Writing is one of the best ways to learn. In class, we take notes and write papers, and all these methods are used to help us learn and retain the material. The same is true with the Word of God. Obviously, all of the authors of Scripture were writers. This helped them better learn the Scriptures and also enabled them to more effectively teach it. In studying God’s Word with the Bible Teacher’s Guide, take time to write so you can similarly grow both in your learning and teaching.

1. How would you summarize the main points of the text/chapter? Write a brief summary.
2. What stood out to you most in the reading? Did any of the contents trigger any memories or experiences? If so, please share them.
3. What follow–up questions do you have about the reading? Are there parts you do not fully agree with?
4. What applications did you take from the reading, and how do you plan to implement them in your life?
5. Write several goals: As a result of my time studying God’s Word, I aspire to . . .
6. What are some practical ways to pray as a result of studying the text? Spend some time in prayer.

Copyright © 2023 Gregory Brown

BTG Publishing all rights reserved.

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NET)

Paul’s words to Timothy still apply to us today. The church needs teachers who clearly and fearlessly teach the Word of God. With this in mind, The Bible Teacher’s Guide (BTG) series was created. This series includes both expositional and topical studies, with resources to help teachers lead small groups, pastors prepare sermons, and individuals increase their knowledge of God’s Word.

Each lesson is based around the hermeneutical principle that the original authors wrote in a similar manner as we do today—with the intention of being understood. Each paragraph and chapter of Scripture centers around one main thought, often called the Big Idea. After finding the Big Idea for each passage studied, students will discuss the Big Question, which will lead the small group (if applicable) through the entire text. Alongside the Big Question, note the added Observation, Interpretation, and Application Questions. The Observation Questions point out pivotal aspects of the text. The Interpretation Questions facilitate understanding through use of the context and other Scripture. The Application Questions lead to life principles coming out of the text. Not all questions will be used, but they have been given to help guide the teacher in preparing the lesson.

As the purpose of this guide is to make preparation easier for the teacher and study easier for the individual, many commentaries and sermons have been accessed in the development of each lesson. After meditating on the Scripture text and the lesson, the small group leader may wish to follow the suggested teaching outline:

1. Introduce the text and present the Big Question.
2. Allow several minutes for the members to discuss the question, search for the answers within the text, and listen to God speak to them through His Word.
3. Discuss the initial findings, then lead the group through the Observation, Interpretation, and Application Questions.

On the other hand, the leader may prefer to teach the lesson in part or in whole, and then give the Application Questions. He may also choose to use a “study group” method, where each member prepares beforehand and shares teaching responsibility (see Appendices 1 and 2). Some leaders may find it most effective to first read the main section of the lesson corporately, then to follow with a brief discussion of the topic and an Application Question.

Again, The Bible Teacher’s Guide can be used as a manual to follow in teaching, a resource to use in preparation for teaching or preaching, or simply as an expositional devotional to enrich your own study. I pray that the Lord may bless your study, preparation, and teaching, and that in all of it you will find the fruit of the Holy Spirit abounding in your own life and in the lives of those you instruct.

Copyright © 2023 Gregory Brown

BTG Publishing all rights reserved.

From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began. But now in his own time he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior. To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!

Titus 1:1-4 (NET)

What are the priorities of a faithful minister? Our priorities are important because they demonstrate what our focuses are. As believers, our priorities should be very different than the world’s. Our different priorities lead us down very different paths to different outcomes, including eternal ones. As we consider our priorities, we should consider Paul’s priorities in Titus 1:1-4 in order for them to instruct ours. He calls himself “a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ” (v. 1). He was a faithful minister of God. Also, as with many modern letters or papers, in embryonic form he introduces some of his main priorities for the letter and his life in the first few sentences of it, which we’ll consider.

Intro To The Letter

However, first, we’ll give attention to the letter of Titus as a whole. In Titus, Paul writes a letter to his true son in the faith. Titus, apparently, came to Christ during one of Paul’s missionary journeys. Titus was a non-Jewish Greek. When there was a battle raging over whether Gentile believers had to become like Jews by becoming circumcised, Paul brought Titus to the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 as an example of a Gentile believer who was not circumcised. Galatians 2:3-5 says this:

Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves. But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

Titus later became Paul’s trouble-shooter. When there was immorality and false teaching happening in Corinth, Paul sent Titus there to minister to them (2 Cor 7:5-8). After Titus returned with good news of their repentance, Paul sent him back to help the Corinthians prepare an offering for suffering Christians in Jerusalem (2 Cor 8:6, 16-17). Like the Corinthians, the Cretans were a very difficult ministry. The church was probably planted by Jewish Cretans who heard the gospel at Pentecost, as they are mentioned in Acts 2:11. It says, “both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!” These believing Cretans eventually returned to their country and probably planted churches. Crete is an island southeast of Greece in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s about 160 miles long and 35 miles wide.¹ At some point, most likely after Paul’s first imprisonment, he stopped there with Titus to evangelize the lost and encourage the believers.² Eventually, Paul left Titus in Crete to set things in order. Titus 1:5 says, “The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.”

Purposes Of The Letter

In the letter, Paul has many purposes. (1) First, he wanted to warn Titus and the Cretans of the many false teachers in the church that needed to be silenced. Apparently, there were many Jewish teachers, teaching Jewish myths and obedience to the Mosaic law, probably including the need for Gentiles to be circumcised in order to be saved. He alludes to the teachers and their teachings throughout the letter. Titus 1:10-11 and 3:9 says,

For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections [also translated “circumcision party” in the ESV], who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty

(2) Secondly, in part because of these false teachers, Paul wanted Titus to set up elders in the Cretan churches (Tit 1:5-10). Titus 1:5 says, “The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” Setting elders in each church would be crucial for building up the local believers and protecting them from false teaching and division (Tit 1:9, 3:10).

(3) Third, Paul emphasizes the importance of salvation throughout the letter, that believers are saved by grace through faith. In fact, the word “savior” is only used twelve times in the New Testament, and six of those are in Titus.³ Three times “savior” is used of God and three times of Jesus. ⁴ Paul wanted to emphasize to the Cretans that they were saved by God’s grace and not their works. This was probably to contradict the Jewish false teachers who were teaching salvation through obedience to the Old Testament law. Titus 3:4-7 is one of the clearest texts in all of Scripture on the believer’s salvation. It says,

But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”

(4) Fourth, Paul emphasizes the need for sound doctrine throughout the letter, in part because of all the false teaching (1:4, 9, 13; 2:1, 2, 7, 8, 10; 3:15).⁵ He says this about a potential elder in Titus 1:9: “He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching and correct those who speak against it.” Titus 2:1 and 7-8 say this:

But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching… In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us.

Daniel Akin, the President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, said this, “Sound teaching may be the heart of Titus. The phrase occurs four times in the New Testament, all in the pastorals [1 and 2 Timothy, Titus], with two of those in Titus. Literally it is ‘healthy teaching.’”⁶ (5) Fifth, Paul emphasized that the Cretans were not saved simply from judgment but specifically to good works which are a fruit of sound teaching. Good works are mentioned six times throughout the book (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14). Titus 2:14 says this about Christ, “He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.” Titus 3:8 says, “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works…” In this world, God is purifying for himself a people who are eager and devoted to doing what is good. Good works are not an end in themselves; it seems that the good works are meant to be evangelistic—drawing unbelievers to Christ (cf. Matt 5:16). In Titus 2:10, Paul told slaves to obey their masters “in order to bring credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything.” He also told wives to submit to their husbands “so that the message of God may not be discredited” (2:5). This is very similar to what Peter said in his letter. First Peter 2:12 says, “maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.” No doubt, they will glorify God when he comes instead of crouching in fear because they accepted Christ because of the believers’ faith manifested in love around them (cf. Gal 5:6).

