OceanSide church of Christ
Previous | Return to list of sermons | Next |
LIVE SOBERLY
Titus
2:11-12
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Titus 2:11-12 not only
teaches us what to deny, but it also instructs us how to live in a positive
way.
For the
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world.
B.
In this lesson, we
want to consider the topic: “Live
Soberly.”
C.
There are two primary
Greek words that are translated “sober” in the New
Testament.
1.
The one used in Titus
2:12 is from “sophrone.”
2.
The other word is
“nepho” (I Thess. 5:6).
Therefore
let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be
sober.
3.
Some try to
distinguish between the two words, but they are almost interchangeable in the
Biblical text.
D.
In the KJV, the
translators use different terms to translate the two
words.
1.
Sophrone: right mind, sober, sound mind,
temperate, discreet
2.
Nepho: vigilant, sober, temperate,
watch
E.
There are three verses
in which both words are found together.
1.
I Timothy
3:2
A bishop
then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant (nepho), grave, temperate (sophrone), of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to
teach.
2.
Titus
2:2
That the
aged men be sober (nepho), grave temperate (sophone),
sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3.
I Peter
4:7
But the
end of all things is at hand: be ye
therefore sober (sophone), and watch (nepho) unto
prayer.
F.
There are several
different avenues one can take in an attempt to understand and apply this word
to our lives. We will examine
soberness in contrast to its opposites.
I.
SOBERNESS VERSUS UNALERT AND UNPREPARED
A.
Here, we see soberness
in its most commonly understood definition.
1.
Soberness stands in
opposition to the stupor of intoxicants.
2.
Soberness also stands
in opposition to a state of sleepiness.
NOTE: It is possible for a
man not to be asleep, but not to be sober.
B.
The Christian is a person who is sober, that is, alert,
awake, and not intoxicated.
C.
The reason for this is two-fold:
1.
We must be alert to our enemy Satan (I Peter 5:8).
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversay the devil, as
a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
2.
We must be ever watchful and ready for the Second Coming of
our Lord (I Thess. 5:4-6).
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should
overtake you as a thief. Ye are all children of light, and the
children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but
let us watch and be sober.
II.
SOBERNESS VERSUS INSANITY
A.
A
person who is not in his right mind is not sober.
B.
In the days of Jesus, a man was possessed with a demon.
1.
This demon possessed the mind of the man.
2.
He did things he would not have done if his right mind had
been operative.
3.
Jesus cast the demon out and a remarkable change came over
the man (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35).
And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with
the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were
afraid.
C.
Demon possession no longer exists, but there are disorders
that one can have that render a person insane. In such cases, one is not sober.
1.
Medications and counseling can help in some cases.
2.
God will judge these individuals with justice.
III. SOBERNESS
VERSUS SELF-EXALTATION
A.
When a person has a proud, arrogant view of himself, he is
not sober.
B.
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace give unto me, to every man
that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think;
but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of
faith.
1. It
is possible for one to over exalt himself (e.g., Pharaoh, Exo. 5:2; Herod, Acts
12:21-23; and Diotrephes, III John 9-10).
And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his
voice to let
2. The
rich, the knowledgeable, the powerful, the celebrity, the politician, the star
athlete, and others can develop an air of supremacy.
3.
Three things can help to humble us very quickly:
a.
Sin: I
am not good
b.
Death:
I will cease to exist
c.
Time: I
will be soon forgotten
IV. SOBERNESS
VERSUS EMOTIONAL DISPLAY
A.
In Acts 26, Paul stands before King Agrippa in defense of
the Christian religion.
1.
Prior to this, Paul had stood before Festus and had
appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:11-12).
2.
When Agrippa learned of this, he desired to hear from Paul
(Acts 25:22).
3.
Paul’s defense (Acts 26:1-23)
a. He
told of his life as a persecutor
b. He
told of his conversion
c. He
told that these experiences and his new message had led to his arrest
4.
When Festus heard this account, he accused Paul of being mad (Acts
26:24).
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud
voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning hath made thee mad.
4.
Paul responded stating that he was not mad, but spoke
sobering words (Acts 26:25).
But he said, I am not made most noble Festus; but speak
forth the words of truth and soberness.
a. The
English Standard Version (ESV) states: “But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind,
most excellent, Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.’”
b. The
thought in the first century was that prophetic utterances came when one was in
a highly emotional, ecstatic condition.
c. Not
so! Paul was
speaking a message under inspiration that was true and rational.
