I. The Gospel is degraded unless it is asserted strongly. "These things I will that thou affirm constantly," or as the words might be rendered, "asseverate pertinaciously, persistently, positively, affirm and assert constantly and confidently." That is the way in which Paul thinks it ought to be spoken. If it is a message, the messenger's business is to deliver it as received and its sender's business, not his, is to look after it when delivered. And if it is a faithfulmessage, then it ought to be asserted on lips that are eloquent, because they are believing;and to come, not as a word of the speaker's own, or the result of his thinking, or with a "peradventure," but as with the force of the "verily, verily, I say unto you," of the incarnate and personal Truth Himself.
II. Again, there is another thought here worth considering, viz., that this positive assertion of the truths of revelation is the best foundation to lay for practical godliness " in order thatthey which have believed might be careful to maintain good works." Now, we are often told that our evangelical teaching is far away from daily life, and some people go the length of saying that the central doctrine of the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ is an immoral doctrine. I am not going to discuss the latter statement now. If the former one is ever true, it is the fault of the preacher, not of the message. Rightly understood and presented, the great body of truth which we call the Gospel, and which is summarised in the preceding context, grips daily life very tightly, while on the other hand, of all the impotent things in this world, none are more impotent than exhortations to be good, which are cut away from the great truths of Christ's mission. If it be true that the best foundation for all practical godliness is in the proclamation and the possession of the great message of Christ's love, two things follow, the one is that Christian people ought to familiarise themselves with the practical side of their faith, just as Christian ministers ought to be in the habit of insisting, not merely upon the great revelation of God's love in Jesus Christ, but upon that revelation considered as the motive and the pattern for holy living. (2) Another consequence is that here is a rough but a pretty effective test of so-called religious truth. Does it help to make a man better? It is worth something if it does: if not, then it may be ruled out as of small consequence.
III. The true test and outcome of professing faith is conduct.
IV. No one will keep up these good works who does not give his mind to it. "That they... might be careful to maintain." My text suggests one chief means of securing that result the habit of meditation upon the facts of the Gospel revelation looked at in their practical bearing on our daily life and character.
A. Maclaren, The God of the Amen,p. 148.
References: Titus 3:8-14. H. W. Beecher, Sermons,5th series, p. 34 1 Timothy 3:9. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 324.Titus 3:12. W. Morison, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxi., p. 24.