An Elder/Leader Must Be Blameless (Titus 1:5-9)

Titus 1:5-9; Key Verse: Tit 1:6 (Watch Video of Sermon) (25 min)

"An elder must be blameless..." ("above reproach")

This text is about the prime attribute of an elder/leader/overseer/pastor of the church, which is "blameless," (NIV) or "above reproach" (ESV). But "blameless" should surely also be the chief characteristic of any and every genuine sincere Christian.



In Titus, after identifying himself, Paul explicitly expresses his purpose of life to work for the triad of faith, truth and hope of God's elect (Tit 1:1-4). His brief "Hello" contains a theological overview that alludes to God's trinitarian nature, and to the stages of salvation, sanctification and glorification. He also explains that God makes the Gospel known through the preaching of the Word. Usually, Paul has a thanksgiving section in his letters after his introduction. But not in Titus. Instead he goes right into the pressing issue of appointing elders in the churches in Crete. Let's think about the chief attribute of elders--blameless--in 3 ways: what "blameless" means, why being blameless is important, and how one become blameless.

1. What it means: What does it mean to be blameless?
2. Why it's important: Why it is important to be blameless?
3. How it happens: How does one become blameless?

I. What it means to be blameless

• Blameless does not mean sinless. If it did, no one can ever be an elder or leader of any church. There should be no legitimate accusation that could be brought against the elder; this would bring disrepute to the gospel and/or the church; his life should be seen as worthy of imitation.
  
• Paul directed that elders (pleural) be appointed, suggesting a team of overseers, a pleurality of pastors/leadership.

Paul states that an elder should have a 3-fold blamelessness:

1. Marriage and family (Tit 1:6).
• One wife. The importance of marital fidelity and moral purity. Marriage reflects the intimacy of the Trinity.
  
• Obedient children. The influence of a godly family.
  
2. Character and conduct (Tit 1:7-8). 5 negatives. 6 positives.
• Not overbearing. Not lording over others (Mk 10:42-44).
  
• Not quick-tempered. Not irritable, impatient.
  
• Not given to drunkenness. Temperate and moderate.
  
• Not violent. Lead by example, not by force; lead by humble service, not by self assertion.
  
• Not pursuing dishonest gain. Love of money (1 Ti 6:10) leads to a thorny heart that chokes us (Mk 4:7,19).
  
• Be hospitable. Benedictine monks had an open door/heart/mind.
  
• Loves what is good. What do you truly love?
  
• Self-controlled. A fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
  
• Upright. Deals fairly with others.
  
• Holy. This is different from elitism or self-righteousness.
  
• Disciplined. Self mastery under the Spirit. Or we are mastered by self/sin (Gen 4:7).
• Could these 5 negatives and 6 positives be summed up in a word? Perhaps it is humility. It is a hard word to define. Someone said that trying to define humility is like how Supreme Court Justice Potter Steward defined pornography: "I know it when I see it." Likewise it may be hard to define what a humble or a blameless Christian is. But "you know it when you see it."
  
3. Teaching the Word (Tit 1:9). Message is logos, which occurs 331 times in the NT (Strongs), doctrine comes from the word that means teaching. An elder must know the Word, hold firmly to it, and who encourage others by sound healthy teaching them, or refuting error. John Calvin says, "A pastor needs two voices, one for gathering the sheep and the other for driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means for doing both."
   

II. Why it's important to be blameless

• To teach truth (1 Tim 3:2; Mt 28:19) and refute error (Tit 1:9b-11).
• Not only teach correctly, but live accordingly.
• An example/model to follow (Tit 2:7-8; 1 Tim 4:12; 1 Pet 2:12; Mt 5:16).
  

III. How does one become blameless

• The grace of God (Tit 2:11-12).
• The mercy of God (Tit 3:5).
• The knowledge of the truth (Tit 1:1).
• The work of God (Phil 2:13).
• The righteousness of God (Phil 3:9; 2 Cor 5:21).
• The message of the cross (1 Cor 1:18).
• The gospel (Rom 1:16; Acts 20:24).
  

Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God" (Mt 5:8). No one can be blameless like God unless we see him. When we see Jesus we are transformed (2 Cor 3:18). Ultimately, Jesus was the only One who was truly blameless and sinless. Yet he became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21). Though he was truly blameless, he took all of our blame upon himself, so that we who are full of blame may be regarded as blameless.

Thank God who granted us 9 elders at West Loop: Rhoel, Tim, Art, Jim, Len, Luis, Ed, Henry and Ben. What are our common characteristics? We are all quite sinful. But in Christ and through Christ we are blameless in him. When we are blameless in Christ, God blesses our marriages and our children, our interpersonal relationships and our community. When we are blameless in Christ, God enables the trustworthy message of the gospel we proclaim to be credible.

May God remind us of the gospel so that our stewardship as elders is a blessing to our church, our community, and even our country, the continents and the cosmos.

Questions:

1. What is the chief requirement of elders/leaders in the church (Tit 1:6; 1 Tim 3:2)? The difference between blameless and sinless? Why is this so important for a Christian leader (Mt 5:5; Tit 2:7-8; 1 Tim 4:12; 1 Pet 2:12; Mt 5:16)?
   
2. In what 3 areas should elders be blameless: family (Tit 1:6); character/conduct (Tit 1:7-8); sound doctrine (Tit 1:9)? Elaborate on each virtue (1 Tim 3:1-10).
   
3. How should elders deal with false teaching (Tit 1:10-11, 13)? Why? What characterizes false teachers (Tit 1:12)?
4. What is the danger of the "circumcision group" and of "merely human commands" (Tit 1:10,14)? How do they obscure the gospel (Rom 4:5; Eph 2:8-9; Prov 14:12; Isa 64:6; Jer 17:9)?
   
5. What is the difference between true purity and external purity (Tit 1:15-16; Mt 5:8, 23:5, 25; 1 Sam 16:7)?
6. How can we be blameless (2 Cor 3:18, 5:21; Phil 3:9, 2:12-13)?
   

References:

1. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus: Guard the Truth. (Bible Speaks Today.) John Stott. 2001.
   
2. ESV Study Bible.