Mike Gifford
The second chapter of Titus is filled with admonitions to a wide variety of Christians. Titus himself, aged men, aged women, young women, young men and servants are all exhorted to conduct themselves in a manner that would glorify God. Among these instructions is that which concludes those made to the servants. “Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” (Titus 2:10). This adorning that was to be done was that which clothed one in the teaching that God had given through inspiration. In what sense can one be said to have adorned or dressed himself or herself in God’s teaching?
To be adorned in the doctrine of God our Savior, we must first of all be familiar with that doctrine. Physically speaking, how much time do you spend picking out the clothes you wear? If you’re just going to lounge around the house, you probably grab the first things you see. If, on the other hand, you’re going someplace where you want to look your best, you probably take great care in examining what you will put on. Most likely you are familiar with which of your clothes are most becoming to you, which are most comfortable, which are most fashionable, etc. You know what’s in your wardrobe and you make your selection thoughtfully. In the Word of God we have the spiritual wardrobe, if you please. Since God has given to us “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (II Peter 1:3), we have in this spiritual wardrobe everything that we need to walk with the Lord and be the influence He wants us to be in the world. How well do we know these heavenly instructions that pertain to life and godliness? Are we well acquainted with those Christian graces of II Peter 1:5-7? Can we call to mind the beautiful fruit of the Spirit of Galatians 5:22-23? How well do we know this doctrine of God our Savior which has been designed to adorn us?
To be adorned in the doctrine of God our Savior, we must next make the effort to put it on. Imagine a woman with a beautiful designer dress in her closet. Now imagine her having an opportunity to wear that dress for a night on the town with her husband and yet leaving it hanging in her closet. That would seem rather strange, wouldn’t it? Suppose that while mingling with friends during this night on the town, she told them that she had this gorgeous dress back home in her closet. That would seem even stranger. She has the dress, others hear her talking about the dress, but she doesn’t wear it. As unusual as this might sound, it is no more unusual than a Christian who has the doctrine of God at hand, even knows the doctrine of God, and yet goes out into the world without putting it on. No one can tell he or she is a child of God because they have left behind and ignored the spiritual garb that God has provided. They might even talk about knowing God, but that is of little value if people cannot see Godliness in their lives. The Word of God must be picked up and used. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Don’t leave the doctrine of God behind in your daily walk .
To be adorned in the doctrine of God our Savior, we must put it all on. Paul wrote to adorn this doctrine in “all things.” That means that whether we are old or young, male or female, servant or free, we are to dress ourselves fully in that which God has revealed. Read the rest of Titus 2, especially verses 12 and 13, and you’ll see additional light shed on what this means. Adorning ourselves in the complete doctrine of God means doing that which is pleasing to God and abstaining from that which is against His will.
Finally, to be adorned in the doctrine of God our Savior, we must keep this adornment on. Wherever we go and whatever we do, we must be aware of that which God teaches in His Word. What we say (Matthew 12:36-37) and even what we think (Matthew 15:16-20) must be governed by the doctrine of God.
The question in the title of this article has reference to our spiritual adornment. Are we fully dressed with the doctrine of God? Do we know His Word? Do we put it on in our daily walk through this life? Do we put it all on? Do we keep it on in every situation? Let’s all take a look at our lives to be sure that we are indeed fully dressed in the teachings of God our Savior.
