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Call to Worship

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O Come, All Ye Faithful # 89

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What Did Jesus Bring You For Christmas?

Christmas Day Service

Titus 3:1-8

Pastor Gary Whitney

Worship By Singing

Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come #87

Titus 3 (CSB)

Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning. For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there. Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they will lack nothing.

Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. All those who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.

A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

God tells us in His Word that Christmas does bring transformation. Well, not Christmas but what happened on the first Christmas.

Jesus Brings The New Birth, That Brings New Life, which is Rich In Love.

If you desire the gift of a transformed life, just surrender to Jesus and ask for new life, and the obedience to live that transformed life you so desire.

The Many Gifts From Jesus The Text In Its Context

We Are A New Creation In Jesus

Titus 3:1–2 (CSB)

Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.

New Life in Jesus makes us right with God, right with each other, and right with ourselves. Being right with God results in Jesus having a room for us in His father’s mansion- heaven. But that comes after we have lived on earth, and done the good works that God has prepared for us in advance. These works don’t bring salvation- they flow from our having been saved. Paul emphasizes that with new life in Christ our actions and priorities will look different then sinful world around us. The Christians Paul gave this reminder to were living in a culture that was hostile to the gospel and corrupted by moral sin at every turn, pretty much what you and I see every day. He calls us to live distinctively different lives. Live where our actions are not the result of our circumstances, but flow from our relationship with our Savior.

In Christ

We submit obediently

We are “to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey.” Jesus said in Matthew 22:21, “Therefore give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Paul adds in Romans 13:1, “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.”

Christians are radicals, but not anarchist or rebels. We do not subvert the government or disobey the government unless it brings us into direct conflict with the commands of God. And even then our disobedience is passive not active, and we willingly accept the consequences of our actions. This submission is evidence of submission to and trust in God.

We serve eagerly

We are to “be ready for every good work.” Every doesn’t leave room for not doing good, AMEN? Galatians 6:10

Galatians 6:10 (CSB)

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.

Titus 2:14 (CSB)

He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.

People following Jesus look to aid others, assist others, help others in any and every opportunity.

We speak gently

We are to “slander no one” and are to “avoid fighting.” Always- no limit. Doesn’t matter if the person is the meanest, orneriest, cantankerous person God ever let walk the earth. Christians don’t talk bad about people or do bad to people.

We exercise sweet reasonableness out of a life of wisdom that refuses to hold a grudge and that also gives others the benefit of the doubt (cf. 1 Cor 13:4–8). The regenerate person refuses to cultivate and then exercise verbal or physical abuse. As far as it is possible, on our part, we seek to “live at peace with everyone”

Romans 12:18 (CSB)

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

We show humility

This is the exact opposite of the slandering and fighting Paul just warned against. In fact, the call to show “gentleness” or “humility” sums up well the prior six commands. It is a conscious placing of others ahead of ourselves. It is in attitude and action esteeming others better than ourselves Phil 2:3

Philippians 2:3 (CSB)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

It is the essence of the mind of Christ

Philippians 2:5 (CSB)

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

I believe this is connected to the love God showed us.

John 3:16 (CSB)

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

We show the world God love them by obediently submit, serving eagerly, speaking gently, and showing humility!

All of these behaviors and actions are the direct result of our salvation.

In Sin

Before we were in Jesus- we were foolishly in bondage to sin.

Titus 3:3 (CSB)

For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

Sin deceives

We ourselves (all of us with no exceptions) were once “foolish” (we were senseless, ignorant, and without spiritual understanding) and “deceived” (we were led astray, misled, and guided by another in the wrong direction). In short, sin makes you stupid!

Sin disobeys

We were “disobedient.” Our natural bent was to disobey and seek our own way: disobedient to God (cf. 1:16), authorities, parents—everyone and everything. We were self-centered, self-deceived, Satan-deceived rebels.

