Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 26

Paul Instructs Titus on how the Grace of God should enable him to deal with Biblical Heritics that rise up in the Church of Jesus Christ

Titus 3:10-11 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. KJV

Paul wants Brother Titus and every true believer in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to always and at all times be ready and able to take a stand for the truth of the Word of God. Before Paul wrote this letter to Titus, he had already warned the believers in Ephesus to be on the look out for men who would rise up even within their fellowship who were not truly men who were reborn by our Lord Jesus Christ, here is what Paul said to them, "For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also men shall arise from your own selves, speaking perverse things in order to draw disciples away after them. Therefore watch and remember that for the time of three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears." (Acts 20:29-31) (KJV). Paul was always a watchman or a guardian of the truth of the Word of God and would defend it at all cost, even the ultimate cost, which was his beheading at the hands of the Romans incited by the Jews. King David prayed for our Lord God to defend him as he stood for and in the truth of God with these words, "Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me." (Psalm 59:1) (KJV). So it is no strange thing that Paul would make one of his final instructions to Brother Titus to be such the same type of guardian of the truth as he instructs him with these words here, "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;" (Titus 3:10) (KJV). This English word 'heretic' is translated by the Greek word aihretikos (used this one time only in the entire Bible) meaning a schismatic. ('heretic' is the Greek word itself.), that is, one who causes schism or Division of a group into opposing factions, that is, the formal separation of a Church into two Churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences or error. The English word 'admonition' is translated by the Greek word nouthesia meaning calling attention to, that is, (by implication) mild rebuke or warning: - admonition. The English word 'reject' is translated by the Greek word paraiteomai meaning to beg off, that is, deprecate, decline, shun: - avoid, (make) excuse, intreat, refuse, reject.

In other words, a heritic is in actuality an unbeliever or someone who has taken the truth of the Word of God and twisted it or perverted it by virtue of their taking heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). You see the devil cannot refute the Word of God because as it is written, "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in Heaven." (Psalm 119:89) (KJV), therefore, instead he works hard to pervert and twist the truth of the Word of God in the hearts and minds of people in order to prevent or keep them in their lost state or condition, that is, to keep them from the forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ. The people (men or women) must be warned and rebuked even, but after doing so twice, if they persist in their believing and teaching of lies, then they must be completely avoided and rejected, just as this same Apostle Paul instructed the believers in Rome to do with these words, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17-18) (KJV). Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say concerning the heritic, "An heretic, according to the notation of the word, is either one that makes choice of an opinion upon his own judgment, contrary to the generally received sense of the Churches of Christ, and prefers it to theirs, and obstinately persists in it; separates from them, forms a party, and sets himself at the head of them, whom he has drawn into the same way of thinking with himself: or he is one that removes and takes away a fundamental doctrine of Christianity, which affects particularly the doctrine of the Trinity, the deity, and personality of Father, Son, and Spirit, and especially the doctrines relating to the person, office, and grace of Christ; one that brings in, or receives damnable doctrines; speaks or professes perverse things, and draws away disciples after him; or is among such disciples: for though schism and heresy do differ, and every schismatic may not be an heretic, yet every heretic is a schismatic; he makes a rent in the doctrine of Christ, and makes parties and divisions in his Church; and such are not always to be contended and disputed with, but to be avoided and rejected: Have nothing to do with him; have no society with him; admit him not to private conversation; and eject him from Church communion, after he has been publicly admonished twice by the order of the Church; for this is not to be understood of private admonition, by a particular person or persons; as in the case of private offences, Matthew 18:15, but of public admonition, in the name of the Church."

Paul declares to Brother Titus that this man knows deep down that what he embraces or follows after is wrong, "Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." (Titus 3:11) (KJV). The English word 'subverted' is translated by the Greek word ekstrephō (used this one time only in the entire Bible) meaning to pervert. The man or woman that is a heritic will at some point know (within themselves) that what they espouse is a lie, yet many, if not most will go on persisting in that lie having been fooled or duped by the devil's appearence as an angel of light, as it is written, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) (KJV), also it is because of what Paul wrote to the Thessalonian beleivers to beware of with these words, "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) (KJV).

Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say concerning this matter, "In all such cases there are three sets of persons to be considered:-the heretic himself, those who have to deal with him, and the Church at large. What conduct on the part of those who have to deal with him will be least prejudicial to themselves and to the Church and most beneficial to the man himself? The supreme law of charity/love must be the guiding principle. But that is no true charity/love which shows tenderness to one person in such a way as to do grievous harm to others, or to do more harm than good to the person who receives it. Love of what is good is not only consistent with hatred of what is evil; it cannot exist without such hatred. What we have to consider, therefore, is this. Will friendliness confirm him in his error? Would he be more impressed by severity? Is intercourse with him likely to lead to our being led astray? Will it increase his influence and his opportunities of doing harm? Is severity likely to excite sympathy in other people, first for him, and then for his teaching? It is impossible to lay down a hard-and-fast rule that would cover all cases; and while we remember the stern instructions which St. Paul gives to Titus, and St. John to the 'elect lady,' let us not forget the way in which Jesus Christ treated publicans and sinners. In our own day there is danger of mistaking lazy or weak indifferentism for Christian charity/love. It is a convenient doctrine that the beliefs of our fellow-Christians are no concern of ours, even when they try to propagate what contradicts the creed. And, while emphasis is laid upon the responsibility of accepting articles of faith, it is assumed that there is little or no responsibility in refusing to accept, or in teaching others to refuse also. To plead for tenderness, where severity is needed, is not charity/love, but Laodicaean lukewarmness; and mistaken tenderness may easily end in making us 'partakers in evil works.' To be severe, when severity is imperatively called for, is not only charity/love to the offenders, it is also charity/love towards all men besides. It is charity/love towards the ignorant as carrying instruction along with it; charity/love towards the unwary, as giving them warning to stand off from infection; charity/love towards the confirmed Christians, as encouraging them still more, and preserving them from insults; charity/love towards the whole Church, as supporting both their unity and purity; charity/love towards all mankind, towards them that are without, as it is recommending pure religion to them in the most advantageous light, obviating their most plausible calumnies, and giving them less occasion to blaspheme."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…