33.899 Or am I truly loving this person here, 00:28:34.199 --> 00:28:36.740 loving them by wanting to restore them to faithfulness? 00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:38.639 Well, and routinely, 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:41.559 it's not love that I have primarily in mind. 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:43.059 We need to think about that. 00:28:44.719 --> 00:28:46.459 So Paul says there's two ways 00:28:46.459 --> 00:28:47.559 to deal with the confrontation. 00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:50.039 The first way is that we have to rebuke them sharply. 00:28:50.179 --> 00:28:50.679 It's necessary. 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.359 We need to do it. 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.639 Secondly, he says, 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:54.920 gospel instruction is the other part. 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:57.700 Gospel instruction. 00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.600 So in verse 14, 00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:02.060 he reveals two facets of the Cretan heresies. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.400 Both had to do with those 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:06.520 who converted to Christianity from Judaism. 00:29:07.580 --> 00:29:10.480 One referred to myths or speculations 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:12.400 that were at least unhelpful, 00:29:12.820 --> 00:29:14.920 and at most were Gnostic, 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.180 which would be the idea 00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:20.120 that a secret knowledge could be attained 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:23.559 that would alter your standing before God. 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:26.519 It would come to further development after this time, 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:28.519 but there were early notions of it then. 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:32.799 The second facet was human traditions, commandments. 00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:36.359 Part legalism, part asceticism, 00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:39.279 things that were being encouraged in the church. 00:29:39.979 --> 00:29:42.339 The commonality between the heirs 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:45.439 is that they both prominently featured the idea 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:47.700 that religious ritual, 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.340 human merit, 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.440 was essential 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:56.220 and part of the core of one's relationship to God. 00:29:57.660 --> 00:30:01.140 They didn't deny that Jesus was necessary for salvation. 00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:06.320 They taught that he alone wasn't sufficient for salvation. 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.820 That was the difference. 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.700 They're happy with Jesus. 00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:11.700 They knew Jesus needed to be a part of it. 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:14.500 They just taught that Jesus wasn't all of it. 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:19.240 That our human works also determine our standing with God. 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:19.940 And by the way, 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:23.539 if we're going to compare this to current belief systems, 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:25.759 this is essentially the same exact view 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:28.160 of salvation taught in Roman Catholicism. 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:30.339 That it's not a denial of Christ, 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:32.680 but it's not all Christ. 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:37.000 That it is God's grace and human works 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:38.160 would be their language 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:40.259 that actually produces salvation 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:42.980 and alters a standing before God. 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:44.860 That's not a new heresy. 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:47.000 That's a heresy as old as the gospel. 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:50.059 If you'll allow me for just a moment, 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:53.360 I think this can subtly belong to us 00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:54.900 at times. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.440 At times when maybe 00:30:58.440 --> 00:31:01.240 in our presentations of the gospel, 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:05.120 we don't mean to contradict 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:06.700 the fullness of it, 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:08.539 but we may inadvertently do it. 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:10.799 Here's what I mean. 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:14.599 Sometimes we can treat 00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:16.460 something like repentance 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:19.399 in an explanation of the gospel 00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:22.099 as if it is a work 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:24.420 that is done before 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:26.839 Christ will accept us. 