Free Bible Commentary
“Titus 3:8-11”
Categories: Titus“This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.”
---End of Scripture verses---
Isn’t it interesting that the “trustworthy statement” that God “saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done” (verse 5) is all the motivation we should need to “be careful to engage in good deeds” (verse 8). All the good works in the world would never be enough to save us without God’s grace and mercy, and “the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit”, but we had better take care to be fully engaged in them until the Master comes just the same. The one talent man in the Lord’s famous parable was condemned as a “wicked and lazy servant” because He refused to put that which his master entrusted to him to good use (Matthew 25:26). “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).
“Disputes about the Law…are unprofitable and worthless” (verse 9) for the simple reason that the Law of Moses has been fulfilled by Jesus and therefore nullified and rendered unnecessary. “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace.” (Ephesians 2:14-15). To argue, fuss and fight in the name of the Lord is foolishness, but to do so over a law which has been abolished is foolishness run amok.
“A factious man” must be rejected and silenced after giving him adequate warning because the Lord does not permit rifts and divisions in His body (Proverbs 6:16-19; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Paul says such a person is “self-condemned” (verse 10). I believe this implies that the “heretic” knows that what he is doing is forbidden by the Lord and damning to his soul, and yet he chooses to do it anyway. Friends, it is the height of foolishness to know good and well that the sins we commit are condemning our souls to Hell, and yet to callously continue in them just the same. God loves our eternal spirits so much that He sent His Son to pay the ultimate price to save them. Do we dare think so lightly of our immortal spirits and His eternal love that we would snub the sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son?
Please read Titus 3:12-15 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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