A Reminder in Humility: Titus 3:2-8
Ask the audience to rise for the reading of scripture.
Remind them to…show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through 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. (Titus 3:1-8 ESV)
Allow the audience to sit.
Reading the words the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to say to his apprentice, Titus, one afternoon I was painfully surprised! As I read the words, Paul reminded Titus to show perfect courtesy toward all people. At face value this doesn’t mean much to me honestly….for all I know this could be on a fortune cookie! But I’d be ignorant to leave you hanging just with this thought.
There is a reason Titus was told to remind his church to show perfect courtesy toward all people. A very hidden and unsearchable reason…. whispering because there was a time where we were once sinners. AAHHHH!!! I know I know! I’m sorry to break the news to you! But really! What a basic… elementary… simple truth! Paul even said in his letter to the Christians in Rome,
...it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18 ESV)
Yet, for some reason there have been times where I have walked with my Master and Savior, Jesus, but was just too doggone sophisticated, spiditual and tick-tack-toe with my spidituality (ya I said ‘spiditual’) that I really struggled with this. Lemme paint you a picture from my own experience of what this could look like maybe in your life…
Exhibit A: Judging a non-Christian for their non-Christian actions. You stand in line eaves dropping on two dudes talking about a woman as if a woman’s only purpose is to be his next nightly pleasure-toy and you're shocked that non-Christian men are talking about non-Christian things! Oh good heavens you spiritual all star! Love the Hell outta the men if you’re so “righteously angry” and make a name for Christ in their life…maybe the Holy Spirit is at work in those hearts regenerating something that will one day receive a “Welcome home son!” from the Father! And God help me to do the same if He brings this in my life!
Exhibit B: Looking down on a Christian for not knowing something that by the Lord’s grace alone you or me may happen to know. Last time I checked, it was the Lord who knows all things...ask Ezekiel! Ask Peter! God Himself won’t even look down on you or me or hold it against you or men for not knowing all the answers! We are told, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV)
So we’re reminded “to show perfect courtesy toward all people” here’s the list why…it’s like Paul's giving Titus a list of cold harda very real reminder of that one time when we were once…
A. foolish
B. disobedient
C. led astray
D. slaves to various passions and pleasures
E. passing our days in malice and envy
F. hated by others and hating one another.
Good news though! Great news actually! This is what we once were and it’s “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (vv. 6-7) Because of this justification we've received, because we were once sinners condemned as children of wrath and not of salvation (Eph. 2:3-6) and were saved from that wrath not by our own all-thatness but by the ever all-that mercy of God and His washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit let us not "think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned" (Romans 12:3) and show perfect courtesy like our Master and Savior Jesus did toward all people!