Living in the World
Notes
Transcript
Well this morning we will attempt to wrap up the Study in Titus
Not 1 Timothy or even 2nd Timothy
Thus far in Titus we have seen how the church is organized a bit
Obviously Paul did not say that you have to have x number of ministries or that you had to do certain ministries
But that in the basic
You have Elders they are the spiritual overseers within the a church
Remember the Spiritual overseers are concerned with the growth of the Body of Christ at a local church
Which includes the individual people within that local body
But Paul understood that it couldn’t be left the just the Elders within a church but they needed help of sorts
The older Men and older Women within a church are to help disciple those younger generations
And I hope you noticed that it is not just when they ask you or when you get to meet with someone but it is in general living
Older Men and Women live your life in such a way that you glorify Christ and others mainly the younger generation and are drawn to Christ
This morning we pick up the letter from Paul to Titus
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Paul encourages Titus to continue to speak the truth to encourage and refute people
Speak truth and speak it with authority
Speak like you know it and believe it
Then Paul reminds Titus not to let anyone disregard him
But rather be bold!!!
Something we all need to be doing in our lives
Be Bold
We go out in the power of Jesus
Thus far we understand the organization to the church
Elders are our spiritual overseers but then God calls us as the older generation to be discipling the younger generation
Then Paul moves on to some generalities
Christian Living
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
Just in general how you as a believer in Jesus should be living
Would you know we need to be subject to the rulers
Even when we don’t agree with them
We are to be obedient
Peaceable, gentle
Do slander anyone
Church we know this
This is how you and I should be living
The reason we should be living like this
3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
Because at one point you lived like the world
Did you know that
At one point in your life you lived like the world
Church I am here to tell you if there is no difference between you and the world since you came to know Christ
Then we have a problem
But Paul is reminded Titus that you and those people you are helping plant a church at once lived the like the world and were not very nice people
But the reason you are different now
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Church because you are no longer like the world is the Gospel Message
The difference is that God loved mankind so much that He made a way for them to not stay where they are
The difference is Jesus saved us!
Not because of anything we have done on our own but all because of Jesus’s mercy
Mercy is not getting what we do deserve
And remember we deserve death because of our sin
But
But God has mercy on us
God has washed us and made us knew
Regeneration is a Spiritual renewal
The Holy Spirit has come into our lives and made us new and now lives inside of us
Church He has done all that because it is only through Christ
It is only through Christ that we are saved
It is only through Christ that we are made new and no longer like the world
It is only through Christ that we are justified by Grace
Grace is getting what we don’t deserve
We don’t deserve life
We don’t deserve freedom
We don’t deserve all that God has for us which is all the good stuff
But God is full of grace and it is through Christ that we are able to experience the grace of God
Church this is the Gospel Message
That we are saved through Christ and it is only through Christ that Gods grace and mercy has been poured out on us
8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
Paul explains it to Titus that The Gospel Message is a true statement
That you are to continue to speak boldly
To continue to encourage others to run after Jesus and to do the good things
Those good things Paul reminds Titus of earlier in the chapter
Remember the qualifications of the elder and how the old generation should teach the younger generation to live
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
Paul reminds Titus to not get caught up in the controversies about the law and genealogies
As we have seen earlier It doesn’t matter rich or poor
To put it plainly church it doesn’t matter your family
You cannot get into heaven on your families actions
You cannot get into heaven because your grandpa was a pastor
And Paul also shows Titus that there are those people who will come in and try to stir the pot
Reject those people after a 2nd warning
Church disputes about the law and about genealogies are pointless
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. 14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
This is how Paul ends his letters to the different churches
Remember Paul had a vested interest in that place and those people
He desired to see them grow in Christ
To help them he would send people to help encourage them
Titus it would appear have some relief headed his way
Artemas and Tychicus are being sent to Crete to help and to give Titus some rest
Like the organization of a church it is not just dependent on one person
Paul is sending help to Titus
And then Paul desires to spend time with Titus
When that help gets there whenever that is Paul asks Titus to come see him at Nicopolis
Nicopolis is about 200 miles NW of Athens
Paul also has just sent Zenas and Apollos to Crete or at least through that way
Paul encourages Titus to help encourage them and to remain focused
To engage in good deeds to meet the pressing needs
He is engaraging him to help others to live in such a way that Christ is glorified
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
That is what we are supposed to be doing
living our lives in such a way that others see it and are drawn to Christ
We need churches to help encourage the believers and help encourage them and to help them grow in Christ
To help them go out and share the greatest news of all time
Within that church it needs to have order and organization so that the church can be effective in go out into a lost world
That organization is to have elders who are concerned with the spiritual growth of the church and the individual believer
But as we have seen that it is not just for the elder
But the older generation is to help disciple the younger generation
Even if it is not a formal discipleship plan but it is to conduct your life in such a way those younger generation see it and are drawn to Christ
Then church Paul reminds Titus to live for Jesus
to go out and share the gospel with people
That is what we are called to do
To make Jesus KNOWN to a lost world
CLOSING
so as we come to a close this morning
Maybe you are here this morning and do know Jesus personally
If that is you I would invite you to the front to speak with someone
Maybe you are here this morning and you need to spend sometime in prayer this morning
Or maybe there is a church decision you need to make this morning
The altar is open