Today’s devotion comes from Titus 1:10-16.
“For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “ Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” Titus 1:10-16.
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We live in an day and age of tolerance. But, there is no tolerance in today’s Scripture. “For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teachfor the sake of sordid gain.” Verses 10 and 11.
We need strong elders “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” Titus 1:9.
“For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers … (who) profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” Verses 10 and 16.
The church needs to be protected from them. These rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers do not deserve protection by attitudes and policies of tolerance, “because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.” Verse 11.
“And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” … Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6 and 12.
Let us remember Paul’s charge in the last chapter. “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5.
May we be found faithful. “‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.” Revelations 2:2-3.
We may think a little leaven or bad teaching won’t hurt anything. But, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” Galatians 5:9. “… Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.” 1 Corinthians 5:6-7.
Purity is important. We should seek purity.
Psalm 12:6
“The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.”
“The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.”
Psalm 19:8
“The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
“The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
Psalm 24:4
“He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.”
“He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.”
Psalm 73:1
“Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!”
“Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!”
Psalm 119:9
“… How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.”
“… How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.”
Psalm 119:140
“Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it.”
“Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it.”
Proverbs 8:19
“My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver.”
“My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver.”
Proverbs 20:11
“It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right.”
“It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right.”
Proverbs 21:8
“The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
“The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
2 Corinthians 11:2
“For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.”
“For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.”
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
1 Timothy 1:5
“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
2 Timothy 2:22
“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Titus 1:15
“To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.”
“To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.”
In conclusion, when you treasure and seek purity in doctrine, and when you refute, reprove, and silence, you may be slandered and persecuted as “intolerant”, “unmerciful”, “unloving”, “a strict Calvinist”, “a hyper-Calvinist”, “frozen chosen” etc. But, you must obey God, not man. You must seek purity in doctrine. You must protect the church. The Protestant Reformed Churches deserve to be commended for the purity of their doctrine and their protection of the church. May we be thankful and inspired by their example.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 