B.
The message of the gospel is till true and rational.
1.
It is a message that is based upon evidence (Heb.
11:1).
2.
The evidence can be examined and tested as to its truth and
accuracy (Acts 17:11).
3.
It must, then, either be accepted or rejected (Acts
26:27-28).
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou
believest.
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian.
V.
SOBERNESS VERSUS IMMODESTY/EXCESS
A.
In the city of
B.
When Paul addressed the Christian women of this city, he
exhorted them to dress soberly (I Tim. 2:9-10).
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest
apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or
pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with
good works.
C.
Excess in dress, whether over or underdressing, is
immodest. It
does not display the right thinking demanded of a child of God.
1.
Bikinis, tatooes all over one’s body, pants showing
underwear, gothic look, gold and diamonds everywhere, loud colors, and that
which is sexually revealing.
2.
When one departs from another’s presence and they cannot
remember how he is dressed, he was modest.
VI. SOBERNESS
VERSUS LACK OF SELF CONTROL
A.
The world has a tendency to focus upon its sinful lusts,
desires, passions, and cravings (Eph. 2:3).
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past
in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;
and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
B.
Christians are different. They live lives of self-control, temperance,
and discipline.
They seek to curb and conquer their fleshly passions. They seek to live
soberly.
1.
Elders (I Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:2).
2.
Deacons’ wives (I Tim. 3:11).
3.
Gospel preachers (II Tim. 4:5).
4.
Aged men (Tit. 2:2).
5.
Young women (Titus 2:5; see also I Tim. 2:15).
6.
Young men (Tit. 2:6).
C.
I
Peter 1:13-16
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and
hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation
of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to
former lusts in our ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so
be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for
I am holy.
1.
This control begins in the mind.
2.
It involves obedience and abstaining from fleshly
lusts.
3.
It results in our being holy and set apart.
4.
It is motivated by the hope that we have of receiving God’s
grace at our Lord’s return.
CONCLUSION
A.
When one is drunk, other will often tell him he needs to
“sober up.”
B.
From a Biblical perspective, perhaps all of need to do some
sobering up.
1.
We need to sober up about the Second Coming.
2.
We need to sober up about self.
3.
We need to sober up about modesty and excess.
4.
We need to sober up about “how” we live the Christian
life.
C.
I
Thessalonians 5:8-9
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not
appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
LIVE SOBERLY
Titus 2:11-12
Victor M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Titus
2:11-12 not only teaches us what to deny, but it also instructs us how to live
in a positive way.
B.
In this
lesson, we want to consider the topic: “Live Soberly.”
C.
There are
two primary Greek words that are translated “sober” in the New Testament.
1.
The one used in Titus 2:12 is from “sophrone.”
2.
The other word is “nepho” (I Thess. 5:6).
3.
Some try
to distinguish between the two words, but they are almost interchangeable in the
Biblical text.
D.
In the KJV, the translators use different terms to translate the two
words.
1.
Sophrone:
right mind, sober, sound mind, temperate, discreet
2.
Nepho:
vigilant, sober, temperate, watch
E.
There are three verses in which both words are found together (I Tim.
3:2; Tit. 2:2; I Pet. 4:7).
G.
There are several different avenues one can take in an attempt to
understand and apply this word to our lives. We will examine soberness in contrast to its
opposites.
I.
SOBERNESS VERSUS UNALERT AND UNPREPARED
A.
Here, we see soberness in its most commonly understood definition.
1.
Soberness stands in opposition to the stupor of intoxicants.
2.
Soberness also stands in opposition to a state of sleepiness.
B.
The Christian is a person who is sober, that is, alert, awake, and not
intoxicated.
C.
The reason for this is two-fold: 1) Our enemy (I Peter 5:8) and 2) The Second
Coming (I Thess. 5:4-6).
II.
SOBERNESS VERSUS INSANITY
A.
A person who is not in his right mind is not sober.
B.
In the days of Jesus, a man was possessed with a demon.
1.
This demon possessed the mind of the man.
2.
He did things he would not have done if his right mind had been
operative.
3.
Jesus cast the demon out and a remarkable change came over the mane (Mark
5:15; Luke 8:35).
C.
