Who Can I Trust?

INTRODUCTION
Paul wrote a letter to a man that he had led to Christ. He began with stating His purpose: He wanted to build up the faith of Christians and increase the knowledge of truth which leads to godliness. 
Get this: Paul was preaching truth which led to godliness. (How many times do we wonder how we can become more Christ-like? Fill your mind with truth, Darlin'. It's the best way to go. The only way to go, honestly....) (verse 1)
That godliness which comes from truth is only within the hope of eternal life that we have in Christ (and have had even before time began!). We don't have to be godly without the hope of eternal life. What would the point of godliness be if it had no lasting significance? But it is of eternal significance! We had this hope in Christ even before time began. (verse 2)
God has revealed this truth in his own time and He entrusted Paul with the proclamation of the message of Christ as God commanded Him.
*truth is always revealed in God's timing. He's not slow in keeping his promises, or speaking to His people, but He has perfect timing every time with no detail ignored.
* truth was entrusted to Paul along with a command to proclaim it. We are entrusted with truth, not to keep it to ourselves, but to proclaim it as God has said it.
--> In this introduction, it is clear that Paul has a gospel focus which is directed on the church for the purpose of making us more godly. This is not an aimless letter. He wanted deeply for the church to be more godly. Why would he want that? There is freedom with truth and freedom living in that truth which leads to godliness, godliness being the essence of living in freedom. 

-Imagine the value of godliness if Paul's concentration was to increase godliness in the church.

Take a quick look at Paul's standard greeting - "Grace and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Often, this greeting is something that I look over, but really, It's incredible!
Grace and Peace <-- God the Father and Christ our Savior.
The picture of Father. He is the one directing the church with a plan and purpose for it. 
The picture of Savior. Our Savior is the center of our worship. We worship what we view as Savior. Having a Savior like Christ is a good incentive to hear the Word and live it. 

MOVING ON
Paul left Titus to appoint elders. His instruction in this letter was enough for Titus to know what to do while Paul was absent. The fun part about that, is that it means that we are also equipped to know what kind of people are worthy of following.
An elder (as distinct from an overseer) is to be:

• Blameless
• Husband of one wife (yes a husband. It says husband.)
• Faithful in character
• His kids should not be rebellious

An overseer (or God's administrator) was to be:

• Blameless
• Not hot-tempered
• Not addicted to alcohol
• Not a bully (manipulative and mean, perhaps?)
• Not greedy for money
• Hospitable
• Loving
• Self-controlled
• "Holding to the faithful message as taught so he will be able to encourage with sound teaching and refute those who contradict it." 

WARNING

Not everyone is all that they seem. We need to be discerning about the people whose instruction we trust, or Paul wouldn't have given a warning. These people that we need to watch out for are full of empty talk and deception. Some people who seem to be wise are simply deceptively smooth-talkers. Their instruction usually sounds decent. True. Even logical. Godly even! But when you weigh their lives against the standard above, you will know whether or not you can trust their instruction. Are they really like Christ? We know them by their fruit!

We are called to silence these people. It is necessary because Paul demanded it. Why?

These people will overthrow households by teaching what they should never teach. These people are disruptive and they put families into chaos. 

These disruptive people will try to make you doubt the people you should trust and try to separate you from them. And get this: they usually do so in the name of godliness. 

Why do they do this? 

For dishonest gain. They are greedy and selfish people, wolves in sheep's clothing though they often claim to be sheep in wolves clothing. (Keep in mind, I'm am talking about people in any sort of authority.) 

Beloved, beware. The best of these false teachers live a good lie. Be sure to measure them against Paul's standard which is laid out in his letter to Titus. Listen to people you know you can trust when they question certain teachings. Seek the truth together and you will find it together. The Holy Spirit will lead you both in the same direction and to agreement, the same conclusion. Know the Word and you will be led into godliness and light (John 1). 

So what is to be done? 

For those who have authority,

Rebuke them sharply. For what purpose? So that they might be sound in the faith, and not pay attention to myths and the commands of people who obviously reject the truth! These people who lead others astray are astray themselves. God desires that they be restored also. If you have the authority to do so, rebuke false teachers with the goal of leading them to godliness through truth!

"To the pure everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; In fact, both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work."

"But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching." 

Beloved, it is sad and hard when you come out of a long season of deception and realize you did not heed Paul's qualifications in your own heart. Listen, know. Know what Paul required, and you will know who's instruction to trust.

Love you all.

-Julia Grace