Focused On Doing Good

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Titus  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  40:52
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Stuff. Thanks guys.

So as we were

kind of getting ready to begin the worship service today was my my kids couple of my kids were noticing that the it was a little lighter crowd, especially at that point and they were just encouraging me saying well as many people here today because they heard you're preaching so

So I you know, I guess Randy Dan think wherever you are. Danna guys did great and sorry. Sorry if I'm let anybody down here, but the is good to be back here and I'm really thankful that God provided us other men who love him and two are capable of teaching his word and it's a good healthy thing for us all to to have some cross-pollination, I guess in our in our teaching so

This morning. We're going to look at Titus Chapter 3 verses 8 through 11.

And we will back up and read a little bit more because it's good for us to keep in mind. He remember context is is kind of the king here when it comes to Understanding God's word that's vitally important for us to take that into consideration. And so one of the things that we need to keep in mind here as while we're breaking this up into sort of little nuggets that that we're working our way through each week. That was not how it was written. Paulding Paulding, I'm confident that Paul did not sit down and write out a few lines of of this letter a week apart from each other here until he got it done but rather Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit got his thoughts out sent them on their way that they would be received by Titus and passed along to the church on the island of Crete. And so all of Titus is working together to communicate important truths and to provide encouragement and direction to the church in Crete. And so we're going to back up this morning, and we're going to begin reading. at Titus Chapter 2 verse 11

So, let's begin in Titus Chapter 2 verse 11 for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled up right and godly lives in the present age waiting for our blessed. Hope the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works declare these things exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities to be obedient to be ready for every good work to speak evil of no one to avoid going to be gentle and to show perfect courtesy toward all people for we ourselves were once let us draw a slave to various passions and Pleasures passing our days. malice and envy hated by others and hating one another When the goodness and loving kindness of God our savior appeared he saved us not because of Works done by done by us and righteousness. But according to his own Mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the holy spirit will be poured out on us. Richly Jesus Christ Our Savior so that being justified by his grace. We might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy and I want you to insist on these things so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people but avoid foolish controversies genealogies dissensions in quarrels about the law for they are unprofitable and worthless as for a person who stirs up division after warning him once and then twice have nothing more to do with him knowing that such a person is worth than simple. He is a he is self-condemned.

There's a couple of things going on that that go throughout the Book of Titus. And that is that that you've heard the parable right about the wise man building his house on the search rock, right? What is The Rock The Rock here in Titus is the gospel truth? That's the rock. That's the foundation the house then that's built on the Rock are those believers who build Godly lives and character as an example of the gospel for the world around them to see So that's what Paul does here in Titus. He allays out the rock several times throughout Titus. He lays out the theology. He lays out the doctrine. He lays out the rock the foundation. Here is why I say what I say here is why I encourage you to do what I'm encouraging you to do here is why you want to do the things that I'm saying? It's because Jesus Christ laid down his life to save us according to his grace and mercy. And so are reasonable response is now. To show that same kind of grace mercy and love to others and to have our lives reflect that blessing that God has brought into our own lives.

So Paul is is laying all this out for the cretan church and and making sure that they understand also that remember the cretans are Randy and Dan both did a good job the last couple weeks of reminding us up where the cretans have come from in terms of their Lifestyles their beliefs that that the even themselves acknowledge that they were scoundrels. And so Paul is saying hey, look here's where you were but you're not there anymore. You're not that's not who you are anymore because God has positionally and eternally changed you by the power of Christ. So now you're to live in the light of that Kingdom that you know that you now belong to no longer the culture of Crete God's called you out of that and put you into The Marvelous Light of the kingdom of God.

God saved the cretins from his Wrath and he freed them from their sinful habits and patterns of life. look at Romans chapter 5 as a Paul in Romans

address is this to a different audience? But the same kind of idea the same truth. Romans chapter 5 verse 6 For while we were still weak at the right time Christ died for the ungodly who did Christ die for for the righteous for The Godly know for the ungodly. For one would scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. I hate heat increases of this here in the next couple of verses that we have. He lays out here that that Christ died for the ungodly.