The need to perform good works was especially important for the Cretans to hear because they were known culturally for being an unruly and dishonest people. The Greeks developed the word “cretize” which was a synonym for lying.⁷ In fact, Paul quotes one of their philosophers, Epimenides, to emphasize their dishonest and unruly culture. Titus 1:12-13 says,

A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith

In fact, Titus might have been discouraged working in this difficult context; therefore, Paul wrote to instruct and encourage him to be faithful in this ministry. Often, God places us in difficult contexts as well, but no doubt, God’s grace and his Word are available to us, so we can also be faithful.

As mentioned, in Titus 1:1-4, we see the priorities of a faithful minister. Paul, as an apostle of Christ and slave of God, shares his priorities as an example for Titus but also as an example for the Cretans who no doubt had many worldly priorities. For most, these priorities will not be new; however, we need constant reminders to reprioritize so we can do God’s work which is eternal instead of focusing on the temporary. One day, God will hold us accountable for our ministry and we will hear, “Well done good and faithful servant and be rewarded,” or we’ll be called lazy servants and experience loss of reward (cf. 1 Cor 3:12-15, Matt 25:14-30, 2 Tim 4:6-8). Therefore, as we study Paul’s priorities, we must allow God to instruct and correct ours.

Big Question: What are priorities of faithful ministers as demonstrated by Paul’s priorities in Titus 1:1-4?

A Priority Of Faithful Ministers Is Recognizing God’s Call On Their Lives And Submitting To It

From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, … But now in his own time he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.

Titus 1:1, 3

At the beginning of the letter, Paul establishes his authority to write this letter both to Titus and to the Cretans who would hear this letter read in their local gatherings (cf. Titus 3:15). When Paul called himself a “slave of God,” it literally means a “bond-slave.” “One Greek scholar called it ‘the most abject, servile term in use among the Greeks for a slave.”⁸ A bond slave owned nothing, including the clothes on his back. The master owned everything. When Paul called himself a bond-slave, it demonstrated his humility both before God and others. He was a servant of God. However, the terminology was also an honorable term to a Jewish audience. Moses, Joshua, and the prophets were called servants of God (Josh 1:2, 24:29, Amos 3:7). Amos 3:7 says, “Certainly the sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” In the Old Testament, the prophets saw themselves as owned by God and therefore representing him when they spoke and served. This title would have been a challenge to the Jewish false teachers who heard the letter read. Like the prophets in the Old Testament, Paul represented God, and therefore, they should listen to him.

However, Paul also called himself an apostle. This term just means “messenger” or “sent one.” It was used of any messenger, even a lowly one. However, in the New Testament, it is often used of special messengers, specifically the twelve disciples who Christ mentored and were official witnesses of his resurrection. They and their associates wrote the entire New Testament. Paul, though not an original apostle, saw Christ after his resurrection and was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, Gal 1:16, 2:7-8). Paul ministered to Jews as well, but he was specifically called to preach to Gentiles, calling them to faith in Christ. Certainly, as the Jews in Crete would have recognized and respected the term “servant of God,” the Gentile Cretans would have especially recognized Paul’s call as an apostle to the Gentiles.

Therefore, a priority of faithful ministers is recognizing God’s call on their life and submitting to it. He is their master who they must seek to honor with their thoughts, attitudes, and actions. He is the one who commissions them for service whether that be to the people in their family, at work, or in a specific region or nation. First Corinthians 6:19-20 says,

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Are we submitting our body, thoughts, actions, and overall life to God? This is something that often does not mark the immature in Christ. They may give God their Sundays but not their Mondays. They may give God their work but not their money. They may give God their morning quiet times but not their entertainment. There are some aspects of their lives that are off-limits. However, Paul, as a faithful minister, saw himself as the lowliest slave—one who owned nothing, not even the clothes on his back. Everything he had was God’s, and he was sent by God to do his work. John MacArthur’s comments are helpful in considering a faithful minister:

All effective, fruitful, and genuinely spiritual leaders in Christ’s church have a deep awareness that they are under divine authority. That awareness becomes the controlling reality of their lives. They do not seek to fulfill personal agendas, create personal fame, or build personal empires. They are content and feel honored for the privilege of being wholly subject to the Master who has chosen and sent them.⁹

Do we see every part of our lives as under “divine authority?” First Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” This is a priority of every faithful minister—recognizing their lives as under God’s authority and submitting to him.

Application Question: How do we discern God’s specific call on our lives?

In Acts 9, while Paul was on his way to put Christians in jail, Christ appeared to him and called him to be God’s servant and an apostle to the Gentiles. How do we discern God’s call on our lives—the unique ways we’ve been called to serve him?

Everybody has a general call. The general call is to obey God’s clear instructions in Scripture such as loving God and others, reading his Word, faithfully serving the church, and reaching out to the lost, etc. However, as we obey God’s general call, God often will make clear his specific call on our lives, including our gifts and the communities he may be calling us to serve. Mark 4:24-25 says:

… Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and more will be added to you. For whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

As we are faithful to God’s general call, often he will make clear his specific call on our lives, even as he called Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Psalm 25:14 says, “The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance, and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.” (1) Often, God will guide us by giving us the desire to serve in specific ways. Philippians 2:13 (NIV) says, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” God will give us desires to work with youth, serve in administration or leadership, mercy ministries, teaching, homemaking, etc. (2) God will then open doors to serve in those areas. (3) He equips us and makes us fruitful in those areas and (4) confirms our call through the encouragement of others. As he opens doors, equips, and confirms (sometimes in a different order), he will often increase our desire to serve in those areas. As we’re faithful with our general call as found in Scripture, God will often make known specific ways he has called us to serve.

Paul recognized God’s call on his life as an apostle and slave of God, and he submitted to it, as all faithful ministers seek to do. We must do the same. Therefore, we must ask ourselves, “Are we faithfully following God’s general call through studying and obeying Scripture?” Also, “How has God specifically gifted us and where and to whom is he calling us to serve to build his kingdom?”

Application Question: Are there specific areas in your life that you struggle with giving God full control over? How is God calling you to submit your will to his in this season? In what ways has God gifted you and called you to serve? Is there a specific person or people God has called you to focus on serving or potentially serving in the future?

A Priority Of Faithful Ministers Is Evangelizing Unbelievers

…to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began. But now in his own time he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.

Titus 1:1-3

Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean when talking about “furthering the faith of God’s chosen ones?”

When Paul says, “furthering the faith of God’s chosen ones,” he is either referring to leading the elect to salvation or furthering their faith after they are saved. However, since his next words, “the knowledge of the truth,” seem to cover the second meaning, most likely, Paul is talking about leading the elect to salvation. This is similar to what he says in 2 Timothy 2:10: “So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God [also translated elect], that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.” We see something of this in Acts 13:48 when Paul preached the gospel to Jews and Gentiles in Antioch. It says, “When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed.” “Appointed for eternal life” can also be translated “chosen for eternal life” (NLT) or “ordained for eternal life” (KJV). As Paul preached the gospel to the lost, the elect accepted Christ. That was God’s mission for Paul, and therefore, that was one of his priorities in ministry. This should be true of us as well, since we’ve all been called by Christ to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19).

The Paradox Of God’s Election

With all that said, election is a mystery that is difficult to understand and has caused great confusion and controversy amongst believers. “If God elects to salvation, why is there a need for a person to put his faith in Christ?” some would ask. However, Scripture clearly teaches both human responsibility and God’s sovereignty in salvation, including within Titus 1:1. When Paul says “faith,” he is referring to the human side of salvation. To be saved, we must put our faith in Christ. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Also, John 3:16 says, “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” No one can be saved apart from putting their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Because of our sins and God’s righteous judgment, Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins, so we could have eternal life. We cannot be saved by being raised in a Christian family, going to church, being baptized, serving the marginalized, or any other good work. We must believe in Christ as our Lord and Savior. Romans 10:13 says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But here lies the mystery of salvation, we are saved by putting our faith in Christ, but we are also saved by God’s sovereign choice. In verse 1, after saying “furthering the faith” which reflects human responsibility, Paul says “of God’s chosen ones” or “of God’s elect” (ESV) which reflects God’s sovereign choice. When did God choose us? Verse 2 tells us that God promised to save us “before the ages began.” Likewise, Ephesians 1:4-5 says,

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love. He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will

This is a tremendous mystery. Again, Scripture teaches both human responsibility, our need to put our faith in Christ to be saved, and God’s sovereignty, his divine right to choose before time those who will be saved before time. Some teach that God simply knew who would accept him before time, and therefore he chose based on that knowledge (cf. Rom 8:29, Matt 7:23); however, that is not really a choice at all. That’s merely a confirmation. In describing God’s election of Jacob over Esau to be the heir of promise, Paul said this in Romans 9:10-16:

Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac—even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling)—it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,” just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.

