Theological Observation
God wants his people to have the kind of lifestyle that attracts non-believers to the Gospel.
I think a missing component in the average bible student is asking oneself, “what is God’s heart behind the passage?” Some passages reveal the heart of God more directly than others, but not all do. Many passages function like parables in that the whole point of the parable is to mask God’s heart behind a literary puzzle one must contemplate while uncovering the truths.
Today’s passage is not a parable. Paul isn’t trying to hide deeper truths under a thin layer of words. We have a straightforward command given to God’s people in Crete. Paul says in v10, in other words, if they listen, they will adorn God’s doctrine, making God’s word attractive to all that behold your godly lifestyle. Here, adorning means the visible ways people live out their lives.
“10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”
It would seem the adorning of God’s doctrine is a statement given to “slaves,” but the principle follows all the previously given examples. Older men, older women, younger men, and younger women must adorn the doctrine of God so that Christ’s church will present the Gospel to the lost most profitably.
Paul lists what he says that that lifestyle looks like in ordinary people. All of us fall under the categories that Paul gives. Look at the categories: older men (v2), older women (v3), younger men (v6), and younger women (v4). The qualities that Paul lists out begin with the characteristics of a fruitful Christian: sober (self-control), grave (serious and worthy of respect), and temperate (living in wise moderation). Christian men must excel in charity (love) and patience (not quick-tempered).
You’ll notice that these qualities have nothing to do with academics or acquiring skills. That isn’t to say there is no place for seminaries or institutes that focus only on academics of the Bible or skills in the ministry. But, one’s Christian service can hardly expect approval in God’s eyes without first developing the inner character. Seminaries are generally not equipped to teach these. God equips the church to teach these virtues as members live their lives together.
Finally, a combination of character and skill complements one another, which is teaching and being teachable. Paul tells Titus to teach the men and the older women (vv2-3). Paul wants them, in turn, to teach the younger. It takes skill to teach, but it takes character to be teachable.
Combining these character qualities and teaching culture is an attractive lifestyle God wants for His people. Being teachable, practicing self-control, and loving others is a sure way to “adorn the doctrine of God” and get the Gospel noticed.
How does this Passage point to Christ?
Christ’s life is the lifestyle God wants to use to woo others to the Gospel.
But something brings all of this ideology to a screeching halt. Ideally, we would like all our members to be teachable, loving, kind, and patient. That something is the sinful nature that resides in every human being.
In the thousands of years of human history, have we not learned that merely listing what people ought to do does not transform people into loving, patient servants of God?
We have laws that say you should not speed. Does having the law solve speeding? We have rules for stealing. Are there still thefts? There are laws against domestic violence, murder, and rape, but despite having rules, lists, and regulations, does it appear that our world is transforming for the better?
If we are honest with ourselves, humans are living in contradictions with own standards we set for ourselves. We cannot live up to our laws, let alone God’s holy commandments. Jesus said this in Matthew 7:2 when he said, the measure you use to judge is the measure that God will use against you.
“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
Matthew 7:2
In this, we find ourselves wholly incapable of self-righteousness and self-transformation. If we are doomed according to our standards, how much more are we incapable of living by God’s standards?
Romans 3:23 accuses us all as individuals of falling short of what God requires. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We don’t live free from sin; instead, we are trapped by it. Mere forgiveness for sins isn’t enough either; if we only cancel past sins, nothing ensures we can prevent future sins and corruption.
Does the list of laws our government give us have the power to forgive sins? Does a list of regulations have the ability to transform criminals into good citizens? In the same way, the list we see Paul giving us cannot forgive or transform. Religion is often just a powerless list of rules to give people so they can try harder. But that isn’t what God is telling us.
Your sin must be forgiven and you must be transformed. There is no list you can follow and no amount of work you can do to achieve it. So here is what God does:
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Jesus’ life is free from sin. Unlike any other human being, he did not possess a sinful nature. And so he gifted humanity with what we did not have, freedom and forgiveness from sin. Verse 11 says that it is a gift by grace. Our cancelation of sin and transformation is Christ.
The final transformation is the hope of all Christians who wait for the return of Christ:
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The hope of verse 13 is the future event of Christ’s return and when our transformation is completed.
Application
Until Christ arrives, we are left with the ongoing struggle with our sin, with other people’s sin, and with the task of living out the Gospel message so others can hear and be saved.
There is no more remarkable testimony to the Gospel’s saving power than the transformed lives of Christians, young and old. Genuine humility and love are attractive, and most people have scarcely experienced either of those qualities.
If you have not been forgiven by Christ nor transformed by His power, then there is no speaking of teaching and giving to others what you don’t have. You need Christ today to forgive your sin and transform your life. Ask Him to save you today.
As for everyone else, if you are in Christ, you are a part of his body. And Paul makes it clear everyone is to be teachable and ready to teach. There is no position in the church where we sit and do nothing. Sitting and doing nothing is a worse sin than being ignorant; at least the ignorant can say they didn’t know.
But we have the privilege of taking part in Christ’s work. This church (Second Birth Baptist Church) is just putting down its roots. It will grow when its members grow. This church will take off and glorify Christ when individuals decide they will be a part.
The church’s greatest need right now is a follow-up team to care for guests as they visit. The follow-up team needs a leader, a prayer leader, and several volunteers to help complete the work.
Will you present yourself to Christ for His service?
J. C. Walz – Faith, Fiction, and DEvotional Writing 
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