In Titus 2:10, Paul wrote to Titus that the people to whom he was preaching in Crete should, “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”  So, we will study today’s lesson, from Titus 2:7-15, with this theme in mind.  We should adorn the doctrine of God:

In our example to others – Titus 2:7 – “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works.”  As Titus taught the word of God to the Cretians, it was essential that his good works matched his doctrine.  Likewise, our works should match the doctrine we teach.  You don’t want to be like the Pharisees, whom Jesus condemned when he said, “do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not,” Matt 23:3.  People watch what you do more than they listen to what you say.

In our teaching of doctrine – Titus 2:7-8 – Paul wrote, “In doctrine shewing…”. And then he listed four things that sound doctrine should show:

• Uncorruptness – uncorrupt doctrine is pure and without error.  When computer files have errors, they are said to be corrupted.  And when doctrine is perverted by error it is corrupt, 2 Cor 2:17.
• Gravity – gravity is seriousness.  Paul used this word in 1 Tim 3:4 concerning bishops  ruling their houses well and having their children in subjection.  So, in doctrine, Titus was to shew gravity since the bishop rules, Heb 13:7, 17.  Notice, in Titus 2:15, that he is to “rebuke with all authority.” 
• Sincerity – sincerity is honesty of mind, freedom from hypocrisy.  Paul wrote, “as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ,” 2 Cor 2:17.  He was very different in his doctrine than the hypocritical Pharisees, Matt 23:15-28.
• Sound speech – sound speech is speech that cannot be condemned.  To condemn is to pronounce, determine, prove, or judge something to be utterly wrong.  If your speech is sound, they can’t do that.  Nevertheless, there are definitely gainsayers, Titus 1:9, and those who contradict and blaspheme, Acts 13:45.  But when your speech is sound, “he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed.”  See Lk 13:17.  Paul wrote, “having no evil thing to say of you.”   But they’ll try.  The old saying is “shoot the messenger if you don’t like the message.”  The contrary part had plenty of bad things to say against Jesus, Mk 15:3, Stephen, Acts 6:13-14, Paul, 2 Cor 10:10, and the like.  But they could never condemn them.

In our service to masters – Titus 2:9-10 – Paul wrote, “Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters.”  See Paul’s similar comments in Eph 6:5-8 and 1 Tim 6:1-5.

He also wrote that servants were to “please them well in all things.”  The world wants the employers to please the employees in all things.  It’s no wonder that many employers complain today that they can’t find good help and people that want to work.  Servants are to be diligent in three particular areas:

• Not answering again – they’re not to be talking back.
• Not purloining – to purloin is to steal, to take something for one’s self.  They’re certainly not to be doing this.
• Showing all good fidelity – fidelity is faithfulness and loyalty.  They’re definitely to be loyal and faithful.  Faithfulness is one of the key characteristics of a good servant.

Paul wrote, “that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”  The idea is that what you believe must affect how you live.  The Cretians were a rough bunch, Titus 1:12.  However, the doctrine of God could change their behavior.  And it should change ours, as well.  Notice the phrase, “God our Saviour,” which we’ll see again in verse 13.  It is applies to Jesus Christ.

In our conduct in this world – Titus 2:11-12 – once we get saved, and our conduct begins to line up with the words of God, we are a testimony to those who are lost.  Paul wrote, “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”  Notice this appears not just to the elect.  God’s grace surely appears to men through the testimony of our changed lives.  God’s salvation teaches us that we should:

• Deny ungodliness – this world makes gods out of everything that is not God.  We should deny all of these gods, including the devil, 2 Cor 4:4.
• Deny worldly lusts – these are found in 1 Jn 2:15-17.
• Live soberly – when you live soberly you’re not given to passions and appetites.
• Live righteously – we do this by yielding to the righteousness of Jesus Christ in us.
• Live godly – we should please God and be submitted to him in all things in this present evil world, Gal 1:4

In our hope for the future – Titus 2:13 – our only hope for the future is the appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, when he comes to take us out of this world.  Notice, like you see in verse 10, that Jesus Christ is the great God and our Savior.  This verse is a great testimony to the deity of Jesus Christ.

In our work for the Lord – Titus 2:14 – Jesus Christ not only “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,” thank God, but also that he might “purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”  See Eph 2:10.  We are to do the work of God with fear and trembling, Phil 2:12-13.  We are peculiar in that we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and not to the world.

In our preaching to the church – Titus 2:15 – Paul wrote, “These things…” 

• Speak – we are to let others know.  I’m doing right now.
• Exhort – to exhort is to use words or arguments to incite others to good deeds. 
• Rebuke with all authority – to rebuke is to chide, to reprehend for a fault, to check by reproof.  And we are to do it with all authority.  Thus is our need for gravity.

Paul concluded by saying “Let no man despise thee.”  Many will despise the preacher.  But Paul said, don’t let them do it.  He told Timothy the same thing, 1 Tim 4:12.  Men are to “Despise not prophesying,” 1 Thes 5:20.  As the saying goes, “If the shoe fits, wear it.”  Adorn the doctrine of God, instead and follow what Paul wrote to Titus.