WHEN TO QUIT

WHEN TO QUIT

Titus 3:8-11 (KJV)

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

It seems to me that, as we are so very near the end of our study of this book of the Bible, it would be helpful to remind you of the purpose of it.

The Apostle Paul, who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God said to Titus,

“I left you in Crete to do two things:

·   To set in order those things that are not in order and

·   To ordain elders in ever [church] as I had appointed thee”

God used Paul to give Titus his cause.

And then Paul gave him specific parameters in which to work, “as I appointed thee.”

He didn’t just tell him to do the work, he told him how he wanted the work done.

But he is in Crete.

These people were notorious

·   Liars and

·   Gluttons and

·   Animals

Besides them, there were Jews and Judaizers whose religious ideas were deceitful and tended toward unruliness.

If he was going to accomplish anything with them, it would take 

·   Some persistence

·   Some dogged determination, and 

·   Some wisdom about when to quit

It can be difficult, sometimes, to know when to stick with it and when to quit.

Over the years I’ve noticed that there are two sorts of people:

There is the one kind that quit before they ever really get started.

The context in this passage is ministry, but I’ve seen it in people of all types.

·   Students

·   Sports

·   Education

·   Occupations

·   The first time it gets difficult, 

·   The first time it hurts

·   The first time someone criticizes – they’re gone

There is the other guy that won’t stop until God kills him.

Years ago I heard a pastor of a very large church declare, “If God wants me to leave this church, he’s going to have to drive me off with a 2x4!”

I commend stick – ability, but I don’t want God to ever have to drive me from anything with a 2x4.

This passage never tells Titus when to leave, but it does provide him some identifying markers when to persist in a thing and when to give it up.

Notice first of all, that which is

I. PROFITABLE

Titus 3:8 (KJV)

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

A. A faithful saying

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly

There is something God, through Paul willsTitus to affirm constantly – doggedly, be persistent about.

He isn’t really given an option.

This is the will of God for him.

It’s a faithful saying, in other words, a trustworthy true, sure message.

What message is that?

These things he has taught him in the epistle.

Probably especially these things he told him to put them in mind of in this chapter.

1. There is a message about submission

Titus 3:1-2 (KJV)

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

2. There is a message about redemption

Titus 3:3-5 (KJV)

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

3. There is a message about justification

Titus 3:5-6 (KJV)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

B. A good work

that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.

The question that must be asked is, “What are these good works?”

And the answer is right here, Titus 3:1-2 (KJV)

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

·   Be subject to principalities and powers

·   Obey magistrates

·   Be prepared to do as they command

·   Speak evil of no man

·   Don’t be a brawler, but be gentle and

·   Show all meekness to all men

This is God’s will and this is good work, therefore this is

C. A profitable purpose

These things are good and profitable unto men.

What things are good and profitable?

·   Be subject to principalities and powers

·   Obey magistrates

·   Be prepared to do as they command

·   Speak evil of no man

·   Don’t be a brawler, but be gentle and

·   Show all meekness to all men

The preacher ought to be dogged about preaching these and 

The Christian ought to be dogged about maintaining them in his or her life.

On the other hand, Titus was to avoid things that are,

II. POINTLESS

Titus 3:9 (KJV)

But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

And these things we should avoid – if you will – quit.

I’ve divided them into three groups:

A. Blockheaded debates

Titus 3:9 (KJV)

But avoid foolish questions

Seriously – my Strong’s Concordance defines the word foolishhere as “blockhead.”

We’ve all heard that teacher’s phrase, “There is no such thing as a foolish question?”

That might be true, but sometimes fools ask questions.

In this case they ask the questions not because they want answers, but because they want to debate and argue.

They are blockheaded

Nothing can get through.

They might be intelligent, but they have no desire to learn – only to argue.

I don’t even mind discussing my position with someone who disagrees with me and we are learning one another’s points of view.

But the Bible teaches me to avoid, stay out of, quit conversations where no learning and only arguing is happening.

Avoid

B. Brazen genealogies

Titus 3:9 (KJV)

But avoid … and genealogies, …

Let me just say right away, there is nothing wrong with researching your family history.

