The Book of Titus. Pt. 5
Good morning to each of you.....
Now we come to the end of Titus chapter 2. Paul ends this section with another paragraph loaded with strong theology. We must work our way through this so that we can study it and apply it.
The power and blessing of the grace of God.
First, Paul brings the beautiful grace of God and our great salvation to the forefront. The grace of God reminds us of the extreme measures God undertook in order to save sinners. He sacrificed His own Son in order to redeem us.
Through the power of the gospel, God calls sinners by grace. The Spirit of God works to convict sinners to lead them to repentant faith in Jesus Christ because of grace. The Spirit of God regenerates the heart that turns from sin and embraces Christ alone. This is all of God and all of grace.
The grace of God sends the Spirit of God to reside in the heart of every new believer. He is the earnest or down payment of the future inheritance in Christ that is waiting for each born again believer.
The grace of God unleashes the powerful, lifelong ministry of the Spirit of God with the word of God in the heart of men.
The Spirit of God leads us into humble obedience as we read God's word. He transforms us into the image of Christ as we read God's word. He illuminates our hearts with Divine Truth as we read God's word. He illuminates hearts and brings fresh applications for our lives as we read God's word. He will revive our hearts when we are weary as we read God's word.
It is the grace of God when the Holy Spirit places each new Christian into the church, the body of Christ. Every Christian brother or sister is uniquely gifted by God's Spirit. Each believer has a function in the body of Christ. We are like a vast tapestry of different individuals collectively put together in the body of Christ to serve the purposes of God.
In short, the grace of God has appeared and brought God's life changing salvation to the world. The word "appear" means that grace is bringing the light of God into a sin darkened world. Each time that the gospel is preached or each time we share God's truth with someone else, the grace of God appears.
The first thing the grace of God is doing for us is teaching us about certain things. The word teaching is a word that means to train us up just like a parent trains up a child.
A parent will warn a child of dangers that a child may encounter. A parent does this so that the child is forewarned and avoids being hurt or injured. A parent may seek to provide education and experiences that will enrich and benefit the child throughout his or her life. A parent works to provide the basic necessities of life (food, clothing, shelter) to the child.
This it not unlike the grace guided ministry of the Spirit of God in our lives. Grace from God brings warnings about danger to the believer in order to protect us from harm. Grace from God brings spiritual growth and fresh life that enriches us and makes us fit to serve Christ. Grace from God brings us the food of God's word, the sheltering arms of our Savior and clothes us in Christ's righteousness.
The negative aspect of what the grace of God teaches us.
First, there is the negative or warning aspect of this teaching. The grace of God teaches us how not to live. The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. The word "deny" means to utterly reject all that is ungodly.
You can readily see some of the implications of this truth. For much of the culture that surrounds us is driven by ungodliness and wickedness.
It also calls us to deny worldly lusts. The word "lusts" refers to having an intense longing for those things that are forbidden by God's law. It means denying the pressures to be materialistic and covetous, like many people are.
The positive aspects of what the grace of God teaches us.
Next, there is the positive aspect of this teaching. The grace of God teaches us how we should live. We are to live soberly. This word means having a sound mind. It means being temperate and discreet. We are to live righteous and Godly lives.
We are taught to live this way, avoiding the negative things we noted and embracing the positive things that we pointed out. This means that we are called to live this way in the present fallen world.
We are not given an off ramp to exit the world. Why? Because lost people need to see God's people living out the beautiful Christian, hope filled life. We need to shine the light of God's word into a sin darkened world. We need to speak God's word to those around us as the salt that slows down the decay of sin.
Jesus Christ, our Great Hope.
Next, Paul leads us to take a long look at the blessed source of our great hope, Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us that Jesus Christ is going to return to this world when the Father is ready to bring all things to a conclusion.
We really need to stop and reflect about this truth. The second coming of Christ will be indescribably glorious. It will be infinitely better than anything we could ever experience in this world. Too often, we are preoccupied with the things of the world. Paul is calling us to focus on the things of God instead.
Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
The apostle then reminds us of all that Christ did for us so that we are motivated to love Him and serve Him. Jesus gave Himself for us and died for us in order to redeem our souls. His goal is to purify us and transform us into a peculiar people who love to do His work.
Paul winds down this chapter and finishes with yet another charge to Titus. He is to speak all of these truths to the church in Crete. He is to sharply rebuke the wrongdoers or false teachers with all authority.
Paul exhorts Titus so that no man will despise him. This means Titus should conduct himself in the manner Paul carefully described, so that no man has any basis to reject the preaching. They will see the honesty and integrity of Titus. They will see that his life lines up with what God's word says. Their arguments against Titus will fall to the ground.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Paul uses one more distinctive phrase in Titus 2. "That blessed hope."
The appearing of Jesus Christ on this planet is something that is monumental in scope and impact. We are to live this life anticipating Christ's return. Just thinking about Jesus coming for His church should fill our hearts with great joy. In writing to Timothy, Paul elaborates on the second coming of Christ.
Christ will return and he will be revealed as the only blessed and highly exalted King of kings and Lord of lords.
1 Timothy 6:14-15 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Points to Ponder....
Titus 2:11-14
Now we come to the end of Titus chapter 2. Paul ends this section with another paragraph loaded with strong theology. We must work our way through this so that we can study it and apply it.
The power and blessing of the grace of God.
First, Paul brings the beautiful grace of God and our great salvation to the forefront. The grace of God reminds us of the extreme measures God undertook in order to save sinners. He sacrificed His own Son in order to redeem us.
Through the power of the gospel, God calls sinners by grace. The Spirit of God works to convict sinners to lead them to repentant faith in Jesus Christ because of grace. The Spirit of God regenerates the heart that turns from sin and embraces Christ alone. This is all of God and all of grace.
The grace of God sends the Spirit of God to reside in the heart of every new believer. He is the earnest or down payment of the future inheritance in Christ that is waiting for each born again believer.
The grace of God unleashes the powerful, lifelong ministry of the Spirit of God with the word of God in the heart of men.
The Spirit of God leads us into humble obedience as we read God's word. He transforms us into the image of Christ as we read God's word. He illuminates our hearts with Divine Truth as we read God's word. He illuminates hearts and brings fresh applications for our lives as we read God's word. He will revive our hearts when we are weary as we read God's word.
It is the grace of God when the Holy Spirit places each new Christian into the church, the body of Christ. Every Christian brother or sister is uniquely gifted by God's Spirit. Each believer has a function in the body of Christ. We are like a vast tapestry of different individuals collectively put together in the body of Christ to serve the purposes of God.
In short, the grace of God has appeared and brought God's life changing salvation to the world. The word "appear" means that grace is bringing the light of God into a sin darkened world. Each time that the gospel is preached or each time we share God's truth with someone else, the grace of God appears.
The first thing the grace of God is doing for us is teaching us about certain things. The word teaching is a word that means to train us up just like a parent trains up a child.
A parent will warn a child of dangers that a child may encounter. A parent does this so that the child is forewarned and avoids being hurt or injured. A parent may seek to provide education and experiences that will enrich and benefit the child throughout his or her life. A parent works to provide the basic necessities of life (food, clothing, shelter) to the child.
This it not unlike the grace guided ministry of the Spirit of God in our lives. Grace from God brings warnings about danger to the believer in order to protect us from harm. Grace from God brings spiritual growth and fresh life that enriches us and makes us fit to serve Christ. Grace from God brings us the food of God's word, the sheltering arms of our Savior and clothes us in Christ's righteousness.
The negative aspect of what the grace of God teaches us.
First, there is the negative or warning aspect of this teaching. The grace of God teaches us how not to live. The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. The word "deny" means to utterly reject all that is ungodly.