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:31.879 I was listening to a podcast 00:31:31.879 --> 00:31:33.000 with Bob Lapine this week 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.119 and he told a story 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:35.500 that he knew about Tim Keller 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.819 who if you're familiar 00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.659 at all of his writings, 00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:39.480 you know he pastored in New York City 00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.159 for many years. 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:42.639 He developed this habit 00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:44.779 of after his sermons on Sundays, 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.779 he would invite people 00:31:46.459 --> 00:31:47.399 to come to the front 00:31:47.399 --> 00:31:48.740 and he would host Q&As 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.659 and it would be open. 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.299 They could ask him 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:51.519 whatever question they wanted to ask 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.879 and he would answer it 00:31:52.879 --> 00:31:53.419 for a few minutes 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:54.139 after the service. 00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:56.280 And this invited all kinds 00:31:56.280 --> 00:31:57.560 of skeptics and doubters 00:31:57.560 --> 00:31:58.360 in Manhattan 00:31:58.360 --> 00:31:59.960 to come to these services 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.940 and they would hear the gospel. 00:32:01.040 --> 00:32:01.880 It was really quite amazing. 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:03.020 I don't think I'm brave enough 00:32:03.020 --> 00:32:03.560 to do that, 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:05.240 but he did it routinely. 00:32:06.280 --> 00:32:06.980 One Sunday, 00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:08.080 there was a lady 00:32:08.080 --> 00:32:08.880 who had been there 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.660 for a few weeks 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.360 and she, 00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:11.280 I don't know if they used 00:32:11.280 --> 00:32:11.920 a mic or what, 00:32:12.020 --> 00:32:13.060 but she said it at least 00:32:13.060 --> 00:32:13.520 loud enough 00:32:13.520 --> 00:32:14.220 where others could hear. 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:16.040 She said her name 00:32:16.040 --> 00:32:16.620 and she says, 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:18.280 I've been coming to the church 00:32:18.280 --> 00:32:19.400 now for a few weeks. 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:21.860 Since I'm a lesbian 00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:24.519 and I live with my lesbian partner, 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:27.460 I think that I want to buy into this 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:29.060 and I want to join the church. 00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:33.960 Do I need to leave my partner 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:36.200 and abandon this situation 00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:38.140 before I can be a part of the church? 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.600 And you can imagine 00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:43.580 the silence that probably entered 00:32:43.580 --> 00:32:44.620 the room about that time. 00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:47.579 They knew what Keller's position 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:49.399 on homosexuality was, 00:32:49.459 --> 00:32:50.000 that it's a sin 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.299 that must be repented of 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.439 and that the Lord 00:32:52.439 --> 00:32:54.000 is not pleased with it. 00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:55.159 They knew all of those things. 00:32:55.219 --> 00:32:56.579 That's why she's asking the question. 00:32:57.739 --> 00:32:58.679 But his response 00:32:58.679 --> 00:32:59.579 is actually helpful, 00:32:59.639 --> 00:33:00.039 I think, 00:33:00.239 --> 00:33:02.339 helpful in considering the gospel. 00:33:02.659 --> 00:33:03.079 He says, 00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:03.719 I think you're asking 00:33:03.719 --> 00:33:04.500 the wrong question. 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.559 The question is not 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.979 what do I have to do 00:33:07.979 --> 00:33:09.379 before I come to Christ? 00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:10.559 The question is, 00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:12.859 is Jesus who he claimed to be, 00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:15.079 who we've said that he is 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.539 in the weeks 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.219 that you've been coming 00:33:16.219 --> 00:33:16.799 to the church? 