Demon possession no longer exists, but there are disorders that one can
have that render a person insane. In such cases, one is not sober (Medications,
counseling, and the righteous judgment of God).
III.
SOBERNESS VERSUS SELF-EXALTATION
A.
When a person has a proud, arrogant view of himself, he is not sober.
B.
Romans 12:3
1.
It is possible for one to over exalt himself (e.g., Pharaoh, Exo. 5:2;
Herod, Acts 12:21-23; and Diotrephes, III John 9-10).
2.
The rich, the knowledgeable, the powerful, the celebrity, the politician,
the star athlete, and others.
3.
Three things can help to humble us very quickly: 1) Sin: I am not good; 2)
Death: I will
cease to exist, and 3) Time: I will be soon forgotten.
IV.
SOBERNESS VERSUS EMOTIONAL DISPLAY
A.
In Acts 26, Paul stands before King Agrippa in defense of the Christian
religion.
1.
Prior to this, Paul had stood before Festus and had appealed to Caesar
(Acts 25:11-12).
2.
When Agrippa learned of this, he desired to hear from Paul (Acts
25:22).
3.
Paul’s defense (Acts 26:1-23)
4.
When Festus heard this account, he accused Paul of being made (Acts
26:24).
5.
Paul responded stating that he was not mad, but spoke sobering words
(Acts 26:25).
a.
The English Standard Version (ESV) states: “But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind,
most excellent, Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.’”
b.
Those in the first century thought that prophetic utterances came from a
highly emotional, ecstatic condition.
c.
Not so!
Paul was speaking a message under inspiration that was true and
rational.
B.
The message of the gospel is till true and rational.
1.
It is a message that is based upon evidence (Heb. 11:1).
2.
The evidence can be examined and tested as to its truth and accuracy
(Acts 17:11).
3.
It must, then, either be accepted or rejected (Acts 26:27-28).
V.
SOBERNESS VERSUS IMMODESTY/EXCESS
A.
In the city of
B.
When Paul addressed the Christian women of this city, he exhorted them to
dress soberly (I Tim. 2:9-10).
C.
Excess in dress, whether over or underdressing, is immodest. It does not display
the right thinking demanded of a child of God.
1.
Bikinis, tatooes all over one’s body, pants showing underwear, gothic
look, gold and diamonds everywhere, loud colors, and that which is sexually
revealing.
2.
When one departs from another’s presence and they cannot remember how he
is dressed, he was modest.
VI.
SOBERNESS VERSUS LACK OF SELF CONTROL
A.
The world has a tendency to focus upon its sinful lusts, desires,
passions, and cravings (Eph. 2:3).
B.
Christians are different. They live lives of self-control, temperance,
and discipline.
They seek to curb their fleshly passions.
1.
Elders (I Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:2).
2.
Deacons’ wives (I Tim. 3:11).
3.
Gospel preachers (II Tim. 4:5).
4.
Aged men (Tit. 2:2).
5.
Young
women (Titus 2:5; see also I Tim. 2:15).
6.
Young men
(Tit. 2:6).
C.
I Peter 1:13-16
CONCLUSION
A.
When one is drunk, other will often tell him he needs to “sober up.”
B.
From a Biblical perspective, perhaps all of need to do some sobering
up: Second
Coming, Self, Modesty, and “how” we live the Christian life.
C.
I Thessalonians 5:8-9
LIVE SOBERLY
Titus 2:11-12
Victor M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Titus 2:11-12 not only teaches us what to deny, but it also instructs us
how to live in a positive way.
B.
In this lesson, we want to consider the topic: “Live Soberly.”
C.
here are _______ primary Greek words that are translated “sober” in the
New Testament.
1.
The one used in Titus 2:12 is from “sophrone.”
2.
The other word is “nepho” (I Thess. 5:6).
3.
Some try to distinguish between the two words, but they are almost
interchangeable in the Biblical text.
D.
In the KJV, the translators use different terms to translate the two
words.
1.
Sophrone:
__________ mind, sober, sound mind, temperate, discreet
2.
Nepho:
_____________________, sober, temperate, watch
E.
There are three verses in which both words are found _________________ (I
Tim. 3:2; Tit. 2:2; I Pet. 4:7).
F.
There are several different avenues one can take in an attempt to
understand and apply this word to our lives. We will examine soberness in contrast to its
opposites.