God’s election of Jacob over Esau had nothing to do with anything they would do in the future. It had everything to do with God’s sovereign right to show mercy on sinful people, even before they were born and before they had done anything good or bad.

Someone described election this way: Before a person is saved, he stands and looks at a door that says, “Whosoever wants to come, may come.” Then, after that person walks through the door and looks back, the other side of the door says, “Elect, chosen before time.” It truly is a mystery, but that’s what Scripture teaches. It may be difficult to understand for us, but we can be sure, it makes perfect sense to God.

When coming to Scripture, if we believe it is truly inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16), though written by humans, we should expect paradoxes, things that won’t make perfect sense to us. If someone infinite inspired Scripture, then there should be difficult things for finite people to grasp. And that’s true when it comes to understanding many things in the Bible such as the Trinity—God being three and yet one—Christ’s incarnation—his being 100% human and 100% deity—and the mystery of human responsibility and God’s sovereignty both in salvation and all things. Ephesians 1:11 says God “accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will.” For many, they have seen these types of mysteries as proof of the Divine origin of Scripture. Humans don’t intentionally write these types of mysteries. We write to be understood, accepted, and convincing. When we look at Greek gods, they make perfect sense because they are just like humans. They become angry, lie, war, and lust. They are sinful just like humans. They make perfect sense. But, the God of the Bible, the one who became a poor man, died for the sins of the world, and then resurrected so we can have eternal life, does not make sense. It’s paradoxical which is what we would expect if Scripture was truly inspired by an infinite being. Therefore, paradoxes like human responsibility and God’s sovereignty in salvation, though difficult to understand, should give us confidence that Scripture is ultimately Divine in origin.

God’s Promise Before Time

In addition, as we consider salvation, we should have confidence in God’s completing our salvation because he promised it before time. Again, in verse 2, Paul said, “in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.” God was not taken off guard by Satan tricking Eve nor by Adam following his wife into sin. God planned for the salvation of a remnant, including those who put their trust in him, even before he created the world; therefore, nothing can stop the salvation of the elect. They are eternally secure. Paul said this in considering the surety of the salvation of God’s elect in Romans 8:33-39:

Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore, since God cannot break his promises, we should have ultimate confidence in God’s saving and keeping the elect. They are eternally secure because God cannot lie or break his promises, which he made before time.

Hindrance To Evangelism

With all that said, some people struggle with election because they see it as a hindrance to preaching the gospel. They say, “Why preach the gospel if people are already chosen for salvation? Won’t they ultimately be saved anyways?” However, that is not how Paul viewed election and that’s not how we should view it either. The God who chose some to salvation also chose the means of their salvation, and it is their hearing of the gospel. Romans 10:17 says, “Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.” Likewise, Romans 10:14 says: “… And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?” The elect must hear and respond to the gospel to be saved. Therefore, election, instead of hindering evangelism, should encourage it. Election should give us confidence when we preach the gospel to hard hearts because some will respond. Again, in considering election, Paul said this in 2 Timothy 2:10: “So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God [also translated elect], that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.” And this is what he is emphasizing in Titus 1:1 when he says he was called to “further the faith of God’s chosen ones.” Election should then inspire us to evangelize and not hinder it, because God has promised some will respond.

Again, one of Paul’s priorities as a faithful minister of God was to evangelize—to share the gospel with all, so God can save the elect. Who are the elect? The elect are those who respond to the gospel with faith. Evangelizing must be our priority as well if we are going to be faithful ministers of God.

Are we still sharing the gospel with others?

Application Question: What is your experience with evangelism? Is there a person or persons whose salvation you are praying for and hoping for an opportunity to share your faith with? How can a person grow in being more faithful in the area of evangelism? What is the doctrine of election? What is the most difficult part about it? What are different views about it? In what way(s) is it comforting or encouraging, if any?

A Priority Of Faithful Ministers Is Educating And Encouraging Believers

and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.

Titus 1:1b-2

Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean when talking about “the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, in hope of eternal life?”

Knowing Truth And Living Godly

Not only was Paul concerned with the lost being saved, he also was concerned with educating and encouraging believers. Again, Titus 1:1-2 says his goal was to “further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness.” This is very similar to the Great Commission where Christ calls us to “make disciples” and to teach them to obey “everything” he had commanded (Matt 28:19-20). Likewise, Paul spent time with these new believers and young church plants to teach truths about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, salvation, creation, and the end times. In most of Paul’s letters, he taught the believers doctrine and corrected false doctrine. However, the doctrine was not just to help them be orthodox but also to help them with orthopraxy, living out the faith. He taught them truths, so they could learn how to pray, conquer sin, raise their children in the Lord, serve their spouses, be godly workers, persevere through trials, be good citizens, and make disciples. He taught them the “knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness,” and so must we.

Like Paul, God has not only called us to minister to the lost but to the church. Later in Titus 2:1-10, Paul will specifically call Titus to teach the older men to be sound in faith, the older women to teach the younger how to oversee their homes and serve their husbands, the younger men to be self-controlled, and the slaves to obey their masters. In addition, Paul called Titus to not only teach people but be an example by his godly life (2:7). We are also called to teach God’s Word and live out our faith within the body of Christ. We should share God’s truth with our believing family members, peers, youth, and those senior to us. We all, as God’s ministers, must be invested in educating the body of Christ, so it can become holy and fruitful.

Certainly, God has given the church especially gifted members, such as pastors and teachers, for the purpose of educating the saints by teaching them Scripture (Eph 4:11-15). However, it’s something we all must strategically participate in. This certainly happens as members mentor and come alongside one another, invest in children and youth education, but also in worship, which is the singing of Scripture, and small groups where we read, explain, and discuss Scripture. We all must seek to equip the saints by teaching the truth, meaning God’s Word. Ephesians 4:15 (NIV) says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Encouraging Hope

Furthermore, Paul did not only evangelize through sharing the gospel and educate the saints with doctrine that led to holiness, but he also encouraged believers to “hope” in eternal life (v. 2). Hope is another word for faith; however, it is faith in something future. There is a sense in which we have eternal life as soon as we put our faith in Christ. Christ said this in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.” Eternal life is not just living forever, because everybody will live forever in one of two places. Eternal life is a quality of life with God, which we now have as believers. However, the full measure of eternal life will not be realized until we have resurrected bodies and therefore are free from sin and every hindrance to living with and experiencing God moment by moment. This will ultimately happen at Christ’s second coming. Later, Paul calls this the believers’ “blessed hope,” or it can be translated “happy hope.” Titus 2:13 says, “as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Christ is our God and Savior, and we should wait with hope for his coming.

Application Question: What happens when believers have little hope in their coming eternal life?

1. Believers who do not live with this hope typically become toppled by their trials, living as though this life and our current happiness are all that matter.

For example, Paul said the hope of eternal glory helped him to not despair as he lived with a physical body that was wearing out. Second Corinthians 4:16-18 says,

Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

2. In addition, believers who don’t have hope in eternal life typically become worldly believers, consumed with worldly comforts, materialism, success, and sin.

