Biblically Valuable or Biblically Worthless?

Biblically Valuable or Biblically Worthless?
Saturday, February 17, 2024 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Are we living in a way that declares to the world we are biblically valuable or biblically worthless? Scripture gives us a sobering warning:

Titus 1:15–16 (NAU): To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

What do these two verses say? If we claim to know God, but our ongoing actions speak otherwise, we don’t have a real relationship with Him. Rather, we are loudly proclaiming that we don’t know Him.

How are these people described? For them, everything is impure, their minds and consciences are corrupt, they are detestable, in rebellion, and of no use for anything good.

Yet, they profess to know God. Their self-understanding and their actions are at odds with each other. When people think they are living one way, but the reality is 180 degrees opposite what they think, by definition, they are deceived. They don’t realize the eternal life-threatening position that they’re in.

We should be encouraged that the passage speaks of deeds, plural. All of us as Christians fail. All of us our guilty of sin. All of us need to confess and repent of the sin we’re guilty of, even as Christians. But the passage isn’t speaking of an occasional sin, a momentary failure, arguably even about a sin that we, as believers, might be consciously struggling against.

Rather, the passage is dealing with a lifestyle, a lifestyle of ongoing unrepentant behavior. Those in question are unbelieving, defiled. Being unbelieving and defiled are not the marks of a genuine Christian. Just because someone professes to be a Christian, doesn’t mean they truly are.

Sadly, I’m thinking of many who’d label themselves as “Christians” who’ve bought into, accepted, and may even be practicing what would be labeled as alternate sexual lifestyles (that includes being heterosexually active outside of marriage). I am also thinking of one-time biblical Bible colleges and churches that have fully embraced what God still declares to be sin.

If a person so engaged is a genuine Christian, the Holy Spirit’s conviction will be heavy upon them, and they will, at some point, confess that their sin and repent. If not, and they continue down that path, they will demonstrate that they weren’t genuine Christians, and they will end up defiled, worthless for any good deed. Since every good thing comes down from God, that is a terrible place to be. God is not using them for anything, whatever they might think or claim. Rather, they end up as instruments of sin and Satan (Scripture declares we are slaves to whatever we obey, whether that be sin or righteousness).

If you profess Christ, does your life mesh with what you profess? Do you live in accordance with Scripture, or does your life contradict it? If your life contradicts Scripture, do you even care? Do you dismiss what Scripture states as outmoded or that it doesn’t apply to you? Have you become defiled?

Our answers and life-choices matter for our eternal destiny, and whether that destiny will be Heaven or Hell. God is love, but Jesus also stated that those who love Him will obey His commandments. Obedience is not an optional choice.

Share This Blog: