“Living Out Our Faith”

“Son, if you learn to work with your hands, you’ll never be without work.”

That’s something my dad told me after I’d asked him why he was making me spend another Saturday working around the little farm I grew up on as a kid. For my dad, teaching me and my younger brother about the value of a hard day’s work and our learning how to work with our hands was a top priority as a father.

We have been studying a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to a pastor named Titus in a place called Crete and the purpose of the letter is to give Titus some encouragement and guidance while Titus goes about identifying pastors to lead churches that were there in Crete. This guidance has to do with how to structure and organize healthy churches to the glory of the Lord Jesus in Crete and our purpose in studying the letter has been to identify the opportunities where our own church can become healthier, with God’s help. We’re a church who is preparing for a journey that will see us enhance our facilities so First Baptist can continue to be a beacon of gospel light for generations to come.

And as we’ve arrived now at the final verses of Paul’s letter to Titus, it’s important for us to recognize something that’s been a emphasis and a theme since we were in Titus 2. We saw back in Titus 2:14 that “[Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession…” When we’re in Christ, we are owned personally and intimately by Jesus and Jesus’ people have a defining characteristic… They “…are zealous for good works.” Christians are committed to goodness. Sticking with that theme, Paul reminded Titus in Titus 3:8 “…I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God,” here’s that theme… “may be careful to devote themselves to good works.” And here at the end of Titus 3:14, when referring to Christians, Paul tells Titus that “…our people [must] learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” Christians must be devoted to good works or they’re living unproductive lives.

Now, this idea that the Christians in Crete be committed to good works is because Crete was incredibly immoral. When people talked about Crete in the first century, it brought with it similar associations that we have when we talk about a city like Las Vegas. You can imagine how fledgling churches might feel the cross-pressures of prevalent sin in the culture of Crete along with the fact that there were false teachers trying to teach people unhelpful things. And Paul’s been telling Titus for a chapter now of how absolutely vital it is that the Christian in Crete be marked by God-honoring and Jesus-given goodness.

By the end of our time together, we should come to see that as we prepare for this journey as a church family, when we’re moving along, we must remember that

Grace fuels good works, shaping Christlike community

Now, to arrive at this conclusion, we’re going to spend the bulk of our time unpacking Titus 3:14 and we’ll draw some conclusions from the surrounding verses. And I want to be certain that we’re all crystal clear on something here as we hear from God today. We need to be clear that it’s often Paul’s style to describe what is true for the Christian and then follow that with what is then expected of the Christian. Take again Titus 2:14, it’s true that Jesus gave himself for Christians, redeemed Christians, purified Christians with the expectation that they’re eager for good works. I hope that’s clear because none of us should conclude that if we just do what’s expected that we will be in good standing with God. Rather, every time Paul exhorts you and I to doing anything, that exhortation to do is rooted in what God has already given to us in Jesus.

Ok, with that out of the way, let’s look at our first point and that is that we must

Learn How to Behave

You and I who are in Christ must learn something about being Christians. It would be very easy for any one of us to overlook what Paul says here, but in fact, Paul is saying this as a command to you and me. You can tell yourself, “I must Titus 3:14 “…learn to devote [myself] to good works…” What’s the big deal about this, you wonder? Why is Pastor Dan spending any time on this? I’m led to point this out to us because we are each so controlled by our feelings, aren’t we? I wonder, how many didn’t come to church this morning because they didn’t feel like it? How many, after the rush of baptism, don’t feel the same high of faith and fall away? How many are not joining in praying and fasting in this season of discernment because they don’t feel like praying about supporting a growing community and church? How many of you right now are feeling guilty about how little you’ve prayed or fasted and so you’re considering whether you will? The distinction to be made here with Paul’s imperative to learn is that feelings should not regulate what we do. Let’s make it clear, the Christian must learn to be devoted to doing good. This is, if you will, something each of us need to do if we’re to learn how to behave.

We must learn to be devoted, my brothers and sisters. Just on the matter of coming to church on Sundays, I know there are many feelings that would tempt you to stay at home. But, for example, we must learn to be devoted to not forsaking the gathering with the fellowship on chilly mornings when the feel of warm blankets would keep you in bed or rainy mornings when the feel lounging around with an extra cup of coffee is alluring or even at the feel of the sun on your face if you snuck away to the beach on a sunny day.

I imagined what it would be like if I let my feelings guide me on my physical health. I enjoy the feeling I get when I’m eating tacos and fried chicken and pizza and bacon cheeseburgers. I enjoy the feeling of sleeping in every day. And if my feelings ruled me, I’d eat all those things that will negatively affect my physical health. If they ruled me, I’d never get out of bed or off the sofa to go get exercise.

Those of you who have or who are raising children… How many of them have ever felt like taking a shower? How many of them have ever felt like brushing their teeth? How many of them have ever felt like getting up to go to school? They’ve had to learn, haven’t they? They’ve had to learn how important regular personal care is.

Here’s the point… This idea of being devoted to good works is a response to what Jesus has done in our lives when he’s saved us. But devotion is something you and I must learn. Young Christian, especially, please hear me… You must learn this devotion. It’s not a feeling. If we allow ourselves to be governed by our feelings with respect to spiritual matters, we will be spiritually unhealthy.