In Luke 12:45-48, Christ gave a parable where a servant starts to think his master has delayed his coming and therefore starts to overeat, get drunk, and beat up the other servants. The master then returns and disciplines him. To lose hope in Christ’s coming and the eternal life he brings leads to sin and worldliness. On the contrary, hoping in Christ’s coming and our eternal life leads us to holiness. In 1 John 3:2-3, John said this:

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Therefore, part of God’s mission for Paul and every faithful minister is not only to biblically educate believers but also to encourage them to maintain hope in Christ and their ultimate salvation.

Application Question: How do we maintain our hope in eternity and encourage others to do the same?

1. We maintain our hope in eternity by being careful of temporal treasures and even sin which dampen our spiritual fervor.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Christ said this:

Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Earthly treasures often become idols in our hearts which dampen our desire for eternal things. Therefore, we must be wise and careful with them. Sometimes that means getting rid of them like Christ told the rich man (Matt 19:21). At other times, it means being disciplined with our use of them so they don’t consume us (1 Cor 7:30-31). This must be true of many things like social media, entertainment, hobbies, electronics, and even relationships.

In 1 John 2:15-17, John said it this way:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.

2. We maintain our hope in eternity by fellowshipping with other believers who are hoping in the Lord as well.

Hebrews 10:25 says, “not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.” By being faithful in church, small group, and other fellowship opportunities, serving, and being challenged by other believers, it kindles our hope in Christ’s coming. If our relationship with the church is weak, our hope in eternity, where we’ll dwell with and serve with other believers forever, will be weak as well.

3. We maintain our hope in eternity by practicing spiritual disciplines which help us focus on eternal things and not temporal things.

Colossians 3:1-4 says,

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.

We keep our mind on things above by disciplining ourselves spiritually, including living in God’s Word, prayer, worship, and serving our king. Along with focusing on right things, we must stay away from wrong things such as ungodly entertainment or unhealthy relationships. If our spiritual disciplines are weak, again our hope in eternity will be weak as well.

If we are going to be faithful ministers like Paul, we must seek to educate and encourage the church. Christ gave his life for the church and now lives to make intercession for her in the heavens (Heb 7:25) and daily washes her through the ministry of the Word (Eph 5:25-26). He places her in God’s hand and his own to protect her eternally (John 10:28-30). We must likewise be extremely committed to educating, encouraging, and serving the saints.

Are we investing into our spiritual education and that of the saints? We cannot help others grow spiritually if we are not growing as well. As we grow in the knowledge of God’s Word, the more encouraged we become. Psalm 19:8 says, “The Lord’s precepts are fair and make one joyful. The Lord’s commands are pure and give insight for life.” The more encouraged we are, the better we can encourage others. Faithful ministers are committed to educating and encouraging saints.

Application Question: How has God used other saints to make a strong impact on you through educating and encouraging your faith? What are some strategic ways to encourage saints, especially those who are discouraged? Why is hoping in eternity so important? What are your major hindrances to hoping in eternity?

A Priority Of Faithful Ministers Is Depending On And Partnering With Believers

To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!

Titus 1:4

In verse 4, Paul mentions Titus who was his “genuine son in a common faith.” When calling him a genuine son, this possibly refers to Paul’s leading Titus to Christ, to Paul’s discipling him, or both. Paul also called Timothy his “genuine child” in 1 Timothy 1:4. As mentioned, Titus was a trouble-shooter for Paul. When the church of Corinth was plagued by immorality and false doctrine, Paul sent Titus to help correct them (2 Cor 7:5-8). And when the church of Corinth needed to support the struggling saints in Jerusalem, Paul sent Titus to prepare the offering (2 Cor 8:6, 16-17). In 2 Corinthians 8:23, Paul called Titus his “partner and fellow worker.” At the writing of Titus, Titus was ministering to a difficult people in Crete, who were also plagued by false teachers and immorality. Titus was someone Paul could trust and someone who could get the job done.

However, Paul did not just partner with Titus but with many other Christian workers. Though Paul was exceptionally gifted and possibly the greatest apostle, he was no lone ranger. He knew his weaknesses and therefore depended on God and the body of Christ. He constantly asked the churches for prayer, depended on them for financial support in certain ministries, and partnered with them for missions.

At the end of most of his letters, he sent greetings to many of his friends and co-workers in the faith, and he often had other fellow workers with him, like Titus, Luke, Timothy, Demas, and others. When Paul gave the conclusion to the book of Romans, he greeted thirty-three believers by name and many others who were unnamed.¹⁰ He loved the body of Christ and partnered with them to do the work of ministry.

John MacArthur’s comments are helpful when considering our need to invest in and partner with the body:

Throughout history, the most powerful and effective leaders in the church have been involved in developing partners and fellow workers who extend and perpetuate the ministry of Jesus Christ. Although Paul was the most highly gifted of the apostles, he never ministered alone, never attempted to carry on a single-handed ministry. Until his death, he was intimately associated with an amazingly large network of preachers, teachers, and other leaders in the church with whom he was a partner in service. He extended himself through others, knowing that the Lord did not call him to function alone. He realized the importance of delegating responsibility and of preparing others to carry on the ministry.¹¹

Even Christ spent his life and ministry developing relationships with others, pouring into them, and at times receiving from them (Lk 8:3, Matt 26:38). Certainly, for some, this will be more difficult because of temperament, personality, and gifting. An introvert must stretch him or herself to meet with people, be transparent with them, seek prayer, and serve them. Likewise, an extrovert must stretch himself to be alone to excel in prayer to God and time in his Word. God has called us to do both as we serve him.

How are we loving the body of Christ and partnering with her to do the work of ministry? First Corinthians 12:20 and verse 27 say:

So now there are many members, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.” … Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it.

1 Corinthians 12:20, 27

While faithful ministers depend on the body, just like the hand depends on the eye, unfaithful members tend to be independent. They have no one to confess their sins to and ask for prayer. Whereas Paul had a strong network of believers to partner with and depend on, they have few or none. When they do serve, they often try to do things alone and in their own strength and commonly fail or burn themselves out.

Consider what Paul said to the Philippians while he was in prison awaiting a possible death sentence: “for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:19). Not only was Paul dependent on God’s Spirit but also the prayers of that small congregation. In fact, it can be translated “your prayers and the consequent supply of the Spirit.”¹² This means Paul believed God’s Spirit worked on his behalf as the Philippians prayed. Therefore, he was dependent on their prayers for deliverance. Paul believed that the prayers of that small church plant could conquer the plans of Rome. He depended upon the body because he knew God’s grace came through the body for healing, refreshment, deliverance, and fruitfulness.

Consequently, this means that those who don’t depend on the body spiritually impoverish themselves. There is a lack of power to conquer sin, persevere in trials, and reconcile relationships. Again, while faithful ministers depend on and partner with the body, unfaithful ministers often don’t rely on the body at all. Their pride and independence keep them from confessing their sins to anybody, seeking their help, and partnering with them for ministry. Therefore, they lack much of God’s grace.

Are we depending on and partnering with the body? Paul partnered with Titus to minister to the Corinthians and later the Cretans. He also considered Titus family, his genuine son in the faith who he was knit to and dependent on.

Again, there are no lone rangers in ministry, at least not effective ones. How is God calling you to depend more on the body of Christ—to stretch yourself to love and build them up and also depend on them for ministry? Who is your mother, father, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters in the faith?

Application Question: Why is depending on and partnering with other believers so important for ministry and the Christian life in general? Who are your spiritual parents, siblings, and children? How is God calling you to grow in dependence and partnership with the body of Christ?

A Priority Of Faithful Ministers Is Praying For Believers

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!

Titus 1:4b

Finally, after addressing Titus, Paul greets him with “grace and peace” from God and Christ. However, this was no trivial greeting; it was Paul’s earnest prayer that God would bless Titus in every way. Grace refers to God’s unmerited favor. No doubt, Paul desired for Titus to have favor over his health, his relationship with God, and the difficult community he ministered to. He also desired God’s peace for him. This referred to peace in his relationships, both with God and others, but also peace of mind and in his circumstances. This surely summarized all the prayers that Paul offered up for Titus and his ministry to the Cretans. He wanted God to bless Titus’ ministry in selecting elders, rebuking false teachers, winning the lost, and equipping the saints for good works.