While we were still Sinners were reminded that's when God came to save us. Verse 9 since therefore we have now been justified by his blood much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God for if while we were enemies?

We were reconciled to God by the death of his son much more now that we are reconciled. Shall we be saved by his life more than that. We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have now received reconciliation. So while we were enemies of God while we were sinners. While we were deserving his wrath that's when God sent his one and only son. The pay the price the bear the the whole weight of his wrath against the sin of humanity in order to save us. That's what Paul wants to make sure that the cretans understand firmly and that they hold onto. Where's salvation comes from? What it is built on. What is the solid rock on which they now build their lives? The justification for why their lives ought to look different now that they belong to him.

Would you I'd like you to join me because one of those places where Paul lays out this Foundation is in what I've called Titus is Creed. It's at the end of chapter 2 verses 11 through 14. Would you use Stacy the debit? Would you join me in titus's breed? We say it together. For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled up right and godly lives in the present age waiting for our blessed. Hope the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Call goes on in chapter 3 to say something very similar. And so we have these nuggets of Doctrine on which we build our lives in the cretans were to do the same. There are three things that Paul links together here the idea of a good teaching and faith in Christ and godly living. They're all part of the same package. And I've always taken some criticism as if Paul is sort of this easy Grace kind of guy that criticism is unjust and I'm sure comes from folks who have not considered the full measure of what Paul has to say under the inspiration of the holy spirit because here in Titus Paul says pretty much what James says later which is the one that Paul gets compared to write James says faith without works is dead. Paul says faith and works go hand-in-hand. Is this part of the same package? That's the message here in the book of Titus.

So if we look at Princeton's chapter 1 verse 1 Paul says Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth which Accords with godliness. You see that was he say knowledge of the truth and godliness go hand-in-hand. An understanding a comprehension of the Gospel truth. Leads to people if they if they choose to believe it Place their faith in that then it leads to Godly living. goodworks Godly character

If we were to look on in chapter 3 verse 8, which is part of our passage today, the saying is trustworthy and I want you to insist on these things so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. So those who believe in the gospel devoted to Good Works hand-in-hand. We look on in chapter and verse 14 chapter 3 and let our people learn to devote themselves to good work. So as to help cases of urgent need and not be unfruitful. We see again that believing and good works there they go together. The gospel truth and godly living go hand-in-hand. the second thing that that's sort of part of this idea of good works and and Faith going together as we look in chapter 1 verse 16 Paul says they profess to know God but they deny him by their Works. They are detestable disobedient unfit for any good work here. We have the negative example. That is that those who give lip service to God who say they believe but testify by their actions that they don't.

And so the corollary then would be that those who do believe. And aren't just giving lip service to their believe are going to have actions in their lives that testify to their faith that they believe.

And so that we have on the one hand the gospel truth and godly living go hand-in-hand and then and then along with that the good works testify to a person's faith in Christ chapter 2 verse 7. We see the same thing as Paul's laying out instructions to various folks within the church body demographics. He says to Titus show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works and in your teaching show Integrity dignity and sound speech that cannot be condemned. So what is linking here is that good teaching and faith in that good teaching and good works again all part of the same package and he encouraged is Titus. Hey continue to live this stuff out as a good model. Why because it's a testimony to your true face. the object of your faith being Priced Right and then the the last thing I wanted to point out here along this lines is in chapter 2 verse 14 where Paul says who gave himself Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and appear if I for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. In other words when we display a desire to do good works.

It gives evidence that we belong to Christ. And so we have a faith and good works being a hand-in-hand sing. It's all part of the same package if we have the genuine faith in Christ. We will have good. Is that a company that faith

Our good works. Then testify that our faith in Christ is genuine.

And it also displays that we belong to him. These are the are the things that Paul is talking about in verse 8 when he says the saying is trustworthy. What's the saying the saying is that gospel the gospel truth that he keeps bringing up over and over that were saved by God's grace through faith.

This this saying is trustworthy and I want you to insist on these things. Now. This is some sort of somewhat typical Paul ambiguity here for from RI perspective. Anyways that says he's the saying and then these things the saying is the gospel truth. These things are the instructions that accompany the gospel message. So because of the Gospel message, he says then we are to live in a Godly way.

So he says I want you to insist on teaching these things that people live in accordance with the gospel. They profess to believe. Their live should show and testify to a genuine faith in Christ. Our Lives should look different as a follower of Christ than they did before we came to Christ. things should change in our world about the way we think about the things we desire and love and devote ourselves to

Good teaching.

results And good works. bad teaching results in division and quarreling

it was good teaching is received and believed the outflow of that is Godly living Godly character an example of Christ in people's lives.

But in the cretan church, not all who profess to Believe In Christ. Add good works that accompanied their profession of faith. In fact, their actions displayed that they believe something different than what they said. They said they believed in Christ. But then I thought something else or they encouraged others to believe something different. This was not knew then it's not new now. This this is present since the very beginning. That there have always been those who would say yes, Jesus died, and we need to believe in him. But if you really want to be pleasing to God or you really want to be accepted into his kingdom then you must also do this.

and so verse 9 and Paul gives some warning because there are things for us to devote ourselves to that are profitable.

Like doing the good works of God.

Devoting ourselves to that. In fact, he says in verse 8 cuz these things are excellent profitable, but there are things that are not excellent and profitable. There are things that are worthless and unprofitable that we can give our time and attention to And there were some folks were doing that first nine, but avoid foolish controversies genealogies dissensions and quarrels about the law for they are unprofitable. and worthless

There are two pitfalls hear that he warns the cretan church about. Are they may or may not be the pitfalls that we would have today? But certainly there are some that we need to be aware of the pitfalls at this stage of the game for the cretan church. We're one not to get sucked into foolish controversies about religious heritage. religious ancestry Did did you grow up in the right family? Remember Paul in in some version of this actually to the Corinthian Church says, hey you even you as Believers you're guilty of this some of yours saying I'm following Paul others are saying I'm following Apollo's. He says who is Paul and who is Apollos? Did they save you know is Jesus who saves so then Paul and Apollo's were just the vessel of the Gospel coming to you, which was what saved you Not follow Apollo's. It wasn't your family tree your bloodline your father's or your forefathers by which you were going to be saved and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven is only by the blood of Christ. And belief in his sacrifice that you will be saved. Jesus dealt with this Jesus grew up Jewish, right Jesus grew up to you and she lived in Jewish neighborhoods and he interacted with Jews regularly. And in fact the most devout of those are the ones that you challenge the hardest on this. Those who had the right Bloodlines those who grew up with the right education those who have been devoted to going to synagogue or wherever right all keeping all the religious law.

So if we look at the what scripture says about this Paul actually confronted the Galatians on this matter Galatians chapter 3 verse 7 He says no Then that it is those of Faith who are the sons of Abraham? In Judaism being a son of a descendant of Abraham meant something. What Paul says? you really want to be a descendants of Abraham than that comes by faith not by Blood lineage not my family tree in terms of a physical birth, but rather through a spiritual Birth by which you trust God like Abraham did if you want The Blessing of Abraham if you want to walk with God as Abraham did if you want to claim to be a descendants of Abraham, then that means that you are a descendant by face.

So know then that it is those of Faith who are the sons of Abraham.

1st Corinthians chapter 12 verse 13 Paul says in one Spirit. We were all baptized into one body Jews are Greeks slaves are free. And all were made to drink of one spirit. There's no distinction in the kingdom of God what family tree you were born into what religious sect you were born into it really doesn't matter none of those danis entrance into the kingdom of God it is only by faith in God's one and only son that we are acceptable to him.

And this is also why faith and good works go hand-in-hand cuz good works in and of themselves do not gain us entrance into the kingdom of God without faith. It is impossible to please God and so good works must be done in full faith in the one who has saved us.

John chapter 8 Jesus, press down on the Pharisees. They were claiming. Hey, Abraham is our daddy. And Jesus says look, here's the truth. I've seen your actions and your actions testify that your daddy is Satan himself.