Are any of you familiar with the song, “In the Morning When I Rise”? I think that song captures the sense of someone who has devoted themselves to the work of Jesus.

In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.

You can have all this world, but give me Jesus.

And when I am alone, give me Jesus.

When I come to die, give me Jesus.

Can we agree that the Christian life is more than a feeling? Have you learned what it means to be devoted to good works?

As Christians, we also see that

Our Behavior Has Purpose

The second thing that we’ll observe from Titus 3:14 that our behavior as Christians is not only learned, but it is behavior that has purpose. In the ESV, it says “so as to.” In other translations that may be in your hands this morning, it may say, “in order that.” The point being that as we learn to be devoted, that learning is so that we Christians would Titus 3:14 “… help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” So as we learn to be devoted to doing good, a result of our learning is that we will be able to provide and that provision isn’t just for ourselves, but it includes providing for people who are in need.

Let me make an observation and it may cause some to take offense, but it needs to be said. Christians, by in large, in this nation aren’t living this out. We aren’t teaching this to the younger generations. How do I know? Isn’t it fair to say, that when we take a step back and survey the landscape of our country, that generations have been raised with the belief that they’re entitled to certain things? Haven’t they been raised to believe that there’s no obligation to get your own hands dirty, but rather, by simply existing, certain things are supposed to naturally just come our way?

God’s word would correct our modern sense of entitlement. James, the half-brother of Jesus, said that religion is pure when it makes sure that it doesn’t ignore or fail to support those who are neediest in a culture… Those being widows and orphans. (James 1:27) In agreement with this, when this same Paul writes to another pastor named Timothy, he says in 1 Timothy 5:7–8 “Command these things as well, so that [Christian brothers and sisters] may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I know people love to argue that there are gray areas of Scripture, but you’ve got to agree, there’s nothing gray about this! God says that an evidence of grace at work in the life of the believer makes them devoted to the kind of goodness that does not ignore the needs of people who are their dependents.

So Paul goes on about this subject of caring for the neediest in a congregation… He tells Timothy to make a list of widows in the churches he was leading because they’d lost their husbands and they had no means of supporting themselves. They had no income. But the instruction was clear. Put a widow on the care list if she’s over sixty and she was faithful to her husband and she is known for her…guess what? 60, faithful to her husband, and known for her good deeds. What examples does Paul give of good deeds? 1 Timothy 5:10 “if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”

Our behavior matters and the exhortation to good works is all throughout the New Testament such that none of us can avoid the charge to live a life that honors Jesus. And about living a life that honors Jesus, Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 that each of us should “aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands…” Don’t we aspire to something so different? “Oh, but what about my desire to influence people in Devine?” “But I really like to snoop on people’s social media then have chisme sessions with my amiga.” And God tells us that grace-filled, genuine aspirations should be to live quietly. Mind your own business. Work with your hands. And this is all opposite our sense of entitlement. Christians should be working hard, providing for their families and providing for the welfare of others who are in need.

We must learn how to behave and our behavior as Christians has purpose. We also see that

Our Behavior Has Benefit

And on this point, I want us to know that the benefit of our behavior isn’t just for us, but it’s also beneficial towards others.

It would be wise for us to remember, when we’re doing our deeds and work, that God gave humanity work in the garden of Eden. You remember that, don’t you? God placed the first humans in the garden and told them to care for it. Now, we know that the work of the garden was tainted by sin, but work has always been a part of God’s intention and design. That means that God didn’t create the human race so we’d be couch potatoes, sitting around with nothing to do! Have you ever wondered why people love to paint? Or why people love to explore? Or why people like to invent new things? There’s a desire to produce that’s wired into you and me. That desire comes from the fact that each and every one of us have been made in the image of God and we were made in order to produce things. When we fail to produce and we do our very best to be sluggards in life, at the root of that is the sin of denying God’s design for humanity.

I remember as I kid, an adult around me was speaking about his job and he said something like, “I work, but I don’t do it for my health.” I don’t remember who it was who said it, the line is what stuck with me and even now, I can only paraphrase what was his sentiment that he’d rather not have to work. The kind of person who, when asked if there’s anything he needs, his only answer would be, “a million dollars in a brown paper bag.” In other words, quick fix to get me to on a beach for the rest of my life.

And we may have that desire, but in God’s design of you and me, we’ve been made to work and when we’re serious about what we do, when we’re committed to our work, when we’re pursuing our endeavors, obviously we’re compensated in some way. But here’s the thing…the God-honoring way to approach our work is to reject doing any work for selfish reasons. What I mean by that is we can be guilty of pursuing the highest pay for whatever it is we do so that we can amass a big pile of wealth for ourselves. That’s not the Christian outlook on work. Yes, we work to provide for our families but what we produce from that work cannot be for selfish reasons. The overflow of what is produced must go for the benefit of the others around us…that it can benefit the widows, the orphans, the least of these, and the betterment of those around us, like our families and the community we are in.

