I'd like you to take your Bibles and join me in the book of Titus, the full name being the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Titus. And if you have a Scofield Bible, that's on page 1,283. I rarely do what I'm about to do right now, but I think that it's important because it's the kind of study that would require some good context. But we're going to go verse through verse. Hopefully, we'll get through the whole book. It's just three chapters. We're going to study the book of Titus tonight. But the thing that I'm going to do I normally don't do is I'm going to read Scofield's introductory notes. They're very good, and it also breaks down quite a bit of detail as to what the book will look like and how it's structured. So obviously, the writer is the Apostle Paul, and a lot of historians, commentators on biblical authority put this around the same time of the writing with 1 Timothy. The theme here has much in common with 1 Timothy. Both epistles are concerned with the due order of the churches. The distinction is that in 1 Timothy, sound doctrine is more prominent, And he cross-references 1 Timothy 1-3-10. So let's take a look at that. 1 Timothy 1-3-10. This is page 1274. starting in verse three. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables or endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than godly edifying, which is in faith, so do. Now I want to park the car there for a moment and kind of discuss that verse. Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies. I have said this before, but I think the modern church is suffering from illustration fatigue. I think it's hard for a lot of pastors and Bible teachers to simply do what we're doing tonight, verse by verse, line upon line, precept upon precept. It's difficult because you have to have a working knowledge of most of the scripture to be able to rightly divide the word of truth. I'm not saying that fables here in the way it's used by Paul and 1 Timothy means illustrations, but I'm seeing a lot more storytelling. I'm seeing a lot more discussions and illustrations instead of just letting the text speak. The focus becomes how good the story is, how good the illustration is, and then there's some cherry-picking application of some verses here and there. I don't want to do that, and I think that Paul warns against that kind of approach, especially when we're talking about, we have the completed Word of God. Then you have the endless genealogies, which I think is a reference to those who just study the Bible for accuracy, or maybe just for consumption, but there's no exertion, there's no application of what they learn. He says here, they minister questions, these fables and endless genealogies, that type of study, just simply, gives you more questions than it actually does answers, rather than godly edifying, which is in the faith. I like the use of that word, edifying, and how it is described as godly edifying. Let us be building up, which is what edifying means, in a godly way. And I think that is both spiritual edifying, encouraging one another, rebuking when necessary, exhorting, which means comforting, so that we can be better than we were the day before, instead of kind of just letting people do what they want to do and having no expectation for the application of scripture, but I like that it's a godly edifying. This is something that is supposed to be rooted and then motivated through the teaching from God's Word. He just simply says, so do. Do those things. Avoid the fables, the story times, avoid the endless genealogies, do things that build up the body, do that. Now the end of the commandment is charity, love, out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned, from which some, having swerved, turned aside unto vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor whereof, They affirm, but we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully, knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for the sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." This is what Schofield uses to quote how 1 Timothy is focused on teaching sound doctrine. Now what he means by that there is if we're only teaching the law and the keeping of the law, those things are not going to actually produce any kind of righteousness because that righteousness is found in Christ. Righteousness is found in Christ, and we are supposed to live in a set-apart state. Now, naturally, if you're walking with the Lord, you shouldn't be lying, shouldn't be deceiving, certainly should not be killing mother and father, you should not be committing whoredoms and men-stealing, all that kind of stuff that is listed there. shifting there in what Paul is saying to Timothy is there's people who are just kind of coining the Jewish law and applying it to things that are so-called Christian, but that's not sound doctrine. Sound doctrine, it's really, I want you to focus on this here in verse 5, the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart and out of a good conscience and a faith unfeigned. Go out and minister out of love. The law doesn't naturally produce that. The law will produce fear. The motivation for the law is fear. I want to be able to keep it to the best of my ability. Well, that's fear, because if you don't keep it to the best of your ability, as a matter of fact, even if you do keep it to the best of your ability, you have to be 100%, you're going to be found wanting. There's going to be an issue. That's the focus of 1 Timothy. When it comes to Titus, If you go back to Titus, if you have a Schofield Bible there at that header where Schofield is talking, in Titus, the divine order for local churches. Look at Titus chapter one in verse five. This is really the focus. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had ordained. appointed thee." So the focus in First Timothy is basically sound doctrine, which will lead to how you can apply Titus, which is how the church is supposed to run. The church is not just supposed to run by anybody's thought process and anybody's idea. There are ideas and things that can be credible that just come from people's creativity. But if we're kind of flying by the seat of our pants, so to speak, through church, and we're just doing it our way, and we're just going to do it in a way that makes sense for us and for our culture, so to speak, and it's lacking sound doctrine, it's a problem. And that's what I love about this church here, Calvary Community Church, 4811 George Road. It's very unique. We do church, I think, in a biblical way. We model it biblically. That's the focus of Titus. Now, you may say, well, I'm tuning in to figure out how to run a church. That's not all we're gonna talk about today. We're gonna have some application as well, but I think that Schofield puts this in a very good light. He continues, the permanent use of these epistles lies in this twofold application. On the one hand, to churches grown careless as to the truth of God. On the other, to churches careless as to the order of God's house. The importance of this order is made solemnly empathetic. in that, excuse me, solemnly emphatic in that the test by which true elders and deacons may be known are repeated. They're said first in 1 Timothy chapter three, one through seven, they're repeated in Titus one, six through nine. Schofield identifies two divisions. I would agree with this. The first division is the qualification and function of elders. First, this is chapter one, verses one through 16. And then the second distinction is the pastoral work of the true elder, which is chapter 2, verses 1 through 3 and, or excuse me, chapter 2, verse 1 through chapter 3 and verse 15. So let's start there diving in chapter 1. Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness. Paul is called into this position to teach the church. It's a holy thing. He has been set apart for it. Two, in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. Eternal life was something that was from the beginning going to be done. God had promised it. He cannot lie. Therefore, it will come to pass. Amen? But hath in these due times, verse three, manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior. How is the message being communicated? Through the mouths of faithful witnesses. You can be a faithful witness. Go out, open your mouth, preach the gospel. And when you come to church, open your mouth, give edification, and then listen with your two ears. to Titus, mine own son, after the common faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, the things that are... lacking. I want you to set these in here, Titus, and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee." Now, we're going to skip the qualifications for deacons because those are pretty cut and dry. We're going to actually hone in on verse 9, so you can read verse 6 and 7 and 8 there. Those are the qualifications for finding a good man who would serve in the position of both a deacon or an elder. And you say, what's the difference between a deacon and an elder? I didn't really want to get into this, but I can't help myself. I think a deacon is really a servant, a servant to the physical needs of the church. For example, with this Hurricane Helene that we just experienced last week, We had a lot of things at the church that needed to happen. We didn't lose power, so we were expecting to have services, but there were a lot of limbs on the ground. We had to cut an entire tree down. There was a lot of stuff going on there. I call on the deacons for that. You say, well, the deacons do yard work? No, that's not the only thing that they do, but it is something that they should be doing. I think deacons also should be involved in the order of service, handling communion, going in and doing visitation. All of that is really for the deacons. They're set up in Acts chapter 6, you can read that. There was a a need to help the people physically. The elders were then set apart as those who minister to the teaching of God's Word. You can look this up in Acts chapter 6. And then also commit themselves to prayer. So I think the primary distinction between a deacon and an elder is not the classification of servant and ruler. I don't think that's there at all. I think a deacon is a servant and an elder is a servant and a believer should be a servant to the Lord Jesus Christ. And as a matter of fact, I'll stand on that John chapter 13, the feet-washing event there that Jesus performed is an example for his apostles that I think passes on to us of how we should lead. Not ruling over, not becoming lords over one another, but esteeming other better than themselves. That's in Philippians chapter two. It's the lowering of oneself, humility. Deacon, elder, but the elder specifically should be, I think, making the major decisions for the church with prayer and ready to go out and teach and being an example to the believer. Deacons should be doing the same thing, but the elder primarily, that's something I see as something that is set apart there. So we're gonna skip seven, eight, and nine. We're gonna actually skip six, seven, and eight. We're gonna look at nine. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Let's see that again here. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught. So we're expecting these deacons or elders to be men who are taught. And you say, well, what does that mean, pastor? You mean like a four-year degree? No. I am not looking for someone who's merely educated, but they need to know the word of God. And that can come by a simple daily devotional. Faithful church attendance, sure, you can also go to a school and learn the Word, but you can go to the school that's steeped in Calvinism or in Roman Catholic practice and come out worse than what you came in. But I think the idea here is they have some type of understanding of the Word of God. They're not novices, and as a matter of fact, we're warned against selecting novices. that he may be able to, by sound doctrine, both exhort and to convince the gainsayers." So the people that are saying things incorrectly, he can both comfort them with the truth of God's Word and also convince. Doesn't mean he has to be a good debater, but if you stand on God's word and the Holy Spirit is working through that, it's going to be fine. But if you wrongly divide the word of truth, you're going to have an issue. For there, and here's why, these elders and deacons need to be qualified as such. Verse 10, for there are many unruly and vain talkers, deceivers, especially they of the circumcision. This is a direct discussion from Paul to Jews. I'm probably going to conclude that these are the Judaizers, the same group that came in and mixed up the region of Galatia, adding works to the gospel, specifically circumcision to the gospel. Then it's just real clear here in verse 11, whose mouths must be stopped. You want to know what a stopped mouth looks like? It's something like. The qualifications of a deacon and elder should be to the point where the application of God's word, the teaching of God's word is so clear, there's no lack of understanding that it would close the mouths of those false teachers. And that is exactly how you fight error, with the truth. Know the truth, do what the truth instructs, trust it. It is so very important that we do not start to question the word of God because of the teaching of false prophets and false teachers. Second Peter warns us that just like there were false prophets amongst Israel in the wilderness, so there will be false teachers among you, the church. And I think now, probably more than ever, Is true, but it says who subvert whole houses teaching things they ought not for filthy lucre's sake That's very important. You want to see a sign of somebody who's a false teacher I hate to say this because it's not it's not the case all the time, but you'll probably find wealthy pastors and teachers and I mean Ridiculously wealthy pastors and teachers are directly connected to false teaching It's just because that's why they're doing what they're doing it puts money in the pockets One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, so this is a natural creation, said, the Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This is one of those unique times where the scripture quotes the references of a secular individual here. Whoever this prophet was, Paul is saying, they said of themselves that they are naturally liars, evil, and slow bellies. This witness is true. Paul says, from my experience, what this own man said, remember, he's writing to Titus about ministry in Crete, The Cretans are those who are naturally from Crete. And a Cretan prophet said, we're liars. Paul says, yeah, that's true. That's proven itself to be true. Wherefore, rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith. Now, this is primarily, I believe, towards the false teachers. And this is why your pastor's mouth is constantly speaking against those who teach contrary to the Word of God. And I try to make this distinction, and all my haters out there, their ears go deaf on this part, but I make a distinction. I want to win the man, but the doctrine, I want that destroyed. And if there's a man who's teaching false doctrine, and after being rebuked, he will not stop, I pray for the mouth to be shut. The way that I can do that is not by punching them, not by attacking them online, but by rightly dividing the Word of Truth. And if that makes people uncomfortable, I'd rather you be uncomfortable for a little bit of time and come to the discovery and realization of the truth than to be led astray by these fables, endless genealogies. that lead to more questions. I want you to have godly edification. I want you to know the gospel and be able to give it clearly. And a large majority of what's going on today, a lot of good work on the surface, but a lot of it is just no value. Zip, zilch, zero, nada. Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth. So again, this is where I think the Judaizers are kind of brought into this. Jewish fables don't listen to those teachings that go against the teachings of Jesus Christ, the commandments of men that turn from the truth. 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. So these false teachers, in their mind, there's nothing off limits. They can really do whatever needs to be done to continue their own profit, their own success. Verse 16's a hard verse. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him. I think this must mean that they know capital G God, they profess to know him, but in works they deny him. I think that's a, If you compare that with their message about Jesus Christ, they are not saved at all. Works are not a sign of this, but it is something that you will see with false teachers. Now, you judge a false teacher, you have a teacher, right? Let's just say you have a amoral teacher, you're hearing their message, you're trying to come to a conclusion. Do they agree with the word of God? If they do not, you put them in the category of a false teacher, or at least deceived. You try to give them the truth. If they continually go against it and profess it, they know God. and they reject what the gospel says, they're not saved. Being abominable, disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. I think this is really talking about the false teachers of 2 Peter chapter 2. The ones who, they knew the truth, not that they believed it, but they understood what it was, and they denied it. They're like, no, that doesn't save. Like they heard the gospel and said, no, I don't believe that. And they move on and teach against it actively. I think that's who is being spoken of here. Skipping that chapter heading, going into chapter two. But speak thou. So now the focus is off of the ripping into of those false teachers. Just rebuke them sharply. The area you are in, Titus, specifically, you got a lot of people who are deceptive. Mark against that. Now here's what you do, and I love this about the scripture. I love it, I love it, I love it. It's offense and defense, right? It's not just one-sided. It's not just, avoid it! And then, you know, there's zero expectations for anything else. It's instead of this, do this. That's where chapter two comes in. Here's what I want you to avoid. Do this instead. Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. Speak the truth, sound. You got something that's sound, it's gonna hold, it's good quality, it's not flimsy, it's not, you know, the appearance of soundness, but it's hollow, you tap on it, it's got, you know, you wouldn't wanna build something on that sound teaching. that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Men, you come into church on Wednesday night, this should be your behavior. Pastor, who, me, yeah. If I'm talking to myself here, I should be modeling that behavior. And I'm gonna be honest with you folks, this is where I do most of my spiritual work, is trying to keep these things. I wanna make sure the way that I behave myself is sober-minded. I think it's good to crack up, have a joke. It's fun. It's fun to laugh and all that. But if you're silly all the time, if you are unable to lock it in, make decisions, lead with confidence, people are not going to trust you to be serious. You're going to be a joke. Grave. Again, I think that is intent, temperate. You're in control. Dr. Arnold would tell me, and he'd tell me right now, don't let your highs be too high, don't let your lows be too low. When I was driving into the church here on Thursday morning in the aftermath of Milton, I saw so many downed trees on the way here that I thought, that oak tree is down. I thought to myself, it is so down, I know it. And I'm thinking, I hope it fell away from the building. And my heart's racing. I came the back way, because all the lights are out. Hillsborough Avenue was flooded. I couldn't get around it. Went down to Eisenhower, went through President's Plaza. I saw three trees uprooted. I thought, I've never seen a storm like this in my life. Coming around the corner of President's Plaza, and there it is, man. I see that oak is down. I could have lost it there. How are we going to fix this? What are we going to do? Then I walk into the building back here or walk into the property back here and see that fence is just destroyed. Another tree down. We got no power. Very easily my highs could have been like out of control, temperate. I'm supposed to lead in that way. These are things that I'm being honest with you. I'm not telling you, peeking behind the curtain, because I'm not hiding anything. These are things, men, this is how you should lead. This is how the church should function. You shouldn't be a chaotic man who lacks the ability to make good choices. Sound in faith. You are someone who walks by faith. In love, you got love, you're patient. You know, I have a daughter, and my life has completely changed when she came into my life. It taught me a new perspective of my walk with my best friend, Jesus Christ. And I just think it's so important that my kids see me patient. They see me loving. Your kids need to see that, too. Well, Jesse, my kids are grown. I've already made my mistakes. Start fresh today. Don't let that keep you down, men. I want to encourage the men out there. Be men who meet this description. The aged women are seasoned saints, male or female, but specifically talking to the females here. Likewise, same thing, behave yourself this way. They be in behavior as becometh holiness set apart, women. not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they may teach the young women to be sober, like the men were, to love their husbands, to love their children." Boy, and this is what I think is so dangerous about the modern feminist movement. It is just destroying what I believe is the most important part of a child's life outside the love and care of two parents, a mother. I think moms are so important. What's that phrase? The mom is the one, rocks the cradle of one who will rule the world, something like that. You can fact check me on that quote. But it's amazing to see how the devil is just winning against women today. Women think it's empowered to be a modest in public. Women think that it's a good thing to pretty much despise the role of a mother and work for careers. Now look, some people wanna hear what they wanna hear when I just said that. Those of you who are listening, you know what the scripture says, you know my application is, you know what was said here. At no point did I say that women are only good as mothers. At no point did I say that their only role is in the home. But I will say, God has formed things with order. And if there's an instruction here for the older women in the church, the aged women, to be examples of that kind of behavior, we need to be modeling that behavior, women. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. So you're telling me that a wife who is unruly in public against her husband can actually cause the word of God to be slandered? It's pretty significant. Marriage is so important. Marriage is of the utmost importance. I would say, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 7, which I was gonna talk about tonight, but I just decided we'll talk about that another day. You know, the men who are married have a different responsibility than those men who are not. And that is to care and love for your wife and children. And you're a team. I heard Pastor Tom Cucuzza talk about this idea of kids need to know that mom loves dad and dad loves mom. And that relationship needs to be manicured, it needs to be preserved, it needs to be budding. Now it turns over to the young men, verse six, likewise exhort to be sober-minded in all things, showing thyself a pattern of good works. Men, start making good decisions as a pattern, amen? in doctrine, showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned. You know how you have sound speech that cannot be condemned. You talk only the truth, and you will find yourself speaking a lot less. Just saying. gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part, and we're talking about those who are going to be against the believers, may be ashamed, having no evil servants, excuse me, no evil things to say of you. They can't condemn you in the eyes of God if there's nothing you've done that is condemnable. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them in all things, not answering again, not purloining, which is stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. So I want to park the car there for just a moment. Servants here, that's indentured servitude. It is what we would call slavery, but it is not Americanized Civil War style slavery. This was a job that many people did. And the idea here, I think, you say, well, Jesse, are you advocating for indentured servitude today because the Bible mentions it? No, that's a false dilemma. That's something that you're making that conclusion there. What I am saying is, this is about employees. This is how I see this. If you're working, you shouldn't be stealing. Look back there in verse six. or verse nine, excuse me, of chapter two. Obedient unto their masters. Do what your boss says. This is why I think it's very important that Christians carry good testimonies, right? If you have the opportunity to do right to your employer, do it. Be obedient to them. Now, if they're telling you to do things contrary to God's word, you need to make a decision there and step away from it. But don't be rude to your employer. Don't be a time thief. I've known people like that. I've seen it happen. I don't like it. But a lot of people do it and it's wrong. Stealing time is just, I mean, not only are you lying to somebody else, you're lying to yourself as well. Please them well in all things. Be a good employee. Not answering again, which is talking back to be quite Frank there, not purloining, stealing, but showing all good fidelity, trust, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. As they see you behave yourself well, carry yourself well, and they find out by either what you tell them or what is told of them of others, of you, it lines up with what the Word of God teaches. Why do we do all these things? For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. What's that? No, no, who's that? Jesus Christ. Teaching us, the gospel teaches us, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Some of you just locked into confession of faith mode. That is exactly what we quote every single Sunday. And when you see this in light of the context, you see the significance of verse 12. Believers, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I address you today to say, deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, because you know the gospel, amen? And then look for the Savior to come. That Savior Jesus Christ, verse 13, verse 14, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you, Titus. You can put your name there too, if you're a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let no man despise you. as you do these things. I love verse 14. We're redeemed from all iniquity. We struggle with sin every day, but we are redeemed from that iniquity. I love it. I love it so much. It gives me hope. When the world is just crashing, flaming out, I got a home in heaven, not built with the hands of men. Amen? Verse three, chapter, or chapter three, verse one. 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. Be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. Wait a second, what about the people who are homosexual? We don't show, no, you need to be meek with them. This is what I really don't like about this whole new, independent, fundamental Baptist movement. We are putting people into classes. You want to put people in the classes, it's saved and lost. It's in the body or out of the body, okay? We need to be meekness, we need to show meekness to all of them. That doesn't mean there comes a time where you have to speak against the truth, and that will be at the expense of condemning people, as it should be, but folks, We need to approach, the first step needs to be with meekness, not brawling, gentle. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish and disobedient, deceived, serving diverse multiple lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But after that, the kindness and love of God, of our Savior, Toward man appeared. This is significant. You were once in the same spot of somebody who you now may be judging is unworthy of your love and care and meekness. No. What changes, this is why I think that first step, favorable attention is so very important. If you're just simply, how do I put this in a way that is not insensitive? If you're just simply sales pitching the gospel, you're just kind of sales pitching the Christian life. Well, I did my part. I did my part. You need to care for people, folks. You need to have concern. And again, I know I'm going back to my experience, but man, my daughter. I don't want her to just become, you know, four years old and I just give her the gospel. Here you go. Move on, kid. Did my part. I want to care for her. I want to care for others too. And it's hard to do that in this world today. It's very hard to do that. But you need to dig deep. You need to find the love of the Savior and then let that flow through you. When you say, what is that? That sounds New Age-y. Just walk in the Spirit, not the lust of the flesh. This is a faith, oh, verse five. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which is shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. That phrase, hope of eternal life, was also used right over there in chapter one and verse two. In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie promised before the world began. What's the message here? We're not saved by our own righteousness, so don't get stuck in your self-righteousness as you are ministering to others in the church and those outside of the church who are lost. 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. Good works matter. We hear that phrase, blah, blah, blah, lives matter. And it's not just black lives matter. There's a bunch of other stuff that that's been substituted with. I would like to say good works matter. They do. They don't matter a lick towards your standing in heaven. They do matter in your ability to minister to those around you. These things are good and profitable unto men. Avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition, knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself. If you rebuke a man once, twice, move on and start getting busy doing things that matter. And that's one of the common things that people lodge against this ministry, because all they find is our YouTube ministry Bible line. So this pastor doesn't do anything but just, he's not a pastor, all he does is just get on the internet and just rail against people. Hi, here's me pre-recording late on a Saturday night. I've had phone calls, I've visited people, I was ready to, you know who you are, I was ready to drive my little Ford Ranger into floodwaters to go see if somebody was alright. I'm not patting myself on the back here, but my whole job here is not just get on the internet, find who's teaching the false doctrine and do a react video to them. We should be praying with people. I want to be praying with people. I want to be helping people. I want to be, what's the word I'm looking for, exhorting, comforting, and encouraging, and also, yes, at times rebuking my fellow brother and sister in Christ and accepting those same things when it's my turn to also be put in my place. This all works together, but if you have somebody at first, second time, heretic, they're not willing to change, mark and avoid them. Then he says some things here as he concludes to some specific people. I want you to see in verse 14 as we close, and let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. Whole point is here is for you to be profitable as a believer. Yes, you've put your trust in Jesus Christ. That's a good thing. Now go and bear much fruit. Here it is, my father glorified that you bear much fruit. But maybe you're watching today and you're not sure of where you're gonna go when you die. As we bring this message to a close, let us remind ourselves of the truth that is found in the gospel. That word gospel, it's a archaic word. It's not used in common talk today. It means good news. Here's the good news. Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins. That's the good news. Why did he do that? This hand represents you and me. This represents sin. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. God loves us, hates our sin very much. In order to get to heaven, We have to be perfect, just like God, but this sin separates us from Him. The wages of sin is death. Eternal separation from God and a literal fire burning hell. The wages of sin is not good works. It's not turning from sin. It's not asking God into your heart. It's not committing. The wages of sin is death. You've got to die and then someone's got to shed blood for you and they have to be sinless. None of us. We need a Savior. That's why Jesus came. This hand represents Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, fully God and fully man. And we can articulate the good news gospel this way. For God so loved the world, that's you and me, that he gave his only begotten Son, that's Jesus Christ, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have a certain kind of life, everlasting life. And once you put your trust in Jesus Christ, you're passed from death Until life, you'll never be brought into condemnation again. Whoa, you'll never be brought into condemnation again. Can I get a hallelujah? Pastor, but the oak tree fell. Pastor, but we've had three major storms. I'm not minimizing those things. But folks, you want some comfort and encouragement tonight? We have eternal life in Jesus Christ. We'll never be taken away. There'll never be a position where God says, condemned. We're passed from that, from that death on the life. If you're watching today and you say, Pastor, that makes sense. I just changed my mind. I put my trust in Jesus Christ. I am praying for you. Hope to see you here on Wednesday night. Make sure that you are here. We're going to be working on something special for Wednesday night. I hope you're here for it. Father, thank you for this opportunity. Bless our community. We're blessed in Jesus Christ. Provide for our community, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.