Let me read this to you from Albert Barnes’ Notes, 

“The Hebrews kept careful genealogical records, for this was necessary in order that the distinction of their tribes might be kept up. Of course, in the lapse of centuries these tables would become very numerous, complicated, and extended - so that they might without much exaggeration be called “endless.” The Jews attached great importance to them, and insisted on their being carefully preserved. As the Messiah, however, had now come - as the Jewish polity was to cease - as the separation between them and the pagan was no longer necessary, and the distinction of tribes was now useless, there was no propriety that these distinctions should be regarded by Christians. The whole system was, moreover, contrary to the genius of Christianity, for it served to keep up the pride of blood and of birth.”

Number one

This is very Jewish in context.

Don’t let those unruly Jews distract the preaching of the Word with all of their tradition and history.

Number two

This was intended to establish authority

They meant to prove their authority as teachers of the Word because of their heritage. But Jewish heritage holds no water in a New Testament church.

Number three

It is contrary to the whole concept that, in Christ there is neither[1]Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision…

Christ came to give unity and peace in a church by abolishing all of those differences and making one new man.

Ephesians 2:15 (KJV)

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Avoid striving that is

C. Bullish about the law

Titus 3:9 (KJV)

But avoid … and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

There are obvious and helpful lessons that we can still learn from the Old Testament but we do not live by that law.

Contentions and strivings has to do, I think, with attempting to force those Old Testament expectations upon a Christian.

Finally Titus was to reject the,

III. PERVERTED[2]

Titus 3:10-11 (KJV)

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

A. A definition

The word heretic means a schismatic, a sectarian. It refers to the person who separates people from their own body – in this case, church.

Over the course of time we have come to think of it as those who teach doctrines different than orthodox Christianity, or what the majority of believers teach.

·   Mormons and

·   Jehovah’s Witnesses

Are heretics under this definition because they try to lead people out of mainline churches and into congregations that teach things the mainline Christians don’t.

But under that definition Baptists were once considered heretics by both Catholics[3]and Protestants.

The broader definition, and the one that fits with the context, is anyone who rejectsthe “these thingsI will that thou affirm constantly”

B. An admonition

One resource I used urged that this should only happen if an official church delegation warns them.

It’s an attempt to apply Matthew 18, but it reminds me of the old puritans and Amish, where the elders have the power to bind a person to heaven or take away a person’s salvation.

I found this in the Westminster Confession of Faith[4]

“To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed; by virtue whereof, they have power, respectively, to retain, and remit sins;to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word, and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the Gospel; and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require.”

I am reminded of a valuable piece of Scripture

2 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

I don’t believe heretics ought to be rejected too hastily, but neither do I believe we ought to have to go through tons of red tape. When it is necessary to reject them – it ought to happen instantaneously.

If someone is causing division in the church, 

·   They should be warned, 

·   An attempt to help them should be made, but then 

·   They should be rejected.

The word means to deprecate or to beg off.

You just excuse yourself from their company.

Notice then

C. A recognition

Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Why would you reject them and excuse yourself from them?

Because you recognize and acknowledge “that…such is subverted.”

That’s not a word I have heard used much in the crowds I hand around with.

It means to turn, to twist, or to tear up.

A heretic, a divisive person:

·   Twists things around

·   Turns the truth upside down and by it

·   Tears things up

And he will face condemnation because of it.

·   Doesn’t mean he is unsaved

·   Doesn’t mean he will lose his salvation

But it does mean that he will be chastened.

And you don’t want to be near him when it happens.

An Old Testament illustration:

Numbers 16:1-5 (KJV)

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

Numbers 16:21-32 (KJV)

Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothingof theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.

But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

I am glad to report that God is gracious and slow to anger.[5]

But He does command all men everywhere to repent[6]

Conclusion

Titus 3:8-11 (KJV)

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

I want to be persistent in proclaiming my faith.

But I have to know when to quit.

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[1]Colossians 3:11 (KJV)

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

[2]Strong’s Concordance gives, as one definition of the word subverted, perverted.

[3]Catholics would be the real heretics because they are the ones who separated, even forced others to separate from churches as they had known them for nearly 400 years.

[4]Westminster Confession Chapter XXX II. 

[5]Nehemiah 9:17 (KJV)

 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

[6]Acts 17:30 (KJV)

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: