GUARDING THE GOSPEL: RECOGNIZE, RESPOND, AND REVEAL
The Book of Titus #3
Keith O’Connor
Woodland Church
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
(Titus 1:10-16, NLT) “For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money. Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth. Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.”
Paul wanted believers in Crete to:
- Hold firmly to truth
- Confront error and live authentically
1. HOLD FIRMLY TO SOUND DOCTRINE
(Titus 1:9, ESV) “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT) “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work”
(Ephesians 4:14, NLT) “We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth”
2. RECOGNIZE FALSE TEACHING
(Titus 1:10-12, NLT) “For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money. Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons”
a. Rebellious/Insubordinate People
- Those who will not submit to God’s order of authority
b. Useless Talkers
- Those who speak without truth or spiritual value
c. Deceivers
- Those who lead others away from the truth
d. Legalists
- Those who add human requirements to the gospel
Why false teaching is dangerous:
- It leads people away from the truth of the gospel
- It damages families and weakens the church
- It replaces truth with personal gain; e.g., money, influence, and recognition
What to do:
- They Must be Silenced. Stop these problem people, not by force, but by confronting error with truth and removing their influence from the church
3. RESPOND TO FALSE TEACHING
(Titus 1:13-14, NLT) “This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth”
a. Correct with clarity and conviction
- Reprimand them sternly
b. Aim for restoration, not destruction
- Make them strong in the faith
- Correction is not destruction; it is restoration
c. Reject false sources of authority
- Stop them from listening to Jewish myths
- Teach them to reject the commands of people who have turned away from the truth
4. REVEALING TRUE AND FALSE FAITH
(Titus 1:15-16, NLT) “Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good”
a. A changed heart sees differently
(Titus 1:15, NLT) “Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure”
- When our heart is transformed, it changes how we see and how we live
b. A corrupt heart distorts everything
(Titus 1:15, NLT) “But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted”
- If our heart is not right, nothing else will be right
c. A false profession of faith is exposed by conduct
(Titus 1:16, NLT) “Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good”
- A believer’s daily conduct, rather than mere verbal profession, is the evidence of a genuine relationship with God
Growthwork
- Examine your heart
- Be in the Word daily
- Watch what you listen to
- Live what you believe