Titus 3:3-7…From Then to Now...

Psalm 16:8 “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

INTRODUCTION..

If I was at a sinners anyoumous meeting. I would stand and say...

My name is Marcellus Wesley, and I was a sinner and i am currently sinner...

I did things that were not pleasing to God. I am like David over in Psalm 51:4 “Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.”

I am but a filthy rag in his eyesight...

I thought i was all of that but now i know that if it had not been for the Lord....

I was foolish, disobedient, and so ....

but one day, while i am on my road, i was knocked off my high horse....

I know that sounds bad to everyone, and i know that i am the only one

But here goes some good news,

yes, i am sinner but I am a sinner that is saved by grace....

I am a sinner that receives, brand new mercy every morning...

i am sinner that is loved unconditionally...

TALK, PREACH.......

you might remember my then but look at me now...

i was convicted and driven but when my were opened, i was converted and drawn back in...

is there anyone in here....TALK, PREACH.....

Family don’t let your then mess up your now...

song writer says, I am on the right road now.....

and as we will see Paul uses his Pastoral epistle to Titus to help us see this today...

let’s walk....

The book of Titus...

written by the Apostle Paul after his first imprisonment to his son in the ministry…Titus

Titus, a greek gentile led to Christ by Paul.

Paul had 3 specific reason to write Titus but for today, we will look at the behaviour of believers...

this book is called a pastoral epistle because Paul is writing Titus to help him with the church....

even us Pastors, need some encouraging from time to time....TALK, PREACH.....

but to also to remind him how to deal with the church…so the church is doing the work of Christ...

the book of titus is a ecclesiastical epistle, a teaching and preaching book to the church helping with doctrine and theology for the people..

and such doctrine and theology was, Paul urged us to recall our past alienation from God and our disobedience and then to remember that our righteousness comes from God’s mercy and grace. Our goodness is not self-generated. Purchased by Christ, it is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

and this is what Paul wanted Titus to share with church in Crete....Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—”

what were they lacking, Titus 2:1 “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:”

why? because true sound doctine would lead them to Christ and they would not fall for the false teachers...

and sometimes the best way to teach or show is to let the people know, i am not all that…i too have a then and a now....and it was nothing that I did but it was Christ did for me and you....

let’s go deeper....

Titus 3:3–7 NKJV

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Points....

We were all the same at some point...

Titus 3:3 “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

Our own past sins should lead us to be lenient towards those of others. “Despise none, for such wast thou also.

As we start leading others to christ don’t get to high and mighty....TALK, PREACH....

Paul shows a threefold set of evils in this first verse...

Titus (Exposition)

The first set consists of the evils of the mind

Titus Exposition

foolish, disobedient, led astray.”

Titus (Exposition)

next bundle of mischief is found in the evils of our pursuits

Titus Exposition

enslaved to various desires and pleasures.

Titus (Exposition)

the evils of our hearts

living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”

TALK, PREACH....

What God did for us.....

Titus 3:4–7 “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

We were rescued by the kindness and the love of God. He reached out to us long before we reached out to Him.

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon 2. The Work of Salvation (3:4–6)

This is the incarnation, the appearance (epiphany) of Christ among men. God’s kindness and love compelled Christ’s appearance at Bethlehem, his exemplary life, and his substitutionary death and resurrection.

TALK, PREACH.....

Our salvation isn’t based on any works of righteousness which we have done. In and of itself, response to an altar call does not save. Saying the sinner’s prayer does not save. Baptism does not save. Church attendance does not save. Giving does not save. Reading the Bible does not save. Each of these may be wonderful works of righteousness, but they do not save us. Instead, according to His mercy He saved us.

This is the essence and distinctive of the gospel. We can notice the emphasis: of God… not by works… His mercy… He saved us… of the Holy Spirit… He poured… through Jesus… by His grace… heirs. God is always the initiator, and we receive from Him before we give anything back.

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon 2. The Work of Salvation (3:4–6)

Salvation comes through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon 2. The Work of Salvation (3:4–6)

God has poured out this Holy Spirit on us generously

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon 2. The Work of Salvation (3:4–6)

The Spirit enables us to follow in the ways of Christ

Conclusion..

Paul has instructed Titus to let the people of Crete know that they didn’t have it all together at first either.

But if they follow the true gospel, they could leave their then and begin their now...

a change life through Christ...

we all have been there but God...

TALK, PREACH, CLOSE...