Sin dictates

We were “enslaved by various passions and pleasures.” Every sinner says that they are free. It is popular to say that we are liberated from the outmoded beliefs and morals of the bible. But while they claim freedom, sinners are actuality in bondage and slavery to a cruel and never-satisfied taskmaster: ourselves. This was us without Jesus. Lust and pleasure controlled us. We flirted with both beauties only to discover no matter how much we gave them, they were never satisfied, it was never, never enough.

Sin detests

We were “living in malice.” We lived with “an evil attitude of mind which manifest itself in ill-will and desire to injure.” This describes one with a vicious character who desires to bring good to no one. Someone who wants other people to hurt for everything done to them, someone who only cares about their own good.

Sin desires

We lived in “envy,” an unquenchable desire to possess what we do not have. Social media is a breeding ground for the sin of envy. We want what everybody else has, thinking that we will finally be happy, but it is never actually enough!

Sin destroys

We were “hateful” and were continually “detesting” or hating one another. “Hateful” was our nature and attitude, a natural outgrowth of envy. “Detesting” was our character and action. In contrast to living a life of love that characterizes the disciples of Jesus, we lived a life of hate that gave evidence we were disciples of the Devil.

This is a picture of who we were but not of who we are.

"Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough." "Come, then," returned the nephew gaily. "What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You're rich enough." -Dickens Christmas Carol

But how? How is this possible?

I promise you that Ghosts cannot scare you into being good. Not even the ghosts that run around in your head like hampsters on a wheel- you might know them better as guilty memories of past deeds or as self condemnation.

The gospel changed everything! We are now a new creation and are ever ready for good works.

New Life And A New Way Of Living

Titus 3:4–7 (CSB)

But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

I often think of Justification and Salvation leading to our being given New Life. With Regeneration and Sanctification leading to our living that life in a new way.

Let’s talk about the difference between the washing of regeneration and having been justified by grace. They are closely related, but they are different because of why we need them. We need to be justified because we are all guilty of sin. Justification leads to salvation. We need to be regenerated because even after we are justified, we fight against our sinful human nature. Justification cancels our guilt, while it is regeneration renews or purifies our moral nature. They both happen at the time at the same moment we are saved by faith through God’s grace. We are immediately saved, but it may take time for us to see the moral change of regeneration. But if you are saved you will also do what God asks.

We Are Saved To Do Good Works

Titus 3:8 (CSB)

This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.

Last night we heard

Ephesians 2:10 (CSB)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Titus 1:16 (CSB)

They claim to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

Titus 2:7 (CSB)

in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching.

Titus 2:14 (CSB)

He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.

Be Good Do Good And Be Seen Doing Good — Our Contemporary Application

"Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see." - Bob Cratchit

It is so easy to see that we are called to do good in our community. We know we need to love our neighbors. We know God has prepared good works for us in our neighborhood. But sometimes, maybe more often than not, we struggle with doing practical acts of goods for our neighbor.

Wouldn’t it be a good idea for us to gather periodically and discuss how we can do good and better represent the Lord on the Island? Rather than simply praying for one another’s problems or debating how and when Christ will come back, we can make incredible strides in our community witness if we talk together about the spiritual climate around us and how we can better implement the gospel of Christ in their lives. The story of a changed life has immense power to turn people to Christ. But that life must be genuinely changed not only as regards the cessation of sin but also in the performance of good.

Ephesians 4:28–29 (CSB)

Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.

The person with a foul mouth should not only stop saying such things but must say what is “helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” It is this kind of good that is going to make for an effective witness (cf. Titus 3:8).

Every community has its own set of needs, problems, crises, and opportunities that call for specific Christian responses; “these things are excellent and profitable for everyone. God speak through His Word, our circumstances, and His people. He doesn’t just work through one person, not even the pastor or the deacons! So let’s talk about what God is telling us, and what He is asking us to do.

The famous last words of the novel: "God bless us, Every one!" - Tiny Tim

God desires nothing less.

John 3:16 (CSB)

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

and

Luke 2:13–14 (CSB)

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace on earth to people he favors!

God will get the glory- but peace is only found in an obedient relationship with Jesus.

So Let Us Go Tell It On The Mountain