I.
SOBERNESS VERSUS ____________________ AND UNPREPARED
A.
Here, we see soberness in its most _________________ understood
definition.
1.
Soberness stands in opposition to the stupor of _________________.
2.
Soberness also stands in opposition to a state of
____________________.
B.
The Christian is a person who is sober, that is, alert, awake, and not
intoxicated.
C.
The reason for this is two-fold: 1) Our __________ (I Peter 5:8) and 2) The
___________
____________ (I Thess. 5:4-6).
II.
SOBERNESS VERSUS INSANITY
A.
A person who is not in his ____________ mind is not sober.
B.
In the days of Jesus, a man was possessed with a demon.
1.
This ____________________ possessed the mind of the man.
2.
He did things he would _________ have done if his right mind had been
operative.
3.
Jesus cast the demon out and a remarkable change came over the man (Mark
5:15; Luke 8:35).
C.
Demon possession no longer exists, but there are disorders that one can
have that render a person insane. In such cases, one is not sober (Medications,
counseling can help, and the righteous judgment of God will be just).
III.
SOBERNESS VERSUS __________-______________________.
A.
When a person has a _________________, arrogant view of himself, he is
not sober.
B.
________________________ 12:3
1.
It is possible for one to over ____________ himself (e.g., Pharaoh, Exo.
5:2; Herod, Acts 12:21-23; and Diotrephes, III John 9-10).
2.
The rich, the knowledgeable, the powerful, the celebrity, the politician,
the star athlete, and others.
3.
Three things can help to humble us very quickly: 1) _________: I am not good; 2)
___________: I
will cease to exist, and 3) ________________: I will be soon forgotten.
IV.
SOBERNESS VERSUS ______________________ DISPLAY
A.
In Acts 26, Paul stands before King Agrippa in defense of the Christian
religion.
1.
Prior to this, Paul had stood before Festus and had appealed to Caesar
(Acts 25:11-12).
2.
When Agrippa learned of this, he desired to hear from Paul (Acts
25:22).
3.
aul’s defense (Acts 26:1-23)
4.
When Festus heard this account, he accused Paul of being __________ (Acts
26:24).
5.
Paul responded stating that he was not mad, but spoke _________________
words (Acts 26:25).
a.
The English Standard Version (ESV) states: “But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind,
most excellent, Festus, but I am speaking true and ________________ words.’”
b.
Those in the first century thought that prophetic utterances came from a
highly emotional, ecstatic condition.
c.
Not so!
Paul was speaking a message under inspiration that was true and
rational.
B.
The message of the gospel is till true and rational.
1.
It is a message that is based upon ___________________ (Heb. 11:1).
2.
The evidence can be examined and tested as to its truth and
__________________ (Acts 17:11).
3.
It must, then, either be _________________ or _________________ (Acts
26:27-28).
V.
SOBERNESS VERSUS IMMODESTY/EXCESS
A.
In the city of
B.
When Paul addressed the Christian women of this city, he exhorted them to
dress _________________ (I Tim. 2:9-10).
C.
Excess in dress, whether over or under dressing, is ____________. It does not display
the right thinking demanded of a child of God.
1.
Bikinis, tatooes all over one’s body, pants showing underwear, gothic
look, gold and diamonds everywhere, loud colors, and that which is sexually
revealing.
2.
When one departs from another’s presence and they cannot remember how he
is dressed, he was modest.
VI.
SOBERNESS VERSUS LACK OF SELF _________________________
A.
The world has a tendency to focus upon its sinful lusts,
________________, passions, and cravings (Eph. 2:3).
B.
Christians are different. They live lives of self-control, temperance,
and ___________.
They seek to ________ their fleshly passions.
1.
Elders (I Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:2).
2.
Deacons’ wives (I Tim. 3:11).
3.
Gospel preachers (II Tim. 4:5).
4.
Aged men (Tit. 2:2).
5.
Young women (Titus 2:5; see also I Tim. 2:15).
6.
Young men (Tit. 2:6).
C.
I Peter 1:13-16
CONCLUSION
A.
When one is drunk, other will often tell him he needs to
“______________
________.”
B.
From a Biblical perspective, perhaps all of need to do some sobering
up: Second
Coming, Self, Modesty, and “how” we live the Christian life.
C. I Thessalonians 5:8-9