August 27, 2025 - Titus 3:10,11 - "Dealing with the Unconverted"

Titus 3:10,11

"A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

At first, these words may sound severe, but they are given in love, to guard the purity of the Gospel and to keep Christ as the Foundation of all true fellowship. The Gospel is not a matter of human opinion or debate—it is the Revelation of God’s grace in His Son. Those that God has chosen in Christ, and were redeemed by His shed blood, are kept from falling away into condemnation. All others, who may seem religious outwardly, are condemned already and can only seek to lead the LORD's true sheep astray.

A heretic, in Paul’s sense, is not merely someone who is confused or struggling to understand. We have all been there, and God has shown mercy in not casting us off because of Christ's work on the cross, having saved and justified us. No, the heretic is someone who rejects the truth of Christ and divides his people to promote his own way. He refuses to bow to God’s revelation in Christ. Paul describes him with three words: subverted, sinning, and self-condemned.

To be subverted means to be overturned, like a house collapsing on itself. This is what unbelief does—it erodes and topples the soul, because it will not rest on the Solid Rock. Jesus said, “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock… and it fell not… But everyone that heareth… and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand… and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24–27). The heretic builds on the sand of perversion and not the clear Foundation of Christ crucified.

To be sinning here is not just outward immorality, but persisting in rejecting God’s Son as revealed in Scripture. John tells us plainly, “He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son” (1 John 5:10). That is the essence of sin—refusing the Testimony of God concerning Christ.

And to be self-condemned means that the guilt cannot be shifted. Romans 1 says that all men are “without excuse” because God has made Himself known. And Jesus said, “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19). When a man rejects Christ, he is condemned already in his unbelief, (John 3:18).

So how do we deal with the unconverted? Paul tells Titus that after patient admonition, if a man still refuses, we are to let him go. Not in hatred, but in recognition that it is not debates or arguments that convince anyone—it is the Spirit of God revealing Christ. As Paul said elsewhere, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). If they are not given ears to hear the Gospel by the Spirit of God, no amount of wrangling over words will help.

But notice—before rejection comes admonition. We are not harsh, nor quick to cut people off. We remember that “the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24–25). Our calling is to speak of Christ faithfully, with gentleness, and if they are ones that God has already purposed to save, and has saved by the death of His Son on the cross, He will draw each one in His time. On the one hand we show mercy. Jude says, “Of some have compassion, making a difference” (Jude 1: 22). Perhaps the LORD will open their eyes in His time. On the other hand, we remain firm: “Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 23). We never compromise the Gospel to attempt to win someone over. If they are Christ’s, He will call them through His Truth. If they are not, arguments and concessions will only embolden their unbelief.

As saved sinners, the One Who sought us when we were lost. He is the One Who keeps us from falling. Jude closes with this doxology: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude 24–25).

When we confront the unconverted—whether they are loved ones, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone who resists the truth either openly or silently—we remember: Christ alone is our Message, our Hope, and the One Who judges righteously. Our part is to affirm the Gospel of grace constantly, to show mercy and kindness where we can, and to stand firm in the Truth of Salvation in the Person and work of Christ alone from beginning to end.

May the LORD continue to keep each of His own by His grace, and cause us to proclaim Him in uncompromising Truth, and rest in Him and His completed work of salvation for His own. He alone saves to the uttermost those that come unto God by Him (Hebrews 7:25).