And so for those who would most strongly in Jesus's day who would most strongly claimed that they were descendants of Abraham. He said no, you're not descendants of Abraham. If you were descendants of Abraham, you would believe me, but because you were jacked me you proved out that your descendants of Satan. You belong to him.

And so here Paul says don't get wrapped up sucked into foolish controversies about genealogies. the pointless in fact the worthless worse than pointless because they take us away from what we ought to be busy doing. and what we ought to be busy believing

There there are no Believers just for the record here. I think I've been clear enough and I think God's word is plenty clear, but they're their there are no Believers followers of Christ are somehow more Godly because they have Come from some ancestral tree.

We all arrived in the kingdom of God through the cross. That's the entrance into the kingdom of God. So let us avoid those foolish controversies then he says the second thing here the second Pitfall dissensions and quarrels about the law.

So especially in in this day that Paul wrote this letter was there was there was a faction of those who who professed Christ who maintains that really to be completely pleasing to God. Set to really be Godly. You needed to be more Jewish. That is you needed to bring into your life not just faith in Christ and obedience is it to him but you really needed to bring into your life obedience to the Jewish law. That's what would put the stamp of of God's real approval on your life. That's what would make you really Godly and really holy is to abide by the Jewish law.

This was dealt with in in the book of Acts and the Council of Jerusalem there where the gospel at gone to the Gentiles those who weren't Jewish. And then there was this dispute within the within the growing church that because Christianity really began in Judaism. And so as as those who were outside of Judaism where we're becoming followers of Christ. There was this this this this kind of friction going on within the growing church that hey you guys they don't practice any of the Jewish law. How can they be followers of God if if they're not even practicing the law and that was settled once and for all because they they all acknowledged as they gather together the leaders within the church at that time the apostles agreed that hey what saves us Is the sacrifice of Christ and faith in him? Our practices of whether or not we follow Jewish law or not. What's Ava the let us do our best as the as the largest church body to work in unity together so that we're not unnecessarily offending each other, but let us also not add to the gospel what God has not put there. So if God has not put requirements on the gospel such as you must obey these certain tenets of the Jewish law then let us not add those back in and make it harder than what it already. Yes. and so let us know. get sucked into unprofitable and worthless quarreling and arguing about the Jewish law. That's what he wants in with now. I'm sure that's what we thought through of Christianity today. There's a number of things that we might throw in here to this the pitfalls that we can get sucked into which these to represent to us. All the meaningless worthless things that we can spend our time arguing about in convincing people about that in the end are going to amount to nothing in the kingdom of God. And in fact may end up working against us as we stand before God and got to say what did you do? And we said, oh we argued really hard about this particular point.

And admit that we became one of those devices people within his church. Are there are mad at there are times and places in which we stand up on truth on gospel truth presented to us in scripture and say Here's where I stand if that's a problem. So be it but our intent and purpose is always that we stand on truth. The God has given us for the purpose of restoring and bringing people in a right relationship with God and with each other. And so if if corals arguments divisiveness we find is a part of our if we afford each one of us were to look at our lives if we were to characterize Our Lives by horling arguing and division. We really probably ought to begin to think the problem is not everyone else. Write the problem is me.

Is that the characteristics out of my life then then I'm the one that needs to look in the mirror here.

So let's not get sucked into that. The Paul goes on here to say. Well, what if what if you have someone in the church family that that is doing this stuff. How are you to handle that verse 10 as for a person who stirs up division after warning in once and then twice have nothing more to do with him. Knowing that such a person is Warped and sinful. He is self-condemned. So we have these these pitfalls and how I didn't want to point out here Galatians Chapter 2 verses 15 and 16 as it relates to the law saving us the idea that where Paul says we ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile Sinners yet. We know that a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. So we also have believed in Christ Jesus in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law because by works of the law, no one will be justified.