You can readily see some of the implications of this truth. For much of the culture that surrounds us is driven by ungodliness and wickedness.
It also calls us to deny worldly lusts. The word "lusts" refers to having an intense longing for those things that are forbidden by God's law. It means denying the pressures to be materialistic and covetous, like many people are.
The positive aspects of what the grace of God teaches us.
Next, there is the positive aspect of this teaching. The grace of God teaches us how we should live. We are to live soberly. This word means having a sound mind. It means being temperate and discreet. We are to live righteous and Godly lives.
We are taught to live this way, avoiding the negative things we noted and embracing the positive things that we pointed out. This means that we are called to live this way in the present fallen world.
We are not given an off ramp to exit the world. Why? Because lost people need to see God's people living out the beautiful Christian, hope filled life. We need to shine the light of God's word into a sin darkened world. We need to speak God's word to those around us as the salt that slows down the decay of sin.
Jesus Christ, our Great Hope.
Next, Paul leads us to take a long look at the blessed source of our great hope, Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us that Jesus Christ is going to return to this world when the Father is ready to bring all things to a conclusion.
We really need to stop and reflect about this truth. The second coming of Christ will be indescribably glorious. It will be infinitely better than anything we could ever experience in this world. Too often, we are preoccupied with the things of the world. Paul is calling us to focus on the things of God instead.
Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
The apostle then reminds us of all that Christ did for us so that we are motivated to love Him and serve Him. Jesus gave Himself for us and died for us in order to redeem our souls. His goal is to purify us and transform us into a peculiar people who love to do His work.
Paul winds down this chapter and finishes with yet another charge to Titus. He is to speak all of these truths to the church in Crete. He is to sharply rebuke the wrongdoers or false teachers with all authority.
Paul exhorts Titus so that no man will despise him. This means Titus should conduct himself in the manner Paul carefully described, so that no man has any basis to reject the preaching. They will see the honesty and integrity of Titus. They will see that his life lines up with what God's word says. Their arguments against Titus will fall to the ground.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Paul uses one more distinctive phrase in Titus 2. "That blessed hope."
The appearing of Jesus Christ on this planet is something that is monumental in scope and impact. We are to live this life anticipating Christ's return. Just thinking about Jesus coming for His church should fill our hearts with great joy. In writing to Timothy, Paul elaborates on the second coming of Christ.
Christ will return and he will be revealed as the only blessed and highly exalted King of kings and Lord of lords.
1 Timothy 6:14-15 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Which
in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of
kings, and Lord of lords:
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul continues to write about the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ will also be the One King who judges the quick or living, and the dead. He will establish His kingdom on earth when He comes again.
2
Timothy 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who
shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.
Jesus Christ will be the ultimate King. He will be the Sovereign Lord over all. He will be highly exalted in the sight of all people. Every living person saved or lost, will bow before Christ to the glory of God the Father.
He will judge the sinners by their works and cast them into outer darkness. Why? Because no man stands before Holy God justified by their own fleshy works. He will reward the faithful believers and say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" as He welcomes them into His kingdom. Why? Because with faith it is possible to please God.
Points to Ponder....
- We should be praising God for the infinite supply of grace that flows to us through Jesus Christ.
- The grace of God is that He gives us the free gift of salvation with full & complete benefits.
- We do not deserve God's grace.
- We can do nothing to earn God's grace, and yet we have received it by faith.
- The grace of God warns us about dangers to avoid.
- The grace of God shows us how to live in the place of greatest blessing.
- The grace of God always points to its source: the work and Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We cannot begin to understand how God uses His grace in our lives. He often pours grace into us when we need it the most, in times of trouble or trials. His grace brings spiritual blessings and spiritual gifts and spiritual growth into our lives. His grace keeps us safely until the day He calls us home. What blessed truths to ponder!
Bob
Titus 2:11-14
Titus
2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching
us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ;
Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
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