Our Attitudes Indicate Our Spiritual State

Titus 1:15-2:1

Remember the how kids used to say it takes one to know one? People tend to assume others respond the same way they do. A person who lies tends to assume others lie. A thief is usually very careful about locking up his stuff. A person who is honest, on the other hand tends to be careless about locking up, because he doesn’t think as a thief or a liar. Paul says the same principle holds in spiritual matters.

“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:15-16)

Those with a pure heart and focus are not tempted by the evil around them. They approach things with no reservations because their focus is entirely on serving God, with the result they may not even be aware of what others find as a serious temptation.

Those who are not pure in heart, on the other hand are conscious of every potential temptation. In fact, they begin to see temptation and sin where none exists because their standards are corrupted by their own sin. Their corrupt ideas of right and wrong lead to actions that are actually opposed to biblical teaching.

Several years ago, I attended a state fellowship meeting in which one speaker devoted his entire message to the wickedness of a woman wearing open toed shoes because of the level of sexual arousal it produced in men. Having never been aroused by the sight of a woman’s toes, I found his presentation unhelpful.

Another pastor called for boycotting Walmart because the women’s underwear display was so provocative. Several men from the church asked what he’d been talking about. As it turned out, the display could not even be seen without going into the women’s department, and most of the men had not seen it. Even those who had had not been aware of any problem. Unfortunately, their minds were on it when they went back, and some were tempted.

Unscriptural standards and requirements often lead to more sin. Titus 1:14 warns against that such teachings turn people away. “Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7 both declare that “in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Colossians 2:20-22 asks why we allow ourselves to be brought under such human requirements, rather than recognizing we are dead to sin. “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Many who struggle with impurity have never understood the principles of Romans 6-8. Romans 6:6-7 makes it clear we are free from the power of sin. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

Victory over sin is not a result of not committing sin or breaking a set of rules, but of realizing victory is a matter of his work in our life and yielding ourselves to him. It seems overly simplified, but it is what is required.

Romans 6:11 describes it very concisely. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Rather than teaching these human commandments, Titus is directed to focus on what is actually fitting for Christians. “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” (Titus 2:1)