00:33:16.979 --> 00:33:18.199 And if he is, 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:20.479 you need to believe him, 00:33:21.159 --> 00:33:22.139 trust him, 00:33:22.699 --> 00:33:24.179 follow him as Lord, 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:26.000 and then deal with the implications 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:27.179 that come along with that. 00:33:28.219 --> 00:33:28.959 In other words, 00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:29.559 the repentance 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:31.679 that Keller was emphasizing 00:33:31.679 --> 00:33:32.379 in that moment 00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:34.579 is kind of a sweeping repentance 00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:36.199 where we are turning 00:33:36.199 --> 00:33:37.139 from one direction 00:33:37.139 --> 00:33:38.779 and going in the other way. 00:33:38.979 --> 00:33:40.479 We're not listing out 00:33:40.479 --> 00:33:41.079 all the things 00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:42.019 that we're doing wrong 00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:42.839 and making sure 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:44.420 we clean ourselves up 00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:46.379 before Jesus will accept us. 00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:48.259 We're making a sweeping turn 00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:49.339 towards Christ 00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:51.619 and then in our faith, 00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:52.759 acknowledging that 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.359 we're going to deal 00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.680 with whatever implications 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.619 come along with that. 00:33:55.900 --> 00:33:56.920 Do you see the subtle difference 00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.299 in that? 00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.879 And where we might be tempted, 00:33:58.920 --> 00:33:59.799 I know I would be tempted, 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:00.920 to in that moment say, 00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:01.460 yeah, 00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:03.740 abandon your homosexuality 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:05.639 and then things will be good. 00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:07.299 You can come then. 00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:09.579 But Jesus doesn't actually 00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.800 tell anybody to do that. 00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:12.760 The very act of coming 00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:14.360 to Christ genuinely in faith 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.960 is to turn away 00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:17.360 from all the other pursuits 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:17.960 of your life, 00:34:18.080 --> 00:34:20.280 not just your homosexuality, 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.740 but every other belief system, 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:23.260 every other selfish thing 00:34:23.260 --> 00:34:24.640 that would exalt itself 00:34:24.640 --> 00:34:25.760 against the knowledge of God. 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:27.980 I'm not pursuing myself anymore. 00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:29.100 I'm not pursuing 00:34:29.100 --> 00:34:30.420 my belief systems anymore. 00:34:30.680 --> 00:34:31.600 I am turning away 00:34:31.600 --> 00:34:32.660 from all of it 00:34:32.660 --> 00:34:33.980 in order that I might 00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.860 pursue Christ 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.840 and then I'm going to deal 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:36.680 with the implications 00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:38.279 so that as the Holy Spirit 00:34:38.279 --> 00:34:39.299 indwells me 00:34:39.299 --> 00:34:41.299 and I open up my Bible 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:42.719 and I see what the Bible says 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:44.059 about this particular thing, 00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:45.319 I will submit 00:34:45.319 --> 00:34:46.739 to the leadership 00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:48.199 of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:48.919 in my life 00:34:48.919 --> 00:34:51.339 because he has redeemed me 00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:52.440 from these things. 00:34:52.819 --> 00:34:53.119 Do you see? 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.859 The other end of that 00:34:54.859 --> 00:34:57.199 is the come as you are dynamic 00:34:57.199 --> 00:35:00.639 where you just come as you are, 00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:01.980 the implication being 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:04.099 that Jesus accepts you 00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:05.619 no matter where you are 00:35:05.619 --> 00:35:06.559 and what you are 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:08.480 and he's happy to love you 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:10.260 and there's no real 00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:11.599 transformative work 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:12.280 that's happening. 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.019 You don't really have 00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:14.099 to acknowledge the sinfulness. 