A Purpose Statement

The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the phrase “purpose statement” is having to come up with one for a paper I have to write for school. I used to hate that. I’m already having to write and paper and you’re going to make me turn in a purposed statement for a grade two weeks before the paper is due? Don’t give me extra baby assignments before the actual assignment.

But seriously, as I look back on it now I totally see why they were helpful.

Then I think about personal mission statements. One of my favorites is from Nick Saban… In his introductory press conference at Alabama he said he wanted other teams to say they hated playing against Alabama. The was the mission, to be so good and tough that other teams hated to play Bama.

There are also some funny purpose statements. One famous one from an old movie is, “I’m here to chew bubble gum and kick butt and I’m all out of bubble gum.”

Paul gives his purpose statement in the short passage we are looking at tonight and he gives us a lot of information and encouragement in a few short verses!

He tells Christians who we are, what we need to do, and gives us the encouragement we need to do it! So, if you call yourself a Christ follower, then his words tonight will hopefully be very helpful to you!

Paul wants God’s people to grow in knowledge leading to godly living while looking forward to eternal life.

read and pray

A Plan for God’s People

verse 1

Growing in right knowledge leads to growing in right action.

I am coaching my youngest son’s basketball team this year. I’m not a good basketball coach. But I do know more than some seven and eight year olds! I’ve got a kid on the team who double dribbles nearly every time he touches the ball. I keep telling him he’s doing, but he wasn’t getting it and he kept doing it. But towards the end of practice Monday, he finally understood what I was telling him and something wonderful happened. He stopped dribbling and didn’t start again! He finally gained that knowledge and it changed his actions. Paul is telling Christians that as we grow in knowledge about the Truth it will lead to us living more godly lives.

notes in Bible

A Gospel that doesn’t lead to godly living is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:21–24 ESV

assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

You have to be growing in your knowledge of God’s truth. This will lead to you growing in godliness, or living more like Jesus. It will equip you to live in a way that honors Him. It will set you up to receive the blessings that come from living according to his Word.

It’s not always easy, it’s often not easy to live this way, but we have something to encourage us.

A Hope for God’s People

verse 2

Paul encourages us with the hope we have in Jesus.

This hope isn’t like we think of hope today… In their culture hoping is like looking forward to a definite thing. Like if your parents tell you they they’re making your favorite meal for dinner or you’re going to your favorite restaurant, you hope it’s good because it hasn’t happened yet, but really you don’t have a question of if it will be good. You know it will be good!

This is the hope that Paul is talking about. We know that eternal life awaits those who have placed their faith in Jesus. How do we know?

notes in Bible

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

When it gets difficult to, we need to remember all this. When you feel worn out by this world, remember the holy anticipation that you have from God who never lies. The promise you have that was made before creation.

This is good news! We can’t keep it to ourselves!

Growing God’s People

verse 3

Paul tells us how this truth spreads.

Who was Paul Revere? What message was he entrusted with? Our message is even more important. It is eternally important.

notes in Bible

Romans 10:14 ESV

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Paul was entrusted with his ministry and every Christian is entrusted with their own. The places that God has put them to share the good news of Jesus and minister to others. And it’s so much easier to do that when are growing in knowledge of the truth. We are so much more eager to tell others when we are growing in knowledge of the truth!

Unity for God’s People

verse 4

Christians are united by their shared faith.

When you’re at a Trojan game or a Choctaw game, you can look around and see people wearing your colors and you are united to them by your shared love for your school.

In church, you can look around at the other believers and you are united to them by your shared faith in God. You can sing and pray and learn together. Receive the grace and peace from God together.

What is this grace and this peace that Paul wishes for Titus?

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon 2. The Recipient of the Letter (1:4)

Grace is the unearned blessing or favor of God toward mankind. It springs from the eternal well of God’s goodness. Peace, for the believer, is tranquility of the soul, a spirit at rest in God despite the turbulence of circumstances. Grace and peace can be known only in relationship with God, only as we develop intimacy with God and his Christ. Paul desired that Titus experience these treasures.

God offers this grace and peace to all of us. He offers this hope of eternal life to all of us and all of his elect will receive these things! It’s sin, not living as God created us to live, that separates us from these things, but it is Christ Jesus our Savior who can forgive our sin and give us life!