Key Verse – Titus 2:6-8

"Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

Review

So far we have looked at Paul’s…

In this message we will examine Paul’s…

The "young men" in focus here are generally men who are of marriageable age to those in their late 50’s. Next we come to the word exhort. The underlying Greek word is parakalei parakalei (par-ak-al-e-i) which means to strongly urge someone to so something.

• Sober Minded – v. 6 "Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded."

Paul now instructs young men on what God expects them to incorporate in their lives and character. The first thing Paul says that young men need to be sober minded. This is the same thing he said to the young women. Sober minded is one word in the Greek – swfronein sophronein (so-fron-en), which means "to cause to be of sound mind, to recall to one's senses;" It has the sense of being sensible and using good judgment. It indicates having "a disciplined mind and living a disciplined life." A disciplined life leads to such virtues as neatness, organization, punctuality, diligence, etc.

Additionally, the idea is, that younger men should be encouraged to be prudent, discreet, and serious in their behavior. They must get control over their passions and appetites; they should control the sinful inclinations which are common to youth. They need a well-governed mind, that will not yield to the indulgence of those passions to which the young are prone. They should be "steady in their behavior, and resist sensual temptations. They need to continually exercise self-control.

I liked what one writer said – "Paul is thinking of the control of the temper and the tongue, of ambition and greed, and especially of bodily appetites, including sexual urges, so that Christian young men remain committed to the unalterable Christian standard of chastity before marriage and fidelity after it."

This is contrary to the way young people and especially young men live today. The bankrupt philosophy of our day seems to be that youth is a time to "have fun," to hang out with your friends and to do your own thing. That was not the way it was when my dad was a kid. The most important thing for a farm boy was to do his chores. The farm work came first: first before school, first before extra curricular activities and first before "having fun" with friends. Things changed a little bit when I was growing up. School was more important for me. My parents wanted me to be sure I got a good education. However, when I came home from school I either had chores to do (split wood, pile it in the basement, weed the garden, mow grass) or I went to work with my dad.

Far too many young people today do not have any responsibilities to speak of. Nothing is expected of them. They neither have a disciplined mind nor self-control. That’s a tragedy! It’s a tragedy for the person they will marry and the person that will employ them.

Pioneer Missionary to China, J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1805) once said, "An undisciplined Christian will never amount to anything in God’s work." Self-discipline forms a framework for Christian character.

Let’s look at the second point in Paul’s prescription for young men.

• A Pattern of Good Works – v. 7a "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works:"

God is not interested in sporadic good works. Paul wrote to the Galatians, "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" Galatians 5:7 God is interested in a pattern of good works. The word translated pattern is tupon tupon, which literally means a mark or impression left by the blow of a hammer. It came to mean pattern, model, and example. He wants younger men to be a model or example of good works (good deeds, good actions). Did you know that that is one of the reasons we are saved? God wants us to do good deeds. Turn to Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

You cannot read the New Testament without seeing that believers are to show "a pattern of good works" in their lives. Let’s look at some of the New Testament Scriptures that teach that.

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Colossians 1:10 "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;"

Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"

James 2:17-18 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

Let’s look at the third point in Paul’s prescription for young men.

• Show Uncorruptness, Gravity, and Sincerity In Doctrine – v. 7b "…in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity…"

Young men, do you know what you believe? Could you and do you defend your faith? Are you ready to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you? You should be able to do that! Why? Because Paul says you should be sound in your Christian faith and what the faith teaches. We know that from the word translated as uncorruptness – adiafyorian adiaphthorian (ad-ee-af-thor-ee’-an) which has the sense of being sound in doctrine and being pure in doctrine.

Next we come to the word gravity. It is a translation of the Greek word semnothta semnoteta (sem-note-ta) which implies respect, reverence and dignity. So what does it mean that you should show gravity relating to doctrine? That simply means that you should show respect for the Bible and the teachings of the Bible. You should not regard them lightly.

Finally, we come to the word sincerity. Sincerity is a translation of the Greek word afyarsian aphtharsian (af-thar-see-an) which means uncorruptness, unmixed. When it comes to Bible doctrine you must mix nothing with the truth; take nothing from it; add nothing to it.

This is a warning to young believers not to succumb to the pressure to water-down the Word of God under any circumstances. We must speak the truth (in love) and not compromise even when we are under pressure to do so.

Let’s look at the final point in Paul’s prescription for young men.

• Sound Speech That Cannot Be Condemned – v. 8 "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

A Christian, every Christian, should be sound in speech. The word sound is ugih hugie (hoog-ee), which means healthy talk. The words that you speak should make it obvious that you are a believer. They should be pure, true and honest so that your enemies cannot use what you have said as ammunition against God and Christianity.

In summary, young men, here’s what is expected of you –

 You need to be sober-minded – you need to be sensible and use good judgment.

 You need to show a pattern of good works – you need to be busy doing good works.

 You need to show uncorruptness, gravity, and sincerity in doctrine – you need to know what you believe, have a respect and reverence for the Word of God and refuse to compromise its teachings

 You need to be sound in speech – talk like a Christian should talk.