Sermon: What A Bishop Must Be - Part 3 (Titus 1:5-9)

What A Bishop Must Be – Pt. 3 Sunday, August17th, 2025 Christ Covenant Church – Centralia, WA Titus 1:5-9

Prayer

Father, we thank you for the power of Your word, which is as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Please cleanse us, please renew our purity and chastity as saints, so that we may become as holy temples wherein you walk and dwell forever. Grant us Your Holy Spirit now, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction

For the last two weeks we have been studying this long list of qualifications to be a bishop. Recall that the title of elder/presbyter refers to a man’s spiritual age and maturity, and the title of bishop/overseer refers to his work of keeping watch over God’s flock.

• The Apostle Paul had left his co-worker Titus on the beautiful island of Crete to, “set in order the things that are wanting.” And we discover that what was wanting/lacking in Crete was a distinctly presbyterian form of church government.
  • What is presbyterian church government? It the government of the church by a plurality of qualified presbyters of equal rank. This is the universal apostolic pattern in the New Testament, and it was Titus’s job to examine and appoint such men for this work in the many cities of Crete.
• Now thus far we have looked at 9 of these 16 qualifications that Paul sets down for us. And this morning we are going to almost complete that list by looking at the six remaining moral qualifications. And then Lord Willing next week we’ll look at the 16th and final qualification which is a matter of skill and competency to teach sound doctrine and refute error.
• Now before we study these 6 moral qualities, I want to remind you of two important truths:
  • 1. The standard for elders in the church is also a universal moral standard for all Christians. And so while this list of 16 things is most applicable, relevant, and binding for those called to the ministry, it is still a high moral example that all of us should be aspiring towards. To put it another way, no Christian can say to himself, “well I am not a pastor, so I don’t have to live as holy as the pastor does.”
    • No, the charge that Paul gives to all the saints in the church is, Follow me as I follow Christ (1 Cor 11:1), And Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow/imitate, considering the outcome of their conduct (Heb 13:7).
    • So while most of us are not called to become elders or deacons, and James 3:1 says not many should become teachers my brethren, for we shall be judged with a stricter judgment, still these moral qualities that Paul sets down here should be what we all aspire to. So your work in hearing these sermons on “What A Bishop Must Be,” should be to examine your own life with an eye to how you may grow in godliness.
  • 2. Remember that God never calls us to be or become something, without also giving us the grace to obey Him. So while this high moral standard applies to everyone according to their unique age, sex, and station in life, this list is not the basis for our right standing with God, but it is rather the fruit, the effect, and the necessary consequence, of God making us righteous in His Son.
    • This is because when God justifies you (He declares you righteous for Christ’s sake), He not only forgives and forgets all of your past sins, not counting them against you, but He also gives more grace.
    • The God who justifies you graciously, is the same God who sanctifies you graciously. And so all of our hard work and labor to become more holy, to repent of our vices and embrace virtue is still all a work of God’s grace. Furthermore, it is only by grace that you can become this.
    • Paul describes this divine-human cooperation in Philippians 2:12-13 saying, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
    • So we must resist the temptation to make our progress in grace the ultimate cause and basis for which God loves us, instead of it being the joyful effect and fruit of God’s unchangeable love working within us.
      • God says in Jeremiah 31:3, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. And in Malachi 3:6, I am the LORD, I change not.
    • So nothing you do can change the character and essence of God. He