Titus 1:12-14

v12: Behaviour that is seen among the ungodly, “falsehood and lying, envious plotting and cruelty, all…sensual practices… laziness and sloth” should “be far from us Christians.”  Even these sins are "condemned by the light of nature."

v13a: Certain contexts are “more inclined to some evils than others.”  What was true of the Cretans in general at that time, might not be generally true of us, but we will have our equivalent sins.

v13b: When rebuking sinners for their sin, much wisdom is needed to know how to do this in a way most likely to do good.  Some sinners “have a more tender and obedient attitude” and are “more likely to be persuaded by gentleness and to fall and be discouraged by too much harshness and severity.”  Others, however, “are harder and more stubborn and need more incisive language to produce remorse and shame in them.”

v14: Don’t forget that the purpose of rebuking sin and sinners is “that they may be and show themselves to be truly and effectively changed from such evil dispositions and conduct.” Rebukes “must not be made out of motives of malice, hatred, or ill will, but out of love; not to satisfy pride, passion, or any evil desire in the one rebuking, but to restore and reform the erroneous and the guilty.”