To the Citizens ...

Text: Titus 2:11-3:2

Central Idea of the Text: Titus is to challenge every believer toward both private devotion & public confession/witness.

Proposition: The saving faith of a believer is to be both person/tangential & public/observational.

Purpose: Every hearer should be challenged to live both as faithful Citizens of Heaven and upright Citizens of Earth.

Preaching is fun! I’m not actually being sarcastic when I say that. I do mean it. It’s part of what God called and equipped me to do. When I am putting my gifting into practice, I do feel his wind in my sails. And you do a great job of both encouraging me, and challenging me to be and do better. (And I am glad that I could give some helpful advice in my confession on mansplaining.) But preaching the Word as we do, going through books of the Bible, it ensures that we touch on not just our favorite topics, but on difficult ones as well. Just in the past few weeks, we’ve really been hitting it hard on addressing issues that speak to how men live, how women live and how slaves/bondservants are to live as servants of Jesus Christ. But as my study unfolded this week, a certain word and idea was impressed upon me. The word isn’t in the text, but the idea certainly is, and it is connected to a VERY hot button topic in recent happenings. The word is Citizenship.

We’ve been watching the happenings in Minnesota, with much sorrow, as ICE officers have sought to carry out immigration law, and as protestors have confronted them, sometimes and sadly to injurious or deadly consequences. Also sadly, we’ve been placed in this position because previous leaders allowed millions of undocumented/illegal immigrants to flow with little checks or monitoring across our nation’s borders. It is not hatred toward individuals to say that these are illegal immigrants, but simply to acknowledge that there are lawful and proper points of entry into the United States, and there are lawful and proper ways to have either visas or citizenship that allow you to remain here. If we don’t like the laws, then we should use the proper channels to seek change, rather than screaming in peoples faces, using vehicles as weapons, sitting and standing in roadways, and seeking to obstruct those who are enforcing duly passed law. They are not the Gestapo. They are federal officers carry out what the law requires.

I do believe that most Americans do want to be kind and welcoming. We want to see people become and embrace U.S. citizenship. But it is a responsibility, not simply a right, to become a citizen of a country. Yes, we have rights in this country, but it’s not simply a nation of rights. We have responsibilities that we are to fulfill if we are going to be good citizens of our nation. Those who would become U.S. Citizens have to work long and hard, studying for the requirements of the US Customs and Immigration test. As they pass that test and take their oath of citizenship, consider what they pledge to do as good citizens of the United States.

They pledge to renounce allegiance to any foreign state or king.

They pledge to support, defend and abide by the Constitution and US Law. This applies at the federal, state and local levels.

They pledge to bear arms or give other support in support of US if required by law.

They pledge to stay informed and be a part of the democratic functions of the nation.

They pledge to serve on juries, pay taxes and fulfill other civil obligations.

In taking on these oaths, they pledge to respect the rights of others, becoming part of a tolerant & civil society.

These are the things that CITIZENS do. And the rub is when people want the rights of living in a nation, or even the entitlements of living in a nation, without accepting the responsibilities of living in that nation, which is one of the things that makes that nation so great. To take rights and entitlements without taking responsibilities is to sow the seeds of chaos, which helps explain some of what we actively see in the chaos in the US today.

Listen closely as we read today’s text, because (while he won’t use the word) Paul will outline the responsibilities that we have as citizens on two different fronts. Let’s read together Titus 2:11-3:2. [Read Text]

Titus 2:11–3:2 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. 1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

This is the Word of the Lord for us this morning.

Please pray with me: Lord, thank you for the Grace that you have given, forgiveness and freedom found in Jesus Christ. It is that grace that marks us and guides us to live here and now under your lordship and reign. Lord, please help your people to know and receive your words for who they are from, our Lord and King. May you help us to be the citizens you have designs for us to be in your kingdom. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

As we dig into today’s text, for a moment I’d like us to simply forget the chapter and verse markings and other headers in your Bible. Often, when we read the text, we get very hooked on those things and they color the way we read the text. But I want to point out a couple things in the portion that we read this morning, and why I wanted to read them together. Right in the middle of it, in verse 15, we see Paul’s command: Titus 2:15 “15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” And then in 3:1: “Remind them to… ” Who is the YOU in this verse? It’s Titus the pastor receiving the letter. It’s the hinge for what comes in front of it and behind it. The stuff in front he is to declare. The stuff behind, he is to remind. And on both fronts, these words are going to citizens. Two kinds of citizens, but they are all the same people.

