Titus 1:15-16 (ESV)
To the pure, all things are pure, but to
the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and
their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by
their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Verse 15 seems strange at first glance. “To the
pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure.”
What does that mean and how does it fit with Paul’s teaching here? There are
false teachers who are affecting and infecting the believers where Titus is
serving. These false teachers are putting forth a form of Jewish mysticism that
likely includes some form of asceticism and self-denial (see vs. 14). Paul’s
assertion is that purity does not begin externally, but internally. One who is
pure internally does not need to constantly be asking if such and such is a
sin, or if this behavior or that is acceptable. But for those whose minds and
consciences are defiled, even the “good” things they do are defiled. Purity begins
internally, not externally. Too often I have seen people toe the line in terms
of “godly behavior,” but fail miserably when it comes to their priorities in
life, how they treat other people, or what they teach in the name of the
gospel. Being a follower of Christ begins internally. It is not about
conforming to a particular set of acceptable behaviors. The gospel is about
transformation from the inside out. It starts with faith that God will accept
us and transform us because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It continues
by dependence on the indwelling Holy Spirit. When the first thing we teach new
believers is proper behavior, we have moved them toward legalism and away from the
gospel. When we tell believers that they can deepen their walk with God by keeping
God’s commands or by denying themselves something they enjoy, we have moved
them toward legalism and away from Christ. When we tell people that obedience
is what keeps God happy with us, we have moved toward legalism and away from
the gospel of Christ. “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and
unbelieving, nothing is pure.” I have a friend who told me that he learned to
say and do all the right things, but that he does not believe. It was all a
lie. Purity is primarily a matter of the heart, for the heart works out in and
through us the purity of Christ. It cannot work the other way around.
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