And so then Paul goes on toe to give instruction on how to deal with folks who insist on staying the course with foolish controversies and genealogies and and trying to convince people that are biting by Jewish law was necessary for salvation, and he says I warn them and correct them twice. And then I have nothing to do with them poles not going into detail here about church discipline. He's just saying here's how you handle this situation. You warned them you educate them. So here's what you're doing. And here's why it's in conflict with with the gospel on with the life that God called us to and if they continue to Once having been warned and corrected twice having been wanting corrected rather refuse to the change course then have nothing to do with them.

Did something that Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7 comes to mind that that don't don't throw the pearls to the swine. Right, so make every effort to restore these people and redirect them in truth and in love and grace and humility. But if they refuse then have nothing to do with them don't don't get sucked into this stuff.

They're so there are three things here. I think that that Paul is concerned with that that we ought to walk away with one is don't get sidetracked from the gospel. That there are a plethora of an endless number of things that we can get sucked up into controversies about all sorts of things that we can make it our life purpose to hash out and convince people of that are not really a gospel truth.

There are so many things that come to mind, but you can sort out what those are for yourself in your own life and in your own context. But the issue is this let us not get sidetracked from the gospel is the gospel Jesus saves. pure and simple

secondly keep focused on him.

So don't get sidetracked by foolish and worthless subject topics controversies and secondly keep our eyes on Jesus.

And the third thing is stay to voted to Good Works is the thrust of Paul's message here. Got to saved you like your life showing.

And so as we get close to the end of of the book of Titus here Paul will once again double back to this and verse 14 and what will wrap it up next week with his closing remarks the Titus in the cretan church. But for us as we walk as we kind of wrap up our teaching in the book of Titus, it's important for us to grab the the gist of the of the message here, which is the gospel that saves us. And the resulting life that aren't the flow out of genuine faith in Christ. That gives testimony to our genuine faith and to our belonging to him.

Lord I just pray give you thanks that you have saved us.

I thank you that it was by your work and not by hours. Or none of us could control what family we were born into. What country we were born in?

And Lord You Have Made A Way for every single person to be saved.

Regardless of who we were born to or where we were born. Because we must be born Anew by you by faith in your son Jesus.

And through that first, we all become children of God. What I pray for those who may be today or on the fence with that? Who have not trusted you? For salvation for forgiveness of sins for your sacrifice to be enough.

Where did I ask that you that you would help them to take that step of faith today Just Surrender themselves to this gospel truth. That their lives would show it more and more each day that you are doing an incredible a miraculous work from the inside out.

but I pray that you would also help us all as followers of you to have lives that proved out what has taken place at the heart and soul level and that is at you and you died to save us and we believe that so let our lives show that let the good things that we do that glorify you testify that we belong to you and that we believe in you and let it lead other people to you.

Would you have been gracious with us and we just ask for your strength as we? continue on that we would shine brightly in a dark world that people would find the hope of Jesus Christ in Jesus name. Amen.

Love you. I follow Christ to leave you with this encouragement that Paul gave to the Corinthian Church. I am 1st Corinthians chapter 15 as it relates to your Godly living and your good works on behalf of the gospel and reflection of your true faith in the gospel. He says therefore my beloved brothers be steadfast immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. And still want to leave you with that for those of you who are perhaps not Believers yet. I want to especially to those who have grown up with in a Christian household or your parents display the gospel to you and Todd it for apps that you are not saved because your parents believe in Jesus.

That doesn't come to you by Heritage that comes to you by faith. And you choosing to believe in the Son of God who died for you. So don't make that mistake and as we on this weekend as I read earlier there from Romans chapter 5 that it was Christ to lay down his life for us this weekend. We also acknowledge that in lightness to that though. Not at the the same quite the same scale there, but in lightness to that we do have a a large debt of gratitude to give to those who have given their physical lives and pass cost so many families. In fact probably most of us here know either loved ones or relatives that perhaps we never knew because of how their sacrifice came too early for us to know them who have died in service to our country in order that the world would know freedom and that's especially and so as we close our time, I would ask you that we have all your heads with me as as we just Give remembrance to them as passes plate.

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