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:15.260 You just come 00:35:15.260 --> 00:35:16.199 and receive his love 00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:17.360 and things are good. 00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:20.059 Sinclair Ferguson says, 00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.400 Jesus doesn't say 00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:22.300 come as you are. 00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:24.000 He says come in spite 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.760 of who you are. 00:35:26.240 --> 00:35:28.280 So we're not cleaning ourselves up 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:30.039 before Christ will accept us. 00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:31.699 Neither are we coming 00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.579 in faith to Christ 00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:34.059 expecting to remain the same. 00:35:35.299 --> 00:35:36.659 The gospel is 00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:38.419 that Jesus has done 00:35:38.419 --> 00:35:39.439 everything necessary 00:35:39.439 --> 00:35:40.799 to forgive our sins 00:35:40.799 --> 00:35:42.399 that in his perfection 00:35:42.399 --> 00:35:45.639 he perfectly fulfilled the law 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.779 that we will never 00:35:46.779 --> 00:35:47.619 be able to fulfill 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.980 and he doesn't say 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.279 do all of these things 00:35:50.279 --> 00:35:51.559 and clean yourself up 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.739 and then I'll accept you. 00:35:52.859 --> 00:35:53.579 He says no, 00:35:53.779 --> 00:35:54.500 come to me 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:56.059 and I will change you. 00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:58.960 There's a transformative work 00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.480 of the gospel 00:35:59.480 --> 00:36:00.939 but that's what he does for us. 00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:02.320 It's his work 00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:03.619 in us. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:06.059 Verse 15 00:36:06.059 --> 00:36:07.720 To the pure 00:36:07.720 --> 00:36:08.760 all things are pure. 00:36:10.099 --> 00:36:11.280 To the defiled 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:11.840 and unbelieving 00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:12.720 nothing is pure 00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:13.900 but both their minds 00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.599 and their hearts 00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.519 or their consciences 00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.200 are defiled. 00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:18.900 So confronting 00:36:18.900 --> 00:36:20.179 legalist anesthetics 00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:22.199 Paul said that 00:36:22.199 --> 00:36:23.059 those who have been 00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.919 made pure 00:36:23.919 --> 00:36:25.940 by the righteousness 00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:26.739 of Christ 00:36:26.739 --> 00:36:28.759 are no longer 00:36:28.759 --> 00:36:29.819 made impure 00:36:29.819 --> 00:36:31.879 by eating certain foods 00:36:31.879 --> 00:36:33.639 or going through 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:34.980 ceremonial cleansings. 00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:37.059 They are no longer 00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:39.099 bound by the law. 00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:41.779 They are under grace. 00:36:43.779 --> 00:36:45.179 Because these legalists 00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:45.819 and these ascetics 00:36:45.819 --> 00:36:46.179 were saying 00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:47.279 yeah, Jesus is great 00:36:47.279 --> 00:36:47.919 but you need to be 00:36:47.919 --> 00:36:48.639 circumcised too. 00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:51.980 Jesus is the doorway in 00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:52.940 but if you want to stay in 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:53.519 you're going to have to do 00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.400 all the Jewish things. 00:36:55.319 --> 00:36:56.019 You're going to have to 00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.659 afflict yourself 00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:57.420 in a certain way. 00:36:58.759 --> 00:37:00.199 If you really mean it 00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:01.679 this is why 00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:02.359 it's going to happen. 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:03.960 Paul says no. 00:37:05.379 --> 00:37:05.819 No. 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.679 To the pure 00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:08.619 to the one 00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:09.059 who has been 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:10.460 made clean by God 00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:12.019 all things are now pure. 00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:14.659 you don't have to worry 00:37:14.659 --> 00:37:15.139 about the things 00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:15.519 you're eating. 00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:16.599 It's not going to 00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:17.380 make you unclean. 00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:18.860 The external things 00:37:18.860 --> 00:37:20.259 are not what defile us. 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:22.960 And then he says 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:25.659 believers are no longer 00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:26.300 under the law 00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:27.079 because Jesus 00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:28.800 perfectly fulfilled it. 00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:31.360 Therefore all who 00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:32.099 come to Christ 00:37:32.099 --> 00:37:33.619 are justified 00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.980 by faith alone 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:37.519 apart from any human work. 00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:39.400 Do you remember 00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:40.539 in Romans chapter 10 00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:41.860 Paul wrote 00:37:41.860 --> 00:37:42.440 that Christ 00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:43.380 is the end 00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:44.480 of the law 00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:45.639 for righteousness 00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:47.320 to everyone 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:48.920 who believes. 