Acts of Kindness Speak Louder

During the last two weeks in our survey of Titus, we have been learning that actions speak louder than words. There is one action however than speaks with a deafening roar—Acts of Kindness. This is especially true of God’s kindness.

The Cretans, whom Paul had assigned Titus to minister to, were a notoriously unlovable people. They had a notorious reputation in the ancient world. We have already learned of this in chapter one.

Titus 1:12 ESV

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

Such people are easy to write off and wash your hands of them in disgust. As Paul closes his letter to Titus, he once again reminds him to disciple the Cretan Christians, but to do so with gentle kindness.

Titus 3:1–2 ESV

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.

Then Paul reminds Titus of his own sin and how God responded to him not with harshness, but kindness.

Titus 3:3–7 ESV

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

In these five verses we have the gospel beautifully summarized and at the heart of this summery is the loving kindness of God which speaks louder than our sin.

God’s Acts of Kindness Speak Louder Than Our Sin (vs. 3-7)

Our sin is a deafening roar. The more we grow in grace the more clearly we see our own sinfulness. Paul, of course, is looking back to our pre-conversion days and we can all look back on those days and see how sinful we were. But we don’t have to just look back into the past, we can look in the present. I thank God and all of us who name Christ as our Savior are not what we once were, but we are not yet what we will be. Right now we are still sinners and are not our sins now even more inexcusable. I trust none of us could be called a Cretan, but we are all still sinners!

Satan loves to point out our sin and shout accusations at us: “How can you call yourself a Christian!” he says. “You are not saved. God can’t love and forgive you after what you have done.” Satan shouts many such accusation like this. I am sure you have heard them in your thoughts.

But then the voice of God the Holy Spirit speaks you us and says,

Titus 3:4–7 ESV

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Notice that word “justified” in verse 7. Justification is a legal declaration by God that we stand before him not only forgiven, but just or righteous in his sight. This justification is not a legal fiction—it is reality—because the ground of our pardon is Christ payment of our sin by his blood and the ground of our being declared righteous in the righteousness of Christ merited by his perfect righteousness. Theologians call this double imputation—our sin is given to Christ and His righteousness is given to us. This is also known as the Great Exchange.

We learned of this Great Exchange last year in our study of the book to Romans.

Romans 3:23–26 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

This was all done for us, Paul reminds us in Titus 3, out of the goodness and kindness of God. The cross is the ultimate act of kindness!

This kindness of God should have a profound effect on us and our relationship with other people—especially difficult, sinful people. Titus 3:3 begins with the conjunction “for”. What we have just been learning about God’s kindness and mercy, should be the reason we treat others with kindness and mercy. In other words,...

Our Acts of Kindness Speak Louder Than Other’s Sin (vs. 1-2)

I am struck by the significance of the word, “perfect courtesy” in verse 2. Other translations chose to translate this Greek verb as “true humility, meekness, every consideration, or gentleness.” All these ways of translating this Greek verb are saying about the same thing—you treat others with kindness and respect.

People are bemoaning the loss of civility in our society. It does seem as though our society is becoming more and more uncivil and unloving. We are not treating each other well now days.

Perhaps we should not be surprised as we become more and more unchristian. Paul is teaching a real cause and effect relationship between the Gospel and the way we treat others. The more we let the reality of how great the kindness and mercy of God is towards us in Christ Jesus, the more kind and merciful we become.

A great illustration of the power of gospel produced kindness and its power to transform our relationships with other people was found in this week’s May 3rd Breakpoint.

A few years ago, you may recall, Chick-fil-A’s president and COO reached out to Shane Windmeyer, who was organizing a national boycott of Chick-fil-A as the executive director of Campus Pride, an organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender college students. Before they met, Windmeyer thought Dan Cathy was a fiend. What he discovered after months of discussion was that Dan had become his friend. His mind began to open.

“Dan expressed a sincere interest in my life, wanting to get to know me on a personal level,” Windmeyer wrote in an eye-opening article in The Huffington Post. “He wanted to know about where I grew up, my faith, my family, even my husband, Tommy. In return, I learned about his wife and kids and gained an appreciation for his devout belief in Jesus Christ and his commitment to being ‘a follower of Christ’ more than a ‘Christian.’”

Acts of kindness DO speak louder!

Conclusion: Profitable Living (vs. 8)

I would like to conclude today’s sermon and this series from Titus with verse 8.

Titus 3:8 ESV

8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

When Paul uses the phrase, “The saying is trustworthy,” his is telling us that what he is about to tell us is of first importance and what he is telling us is of first importance is all “these things” he has just said in verses 1-7, namely, God’s acts of kindness towards us in the gospel and our acts of kindness towards others. Paul goes on to say that when we remember that we are saved by an act of God’s kindness and treat others accordingly we are doing what is “excellent and profitable for people.”

There are many good deeds we can do for others, but none of them compare to telling them of the kindness of God in Christ and treating others with kindness.

Next Sunday is Mother’s Day. As you are thinking about what gifts and cards you will give your mothers, wives and sisters, don’t forget to include the most excellent and profitable thing of all—Gospel Kindness!