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Titus 1:9
9 Holding fast [antechomai] the faithful [pistos] word [logos] as [kata] he hath been taught [didache], that [hina] he may be [o] able [dunatos] by [en] sound [hugiaino] doctrine [didaskalia] both [kai] to exhort [parakaleo] and [kai] to convince [elegcho] the gainsayers [antilego]. KJV-Interlinear
9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. NASB
Leading a life of perfection is not an easy task. In fact everyone who has ever lived will fail at this, over and over again, in their life. There is but one who is perfect and that is Christ.
Because we are weak in the flesh, does not mean that we do not try.
And anyone who tries, requires doctrine, which is the content of the scriptures learned and understood, and resident within their soul, in order to even come close to living the life of perfection described herein.
To live an honest life is difficult. The world has placed almost anything and everything against your success. The world wants you to fail. The world will place almost every imaginable pressure against you, in order to force your failure.
From enticements to poverty, the world knows no limitation in order to get you to fail in life.
This is therefore the reason for Titus, to find such people who are above the norm, in their personality. People who will be able to withstand the tests of time, the tests of people, the tests of every imaginable type. People who can take the teaching of the Word of God and maintain a learning environment for others to hear and learn.
The word must first be learned, and then understood, and then applied to life in order to really possess a solid foundation of wisdom. And, this must all be facilitated from within the fellowship sphere (obtained and maintained through regular confession of sins to God the Father).
This produces sound doctrine in ones life. Sound, means untainted, uncompromised, unaltered. And doctrine is simply the instruction, the teaching, the principles that are contained within the scriptures.
There will be many pressures from life, from ones own thinking, from ones own preexisting beliefs, from ones own beliefs that they have become used to and that are more convenient to their thinking.
Christians whether a leader or not, will face people who will argue, debate, ridicule from their own sin nature and prejudiced perspective. You have to learn to hold your ground – gracefully.
Most will oppose you, and few will listen. You will never win great battles in the worldly sense, and the battles that you do win, you will probably never know about. But no matter.
You live your life as unto the Lord, and between God and yourself, you know that you have been honorable and faithful to the best of your human ability. But again, do not allow that to turn your attitude toward arrogance. The world will try to catch you both coming and going. Spiritual alertness comes through the knowledge and understanding (objective discernment) of the Word for God.