00:37:50.900 --> 00:37:51.639 Doesn't mean 00:37:51.639 --> 00:37:52.079 that Jesus 00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:52.800 was doing away 00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:53.320 with the law 00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:53.779 that the law 00:37:53.779 --> 00:37:54.460 is irrelevant 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.199 as far as our 00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:56.119 obedience to God 00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:56.739 is concerned. 00:37:57.679 --> 00:37:58.679 But the law 00:37:58.679 --> 00:38:00.079 has no role 00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.480 in our righteousness. 00:38:02.759 --> 00:38:03.539 Christ has brought 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:04.199 an end to that 00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:04.880 because he 00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:05.980 perfectly fulfilled it. 00:38:07.239 --> 00:38:08.800 It is by faith 00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:09.599 that he applies 00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:10.739 our righteousness 00:38:10.739 --> 00:38:11.299 to us. 00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:11.920 His righteousness 00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:12.659 to us. 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:15.819 Paul then reminded 00:38:15.819 --> 00:38:16.360 the Cretans 00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:17.440 that no amount 00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:18.539 of religious observance 00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:19.059 could make them 00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:19.739 right with God. 00:38:20.799 --> 00:38:21.480 To the defiled 00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:22.039 and unbelieving 00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:22.860 nothing is pure. 00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.659 Everything they do 00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:25.319 is tainted 00:38:25.319 --> 00:38:26.440 by their sinfulness. 00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:27.500 Their minds 00:38:27.500 --> 00:38:28.339 and their consciences 00:38:28.339 --> 00:38:29.880 are defiled. 00:38:30.940 --> 00:38:31.539 Jesus dealt 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.019 with this. 00:38:32.219 --> 00:38:33.019 Remember the Pharisees 00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.519 came to him 00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.539 and they said 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:36.400 why don't your disciples 00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:37.559 follow the traditions 00:38:37.559 --> 00:38:38.759 of the elders? 00:38:38.900 --> 00:38:39.299 Why aren't they 00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:40.199 washing their hands 00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:41.059 before they eat? 00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:42.719 And Jesus 00:38:42.719 --> 00:38:44.440 says what comes 00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:45.119 out of a person 00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:46.199 is what defiles him. 00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:47.920 For from within 00:38:47.920 --> 00:38:48.739 out of the heart 00:38:48.739 --> 00:38:49.219 of a man 00:38:49.219 --> 00:38:50.259 come evil thoughts 00:38:50.259 --> 00:38:51.559 and sexual immoralities 00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:52.199 and theft 00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:52.739 and murder 00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:53.519 and he goes on. 00:38:53.799 --> 00:38:55.279 All these evil things 00:38:55.279 --> 00:38:56.059 come from within. 00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:57.699 They defile a person. 00:38:57.920 --> 00:38:58.480 It's not whether or not 00:38:58.480 --> 00:38:59.539 your hands are washed 00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:00.259 whether you're 00:39:00.259 --> 00:39:02.340 ceremonially clean. 00:39:02.779 --> 00:39:03.320 It's has God 00:39:03.320 --> 00:39:04.639 given you a new heart 00:39:04.639 --> 00:39:05.719 through the work 00:39:05.719 --> 00:39:06.559 of Jesus Christ 00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:07.539 and if you haven't 00:39:07.539 --> 00:39:08.259 got a new heart 00:39:08.259 --> 00:39:09.139 through the work 00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:09.959 of Jesus Christ 00:39:09.959 --> 00:39:11.159 you're defiled 00:39:11.159 --> 00:39:12.659 and all of your goodness 00:39:12.659 --> 00:39:13.519 is defiled. 00:39:13.879 --> 00:39:14.980 Everything about you 00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:15.619 is defiled 00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:16.259 and there's nothing 00:39:16.259 --> 00:39:17.339 you can do to change it. 00:39:17.839 --> 00:39:18.699 That's his point here. 00:39:19.259 --> 00:39:20.019 What's Paul doing? 00:39:20.399 --> 00:39:21.779 He's giving gospel instruction. 00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:23.359 He's rebuking the error 00:39:23.359 --> 00:39:24.439 and then he's teaching 00:39:24.439 --> 00:39:25.019 the truth. 