Titus 01.10-16 | Expo$e Fal$e Teacher$ pt02 (Introduction)

Titus 01.10-16 “10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers & deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths & commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled & unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind & their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable & disobedient & worthless for any good deed.”

We have seen that Titus was to set up Quality Leaders (Titus 01.05-09) in the churches on Crete. So w/that as a backdrop & even as a contrast, last week we saw that Paul instructs Titus on how to Biblically Expo$e Fal$e Teacher$. 01. Identify False Teachers (Titus 01.10-13a); 02. Severely Reprove False Teachers (Titus 01.13b-14); & 03. Watch How False Teachers Live (Titus 01.15-16).

What we studied 1^st last week was that we are to 01. Identify False Teachers (Titus 01.10-13a)

Titus 01.10-13a “10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers & deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true.”

Last week we looked at many passages throughout the New Testament that told us that false teachers will arise from w/in the church (Acts 20.17-38; 2Peter 02.01-02); that we are to keep our eyes on, or scope out for false teachers (Romans 16.17-18); knowing that these false were sent from Satan (2Corinthians 11.12-15). Paul told Timothy that the times will get worse, but he wanted him to continue in the teaching of the Word of God (2Timothy03.13-17).

John warned that false teachers (antichrists 1John02.18) will come, & that we are to test them to see if they are from God (antichrists 1John 04.01).

Today, it has become popular in the church that we are not to call out & expose false teachers.

Now before we start by naming names, you might be thinking, “Is it unloving to call out & expose false teachers?”

If we look in the Bible, we see that there is Biblical precedence to do so.

Now by way of reminder, we know that the Scriptures are the “…inspired by God…” (2Timothy 03.16) God-breathed (θεόπνευστος theopneustos) Word of God.

Jesus called out false teachers (Matthew 07.13-29)

Matthew 07.15 “15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

Matthew 07.21-23 “21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, & in Your name cast out demons, & in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”

Paul called out false teachers (1Timothy 01.20; 2Timothy 02.16-18)

1Timothy 01.20 “20 Among these are Hymenaeus (hoo-men-ah’-yos) & Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.”

2Timothy 02.16-18 “16 But avoid worldly & empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 & their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus (hoo-men-ah’-yos) & Philetus (fil-ay-tos’), 18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, & they upset the faith of some.”

John called out false teachers (3John 01.09)

3John 01.09 “9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes (dee-ot-ref-ace’), who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.”

So there is Biblical precedence, but “Is it unloving to call out & expose false teachers?”

Paul says that these false teachers are to be exposed & “severely” (or literally sharply) confronted!

Titus 01.13b “13 …For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,”

Why are these false teachers to be dealt w/so severely? So that those who have been seduced by the false teachers may be brought back to soundness in the faith.

A true shepherd wants his flock to be sound in their faith that Jesus is the Messiah. He wants them to be healthy, not going after the con man, the snake oil salesman who swindles the naïve.

So to the sheep, the church, those who claim to be followers of Jesus, it is actually loving to the sheep to point out the false teachers, so that they would have a sound & healthy faith.

But like anything else, even mentioning the false teachers, & we are only going to just touch the surface, we need to be Bereans (Acts 17.11), constantly checking out ALL who teach or claim to teach the Word of God!