This was true of most, if not all, of Paul’s letters. He commonly prayed for grace and peace over those he wrote to and also shared his other prayers for them. Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God more, to know themselves as God’s inheritance, and to know the power of God working within them (Eph 1:15-19). He prayed for them to be strengthened in the inner man, to know the depths of Christ’s love, and for them to be filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:12-20). With the Colossians, he prayed for them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, to bear fruit in every good work, and to be strengthened with all power to persevere through their trials (Col 1:9-14). With the Thessalonians, he prayed for them to excel in loving one another (1 Thess 3:12). Paul faithfully prayed for the churches and the people within them. In Ephesians 6:18, he taught the Ephesians to be watchful and to make intercession for all saints, including those they did not know personally.

Our Savior, Jesus, prays for his saints, as he sits at the right hand of God (Heb 7:25), and as his ministers, we must constantly do the same for our local church and the universal church. We should pray for our spiritual leaders and that Christ would wash his church with his Word and make her a pure and blameless bride who blesses communities and nations (Eph 5:25-27).

Are we faithfully praying for God’s church? Faithful ministers prioritize interceding for God’s saints (cf. Acts 6:3-4). Unfaithful ministers or those young in the faith tend to be consumed with themselves in prayer instead of God and others, which shows their focus or priority. Even the Lord’s Prayer teaches us to focus on God’s glory and his kingdom before praying for our daily bread, which includes praying for others (cf. “our” daily bread).

Application Question: What are common distractions to prayer? What are disciplines that will help us more faithfully pray for our local church and its members, as well as the universal church? How is God calling you to grow in your prayer life in general and specifically in praying for others?

Conclusion

What are priorities of faithful ministers? We can discern these by considering Paul’s introduction to his letter to Titus. In it, he shares his personal priorities as a minister but also some of his priorities in writing the letter to Titus and the Cretans. Again, for most, these are not new, but we often need to renew our focus on them—reprioritize them in our lives—to minister to God and others in the most effective way.

1. A Priority of Faithful Ministers Is Recognizing God’s Call on Their Lives and Submitting to It
2. A Priority of Faithful Ministers Is Evangelizing Unbelievers
3. A Priority of Faithful Ministers Is Educating and Encouraging Believers
4. A Priority of Faithful Ministers Is Depending on and Partnering with Believers
5. A Priority of Faithful Ministers Is Praying for Believers

Application Question: What stood out most in the study and why? How is God calling you to apply this study to your life?

Prayer Prompts

• Pray for God to continually reveal his clear calling (personally and corporately) including where to serve, who to serve, and how to serve for his glory. Pray that God would give his people supernatural wisdom, grace, and gifts and put them in strategic places to be a blessing.
• Pray for God to enable us to love the lost, to reach out to them, and share the gospel with them. Pray for believers around the world to excel in evangelism.
• Pray for the lost in our community and the world that God would draw them to himself, deliver them from spiritual blindness, and that they would repent and believe the gospel.
• Pray for God to spiritually educate and encourage the saints in our local church and the universal church through his Word, prayer, fellowship, worship, and service. Pray that God would deliver his body from all discouragements and lies of the enemy.
• Pray for a spirit of unity and interdependence in God’s church that they may love one another, serve one another, and reach the world together. Pray against all pride, conflict, and division that would hinder the work of God.
• Pray for God to give his saints grace to excel in prayer for one another and the world.

Copyright © 2023 Gregory Brown

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Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

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For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught. A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith and not pay attention to Jewish myths and commands of people who reject the truth. All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

Titus 1:10-16 (NET)

What are characteristics of false teachers?

Though not a pleasant topic, it is one that the Bible addresses often. In the Old Testament, there were many false prophets. Ezekiel 13:9 says this about the lying prophets throughout Israel:

My hand will be against the prophets who see delusion and announce lying omens. They will not be included in the council of my people, nor be written in the registry of the house of Israel, nor enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the sovereign Lord.

When Christ came to Israel, he also warned about false prophets. In fact, he said that they would increase before his return. Consider the following verses: Matthew 7:15 says, “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves.” Also, Mark 13:22-23 says, “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect. Be careful! I have told you everything ahead of time.”

In addition, Paul continually warned of false prophets, and many of his letters were written to confront false teachers and false teaching within the early church. Consider what he said to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29-31:

I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.

The wolves did, in fact, come to Ephesus and also Galatia, Corinth, Colosse, Philippi, Thessalonica, and even Crete, to which Paul wrote this letter. Titus 1:10 says, “For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections.” “Jewish connections” can more literally be translated “the circumcision” (NASB). It seems that the false teaching confronting the Cretans came from a group called the Judaizers. They believed that Gentiles needed to practice the Jewish law and customs, including males being circumcised, to be saved. They mixed faith in Christ with legalism, as necessary for salvation.

This type of teaching was widespread in the early church. Because of its prominence, the apostles addressed this in Acts 15 at a church council in Jerusalem. They declared that Gentiles did not need to practice the Old Testament law. However, this form of false teaching continued to spread throughout the early church, specifically in Galatia, Colosse, Crete, Philippi, and Ephesus. Certainly, forms of it continue today.

Because of the danger of this false teaching, Paul told Titus he needed to set up godly elders within the churches to help silence these false teachers, as they were hurting believers. The connection of this section of verses (10-16) to the previous verses which gave the characteristics of elders (v. 5-9) is clear from the first word of verse 10, “‘For there are many rebellious people…” One of the reasons godly elders must be established in churches is to protect them from false teaching and teachers. Verse 9-10 says this about an elder:

He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching and correct those who speak against it. For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections

The elder must not only be a godly man and a teacher, but he must also be a protector. He must guard the flock, even as Paul sought to do through this letter.

As we consider this passage, the hope is that we can begin to recognize false teaching and teachers so that we can both guard ourselves and others. In addition, we need to be equipped to minister to those who are caught in false teaching or under the control of false teachers. In these last days, deceivers and those who are deceived will increase. Lord, may they not be named among us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Big Question: What are characteristics of false teachers in this passage and how should we respond to this dangerous reality within the universal church?

Recognizing False Teachers

Observation Question: What are the characteristics of false teachers in this passage?

In this passage, there are many characteristics of false teachers:

1. False Teachers Are Rebellious (V. 10).

Paul says, “For there are many rebellious people…” (v. 10). Again, this was widespread in the churches of Crete. They could be identified by their rebellious nature, their lack of submission to authorities.

Interpretation Question: What authorities were they rebelling against?

False teachers, though they may not recognize it, typically rebel against all of God’s ordained authorities in the church, home, and government. They rebel against the authorities in the church, the elders. They will commonly criticize and undermine the leadership of the church instead of submitting to them. They will commonly cause conflict in the home by getting control of the wives. Second Timothy 3:6 describes how they “worm” their way into homes and gain control of “gullible women,” no doubt causing conflict with the husbands who are the spiritual leaders of the home. They will often teach rebellion against government authorities. In every generation of believers, there have been government zealots, teaching rebellion against authorities on various issues that are not clear sin issues. No doubt, many of Christ’s early followers wanted him to rebel against Herod and Rome. Jude 1:8 says this about false teachers, “Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones.” The ones Jude referred to even insulted angels. Because of their great pride, rebellion marked their character.

However, the most prominent way they rebel is through their rejection of the clear teachings in God’s Word. Now, in the church, unfortunately, we will always differ, especially, on minor areas of doctrine as we continue our process of sanctification—looking like Christ by knowing and obeying his Word. However, false teachers will often be known by their rebellion against foundational doctrines of the faith which unify the church.

Application Question: What are some examples of their rebellious teaching?

• In general, false teachers tend to have unbalanced teaching.