00:39:25.939 --> 00:39:26.359 Titus 00:39:26.359 --> 00:39:27.379 rebuke the error 00:39:27.379 --> 00:39:28.980 and then teach the truth. 00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:30.059 It's not enough 00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:30.919 just to tell them 00:39:30.919 --> 00:39:31.879 that they're wrong. 00:39:32.799 --> 00:39:33.739 You have to teach them 00:39:33.739 --> 00:39:34.379 the truth 00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:35.519 that salvation 00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:36.460 is not earned 00:39:36.460 --> 00:39:37.840 by what a man does 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:38.920 but it is received 00:39:38.920 --> 00:39:39.700 by faith 00:39:39.700 --> 00:39:40.440 and what Christ 00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:42.200 has already done 00:39:42.200 --> 00:39:44.440 and the cleansing 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.820 that Jesus provides 00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:47.039 is full 00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:48.860 and it's complete. 00:39:50.240 --> 00:39:51.000 So he describes 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:51.680 the problem. 00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:54.099 He deals with the problem 00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:54.780 and then finally 00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:55.720 and I'll finish 00:39:55.720 --> 00:39:56.200 I'm sorry. 00:39:57.260 --> 00:39:58.519 Let's look at the danger 00:39:58.519 --> 00:39:59.599 inherent to the problem. 00:40:00.500 --> 00:40:01.539 The danger of the problem. 00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:03.119 Verse 16. 00:40:04.380 --> 00:40:06.440 They profess to know God 00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:09.140 but they deny him 00:40:09.140 --> 00:40:10.260 by their works. 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:13.519 They're detestable, 00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:15.380 disobedient, 00:40:16.380 --> 00:40:18.280 unfit for any good work. 00:40:19.140 --> 00:40:20.519 This is the most scathing 00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:21.240 section here. 00:40:23.640 --> 00:40:24.840 Earlier Paul seems 00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:25.980 to encourage rebuke 00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:26.700 to restore 00:40:26.700 --> 00:40:27.860 an errant believer 00:40:27.860 --> 00:40:30.260 but here he suggests 00:40:30.260 --> 00:40:31.260 that the promoters 00:40:31.260 --> 00:40:32.220 of the false doctrine 00:40:32.220 --> 00:40:33.559 are not believers at all. 00:40:34.380 --> 00:40:36.940 the reality is 00:40:36.940 --> 00:40:38.280 that both types of people 00:40:38.280 --> 00:40:39.619 will inevitably 00:40:39.619 --> 00:40:41.000 become a problem 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:41.640 in the church. 00:40:43.099 --> 00:40:43.800 You see, 00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:44.760 that's what makes 00:40:44.760 --> 00:40:46.099 these false teachers 00:40:46.099 --> 00:40:46.820 and their doctrines 00:40:46.820 --> 00:40:47.660 so dangerous. 00:40:48.840 --> 00:40:50.800 It always masks itself 00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:52.559 as a friend of Christ 00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:53.519 not an enemy. 00:40:54.099 --> 00:40:55.000 They profess 00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:56.099 to know God. 00:40:56.760 --> 00:40:57.940 They say the things 00:40:57.940 --> 00:40:58.780 that you would expect 00:40:58.780 --> 00:40:59.519 them to say 00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:02.239 but the true nature 00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:03.000 of their hearts 00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:04.179 will ultimately 00:41:04.179 --> 00:41:04.820 be revealed 00:41:04.820 --> 00:41:05.619 in their behavior. 00:41:07.780 --> 00:41:08.559 Two things 00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:09.659 that it reveals itself in. 00:41:10.039 --> 00:41:10.500 First, 00:41:11.739 --> 00:41:12.880 their works are revealed 00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:14.119 in how they respond 00:41:14.119 --> 00:41:15.519 to the rebuke. 00:41:16.860 --> 00:41:18.099 If they're being unfaithful 00:41:18.099 --> 00:41:18.699 to the gospel 00:41:18.699 --> 00:41:19.699 and somebody takes 00:41:19.699 --> 00:41:20.119 their Bible 00:41:20.119 --> 00:41:20.659 and sits down 00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:20.880 and says, 00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:21.840 I think you're wrong here. 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:25.059 This is what the gospel says. 00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:26.639 What do they do with that? 00:41:27.639 --> 00:41:28.819 Because the Bible teaches 00:41:28.819 --> 00:41:30.440 that anyone who knows Christ 00:41:30.440 --> 00:41:31.879 has the indwelling presence 00:41:31.879 --> 00:41:32.639 of the Holy Spirit 00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:34.259 who enlightens us 00:41:34.259 --> 00:41:35.039 to his truth 00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:36.440 and he fashions us 00:41:36.440 --> 00:41:37.679 into the likeness of Christ. 00:41:38.019 --> 00:41:38.739 And if I have 00:41:38.739 --> 00:41:39.420 the Holy Spirit 00:41:39.420 --> 00:41:40.739 and somebody's taking 00:41:40.739 --> 00:41:41.839 the sword of the Spirit 00:41:41.839 --> 00:41:42.739 and they're saying, 00:41:43.119 --> 00:41:43.839 here's the truth. 00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:44.559 Look at the truth. 00:41:44.759 --> 00:41:45.659 The Spirit's gonna do 00:41:45.659 --> 00:41:46.519 this work in me. 00:41:46.659 --> 00:41:47.819 I'm gonna turn away 00:41:47.819 --> 00:41:48.599 from the error 00:41:48.599 --> 00:41:50.359 in order to pursue the truth. 