Text: Titus 2:15
These Things Speak
- What “things” is Paul talking about? … the things fitting for sound doctrine (Titus 2:1)
- In speaking “these things,” we are also to avoid certain things – foolish controversies (Titus 3:9), myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4), human philosophy (Colossians 2:8), human commandments (Matthew 15:9), a perverted form of the gospel (Galatians 1:6-9)
- Those who preach have a divine obligation to speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11)
Speak, Exhort, Reprove
- Speak – inform, make known the word of God to the audience (2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 17:2-3)
- Exhort – build up & encourage brethren to continue in the truth (Acts 20:32)
- Reprove – when sin & error exists, it must be dealt with, not swept under the rug and ignored (Titus 1:11; 3 John 9-10)
Preach with Authority
- The authority with which Titus was to speak was not his authority – it was Christ’s (Matthew 28:18)
- This is why we must speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11) – our words are not truth because we said them, but because the Scriptures teach them (John 17:17)
- When we accurately teach the truth, it is just as authoritative as it would be if Christ spoke it (1 Corinthians 14:37)
Let No One Disregard You
- We cannot control the way others think – any truth teacher can be disregarded (2 Corinthians 10:10); so how can we, to the best of our abilities, keep from being disregarded by others?
- Live blamelessly so there is no cause for accusation (2 Corinthians 6:3)
- Do not worry about what others think about you (1 Cor. 4:3-4)
