Subordination to the Truth

sub·or·di·nate: Subject to the authority or control of another. Paul warns Titus that there are many who are insubordinate to the truth. (1:10) Paul mentions that some of these people were of the circumcision party and then tells Titus to rebuke these people so they will avoid turning away from the truth. He says something interesting about how a person comes to turn away from the truth, which is possible for believers and unbelievers alike. Titus 1:15 says, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure (specifically the knowledge of the truth); but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

John MacArthur says, "If the mind is defiled, it cannot accurately inform the conscience so the conscience cannot warn the person." Paul says these people are "unfit for any good work." In case you have not noticed, good works is a huge theme in the book of Titus.

• "zealous for good works" (2:14)
• "be ready for every good work" (3:1)
• "be careful to devote themselves to good works" (3:8)
• "learn to devote themselves to good works" (3:14)

So, I see a process here which is crucial to the life of a disciple of Christ and it involves truth, which is what we say we are about. Here it is:

1. The mind must subordinate (subject to the control of) to truth.
2. The conscience uses this truth to control us.
3. The knowledge of the truth (1:1) embraced qualifies us for every good work.

What we must admit and remember is that just because we read about and listen to truth, does not mean that we have subordinated to this same truth. We still have to make a choice--subordinate or not subordinate to the truth.

JT