Introduction.

1. In fairy tales a very beautiful but spoilt princess befriends a frog and eventually falls in love and kisses him. The kiss magically transforms him into a very handsome prince - they marry and live happily ever after. One of the most amazing changes that is a common occurrence in the real world is the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. When a sinner is converted by the power of the Holy Spirit a wonderful change takes place and starts a process of change that will continue throughout the earthly life of that person. Christians are continually changing to become more and more like Christ Jesus. A life of sinful living is giving way to a life of righteousness.
   
   
2. Paul's desire for Christians living on the island of Crete is that they live godly lives bearing witness to the Lordship of Jesus. In order to fulfil this desire Paul instructs Titus to teach sound doctrine to facilitate the change in lifestyle that is needed to glorify God. How do we change? How do we overcome sin in our lives to honour God? Knowing how the process of change takes place in believers is important not only for the pursuit of holiness, but also in counselling others to change. While this process of change is not difficult to understand, it is difficult to implement as the legacy of the sinful nature fights to stop the process from being effectual. The remaining sin that continues to dwell in believers will counter anything and everything they do to glorify God. In order to stop you from glorifying God remaining sin will seek to enslave you and rule over you. Changing a believer's sinful ways into righteous ways is the work of the Holy Spirit; it is by his enabling, strengthening and enlightening power that effective change takes place in the believer. Legalism changes or modifies behaviour but does not disarm the legacy of the sinful nature, only the power of the Holy Spirit can disarm the lingering desires of the flesh.
   
   
3. Having said that the change that occurs in the believer's life is only accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is very necessary to add that the Scripture makes it clear that God has made the believer responsible to stop yielding to sin. Listen to Ephesians 4:25-29 where Paul instructs believers to stop their sinful ways, ‘Therefore, putting away lying. "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. Paul does not call on Christians in Ephesus to pray and wait for deliverance from lying, stealing, bitterness, wrath, anger and unacceptable speech. Paul instructs them to put an end to these sinful ways. Sinful ways must be put off and righteous ways must be put on. The believer is not passive, but active and responsible for stopping sinful action. Needing to promote godly living in believers on Crete, Paul urges Titus to do two things: - (i) be a positive example to the congregations and (ii) be ruled by sound doctrine.

1.  Christians are to be positive examples to each other.

1. Paul commands Titus to be a pattern of good works. The word translated as pattern is a very interesting word with a very strong meaning. Thomas uses this word in his demand for proof of the resurrection of Jesus. Listen to John 20:25, ‘The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." The word translated as print is the same word used in Titus 2:7. Thomas wanted to see the clear unmistakable wounds left by the nails that pierced the hands of Jesus. This word could be used to describe the image left on the face of a coin after it was struck. When the coin is struck it leaves an unmistakable image imprinted in the metal. Titus' life must be marked by the image of Christ - this mark must be visible, clear and real. Others must be able to test his life to determine the authenticity of the stamp of Christ upon it. A drunkard was wonderfully converted under the work of the Salvation Army. The change in his life was dramatic and he was full of zeal for the Lord. He was very impressed by the jumpers worn by the members of the Salvation Army which had the words ‘Salvation Army' and the name of the district in which they served. He wanted a jumper like theirs but was not able to afford one. He got his wife to knit him a jumper just like those worn by the workers in the Salvation Army. Neither he nor his wife could read, so they agreed that she would copy the writing that appeared on a sign that was on the shop window across the road from where they lived. Two weeks later as proud as punch he pulled on his jumper and headed off to join the Saturday afternoon Salvation Army march through the town. The words on the back of his jumper read ‘under new management.' A Christian's life must show that he is under new management.
   
