Adorn the Gopel
Notes
Transcript
Titus 2:7-15
A great disconnect has been revealed over the past few weeks
Great length of discussion about Christ’s return
Much energy given to placing these days into a precise point on a prophetic timeline
Hot passion filling up discussion about support for Israel
Plenty of scriptures cited about how the events of these days are fulfillments of prophecy
Yet, there has been something profoundly missing from the vast majority of what I have heard and read.
And in the void of the silence, people who give every reason to believe that they are not genuinely saved are making statement after statement and posting Facebook post upon Facebook post about the return of Christ or His zeal for Israel or the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
What is missing?
The Gospel. And I fear many Christians, at best do not see the superficiality of their words and lives, and at worst have an imbalance and distorted understanding of what the Gospel is, zealous though they be.
The Grace of God has appeared
It has been revealed in Christ Jesus
Formerly
No one knew when the Messiah was going to come; they simply knew God promised He would come
No one knew how God would save them through the Messiah; they simply knew God promised He would
No one knew who the Messiah would be; they simply knew that He would be a Jew in the kingly line of David
This caused a lot of speculation that led many astray
But now
Jesus has been revealed from heaven, having put on flesh
Jesus has accomplished all that the Father sent Him to do
Jesus has ransomed His people by His death and has broken the power of sin and death by His life
He has ascended into heaven where He reigns in sovereign power with the Father
Hebrews 1:1-3- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
It brings salvation
For all people
His sacrifice is sufficient for all people
His offer of salvation is extended to all people
All who believe will be saved
Those who repent and believe will be saved
He redeems us from lawlessness and bondage to sin
He purifies us as He makes us His possession
It trains us
Those who are saved are given the Holy Spirit to dwell in them
The Holy Spirit teaches and empowers us to hate ungodliness and turn from it
As we turn away from sin, He gives and grows a zeal for good works
It gives us hope
Jesus is coming back to bring us to Himself
He will finish the work He started
Sin still remains in us today, but on that day, we will all be made perfect
He will make all things new
The fallen creation will be remade into a New Heaven and New Earth
We will be with Him forever
We will dwell in His presence for the endless joy of our souls
Psalm 16:11- You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
What does it look like to live in light of our hope in Christ’s return?
What we do and say matters
There is a life which accords with the grace of God
A heart that hates what is evil and loves what is good, becasue God is good
A mind that sets itself on that which is true, pure and lovely, because God is true, pure, and lovely
A will that desires to be faithful and obedient, because God is faithful
Hands and feet that move and act for the glory of God and the spread of the Gospel, because God is glorious
A life that accords with the grace of God is a life that is captivated by God in Christ
Since this person is captivated by God, their life will reflect who He is
God is great and powerful
God is holy and righteous
God is gracious and merciful
God is wise and perfect in knowledge
Jesus is the only Savior and Hope for sinners
Jesus is the greatest treasure and satisfaction of the soul
Jesus is infinitely beautiful and desirable
An out-of-step life is a lying life
To lead a life that is unrepentant over ongoing sin ought to cause trembling
The question should be asked if genuine faith is present in the heart
At its root, genuine faith possesses a love and desire for Jesus Himself above all else
It may be that a genuine believer has, for any number of reasons, begun to live out-of-step with the Gospel of grace
In the most practical way, this kind of out-of-step life while maintaining a profession to know Christ lies to others about Him
It does not reflect His beauty, holiness, grace, love, kindness, patience, forgiveness, righteousness, etc.
It is possible to say right things about God while grossly misrepresenting Him with your actions
Live to show that the Gospel is beautiful
Not just when you are around other Christians
It’s far too easy to put on a facade of godliness when we are around one another and then live very differently in our lives alone and with others
This is not the kind of life Christ has called us to live
Always live to adorn the Gospel
At home
At school
At sporting events and recreation
At work
O Lord, help us to live this way
He is able to do this in you
Hebrews 13:20-21- Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.