TO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE
TITUS 1:15-16
Introduction:
Sometimes we as Christians tend to see things through rose colored glasses. That is, we don’t want to see things as they really are. Paul reminds Titus of the condition of the people to whom he was sent was that of unbelief. He quotes one of the poets of Crete describing his people as “alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.” Then Paul said that the poet was telling the truth.
Titus had his work cut out for him. They were dealing with Christians who needed teaching and unbelievers who were sometimes hostile toward the truth in Christ. We are in much the same situation today. Note the contrast between the two.
I. BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK
A. The believer accepts the Word of God as his guide in life, Psalm 33:4, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”
1. The Word of God is the standard by which the true believer lives, Psalm 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
2. The Word of God is that which leads him from day to day, Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
a. His steps are ordered by the Word of God, Psalm 119:133, “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”
b. The believer meditates in the Word of God, Psalm 119:148, “Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”
B. That is what God requires of every man, Psalm 15:1-3, “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.”
1. One who is blameless by faith in Christ, Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
2. One who has trusted in Jesus Christ, Ephesians 1:12-13, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
II. THE UNBLELIEVER HAS A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK
A. The unbeliever is defiled in mind, Mark 7:15, “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.”
1. The problem with these “false teachers” was from within themselves, Mark 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
2. Nothing defiles man from the outside even though some think that, Mark 7:2, “And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.”
B. The Unbeliever believes that all men are like himself, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
1. He is defiled in conscience, 1 Corinthians 8:7, “Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.”
2. He professes to know God, 1 John 2:4, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
3. His works deny that profession, James 2:18, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
a. They are abominable (detestable), Job 15:16, “How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?”
b. They are disobedient, Titus 1:10, “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:”
c. They are disqualified (Reprobate), Jeremiah 6:30, “Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.”
1) They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, Romans 1:28, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”
2) They resist the truth, 2 Timothy 3:8, “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”
CONCLUSION
Paul concludes this chapter by saying in verse 16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him , being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” These are lost people who profess to know God in whose life there is no evidence. These folks need to know Christ in salvation.