When a child is born, they automatically become a citizen of a country. And when someone becomes a citizen, they are also under the laws of that country, to follow and obey.
But what happens when an individual decides to break those laws? They are punished. At first they may be given a verbal warning, but if the problem persists and they continue to break those laws, eventually that individual will need to be separated from the rest of the general public, and placed in some sort of disciplinary facility. They are separated because they do not listen and obey.
The same kind of thing happens in sports. In pretty much any sport there are various rules that need to be followed. Things that are allowed, and things that are not. If a player decides to break those rules, the punishments may start out as just monetary fines but if it persists it may go all the way up to lengthy suspensions.
Which brings me to our verse here today found in Titus 3.
Titus 3:10-11 “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
Do you know what a heretic is? A heretic is defined as “someone who believes contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion they claim to belong to. A person with a belief structure or performs an action that the majority consider incorrect as it is different than the generally accepted.”
As Christians we follow a certain set of rules and commands that Jesus has set for His believers. These commandments need to be kept exactly as it is written in His word. But if someone who claims to be a Christian does not abide by Christ’s teachings, we have been commanded to warn them once, twice, and then if they still will not be obedient but instead refuse to obey these commands, to “reject” them.
To “reject” means “to refuse to accept, deny, or disown.” We are not supposed to be fellowshipping and hanging around with them. The reason why is because they are “subverted” which means “perverted (as in the mind), corrupted, utterly ruined.”
In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul commanded that a person be removed from the church because they were not living in accordance to the teachings of Christ. They were not sad or sorrowful for their sins, and for this reason Paul had them separated from the church. This was not done out of hatred towards them, but was instead done in order to bring about a change in their life. Paul referred to it as “purging” out the old leaven, separating the sin from the church.
Out in society, if you don’t follow the rules and laws you will be removed from the general population and put into prison. They don’t keep criminals with the law abiding public, but they are separated. They are denied freedom and punished. If you are going to call yourselves a Christian, then you need to abide by the teachings found in the Bible. It is as simple as that. Not picking and choosing which parts you like the best, or which parts “suit” you.
Separation from friends and family can be an incredibly difficult thing to do because of your love for them. If they are claiming to be Christians but don’t believe in and obey certain parts of God’s word, we need to warn them, but if they will not hear the commands of Christ and change, we ourselves need to obey the scriptures, and separate from them.
It all comes down to love, really. If we love Christ, we will keep His commands (John 14:15). How can you show Jesus your love for Him if you don’t obey Him? You can’t.
John 14:23-24 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”
Probably the most common form of heretical teachings found in many “churches” today is the allowance and encouragement of women preaching. While this is not found anywhere in the Bible that it is allowed, it is commonly taught that it is acceptable and correct. It is expressly forbidden, but many people ignore these verses and allow it anyway. From these sort of people we need to separate from because they claim to love God, but their works show that they really don’t.
2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
So do you love Christ enough to do what needs to be done if the time comes?
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 