Dipping back to the words of Jesus for just a moment, I want to remember the words that Jesus prayed for his church, and how he spoke of his church. Look at John 17:14-19. It’s there that Jesus reminds us of our life as dual citizens.

John 17:14–19 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Sometimes, we hear this entire phrase of Jesus summarized to say that Christians are in the world, but we are not OF the world. In other words, yes, they were living as citizens of the Roman Empire, or even people who were simply ruled over by the empire, but that was not their only allegiance or citizenship. They had allegiance to God. And, of course, they owed him that, because as Paul says in verse 11: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” He ends today’s passage in verse 2 by requesting that the Christians show courtesy toward all people. God’s grace toward the world is meant to be exhibited in his church, the people of the cross. As people of the cross, we join Jesus in carrying our crosses, with our feet on the ground, and our head in the clouds. What is that supposed to look like to be a citizen of heaven, while still being either a citizen or a subject of earth? When the world looks at a disciple of Jesus, what should they see? Paul gives the guidance in front of and behind verse 15. First we examine ...

The Standard for Heaven’s Citizen (2:11-14)

This is, of course, a letter to Titus and written to guide the formation of the believers into churches to teach all of them how to live. And Paul now reminds the church that (v 11) “The Grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.” We might ask what Paul’s intention in stating this, because this is sometimes a verse that can get cherry-picked by people with agendas. Is this a verse that is promoting a universal salvation? That all wind up in heaven eventually? That there is no such thing as hell? Friends, always make sure to read verses in their context, because universal salvation is most certainly not what Paul is proclaiming.

What Paul is stating here speaks to the previous verses. He has instructed older men and younger men. He has instructed younger women and older women. He has instructed the bondservant/slaves/common workers of his time. To each group, he has stated how they in their context and circumstances ought to be faithful. Now, as Paul brings it all back together, he says that this grace, bringing salvation to all people, is intended for every kind of people. People from both genders. People of all ages. People of all classes. People of all nations. All will have the gospel proclaimed to them. Some will respond. That there will be a portion of each represented in God’s Kingdom is the intention here. He says of this people in verse 14 that they are a redeemed people, who are a purified people “for Christ’s own possession.” That is where the grace of God comes from, and where the work of Christ to purchase his people happened. The cross revealed it all. And these people who see the Cross and the Savior, those that believe and obey him, they are part of that people … citizens of a nation above the nations. Paul says it this way in Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul also calls us Ambassadors of this people possessed by Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” It is not a closed ended nation while there is still time. The invitation is open to all!

And now? Paul says in verse 14 that he (Christ) has purified this people so that they would be “zealous for good works.” The intention here is clear. Our rescue from our sin was not a rescue so that we could slide back into sin. it was a rescue from sin so that we might run away from it. And yet, how often have we seen it that Christ is treated like a holy reset button. You may know what I mean: you’ve fallen into sin. You’ve made a mess of things in your family or at work or in a friendship. You may have gone to far in the ways you’ve sinned against and abused your own body. And you come running back to God, and you pray a prayer. You feel good for a moment. And then you go right back to doing what you were doing before. You only do that because your conversion is false, your repentance isn’t real, and you have no intention of giving up your sinful patterns of life for the glory of knowing Jesus. Or maybe you get this idea and treat your response to Jesus in baptism like a holy bath. You know, my life is real messy with sin. Maybe if I just go wash the dirt off, I’ll feel better today. Then? You go right back to playing in the mud. Paul says in Romans 6:1–2 “1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” No way! We are forgiven and filled with the Holy Spirit to be “Zealous for good works.”