Balanced teaching aims to teach the whole counsel of God. In Acts 20:26-27, Paul said, “Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all. For I did not hold back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.” However, false teachers tend to focus on limited aspects of Christian doctrine, especially the more comforting ones like God’s love, to the neglect of others. When they focus on love alone, it creates undisciplined people who don’t fear God or hate sin. One of the most popular teachers in the U.S. said that he wouldn’t speak on sin because his people needed to hear about God’s comfort more. The problem is without understanding sin and God’s judgment, nobody can be saved. It is a crucial part of the gospel. One cannot accept the good news without first understanding the bad news. In Jeremiah 6:14, God described false prophets this way: “They offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered. They say, ‘Everything will be all right!’ But everything is not all right!” Some versions translate it as they say, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” These prophets focused on God’s love and blessing but neglected other aspects of his character.

Others only teach about God’s wrath, often creating a fear in people which allows them to be controlled and manipulated. Teaching about God’s wrath apart from his love and grace ultimately fosters a works-based salvation and turns people into Pharisees who condemn and judge one another.

• False teachers often have a heretical view of the doctrine of salvation.

(1) Some teach the need to believe in Jesus as Savior without repentance, Lordship, or taking up one’s cross. People can ultimately live any way they want (antinomianism). As long as they say the sinner’s prayer, it is OK. Jude 1:4 says they turn “the grace of our God into a license for evil.” Bonhoeffer called this “cheap grace”—a grace that doesn’t change us. Some even teach that one can take Christ as Savior first and Lord later. However, Christ said that nobody could be his disciple without hating mother, father, wife, children, brother, sister, and even one’s own life. Whoever does not take up his cross cannot be Christ’s disciple (Lk 14:26-27 paraphrase). (2) Some teach a works salvation like the Judaizers in Crete—one needs to be baptized, practice the Lord’s Supper, or do some other work to be saved, such as in Catholicism. Every religion teaches the need of works for salvation except true Christianity. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith, and that not of ourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast (Eph 2:8-9). With that said, true faith will always produce godly works (Eph 2:10). But we are not saved by these works. (3) Others teach universal salvation. Christ is the way to heaven, but only one out of many ways. Buddha, Muhammad, and others all speak of the same god and heaven, they would say. However, Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6 paraphrase).

• False teachers often have a heretical view of the doctrine of Christ.

In warning the Ephesian church about false teachers, John said this in 1 John 4:1-3:

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.

The cult attacking Ephesus twisted the doctrine of Christ—seemingly denying his humanity. Modern cults do the same thing, either denying Christ’s humanity or deity. Prominent ones often teach that Christ was a created being and is not God or not eternally God. Some even say Christ was an angel. Beware of unorthodox teachings about Christ; they are the fruit of false teachers.

• False teachers often undermine the authority of Scripture itself.

Like Satan in the Garden of Eden, they challenge others with, “Did God really say?” They teach that one can’t believe everything the Bible says. One can’t believe the historicity and/or ethical requirements of the Bible. When Scripture is removed as the only basis for doctrine and living, other foundations can be established. The teacher himself can become the standard by which all things are tested or even one’s culture. Beware of teachers who undermine the authority of God’s Word. When they do this, it is simply an opportunity to establish some other authority—including their own.

The first characteristic we must recognize about false teachers is their rebellious character. Pride leads them to rebel against the leaders of the church, government, the home, and even God. Some will even clearly identify themselves by claiming to be God or the messiah.

What are some other characteristics of false teachers?

2. False Teachers Are Idle Talkers (V. 10).

“Idle” can also be translated “meaningless” (NIV), “vain” (KJV), “empty” (ESV), or “useless” (NLT). They are often smooth with their words and easy to listen to. They aim to inspire and excite; however, their promises are empty. Their use of Scripture is not holistic. They pluck words and phrases of Scripture out of the context and deceive those with little Bible knowledge. God’s Word will not return void (Is 55:11), but since false teaching commonly lacks Scripture or twists it, the words of false teachers are useless and unfruitful. Jude described them as “waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit” (v. 12). Like a daunting cloud, which gives no rain, there is not much substance to their teaching. In general, Christians should ask themselves after hearing a sermon, “Do I understand that passage better in context and its teachings and applications for my life?” Unfortunately, most evaluate a sermon by how they feel and not by it being properly interpreted and applied to their lives. False teachers are empty talkers, which is why their words don’t really change people’s lives long term. Instead of healthy food, it’s cotton candy preaching. It may taste good, but it is not ultimately good for the person eating it.

3. False Teachers Are “Deceivers” (V. 10, 12-13).

False teachers are deceived by the devil and therefore deceive others. First Timothy 4:1 says, “Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings.” Satan is always seeking to deceive people through the world system, culture, and the abuse of Scripture. These people will take up the enemy’s mantle and become his mouthpiece. What makes their message so difficult to discern is that it is mixed with truth. When Satan said to Eve that she would be like God by eating the tree, he was telling the truth. However, the lie was that being like God by knowing good and evil was good for her and her descendants, when it actually was destructive. It would kill them. Therefore, false teachers can be hard to distinguish because, in some areas, they are correct, but they are typically out of balance. Does God want to prosper you? Yes, but it is not always God’s will for Christians to be wealthy and healthy. Are works important to the Christian faith? Yes, but are they necessary to be saved? No. False teachers are deceptive because they teach half-truths.

With that said, I don’t believe all false teachers know they are deceiving people. Most are deceived themselves. However, many, in fact, know they are deceiving others. Second Corinthians 11:13-15 says,

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.

4. False Teachers Typically Coerce Individuals And Small Groups Of People, Including Families (V. 11).

In verse 11, Paul said, “they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.” The word “families” can also be translated “houses” (KJV). This could refer to them infiltrating house churches where believers often gathered for worship but probably refers to how they commonly avoided the public gathering of believers to target smaller groups of people which were easier to deceive. In 2 Timothy 3:6-7, Paul described how false teachers would often target women who were apparently at home by themselves while the husbands were off at work. He said:

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

John MacArthur said this about their tactics which cults commonly use today:

These particular heretics apparently were not doing most of their teaching during worship services or other church meetings but in the homes of the people. Several reasons for such a tactic are obvious. For one thing, a large group is more likely to include believers who are spiritually perceptive and well grounded in Scripture, making false teaching more likely to be recognized and contested. An isolated small group such as a single family, on the other hand, not only is less likely to include a biblically grounded believer but also, because of its size, is often more easily intimidated. It is largely for those reasons that many cults focus on person-to-person and door-to-door ministries to capture converts. ¹

It should be noted that physically visiting homes is not as needed today because of the advent of the Internet. Many are being deceived by podcasts, YouTube channels, blogs, and social media. Homes, and the faith of the believers within them, are being overturned through the media channels they indulge in; therefore, we must be very discerning when considering matters of faith online. There are certainly many good faith resources on the Internet, but bad ones are more abundant than the good.

5. False Teachers Minister For Dishonest Gain (V. 11).

In verse 11, Paul said they teach what ought not to be taught for “dishonest gain.” Here he is probably focusing on their desire to make money off their followers. Jude 1:11 said this about false prophets: “Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion.” Like Balaam rebelling against God by accepting money from the king of Moab to help trap the Israelite men in lust, false teachers commonly do ministry for the same reason. In considering Jude’s Balaam comparison, Balaam was a false prophet who did have a charismatic experience where he heard God speak to him through a donkey and was even empowered by God to prophesy over Israel; however, he still rebelled against God for the sake of money (Num 22-24). No doubt, some false teachers may have genuine charismatic experiences and will be used at times to do miracles; however, they don’t truly know God, and the overall fruit of their ministry makes that clear. In Matthew 7:22-23, Christ said this:

On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’

The sinful, rebellious lives of these teachers proved that they were never truly saved, even though they apparently did some good works. Maybe, like Balaam and other false prophets, instead of serving for God and others, they served for dishonest gain. Money was always their true god, and therefore, Christ could never be (Matt 6:24).

