TITUS SERIES, WEEK 5: GRACE THAT GIVES NEW LIFE – PART 2

SUBMISSIVE TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES

• Titus 3:1 Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
  • Remind: In Greek, do it constantly.
  • Romans 13:1-3 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
    • v.4 | They serve God; they punish those who do wrong.
    • v.5 | Submit to avoid punishment but also to have a clear conscience.
    • v.6 | Pay your taxes.
    • v.7 | Respect and honor those in authority
  • Obedience to any authority is contingent on whether Christians are asked to do good or bad in the eyes of God.
  • Daniel 3:8-27; Daniel 6:10-13; Exodus 1:15; Acts 4:18-19, 5:29
  • A Christian’s duty to obey their authorities is limited by their call to be faithful to God’s commands.

DON’T BE TROUBLEMAKERS, BE GRACIOUS

• Titus 3:2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
  • Christians should not mistreat or disrespect anyone.
  • Treat everyone in our society with love, respect, kindness, compassion, gentleness, and humility just like Jesus did.
  • Matthew 5:43-45a
  • Romans 12:17-19

WE USED TO BE SINNERS | WHAT PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE

• Titus 3:3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
  • Thank God that our sinful lifestyle is a thing of the Past.
  • Ephesians 2:1-3 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
  • Reality: A sinful lifestyle is in the past. We were like everyone else. Before we received God’s saving grace, there was nothing good in us.

“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” Jonathan Edwards

• • We are evil and contribute only sin.
  • Romans 3:10-1210 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”

WHAT GOD CONTRIBUTES: Who He is & what He does

• Titus 3:4-5a 4 But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
  • God: Kindness or goodness
  • Love (philanthrõpia) – love for mankind
  • Willingness to save
  • Mercy

• Titus 3:5b-7 He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
  • Washed away sins
  • Giving new birth & new life
  • Poured out His Spirit
  • Made us right in His sight
  • Gave confidence of eternity

SAVING GRACE IS FREELY GIVEN

• Humanity didn’t search or ask for God’s grace.
• God took the initiative, revealed His saving grace to us, and gave it freely.
• God gave His eternally begotten Son to pay for it on our behalf with his blood.
• God was not obligated to do all of this for us. He did it because He is good and His nature is to love.
• Ephesians 2:4-5 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
• Ephesians 2:8-9 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
• Jude 1:25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord…
• Revelation 7:10 And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

• Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
• • Continue to teach this truth.
  • Our new life results in godly character that should be reflected in our private life, in our community of faith, and in all of society.

“Here comes my grandson! He may preach the gospel better than I can, but he cannot preach a better gospel; can you, Charles?” James Spurgeon (1776-1864)

• • That a Holy God would choose to freely offer salvation to people who do not deserve it and that He would become the sacrifice for people’s sins and dwell in them is unheard of. There is no message like the Christian message of God’s grace.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

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