Titus 2  Paul tells Titus to teach "sound doctrine".  Others turned away from the truth and taught "things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain".  They were false teachers who professed to know God but acted in ways that denied Him.

Sound doctrine, in contrast, would enable the believers to live so as to "adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect."  Paul gives us a detailed description of that kind of living in verses 2-10.

Older men who live according to sound doctrine will be: temperate ( sober, diligent, and circumspect); dignified; sensible; sound in faith, love, and perseverance.

Older women will be: reverent in behavior ;  won't gossip; won't be enslaved to wine; and will teach what is good to the younger woman.

Younger woman will learn to be loving wives and mothers; they will be sensible; kind; pure; workers at home; subject to their own husbands.

Younger men will also be sensible; good examples; doing good deeds; pure in doctrine; dignified; sound in speech; beyond reproach;

A genuine faith in God who has brought us salvation through Christ will "instruct us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age".  It will also lead us to look "for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

The qualities of genuine Christian character truly contrast with the world as we know it, don't they?

Our world celebrates those who are undignified and  who have no self-control at all.  They ridicule the idea of women who stay at home and care for their families.  They have no room for those who don't party with them, drinking and causing chaos.  Where are those who are "sensible"?  Those with sound minds and self-control ?  Those who are "sound in speech"?

These qualities make us beautiful in our Savior's eyes!  They are the adornment for His bride.  These are also the qualities that our world so desperately needs to see, so that they can see Jesus.  This is what makes us salt and light to a world without Him.

Father in heaven,  we must cling to Your Word and live according to Your sound doctrine.  Help us to live sensible, pure, godly, and righteous lives, all of our lives.  We look to You in good faith, according to Your wonderful grace. In Christ alone we pray. Amen.