Titus 1:9
9 Holding fast [antechomai] the
faithful [pistos] word [logos] as [kata] he hath been
taught [didache], that [hina] he may be [o] able [dunatos] by [en] sound [hugiaino] doctrine [didaskalia] both [kai] to exhort [parakaleo] and [kai] to convince [elegcho] the
gainsayers [antilego]. KJV-Interlinear
9 holding fast the faithful word
which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in
sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. NASB
Leading a life of
perfection is not an easy task.In fact
everyone who has ever lived will fail at this, over and over again, in their life. There is but one who is perfect and that is
Christ.
Because we are weak in
the flesh, does not mean that we do not try.
And anyone who tries, requires doctrine, which is the content of the
scriptures learned and understood, and resident within their soul, in order to
even come close to living the life of perfection described herein.
To live an honest life
is difficult.The world has placed
almost anything and everything against your success. The world wants you to fail. The world will place almost every imaginable
pressure against you, in order to force your failure.
From enticements to
poverty, the world knows no limitation in order to get you to fail in life.
This is therefore the
reason for Titus, to find such people who are above the norm, in their
personality.People who will be able to
withstand the tests of time, the tests of people, the tests of every imaginable
type.People who can take the teaching of
the Word of God and maintain a learning environment for others to hear and
learn.
The word must first be
learned, and then understood, and then applied to life in order to really
possess a solid foundation of wisdom.
And, this must all be facilitated from within the fellowship sphere
(obtained and maintained through regular confession of sins to God the Father).
This produces sound
doctrine in ones life.Sound, means
untainted, uncompromised, unaltered.And
doctrine is simply the instruction, the teaching, the
principles that are contained within the scriptures.
There will be many
pressures from life, from ones own thinking, from ones own preexisting beliefs,
from ones own beliefs that they have become used to and that are more
convenient to their thinking.
Christians whether a
leader or not, will face people who will argue, debate, ridicule
from their own sin nature and prejudiced perspective. You have to learn to hold your ground
gracefully.
Most will oppose you,
and few will listen.You will never win
great battles in the worldly sense, and the battles that you do win, you will
probably never know about. But no matter.
You live your life as
unto the Lord, and between God and yourself, you know that you have been
honorable and faithful to the best of your human ability. But again, do not allow that to turn your
attitude toward arrogance.The world will
try to catch you both coming and going.Spiritual
alertness comes through the knowledge and understanding (objective discernment)
of the Word for God.