00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:51.460 That's a work. 00:41:51.980 --> 00:41:52.920 That's a fruitfulness 00:41:52.920 --> 00:41:54.420 of the life 00:41:54.420 --> 00:41:55.940 that Christ is now doing 00:41:55.940 --> 00:41:56.639 in me 00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:57.559 of the sanctification 00:41:57.559 --> 00:41:58.800 he's doing in me. 00:41:59.380 --> 00:41:59.659 He says, 00:41:59.720 --> 00:42:00.639 so watch how they 00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:02.340 respond to the rebuke. 00:42:03.240 --> 00:42:03.960 But then there's 00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:05.200 a second part to this. 00:42:06.019 --> 00:42:06.340 Remember, 00:42:06.539 --> 00:42:09.220 belief always affects behavior. 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:11.599 Paul says, 00:42:12.159 --> 00:42:12.639 their behavior 00:42:12.639 --> 00:42:13.559 is detestable. 00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:14.780 It's disobedient. 00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:15.519 It's unfit 00:42:15.519 --> 00:42:16.480 for any good work. 00:42:17.820 --> 00:42:18.579 Jesus says, 00:42:18.700 --> 00:42:19.400 you'll know them 00:42:19.400 --> 00:42:20.720 by the fruitfulness 00:42:20.720 --> 00:42:21.559 of their lives. 00:42:22.420 --> 00:42:23.320 Does their fruit 00:42:23.320 --> 00:42:24.460 match their profession? 00:42:25.940 --> 00:42:27.960 Beware of false prophets, 00:42:28.059 --> 00:42:28.659 Jesus said, 00:42:28.720 --> 00:42:29.300 who come to you 00:42:29.300 --> 00:42:30.260 in sheep's clothing. 00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:32.000 You'll recognize them 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:32.780 by their fruits. 00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:34.480 Are grapes gathered 00:42:34.480 --> 00:42:35.280 from thorn bushes 00:42:35.280 --> 00:42:36.679 or figs from thistles? 00:42:37.679 --> 00:42:39.039 So every healthy tree 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:39.920 bears good fruit, 00:42:40.579 --> 00:42:41.760 but the diseased tree 00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:42.760 bears bad fruit. 00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:45.780 We'll recognize them 00:42:45.780 --> 00:42:47.139 by their fruits. 00:42:48.639 --> 00:42:49.780 Commitment to the gospel 00:42:49.780 --> 00:42:50.800 will always result 00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:51.380 in godliness. 00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:53.480 Always. 00:42:53.480 --> 00:42:55.960 Progressive? 00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:56.659 Yes. 00:42:57.240 --> 00:42:58.320 But it will always 00:42:58.320 --> 00:43:00.059 progress forward. 00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:04.000 Distortion of the gospel 00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:05.639 will always result 00:43:05.639 --> 00:43:06.880 in a life characterized 00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:09.199 by unrepentant sin. 00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:12.579 The individuals are dangerous 00:43:12.579 --> 00:43:14.079 because they're so deceptive. 00:43:15.019 --> 00:43:16.320 Their doctrines are dangerous 00:43:16.320 --> 00:43:17.659 because they lead you 00:43:17.659 --> 00:43:18.599 on a path of sin 00:43:18.599 --> 00:43:19.440 and unbelief 00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:21.119 rather than faith 00:43:21.119 --> 00:43:21.699 and godliness. 00:43:21.699 --> 00:43:23.239 Now step back 00:43:23.239 --> 00:43:24.239 and consider the big picture 00:43:24.239 --> 00:43:24.799 of the book now. 00:43:25.679 --> 00:43:27.019 What's Paul driving at 00:43:27.019 --> 00:43:27.639 in this letter? 00:43:29.179 --> 00:43:30.719 You need healthy structures 00:43:30.719 --> 00:43:31.919 that emphasize the gospel 00:43:31.919 --> 00:43:33.480 because belief affects behavior. 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:36.059 And as the gospel is preserved, 00:43:36.539 --> 00:43:37.919 it will produce godliness 00:43:37.919 --> 00:43:39.219 in God's people. 00:43:40.119 --> 00:43:40.879 But if you start 00:43:40.879 --> 00:43:41.779 to let error in, 00:43:42.019 --> 00:43:43.259 you're going to see a change 00:43:43.259 --> 00:43:44.079 in the way 00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:45.179 that God's people live. 00:43:45.919 --> 00:43:47.559 They may say the right things, 00:43:47.819 --> 00:43:48.859 but what's the fruitfulness 00:43:48.859 --> 00:43:49.559 of their lives? 00:43:49.559 --> 00:43:51.360 Are they content 00:43:51.360 --> 00:43:52.219 to live in sin? 00:43:52.980 --> 00:43:53.779 Are they content 00:43:53.779 --> 00:43:54.820 to be disobedient 00:43:54.820 --> 00:43:55.420 to the Lord? 00:43:57.719 --> 00:43:58.699 The Cretan problem 00:43:58.699 --> 00:43:59.679 has been and will 00:43:59.679 --> 00:44:00.739 be a problem 00:44:00.739 --> 00:44:01.500 for every church 00:44:01.500 --> 00:44:02.219 and every age. 00:44:03.820 --> 00:44:05.219 That's why it's crucial 00:44:05.219 --> 00:44:06.480 for churches 00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:08.059 to encourage 00:44:08.059 --> 00:44:08.900 and appoint 00:44:08.900 --> 00:44:10.400 faithful elders. 00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:13.559 They'll be committed 00:44:13.559 --> 00:44:14.239 to the gospel. 00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:16.279 They'll be products 00:44:16.279 --> 00:44:16.920 of godliness, 00:44:17.119 --> 00:44:18.059 producing godliness 00:44:18.059 --> 00:44:18.900 in their teaching. 00:44:19.079 --> 00:44:20.340 They will rebuke 00:44:20.340 --> 00:44:21.299 promoters of error. 00:44:21.299 --> 00:44:20.320 They will rebuke 00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:21.320 promoters of error.