What good works? He gives a good summary in verse 13:

We are trained to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. Another way to state this would be to say we ought to renounce the world … her sinful ways and patterns and ideas.

We are trained to be self-controlled. This has been mentioned already in these past few weeks, but please note that there is not a group of people who are exempted from being self controlled. All who are in Christ are now under his command and control and it teaches them to take responsibility for their own words and actions.

We are trained to live upright and godly lives. Another way to say it is that we are taking on godliness as our calling and life. The old habits are replaced with new habits. The old thoughts with new thoughts. The old words with new words.

Habit by habit, we are disciples, becoming disciplined to be more like Jesus. Another way of putting it is that we are being trained in Holiness. We are set apart for God’s use and as the text says, “awaiting the appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Friend, could you be called a Christian by those who see you, especially by those who do not follow Christ? What is it about you that makes you different. Paul is laying out the way here for all who follow Jesus. If you think like the world, falling for the lies of the world’s hollow philosophies and lies, can you say that you are walking in the way. If you speak like the world, sharing the dirty jokes, cussing like a sailor, backstabbing and gossiping, could you be identified in a lineup as a child of God? If you act like the world, with your violence, your sleeping around, your cruel actions toward others, would others know Jesus. Come out of the world! Be set free by repenting of your sin and believing in the Lord Jesus! As the Citizens of Heaven, God presses us toward holiness.

But here is the rub: we are citizens of heaven if we follow Christ, and yet we still live here. And that is why Paul gives the guidance in verses 1-2 of Chapter 3 and shows us ...

The Standard for Earth’s Citizen (3:1-2)

Now before we get into the meat of this discussion and hear some things we don’t want to hear, we note that Paul speaks in verse 1 of rulers and authorities. Now note, he does not tie this and qualify this to specific rulers or authorities. It is stated in broad enough terms that the church ought to receive it like it is stated. He knows that even in the locales of the Roman Empire, there will be a wide variety of governing authorities that the local Christian must be instructed regarding. There will be civic leaders, governors, emperors. There will be centurions and other types of troops/law enforcement. So these instructions come with a broad scope and are NOT conditional toward who those leaders are, what god or gods they worship and what their views are on some free sense of democracy, or if they are totalitarian dictators. You can have your opinions about your leaders, but all who follow Christ with their eyes on the skies still have to live under an earthly rule and within a society of local citizens where you live. So how is this citizen of heaven, in the world but not of it, supposed to live toward that context: whether these rulers seems like saints or slimeballs?

You might want to plug your ears, because Paul is about to use that S word that you really don’t want to hear. Paul says to remind the believers to “be SUBMISSIVE to rulers and authorities.” Man, we do not like to hear that. And yet, Paul has the church’s best interest at heart. Should this early church go protesting for their rights? As their brothers and sisters are sometimes persecuted, is it time to send in the Assassins of the church, the church ninjas, to take a Caesar or a Herod out. Paul says: nope. That’s not the way of Jesus. Caesar’s are gonna Caesar, but Christians have gotta Christian. Which means on an individual basis, seek to be like Jesus. And Jesus submitted to God’s will to go to the cross, as well as submitting to the swords, whips and nails of those who would kill him. Now does that mean in submitting to the authorities we just roll over and die? That’s not what this means. But it does mean that God can and does use the authorities over us for his good and purposes. Paul squares this up in Romans 13:1–2 “1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

Paul goes on to spell out exactly what this “submission” is to look like:

We are to be obedient. As there are not laws that violate God’s law, we are to generally follow them. In that regard, we will be known as people who keep the law and contribute to society’s order.

We are to be ready for good work. As our leaders and fellow citizens look to us, Christians are not to be the lazy bums. They should be seen as the ones who are willing to bust their butts to make a living.

We are to speak ill of no one. As much as we may be tempted, we are not to be known generally for the people we are against, but for the people we are for. I have been to a few funerals of people who, at the end of their lives, people say of them: “I never heard him say a bad word about anyone.” May that be said of us.

