Every One That Nameth the Name of Christ

Another theme that we see in the Pastoral epistles is the necessity of renouncing sin and living a righteous life as a follower of Christ.  Paul focused in general and specific terms about the sins and iniquities that Christians must avoid.  He wrote to Timothy, “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19).  He said something similar to Titus as he described some people: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16).  In more specific terms he told Timothy to “flee also youthful lusts” and he warned against all sorts of wickedness that will be seen in the last days when “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 2:22, 3:2-5). 

He outlined more sinful behavior that a true follower of the Savior must avoid as he described attributes of a bishop: “not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre” (Titus 1:7-8).  He essentially gave the same list to Timothy as well, adding “not a brawler, not covetous” to the set of attributes a bishop shouldn’t have (1 Timothy 3:2-3).  Clearly Paul was concerned with behavior of those who professed faith in Christ and not merely that they believed.  “Every one that nameth the name of Christ” must reject sin and seek to follow the example of Christ.

                In addition to focusing on the iniquities that we should avoid, in these Pastoral epistles Paul repeated over and over the need for the followers of Christ to do good works.  He told Timothy, “follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).  The man of God should “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” and “be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 3:17).  He should “do good, that they be rich in good works” (1 Timothy 6:18).  Similarly, Paul exhorted Titus that “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity” (Titus 2:7).  He counseled that “we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” and let Christ “redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14).  Simply put, he said, “And let ours also learn to maintain good works” (Titus 3:14).  And in case we didn’t think this was important to Paul, he emphasized: “I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8).  Belief in Christ, as Paul taught, must lead to actions including repentance and good works. 

                Of course, all of this talk about works of the individual doesn’t change the fact that it is Christ’s grace that redeems us and gives us the capacity to change and be like Him.  It is not through the merits of our good works that we are saved; those are simply the evidence that Christ has indeed changed us.  He emphasized to Titus that it is the grace of Christ that is the underlying power at work: “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).  As he said to Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).  And saving sinners means that He, through His atonement, will turn them into Saints.