Certainly, we must consider this reality in comparison with the characteristics of a faithful elder which Paul previously gave (v. 6-9). Titus 1:7 says the elder must be “not greedy for gain.” Also, in 1 Peter 5:2, Peter said the same thing about elders; they must serve “not for shameful profit.” Elders and other faithful ministers must not be motivated by money, even if ministry is their career. Serving God and others must be their primary motivation. In fact, sometimes, they will have to serve in faith—trusting that God will provide their finances and other needs.

With all that said, money is probably not the only “dishonest gain” false teachers serve for. Some seek recognition, a following, widespread acceptance, or just a reputable profession. For many, their dishonest gain is more emotional than financial. However, James said many should not seek to be teachers for they will receive a stricter judgment (Jam 3:1). We must carefully weigh our motives, character, and teaching if we are to serve in ministry, because it could actually lead to us receiving greater judgment rather than profit.

6. False Teachers Are Often Dishonest, Selfish, Abusive, And Unrestrained (V. 12-13).

Lying, apparently, was a cultural norm in Crete, and the false teachers were living it out. In verse 12-13, Paul said this: “A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith.” Paul quoted a famous Cretan philosopher named Epimenides who lived around 600 BC and agreed with his statement about Cretans. This may seem harsh, especially in today’s politically correct atmosphere which stays away from generalizations; however, people groups share a common culture that typically has both positive and negative aspects. For Crete, lying was an acceptable norm in that culture. In fact, “to Cretanize” became a common Greek figure of speech which meant to lie.² One particular lie Cretans were famous for was saying that Zeus was buried in Crete.³ This obviously didn’t make any sense since Zeus was supposed to be immortal.

This unfortunate, negative cultural reality should be encouraging for many of us who God at times puts in difficult ministries to serve—a difficult workplace, family, or nation. God loves all people, and therefore, he places his Christians as lights in various dark places. For Titus, not only did he have to deal with a culture of lying, but many false teachers who were deceived and deceiving people.

Epimenides also said that Cretans were “evil beasts” and “lazy gluttons.” Again, this was not just reflecting the culture; Paul applied it directly to the false teachers. Because false teachers are void of God’s Word, which changes us and makes us holy, they are often very carnal and worldly. “Evil beasts” refers to them living for their appetites and passions. They commonly don’t restrain their appetites for money, luxury, sex, and power. Because of this, scandals typically follow them. Like animals fighting for food and power, false teachers commonly abuse their subjects to get what they want. Paul not only calls them “evil beasts” who cannot control their passions but also “lazy gluttons.” This means they like to eat and indulge at the expense of others, but don’t like to work themselves. False teachers are often dishonest, selfish, abusive, and unrestrained.

7. False Teachers Have Defiled Consciences (V. 15).

In verse 15, Paul said this about the false teachers, “All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted.” Some have abused this text to excuse clear, sinful living. “If a person thinks it is pure, then it is!” they would say which is a form of moral relativism. But, this is not what Paul was referring to when he said, “all is pure.” He clearly is referring to things that are not sinful in nature or against Scripture. Paul said the same thing in Romans 14:20, “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean, it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat.” “All things are clean” or “pure,” in the context of Romans 14, is referring to the fact that foods are not unclean in themselves. Because of Old Testament teachings, Jews believed that certain foods, like pork, were unclean and therefore made the person who ate them unclean. But, Paul, in line with Jesus’ teaching, taught that eating certain foods didn’t make a person unclean, but the heart did. In Mark 7:15-23, Christ said this:

There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him.” Now when Jesus had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. He said to them, “Are you so foolish? Don’t you understand that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him? For it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and then goes out into the sewer.” (This means all foods are clean.) He said, “What comes out of a person defiles him. For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. All these evils come from within and defile a person.”

This was probably exactly how Paul was using the phrase in referring to the Jewish false teachers in the Cretan churches. They were claiming that eating certain foods, and other practices that were not sinful in themselves, were making people unclean. However, Paul essentially says, on matters not clearly forbidden in Scripture (like drinking alcohol, eating pork, worshiping on Sunday, etc.), there is freedom. However, for those who believe they are wrong, then it is wrong to them. It’s our heart that makes certain things unclean.

And for these Jewish legalists, everything was unclean because their hearts were unclean. They forbade eating certain foods and other practices because their hearts were evil, as they hadn’t been saved yet. They were still trying to be saved by works, and therefore, there was no grace in their lives. They tried to bring everybody else under their legalism because their hearts were unclean.

False teachers commonly have unclean consciences which lead them into all types of legalism (or license), trying to please God by their works. In fact, their unclean, hardened consciences opened the door for demonic deception. First Timothy 4:1-3 (NIV) says this about false teachers in the last days:

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

For those whose consciences are unclean from practicing unrepented sin, their consciences stop working, and they are more prone to be deceived by demons and demonic doctrines.

Likewise, maybe these false teachers started on the right path, trying to be honest and wanting to serve God and others. Therefore, they started to lead worship or teach a Sunday school class. However, they began to compromise with sin—maybe sexual sin—but continued to lead and serve. In the process, their hearts became hardened by their sin. They could lead in worship and teach and no longer feel convicted by sin. Then, they started to be attracted to teachings that said sexual sin was not sin at all, because it eased their consciences. Their hard hearts accepted the lie, and soon, they started teaching it to others. Because sin is attractive, others followed which made them prideful and inclined to spread their dangerous doctrine further.

False teachers have unclean hearts, hardened consciences. Certainly, this is a reminder to us not to allow our consciences to be hardened by sin. The conscience is a faculty in people which comes from being made in the image of God. It condemns us when we sin and affirms us when we do what is right. However, it is not perfect. It must be informed by Scripture, and it can be hardened by unrepented sin. And this unrepented sin hardens our hearts, so we can be deceived and start to deceive others.

This is the pathway of many false teachers. They have hardened consciences from their hypocritical lives. They practiced sin while professing holiness which seared their consciences and opened doors for demonic deception.

8. False Teachers Are Unregenerate, And Their Sinful Lives Prove It (V. 16).

In verse 16, Paul says, “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed.” Unlike our conscience and motives which people cannot see, outward deeds are seen by all and demonstrate what’s really in our hearts. Because false teachers reject God’s Word, their deeds are ungodly and eventually demonstrate their unredeemed natures. Christ said this in Matthew 7:15-20 about false teachers:

Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.

The unhindered, sinful deeds of false teachers prove that they do not truly know God, though they profess him. These deeds may remain hidden for a season, but they will ultimately be revealed. First Timothy 5:24-25 says, “The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later. Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden.” Therefore, we will know them by the fruit of their character, works, and doctrine.

Application Question: What characteristic of false teachers stood out most and why? What distinguishes a cult from an accepted denomination or healthy church? In what ways have you experienced false teachers and false teaching? Why are false teaching and cults so prevalent in the church? How should we respond to the pervasiveness of false teachings and cults?

Ministering To False Teachers And Their Followers

…who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught … For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith and not pay attention to Jewish myths and commands of people who reject the truth.

Titus 1:11, 13-14

Application Question: How should we minister to false teachers and those caught in false doctrine?

1. We must minister to false teachers and those caught in false doctrine by first evaluating our ability to help them and considering seeking help.

Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.” Immature believers might not know how to help a false teacher or someone caught in false doctrine. They even might be prone to adopting the false doctrine and evil practices themselves. Therefore, before seeking to help someone caught in serious false doctrine, we must first evaluate our spiritual maturity and knowledge. Oftentimes, we may need to ask someone more mature than us to reach out to a person or to give us advice. We will probably need to research resources that deal with that particular false doctrine, so we can be better equipped. Certainly, we should always ask others to pray for us, as we minister to someone struggling with false doctrine.

2. We must minister to false teachers and those caught in false doctrine with hope—trusting in God’s supernatural grace and mercy.

