Titus 2:7-8, 10-12 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 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. Not purloining but showing all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
The buzz words in television are "reality TV" while in actuality there is not much reality to it; it is merely a showmanship that is heavily edited. In Christianity there must be a reality to it or it is nothing at all.
Verses 11-15 are often looked at separately from verses 1-10. For this study let's look at them in context and conjunction with each other. The instruction manual for Christianity is the Bible, and interestingly enough verses 11-12 say that the same grace that brought us salvation teaches us how to live, how to be a real Christian in the real world.
True church is where everyone is a Christian in everything. We cannot disconnect ourselves and have a Sunday life and a Monday life. We cannot be churchy on Sunday and be not so churchy the rest of the week. How you define your belief is reflected in who you are in practice, in practical living. Conduct is the everyday details of our life. Christianity is our character, appearance, and conduct, and it should not conflict with the Bible. If it does, we are off base. We are told what Christianity and Christian living are. When people see and hear us day in and day out, we paint a picture to them of what we think Christianity is. This is for not for people out there somewhere; it is for us, you and me.
Verse 3 says to be teachers of good things. We teach, whether we want to or not, simply because people watch what we are by our words, our behavior, and our actions. We set an example. We need to teach good things. WE ONLY TEACH WHAT WE SHOW! The old phrase do as I say, not as I do will not work in Christianity. On the other hand if we do nothing with our Christianity we teach that it is not important to us. It is what we show in either case. We cannot be a disconnected Christian; being church related is not Christianity.
Verse 10 talks about the doctrine of God. How we perceive this is the issue. It does not just apply to church. It applies to everyday life. Do not have incorrect perceptions of Christianity. God expects us to be what it is possible for us to be, and it is possible through his grace. We can be what God wants in our everyday doctrine. The verse says adorn the doctrine of God and not purloining but showing all good fidelity. Purloin means to pilfer or filter out things. We cannot pilfer Christianity; we cannot make exceptions for certain situations or little areas of our lives. The doctrine of God is truth and between the world and this truth you and I stand. The world will only see the Jesus we portray. It also says we are to adorn it. Adorn means dress. When you dress yourself, you make yourself look a certain way. By what we do, we dress Jesus up in a certain way. What look are you giving? What others see does matter. Adorn Christianity. Show good fidelity. The Biblical definition of Christianity is a true standard, not purloined. Do not leave open spaces in your life. There are no dual standards. We cannot please the world and God.
The grace of God is our resource. Grace shows someone who is unworthy merciful favor. It is more than God being good to us. Grace gives us the ability to become something we naturally are not. By nature we resist God. We are surrounded by pressures. Is someone else doing it? It is still not ok. It is not being ordinary either. Verse 14 says He purifies unto himself a peculiar people. Ordinary is easy. We must not conform Christianity to ordinary. We cannot do everything like others do it. It insults God when we pattern ourselves after worldly standards and carnal things. God has given us extraordinary ability to be above that. We are different. Grace saved us and pulled us out to an extraordinary place to be a peculiar people. Grace blesses us, enables us, and gives us the ability to say no, to act different. Fitting in with the world is not it. What God thinks is what is important. Grace is our personal tutor and teaches us all these things.
Grace teaches us both in summary and detail. We do not live in generalities. We live moment by moment. We face details everyday; they make up life. We should put Christianity in those everyday details. Verses 1-10 tell us that grace has appeared to all men and then speaks of aged men, aged women, young women, and young men. It applies to us all. Remember, the same grace that had the power to give us salvation has the power to teach us to live right in the details of our life.
Study this chapter. We will pick up next time with those everyday details. Think about what you are adorning. Is your Christian life a reality?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 