Topic #3 – We are the issues and we must deny ourselves Titus 2:11-12 and Galatians 2:20-21

Topic #3 – We are the issues and we must deny ourselves Titus 2:11-12 and Galatians 2:20-21

Galatians 2:20–21 (ESV)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Tt 2:11–For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

This pastoral letter from Paul to Titus was intended to offer encouragement and wisdom as Titus endured ongoing opposition from the ungodly and from legalists within his congregations.

Proper Christian behavior is based on the fact that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,” and therefore those who believe in Christ are to “live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” as they await his return

In this passage there is a call to renounce

ungodliness

Worldly passions

Then it encourages us to

Live self controlled

Upright

And godly lives

Lets deal first with

ungodliness

Worldly passions

Ungodliness is the state of believing in God, while adopting a lifestyle which seems to deny this

Let me give you some examples

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

These verses describe a time when God sent prophets to warn the people and the kings of Judah about their disobedience and idolatry. However, the people and their leaders did not listen to these prophetic warnings, and they continued to rebel against God's commandments.

Another example of this ungodliness is Judah's religious leaders

Jeremiah 23:11–12 “Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their evil, declares the LORD. 12 Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, declares the LORD.

This are also Christians before conversion

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 2:1–3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Now when it comes to worldliness - That is the sinful tendency to conform to the world. We as believers are called to be in the world but not of the world.

Let me give you some examples

Materialism: Pursuing material possessions and wealth at the expense of spiritual values and priorities.

Bible Verse: Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Peer Pressure: Following negative influences from friends or peers, such as engaging in harmful behaviors just to fit in.

Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)

"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.'"

Cultural Relativism: Adopting the moral values of society without critical evaluation, even if they contradict one's faith.

Bible Verse: Romans 12:2 (ESV)

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Secularism: Embracing a secular worldview that excludes or downplays the importance of religious beliefs and practices.

Bible Verse: Colossians 2:8 (ESV)

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Consumerism: Prioritizing consumer culture and consumption over deeper spiritual fulfillment and contentment.

Bible Verse: Luke 12:15 (ESV)

"And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'"

Moral Compromise: Accepting societal norms that conflict with one's biblical convictions, leading to ethical compromises.

Bible Verse: Romans 12:2 (ESV) (Reiterated)

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Social Media Comparison: Measuring self-worth based on social media metrics like likes and followers, conforming to trends for validation.

Bible Verse: Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Sensationalism: Seeking excitement and sensational experiences rather than pursuing a more balanced and spiritual life.

Bible Verse: Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV)

"Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun."

Ego-Centrism: Focusing on personal desires, ambitions, and ego instead of humility and selflessness in accordance with religious teachings.

Bible Verse: Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Worldly Ambitions: Pursuing worldly success and recognition without considering the impact on one's spiritual journey and relationship with God.

Bible Verse: 1 John 2:15-16 (ESV)

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world."

So therefore God’s people must guard against ungodliness and let me give you some application on how this is experienced, remember that all of this is empowered by grace this active salvation is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldliness

Regular Prayer and Meditation: Engaging in prayer and meditation on Scripture helps individuals stay connected to their faith and strengthens their spiritual resolve against ungodly influences.

Accountability Partners: Having a trusted friend or mentor with whom you can share your struggles and who can offer support and guidance is a valuable way to guard against ungodliness.

Church Community: Active participation in a faith community provides a support system and accountability, helping individuals stay on the right path.

Studying and Applying Scripture: Regularly reading, studying, and applying the teachings of the Bible can provide wisdom and guidance for making godly choices.

Avoiding Temptations: Being aware of one's weaknesses and actively avoiding situations or people that may lead to ungodly behavior is crucial.

Fasting and Self-Denial: Practices like fasting and self-denial can help individuals exercise discipline and self-control over their desires and appetites.

Seeking Forgiveness and Repentance: Acknowledging one's mistakes, seeking forgiveness, and repenting for ungodly actions is an essential part of guarding against ungodliness.

Accountability Groups: Joining or forming small groups with a focus on spiritual growth and accountability can provide a supportive environment for maintaining godly living.

Regular Worship: Attending services and participating in communal worship can help individuals stay focused on their faith and guard against ungodliness.

Setting Healthy Boundaries: Establishing healthy boundaries in relationships and lifestyle choices can prevent exposure to ungodly influences.

Mindful Entertainment: Being selective about the movies, music, books, and other forms of entertainment one engages with can guard against ungodly content.

Seeking Guidance from Spiritual Leaders: Consulting with Pastors Elders or spiritual leaders for guidance and counsel in challenging situations can be beneficial.

In this passage there is a call to renounce ungodliness

Worldly passions Then it encourages us to Live self controlled Upright And godly lives

Uprightness:

1 Peter 2:21-22 (ESV)

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth."

Hebrews 7:26 (ESV)

"For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."

Self-Control:

Matthew 4:1-4 (ESV)

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.' But he answered, 'It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.''

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) (Fruits of the Spirit, including self-control)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law."

Self-Denial:

Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV)

"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"

Now here we are going to see the greatest act of self denial

Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

"In self-denial, we discover that Christ is the superior

"Denying ourselves is a testament to the surpassing excellence of Christ."

"We willingly deny ourselves because we believe that Christ is the ultimate treasure."

"Christ's superiority compels us to let go of our desires and embrace His will."

"In denying ourselves, we acknowledge that Christ's blessings far outweigh our own ambitions."

"Denying ourselves is a declaration that Christ's way is the best way."

We deny ourselves knowing that Christ gives us something far greater."

"Christ's unmatched worthiness motivates us to deny ourselves for His sake."

"When we deny ourselves, we affirm that Christ is the most valuable pursuit."

"Christ's excellence and goodness make self-denial joyful and meaningful ."

In Galatians 2:20-21, the apostle Paul delivers a profound message that encapsulates the essence of Christian faith and the transformative power of the gospel.

Paul's words resonate with a deep sense of personal surrender and divine grace.

He speaks of a radical transformation where his old self, characterized by sin and self-centeredness, has been crucified with Christ.

Instead, he now lives a life animated by faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who loved him unconditionally and sacrificed Himself for our redemption.

Ga 2:20–21 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

This passage serves as a reminder of the core Christian truth that salvation and righteousness come not through our own efforts or adherence to the law but through faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross.

It underscores the importance of living a life of faith and gratitude for the immeasurable grace of God, reminding us that Christ's sacrifice was not in vain; it holds eternal purpose and significance for all believers.

So even when you deny yourself it's still not a man centered act but a grace filled action

The sacrifice of Christ on the cross effectively empowers us to deny ourselves. And to seek his glory

Lets pray