   
2. The example you set needs to flow from your living and vibrant relationship with the Lord, The fact that you know and fellowship with the risen Savour ought to be obvious. Charles Wesley was at a meal at the home of a wealthy banker. Also present was a famous actor. The audience pressed the actor to show off his great skill. The actor declined all their persuasions. Ebenezer Blackwell called on Charles Wesley to recite a passage of Scripture. Charles Wesley agreed to recite Psalm 23. Before he could begin reciting the Psalm the actor asked if he could recite the same Psalm before the preacher did. This arrangement was agreed. The actor drew on all the skills he had been taught and accumulated from experience - using great emphasis, making effectual pauses, raising and lowering his voice, and adjusting the tempo for good effect. The audience gave him a standing ovation. Mr Wesley stood up and recited the Psalm - there was no great skill present, when he had finished there was no ovation from the audience. The room was silent, except for the quiet sobbing from a number of guests. Mr Blackwell concluded by saying - "The difference between the actor and Mr Wesley was  very simple - Mr Wesley knew the Shepherd of the Psalm, but the actor did not.' Your example must reveal that you know the King of Kings personally and spend much time in his company. When you talk about the Lord it must be obvious that you are talking about one you love more than life itself.
   
   
3. The world has the right to measure your faith by your example. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus lays down a clear principle in Matthew 7:20, ‘by their fruits you will know them.' If false teachers were to be identified by the fruits of the lives, then surely the same principle applies to good teachers? In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Clearly Jesus' intention is for his disciples to exercise sanctified love for each other - and supply the world with a means of identifying his disciples. The love Christians demonstrate for each other will be the yard stick the world uses to measure their likeness to Christ. Our Lord gives the world the right to judge our conduct. The example set by our love for one another must show that we are reconciled to God and no longer under Satan's dominion and the power of sin. We are servants of the King of Kings and this must show in our lives. Once you are known as a Christian, the world in which you live, work and socialise will put you under the spotlight to watch whether the claims made by the Gospel are true. Whether you like it or not you are an example to your brothers and sisters in Christ and also to the world around you. Your conduct determines whether or not you are a good or bad example. Believers on Crete were a bad example as their lives were not consistent with the truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Titus by teaching sound doctrine must work to make them good examples of those redeemed by the blood of Christ.
   
   
4. Titus needed to recognise that he was the most important visible example in Crete, all would be watching him. As believers you and I need to take ownership of the fact that we set an example to others concerning the gospel. Incorporated in the contract football players sign with a club is a clause that calls attention to the fact that they are role-models. As a role-model they need to behave appropriately on and off the field. The media are quick to report on the violations of this clause, and clubs take swift action to discipline the wayward players. The media makes the players accountable and places a great deal of pressure on players to be good role-models. Even though the players hate the media for making them accountable it is a good thing. As believers we need to recognise that we are accountable to the Lord, and also to each other. Your bad example allows unbelievers to criticise the Lord, his Gospel and his church. Your bad example confuses babes in Christ and makes the unconverted covenant children sceptical about the saving power of Christ. Matthew 18:6-9 and 15-20 is about mutual accountability and church discipline. The warning Jesus gives to those who lead others astray is set in the strongest terms. Listen to Mark 9:42, ‘But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.' We need to accept that we are examples, and make ourselves accountable to each other. In the light of Jesus' warning we ought to encourage one another to be good examples. We should value all the help we can get in being better examples. Our culture does not like the concept of accountability. In our society which is plagued by individualism and the sacred right of choice, the prevailing attitude is; what I do is my business, its got nothing to do with you. When this attitude comes into the church Elders and members close their eyes to sin and pretend that it does not matter. The world sees this example and concludes that Christianity is a fraud - a phony religion, peddlers of snake oil, and the opium of the masses. As a Christian your example is extremely important and you need to make yourself accountable. A bad example destroys the work of a thousand sermons and the witness of the church. By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in us, and mutual encouragement we need to strive to be the best examples possible.

     2. Sound Christian doctrine is absolutely necessary to being a good example.

1. Paul's statement concerning this matter is stated very clearly, he says, ‘But as for you (Titus) in all things show yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you (plural).' Biblical precept and example go hand in hand. Your example must conform to Biblical precept. Listen to William Hendriksen commenting on this verse, ‘In his teaching, Titus must show incorruptibility. He must give such clear and courageous instruction in the well-balanced truth of the gospel that it is evident to all that he has not been and cannot be infected with the lies and distortions of the adversaries. Moreover, his attitude and the manner in which he presents his teaching must be that of dignity or seriousness. Not only must his more formal teaching be characterized by purity of contents and gravity of method, but his entire speech (his word whenever and wherever it is spoken), whether it is uttered in the form of a sermon, a lesson, a message of consolation, or even an ordinary daily conversation, must be sound and incensurable, that is, not open to just rebuke.'
   
