A Good Reminder Titus 3:3-8

A reminder of who we once were and who we are now because of Jesus.

A little boy was riding his tricycle furiously around the block, over and over again. Finally a policeman stopped and asked him why he was going around and around. The boy said that he was running away from home. Then the policeman asked why he kept going around the block. The boy responded, “Because my mom said that I’m not allowed to cross the street.” The point is clear—obedience will keep you close to those you love.

Because of our Love for Jesus we stay close to Him even during our times of disobedience.

-Pray

A reminder of who we used to be:

Paul begins the chapter in his letter to Titus that guides him in leading the churches on the island of Crete on the right way to live in society.

Titus 3:1–2 “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”

The people of Crete or the “Cretans” were the opposite of this.

Titus 1:12 “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.””

Paul then relates to them stating that’s how he once was.

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.”

Raise your hand how many of us can say that we were these things and still struggle with these things?

It reminds us of how broken and lost we are and in need of a savior!

It’s not dwelling on our sinful past but it’s reminding us how merciful God is towards us.

It reminds us to-

Live a life of gratitude for how God continues to change us into His image.

Live in humility by seeing that it is only by God’s grace that we have changed.

Living a life of kindness towards others who are foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures and the list goes on because we were there also and God showed kindness and mercy towards us.

Living in Faith that God can change us and those who are still in that place.

A reminder of Jesus our Lord and Savior:

Titus 3:4–6 “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,”

We move from a life full of sin to a life that is full of the Holy Spirit.

We didn’t rescue ourselves out of our sin. I’m sure most of us tried over and over again. We were rescued by the kindness and love of God.

It’s not by any works of our own righteousness that we are saved. We can’t earn our way into heaven. Were not saved by getting baptized, attending church every week, tithing, reading the bible. All of these things are great and we should do them but we must understand that we are saved according to God’s grace and mercy.

Ephesians 2:4–9 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Washing of regeneration-

The spirit of God uses the Word of God to bring about the new birth or new creation in Christ.

Paul uses this word washing again in Ephesians 5:26 “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,”

It’s a spiritual cleansing by the word of God.

God is not stingy he gives in abundance. Jesus is all we need and more!

Titus 3:7–8 “that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

Not only are we washed and made new in Christ but we are also justified - made righteous because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Just as if we had never sinned.

We are God’s children and we have the inheritance of eternal life with Him once we have confessed that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and accept Him into our hearts.

Paul stresses that believers must devote themselves to doing good. Good works is not just within the church it also is serving in the community, being good citizens, helping those who are not saved, helping our neighbors around us. Good works will not save us but doing good for others is just a reflection of His saving grace.

Showing grace and mercy to those around us believers and non-believers.

Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

In closing - this passage in Titus reminds us of who we used to be and it reminds us of who we are now through Jesus. We are new creations 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

-Let’s Pray