Sensibility

From Titus - Life in the Church

Verse 6

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;  

Sensible

Here again we see the word sensible.  This word sophroneo has been applied to each of the groups thus far.  It is obviously something that is very important, and very necessary in terms of exhibiting the life of Christ in us.  Once again, it combines the words for “wisdom” and “mindedness, or mindset.” The very nature of the mindset should be one that is wise and balanced.  This comes from having a solid Biblical perspective, and the ability to apply that knowledge to every situation.  It has a circumspect view that sees what is going on and can make wise choices based on God's wisdom and submission to the Word and the Holy Spirit.

A Severe Reproval

From Titus - Life in the Church

Titus 1:10-13

¹⁰For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.  ¹²One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."  ¹³This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 

reprove them severely

Is Titus told to have a nice happy meeting with them?  Is he told to kindly ask them to stop?  Are they to leave them alone and hope that they go away?  NO!  Absolutely NOT!

They are to “reprove them severely”!  Reprove means “to rebuke or to censure.”  It means confront them and tell them that they are off the mark.  Not simply hope it goes away in time, or hope that they “get better.” but to rebuke them.  Severely here is a compound word using the words for “from” and for “cut sharply.”  This is decisive action, harsh action and serious action.  Not passive action, or “nice guy” action.  He is to act harshly in response to the culture.  He is not supposed to say, “that’s their culture, so I should just accept it.” He is supposed to tell them to leave their culture, change their culture, for it is not of God!  Culture is not a sacred thing!  It is the destroyer of Churches and theology throughout the generations.  Culture does not need to be considered, but disregarded.  

Getting Stamped

From Romans - Finding the Faith

Romans 6:17-18

¹⁷But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

That form of teaching to which you were committed

The word “form” here translates the Greek word tupos which is where we get the English word “type”.  The picture that it conveys is a sort of stamp that would be set on something and then struck to make the same impression every time.  This form of teaching to which we were committed is the teaching of salvation by Grace through faith.  As we have seen already in Romans 6:1-14, that Grace is not just our “get out of Hell free” card, it is to be our operating principle of existence for all things thereafter.  We began in faith in what Christ has done in the cross, we continue in faith in what God did in resurrecting Him from the dead.  At the end of all things we will see that everything that was good or worthwhile in our lives was what we allowed Him to do in and through us, and anytime we tried to get in the way we goofed everything up.

Getting Results

From 1-3 John - Life in Fellowship

1 John 2:28

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

Results

Once again, it is the uniform message of scripture, that our choice to abide in Him or to abide in our sin nature carries with it consequences.  In the discussion of 1 John 2:3-11 (and again in verse 29) we see the result of abiding in the flesh can be the loss of assurance of salvation.  When a person abides in the Spirit he sees the love and life of Christ flowing forth from him and knows that this is not of Himself, but it is the Spirit of God.  Conversely, the person who abides in their flesh (though they are saved) loses the assurance of being able to say, “I see the work of the Spirit in my life right here and now” which impedes his spiritual growth.

Another result of resting in the Spirit has to do with Christ’s coming.  This is the first clear reference in this epistle to the return of Christ for His church (the Rapture).  We know from John 14:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and other key passages that the believer is to be looking to Jesus Christ and His return for believers which could happen at any moment.  The way a person relates to that coming of the Lord for His church reveals a great deal about his or her understanding of Scripture, as well as their fellowship with the Lord.  Many talk about this time with great fear and trepidation because they are not in fellowship with Him.  Whether from bad theology, or lack of walking in the Spirit (both are sin problems) they think of the Lord’s coming back in terms of something to be frightened of.

It is much like children who have been left to watch over themselves for a few hours while the parents are away.  If they are doing things that their parents would approve of then the return of their parents is something that they would be pleased to see. They want their parents to come back sooner.  However, if they have occupied themselves with activities of which their parents would not approve then they will be ashamed when their parents come home.  It is not a matter of whether their parents will still be their parents when they arrive, but a matter of whether they will be happy to see them or ashamed.  As we walk by the means of the Spirit we will be overjoyed at the thought of Christ’s return as we are meant to be!  For the believer walking in the Spirit they look at the imminent return of Christ as a great comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

The confidence of the believer at His return is found in His life, His work, His grace exercised upon us.  This is not a matter of what we are doing so much as where our focus is placed.