   
2. We need to be fully aware that Christians are under constant pressure from the Devil to compromise the clear teaching of Scripture. If he cannot get Christians to compromise the teaching of Scripture he will seek to destroy their good name through lies or exaggerating their sinfulness. These two methods of Satan can be clearly seen in the letters to the seven churches recorded in Revelation 2 and 3. Sound doctrine, believed and practiced by the power of the Spirit is the antidote to all Satan's schemes. The starting point of all teaching on sound doctrine is the status of the Bible. Your confidence in the Bible as God's authoritative, infallible and inerrant Word is crucial. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, if you lack confidence in the Scriptures that is your weakest link. Over the past 75 years there has been a persistent attack against the Bible being the supreme standard and authority in all matters of faith and life. This attack has come not only from outside the church, but also from those who belong to the church.
   
   
3. Listen to Paul declaring the integrity of the Bible in 2 Timothy 3:15-17, ‘.. from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.' It is important to take note of four things Paul says about the Bible:
1. Note Paul talks about the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is a Holy Book. The word translated as holy means to be separated or set apart. The Bible is set apart from all other books; it is unique and must not be considered to be a book among books, not even a special book among special books. The Bible is unlike any and every other book ever written. It is unique because its origin is not from man, but from God himself. It is the only book on the face of the earth that has God as its source. God speaks to us through his Word; we have no promise today that God will speak to us through any other means. The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible and it is the tool that he has promised to use. The Bible is uniquely God's Book.
   
   
2. The Bible is powerful.  The Scriptures are able (have the power to make) you wise for salvation. This is the mighty and wonderful power that changes your thinking, understanding, application, desires, and pleasures. Of course the power is not in the ink and pages, but in the Holy Spirit who uses the Word to glorify Christ. The Holy Spirit used his mighty power to get the Scriptures written - 2 Peter 1:12 says ‘ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.' Our translation is a bit weak and should have said, carried along by the Spirit - which makes it clear that the writings were essentially the work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit caused the Scriptures to be written; he empowers that word and ministers to the hearts of believers through it. We must not separate the Holy Spirit from the Scriptures.
   
   
3. The Bible is inspired. The word inspire has been greatly misunderstood. We talk about a song writer, poet or author being inspired to write a song, poem or book. Something resonates within them and they produce their work. We hear and read about inspired writers, but we need to note that the men who wrote the books of the Bible were not inspired writers. The writers of Scripture were carried along by the Spirit, so that the work they produced was both theirs and his. The Bible never talks about the writers being inspired. The writings of Scripture are inspired not the men who wrote them. Listen to 2 Timothy 3:16 from the Literal Translation, ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable....' The word translated as God-breathed actually means to exhale, to breathe out, - all Scripture is breathed out by God.' The Bible is God breathed.
   
   
4. The Bible is profitable. The Scriptures are given not to amuse, entertain, satisfy curiosity, but to be useful, beneficial, and constructive. The Lord in his mercy has specifically given you the Bible to use. Not to use it is a sin of neglect. You are meant to use the Bible to make you wise for salvation and to enjoy and glorify God forever. The Bible is a practical book that reveals how to live the truth in everyday life. You must use the Bible to build sound doctrine so that you live in obedience to please the Saviour.

Conclusion.

If you are a Christian you are an example to believers and unbelievers around you. Whether you are a good or a bad example depends on your submission to the Scriptures. Do you have absolute confidence in the Bible that allows you to submit to it's wisdom in all matters of faith and life? Are you convinced that it is God's Book? Your example and your attitude to the Bible are locked together. Christ had absolute trust in the Scripture - that it was written in the Word was enough for him to resist every temptation of Satan. Living a life to promote change in yourself and others demands that you know God and submit to his Word.