In considering Paul’s challenge to Titus, William Barclay said:

The Cretans were notorious liars and cheats and gluttons and traitors—but here is the wonderful thing. Knowing that, and actually experiencing it, Paul does not say … ‘Leave them alone. They are hopeless and everyone knows it.’ He says: ‘They are bad and we all know it. Go and convert them.’ Few passages so demonstrate the divine optimism of the Christian evangelist who refuses to regard anyone as hopeless. The greater the evil, the greater the challenge. It is the Christian conviction that there is no sin too great for the grace of Jesus Christ to conquer.⁴

Certainly, we must understand that no person is so far gone that God cannot reach them. Paul himself was caught in Jewish legalism and had even persecuted Christians, and yet, God miraculously saved him. Therefore, we must minister to false teachers and those caught in false doctrine in hope—trusting in God’s sovereign ability to save and deliver even the hardest hearts. Second Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV) says,

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Our confidence must not be in our knowledge and persuasiveness. It must be in God’s power and desire to save and restore wandering sheep. We must minister in the hope that God will grant repentance.

3. We must minister to false teachers and those caught in false doctrine by sharply challenging them with God’s Word, so they can become healthy.

Titus 1:13 says, “For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith.” “Sharply” comes from a Greek word that means “to cut,” as with a knife.[5 Since the doctrine these false teachers accepted and taught was particularly unhealthy, they needed to be challenged sharply. We are not to condemn them, as though there is no hope for them. Our sharp challenge is so that they can be spiritually healthy—right with God. As it has been said, “The surgeon of the soul only cuts to achieve a cure.”⁶ This applies to us as spiritual surgeons.

When Paul says they must be “silenced” in verse 11, the Greek Word meant “to muzzle,” like we do with a dangerous animal; however, it did not mean to physically muzzle them. The word came to mean “to silence by reason.”⁷ That reason or logic we must use is God’s clearly, explained Word. When Christ was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, he always responded with God’s Word and so should we. When challenging false teachers and those caught in false teaching, we must point out errors in their doctrine and practice by properly interpreting and applying God’s Word like spiritual surgeons.

One positive thing about encountering and ministering to those caught in false doctrine is that it should draw us to study God’s Word more deeply, both to confirm what we believe is true and to learn how to share it with others. In the context of dealing with false teaching and teachers, Jude 1:23 says, “save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.” Lord, help us do the same!

4. We must minister to false teachers and those caught in false doctrine by at times separating from them if they will not repent.

In Titus 3:10-11, Paul eventually says, “Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings. You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself.” This takes a lot of wisdom in considering the danger of a particular false teaching (more on this later), their sharing it with others, and the hardness of their hearts. False teaching and other sins are like leaven or yeast in that they tend to spread and infect many. First Corinthians 5:6 says, “Don’t you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough?” Therefore, sometimes when a person is unrepentant regarding their spreading of false doctrine, he must be removed from the church and separated from. This discipline is not to condemn him but to help him see the seriousness of his sin and repent. This should only happen after church members, including the leadership of the church, have formerly met with the person several times seeking to help him repent, and yet, he refused. Matthew 18:15-17 describes this process. In verse 17, Christ said this: “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.” Again, the purpose of this is to protect the church from their false doctrine and evil practices, but also so that they will see the seriousness of their error (gospel error) and repent (cf. 1 Cor 5:5, 11-12).

Application Question: What experience do you have with helping someone caught in false doctrine? What are some other wise principles for helping people caught in false doctrine or sin in general? Is there anybody God currently has on your heart to help?

General Applications

Application Question: What applications can we take from the reality of false teachers and their destructive influence on the church?

1. Because of false teachers and their destructive influence, believers must constantly test the teachings they hear with Scripture.

Church members must be like the Bereans. Acts 17:11 said this about them, “they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.” God honored the Bereans in Scripture because they tested everything that Paul said to make sure it lined up with God’s Word. Each church must develop a culture of opening their Bible to test the teachings they hear and not just accepting what they hear. If the sermon is void of Scripture or not primarily based on Scripture, there is a problem. Our spiritual leaders must be held accountable for accurately preaching the Word. Good shepherds will appreciate this and encourage it. It means they are developing Bereans in their congregations which will help them be protected long term.

2. Because of false teachers and their destructive influence, believers must be discerning without being judgmental.

In Matthew 7:1, Christ taught that his followers must not judge lest they be judged. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t call out sin or false doctrine. (1) It means we must call it out first in ourselves. We must take the plank out of our own eye before we take the speck out of another’s (Matt 7:3-5). (2) Also, it means we must be careful of our attitudes in seeking to help others. A judgmental attitude takes joy in the failures of others. It’s a way of exalting ourselves, our knowledge and morality, by pulling others down. Though Christ calls us to be discerning, he doesn’t give us freedom to become heresy hunters—attacking every minor doctrinal (or moral failure) of others. All of us have some doctrinal error, since personal sin affects our ability to properly understand God’s Word (cf. John 7:17) and we all lack knowledge of the full teachings of Scripture (cf. 2 Tim 2:15). Therefore, we must be gracious when others fail doctrinally and help them come to the truth. However, we must not tolerate heretical doctrinal errors that ultimately can be damning. When it came to the gospel, Paul said that anybody who taught another gospel should be accursed—condemned to hell (Gal 1:9). Certainly, there is a need for wisdom in how we handle doctrinal differences. Gospel issues should be handled very differently than secondary or tertiary issues. One distinguishes whether a person is part of the family or not, and the other determines the health of a family member. One can be fatal, and the other only leads to sickness. Wise members must be able to distinguish the difference, so they can minister to others wisely.

3. Because of false teachers and their destructive influence, believers must become mature to protect themselves through deep study and knowledge of God’s Word.

Scripture describes those who are commonly led astray by false teachers and doctrinal error as spiritual children “tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes” (Eph 4:14). The spiritual child stage is a dangerous stage of life because, like regular children, spiritual children lack wisdom and commonly endanger themselves because of it. This can lead them into various false doctrines that stay with them throughout their lives and potentially lead them away from Christ altogether. Whatever we learn in our early childhood often stays with us and that is true with spiritual adults. Many of us have corrupt areas of doctrine planted during our spiritual childhood that are hard to root out. When Paul warned the Ephesian elders that some of them would become wolves that taught false doctrine, he closed that teaching with this in Acts 20:31-32:

Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

God’s message, his Word, will protect us as we study it deeply. Are we aiming to deeply study God’s Word as though our lives and the health of others depend on it?

4. Because of false teachers and their destructive influence, believers must not only become mature to protect themselves but also to protect others.

Though we all bear the responsibility to protect ourselves through deeply studying Scripture, God has specifically called spiritual leaders to protect the flock (Eph 4:11-14). Few of us will do this from the office of an elder, but many of us will do this from the role of a spiritual mother or father, or older brother or sister (1 John 2:12-14). If we never mature in Christ, we will never effectively protect others or deliver them when they are caught in sin. That is primarily what many of Paul’s letters do. They are written to combat false doctrine, equip those fighting it, and deliver those caught in it. We must all develop Paul’s pastoral affection and skill to effectively help others. During spiritual infancy, we primarily care about ourselves and our welfare. During spiritual adulthood, we become consumed with others and their spiritual welfare. Again, Jude said this in calling us to minister to those caught in false doctrine: “And have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh” (Jude 1:22-23).

Are we willing to minister to those struggling with sin and false doctrine?

Application Question: In what ways have you seen believers simply accept teaching from their parents, pastors, and denominations without truly testing it against God’s Word? Why is this dangerous? How have you seen or experienced an overly judgmental attitude concerning minor doctrinal differences? How have you seen or experienced a general lack of discernment in churches when it comes to doctrinal differences, accepting almost anything? What is the right balance between being discerning and not being overly judgmental when it comes to doctrinal differences?

Prayer Prompts

• Pray for God to expose the error of various false teachings and teachers, so his church can be delivered from them.
• Pray for God to equip and mature the church through the systematic teaching of his Word and to raise up many true shepherds who will protect the flock by teaching truth and refuting error.
• Pray for God to help us love, study, understand, and apply his Word in a greater way than we ever have before.
• Pray for God to give us special grace to minister to those caught in various false teachings and cults.

Copyright © 2023 Gregory Brown

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