Profession does not mean possession

Titus 1:16–16
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

“They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (v. 16). They are disgusting. They won’t obey God, and they are too worthless to do anything good. When ever there is a  conflict between a man’s talk and his walk, it is always his walk and not his talk that really reveals what he is. Paul makes it clear to Titus that these false teachers “Profess to know God; but in works they deny him.” No doubt, every time the church doors were open they were there. There public confession is that they are fully informed  about God. Probably they were even looking for leadership roles in the church. But, by the way they lived there every day lives they denied all that their lips  proclaimed. You would find them involved in evil and worldly practices and refusing to submit to and follow the truth of God’s Word. Consequently Paul says they must be evaluated as being a “reprobate.”

The sad fact is that we still find these same type of people in the church today. Often people are placed into leadership roles in the church because of their places of leadership in the business world.  They can even be pastors and Christian leaders who on Sunday come to church looking very pious and talking “spiritual."  However, in their conduct during the week they look and act just like the unregenerate world. Because of this much damage is done to the cause of Christ.

Application

My conduct will speak volumes about what I believe. What will people know about God, and about my faith by watching my life and whether I’m living by the principles of God’s Word or not? It is only the Lord living in me that will make the difference.

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