We are to avoid quarreling. Are you known for being a person who is quick to start a debate or argument for the sake of having one, or pick a fight with someone? Especially in the public square and civic places where others can see you being a troublemaker? Stop it, Paul says. Find ways to be more amiable and agreeable. To the contrary, Paul says that we ought to be both gentle and having “perfect courtesy toward all people.” And remember, this is being said by the person who would go to the public places and have discussions and debates? Perhaps his motivations, tone and demanor were recieved more in good faith and less in rage baiting and division. Could that be said of you and I? The demeanor of the Christian citizen is not to be abrasive for the sake of being abrasive: certainly not with God’s people, nor with the public.

At the beginning of this sermon, I started off by discussing a relevant hot-button issue, the issue of citizenship and immigrants. Now there are certainly angles and perspectives of this issue towards which citizens (and even Christians) may have disagreement. And that is OK! Not every issue is as straightforward as we want it to be. But what ought to be clear is that there are means of civil discourse in our country, and that a civil society (and especially Christians!) can peacefully use the means of respectful discourse and legislative means to produce change that is desired. It’s one of the blessings of this country. But I want to give you just an example of how Christians ought to handle an issue themselves toward the public square. I have a friend in my feed, a Christian brother, with whom I occasionally disagree. He disagrees with some of what is happening in terms of ICE arrests and understands the plight that some immigrants face. He weighs into the public square and in face to face interaction w/ people, but he does so by asking good questions, by respectfully discoursing and by listening. But on the flip side, I have another friend who claims to be a Christian. He has stronger feelings on some of these issues, to the point that he will both lay down screeds of profanity aimed at certain politicians, he will denounce as non-Christians anyone who disagrees with his views, and he will invite all he’s connected to toward the protests where they will be quite confrontational and where there is even a potential for violence or clashes with law enforcement. Now between my two friends, which one in their interactions with others better reflects the heart of Jesus? I think you can recognize it, because it is the individual living more closely in accordance with Paul’s commands here.

Generally speaking in the public square: Do we act as a people who trust in the Lord? Or a people who take matters into our own hands? Would we stir up thoughts and words toward violence and discord? Do we promote upholding and keeping the law, especially as it is law that does not violate God’s law? Do we love controversy? Infighting? Making a platform? Gathering a crowd for ourselves motivated from selfish pride? Paul says to us: stop it. Look at Christ’s example.

For the Christian in the world, God presses us toward civility and seeking peace even with those we strongly disagree with.

Summary:

For the Christian, today’s message has reminded us: We live in this world, but we are not of this world. We are ultimately citizens of heaven, yet while we await Christ we are Citizens of the earth. This morning Paul has helped guide us to set the records straight on both fronts. To be heaven’s citizen is to live a life that trends toward holiness because it is the life that Christ has saved us toward. To be earth’s citizen, under Christ’s rule, is to trend toward a civility that engages with the world around us from the mind and model of Christ.

There is a lot here to chew and meditate on for all this morning, and I hope you will. But there are two calls.

One call is for the Christian: Is your life trending toward holiness? If not, why not? It is the life that Christ purchased for you, that you would live in his steps. As well, is your life known as one of civility and courtesy, or one of abrasiveness and discord? Would you choose the way of the peacemaker and the gentle shepherd, versus the way of the enemy who seeks to pit neighbor against neighbor and drag society toward chaos? Wisdom is required to live out the Biblical Worldview in the society in which we live. It’s how we are salt and light as Christ called us to be.

The other call is for you if you do not follow Christ: The promises of the hope that is to come that Paul spoke of this morning are for those who are IN Christ. Forgiveness of your sin, a relationship with the Savior, a reward of heaven and eternity? All are the promises of those who receive his grace by faith. So how do you respond this morning? Start here: Call on Jesus. “Jesus, I am a sinner. I need you to save me.” As that prayer becomes reality, you respond to full faith in Christ by turning from your sin, by proclaiming to others “Jesus is Lord” and by crossing that line to follow Jesus in baptism as he told us. Would you follow in the way of Christ today?