So when we come back to what we discovered earlier about the good works of widows, we realize how practical this all is. Even the most routine of things we do, be them making a pot of coffee or caring for our homes should be seen as measures of God’s care and provision for us. See, we get so caught up in trying to pursue living lives of significance that we overlook that exhortation to live a quiet life as a Christian. When we’re being faithful to the Lord in the place that he’s rooted us, you don’t have to worry about the supposed significance of what you’re doing.

How might our thinking change if we understood the significance of being fully known by the Creator of the cosmos? Wouldn’t you think being known by him outweighs being known by a million people? How might our thinking change if we understood that God’s pleased with acts of kindness and goodness. How might our thinking change if we understood that God’s glorified in our faithfulness in the little things and he’s going to give rewards on the day that we stand before him.

Finally, I hope that we can come to see that it is

Grace That Fuels

Grace fuels all that we do. Maybe we can say that I’ve squeezed what I can out of Titus 3:14 for now so that we can spend our last bit of time together addressing the verses around it.

Notice with me that in Titus 3:12, Paul tells Titus that he should “do his best to come to” Paul. I don’t know about you, but this stands out to me as something we might be prone to miss and never consider the implications. The word that Paul uses carries the sense that Paul is telling Titus, “hey, can you move around whatever you need to and visit me? And can you do that quickly?” We see just how human Paul is here. He’s the hand-picked apostle of Jesus to the non-Jewish world and he’s gone down in history as a prolific instrument of God in terms of God’s speaking his word through Paul. And at that, Paul’s still absolutely human. A gifted leader who understood the vital importance of relationships. We know from what God led Paul to write that Paul was going to say whatever needed saying, but he wasn’t launching theological lightening bolts from a protected tower. He was a man that was surrounded by others. When God calls people into gospel ministry, he’s called those people to rock the proverbial boat from time to time. When we are called to say or do difficult things, it’s so easy to want to hide, but to do that would be to deny another aspect of our createdness and that is the fact that we have been created for community.

Also, something else noteworthy is that Paul’s written this letter to help Titus who has been tasked with finding pastors to manage the churches in Crete and here at the end, he’s telling Titus to step away from that crucial work and spend time with him in Nicopolis over the winter. The thing that Paul’s teaching Titus and us, as a consequence, is that the work of the ministry will go on even when we’re not there. We can boil this down for our church to say that nothing we do here depends on any one of us, albeit at the same time, when any one of us is not here, we are missed. What we need to understand is that God gives gifts to each of us for the purpose of building up the church and when those gifts are taken out of the equation, the impact is felt but at the same time, by God’s grace, the work of the body, the work of the church, will go on. Paul’s led of the Spirit to send someone, either Artemas or Tychicus, to relieve Titus for a season. God has clearly defined an organizational chart for the church, but in this, the leadership of the church is by the Bible which commands all of us to do good, to tell the church to do good, and rest assured that the life of the church depends on the Holy Spirit sustaining it.

And it’s with that sense of fulfilling the call to do good works, we also see Paul saying in Titus 3:13 “Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.” Bible IQ time. Who is Zenas? We don’t know much about Zenas other than the obvious legal profession, but Apollos we know quite a bit about. He was apparently a fine preacher and well-educated, although the gospel he was first preaching needed some fine-tuning that Priscilla and Aquilla gave him. Titus was encouraged to take care of these two. Take care of one person that we know nothing about and another that we know quite a bit about. One thing we know for sure is that God knew them both. God loves them both. And one thing we also know is that you and I will never know what impact a little bit of hospitality will have. You never know what God’s purposes are for any brother or sister and how the Lord will use the time of hospitality that we might show to another to encourage them in their walk with the Lord.

Then we come to Titus 3:15 “All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.” That’s a really nice ending to a letter, isn’t it? I imagine Paul’s off writing this letter and in the overflow of life that must have surrounded him, people come in and out of Paul’s office and they ask, “What are you up to, Paul?” And he says, “Oh, I’m writing a letter to Titus in Crete.” “Titus? I miss that guy. Send him my best. I love him.” And, of course, you can imagine the encouragement those gracious words mean to Titus who is in Crete, surrounded by people who haven’t met Jesus…surrounded by people who kill others with their words. And Paul encourages Titus, “By the way, when you read this, would you tell all the brothers and sisters there that we love them, too?”

May the grace of our Savior be with you all. Grace is what fuels the foundation of the goodness that the back half of this letter has been so focused on. Without grace, anything that Paul’s been writing here is just superficial stuff. It can be superficial in the sense that anyone of us can read the Bible incorrectly and leave it with the takeaway to just be a better person because God rewards good people who try really hard in life. But that’s not how it works. I’m a follower of Jesus because I know that even on my best day, what I can offer to the Almighty is just filthy rags. I need God’s grace. You need God’s grace. We need God’s grace. And in response to God’s grace, we’re made new and set on a course to do good.

This has been a challenging series of messages to preach. We’ve been focused on our church’s health as we prepare for a difficult journey before us. And perhaps nerves have been struck over the course of our time in Titus, but I cannot think of ending this message in any other way than to ask you to please never doubt my love for you as your pastor and certainly never doubt God’s love for each of us.

May grace be with us all.