How are You Going to Do Church?

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. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Jesus died to purify a special people

He wants to purify us to make us a shining example of what it means to follow Him.

Each of us, leaders.

We don’t follow culture, we establish it.

Paul is taking on a group in the church who are not doing what they should. Turn back to Titus 1:16

Titus 1:16 (ESV) — 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Titus 1:16 ESV

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Paul’s argument for holy living and good works is in opposition to those against him. Don’t do what they are doing. They have separated theology from lifestyle.

What example are you setting these days?

Jesus redeemed us FROM lawlessness in order to purify us and make us a special people - His people.

Titus 2:14a “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession”

Titus 2:14a ESV

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.

The transformation out of lawlessness makes us a special people

It has always been God’s pattern.

Ezekiel 37:23b (ESV) But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 37:23b ESV

They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Israel were a chosen people, not because they were better than others, but because God chose to use a people that would represent His Ways to the world.

Jesus, in fulfillment of the original covenant with Abraham, made Abraham a blessing to all the nations.

Genesis 12:3 (ESV) “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:3 ESV

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

We are blessed through that covenant.

But we live under a new covenant

Jesus said in Luke 22:20 “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

Luke 22:20 ESV

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

We are a covenant people, a people of promise, a special people.

We are a special people with a special purpose

As important as the law of God is, so is the execution of the plan of God.

That plan is given to us in the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:19-20 -- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are fulfilling the blessing of all the nations through Jesus, a son of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

What should such a special people do with such a special blessing and command?

We are not called only to evangelize, but to evangelize as we do good works.

Jesus people are zealous for good works

Jesus’ special people are special zealots.

In us, Jesus was looking to create more than law abiding citizens in a new kingdom.

He looked to create zealots for good works.

A proper translation of verse 14 would be “Jesus gave himself for us so that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and he might purify to himself a special people: zealots of good works.”

Zealot in our text is a noun, not an adjective (zealous)

A zealot is someone with zeal.

We have made the term zealot to mean the worst types of people.

It can sound bad in our culture when we describe people as radical, extremist, fanatical.

All of which could describe a zealot.

But what if you became radical in your thinking about doing good deeds.

What if you became an extremist as it relates to helping others.

What if you were fanatical about your response to Jesus by doing great things?!

Some Zealots

The Good Samaritan was radical.

Jesus was an extremist.

Paul was a fanatic.

They all did good for others without concern for themselves.

The Oak Grove 4000 plan

We need to make sure that we Share the love that God has shared with us, in such a big way that Oak Grove would miss Grace Baptist if we ceased to exist.

Talk about need for the $4,000, taking it from sbc and br/kc to cause us to focus on Oak Grove.

Our efforts in the past have been all about collecting money and having someone else do our work. It is time for Grace Baptist to do its work, to make its mark, to have its impact.

The gospel is our message to declare!

But it starts in the Church

We are to declare this right attitude of living like Christ.

We are to exhort, or encourage with intensity, the people of God to be zealous for good works.

We are to rebuke those who aren’t purifying themselves and purposing to do the good works we were saved to do.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) — 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Don’t let anyone take that message from you

Our purpose is to get right with Jesus so that we can share His message while being shining examples.

We are all called to be evangelistic.

It is better accomplished when we are walking with Jesus and doing good works in His name.

Don’t wait to be perfect, just forgiven and walking rightly, and then get to work.

Satan will try to take away our boldness.

He will make us feel inadequate.

He will make us feel uneasy about the message.

He will make us afraid to give the good news to people.

Just remember: Satan is trying to drown people in a sea of brokeness and we are throwing out lifelines!

The gospel is the cure for a sick and dying world.

We have been specially chosen by Jesus to take that good news to the world.

Conclusion

Our final point in the vision statement is that we are purposely engaging our community, nation and world with the gospel for the glory of God.

Philippians 2:5–11 (ESV) — 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Have you bowed your knee before Jesus? Have you confessed to Him your sinfulness?

Today is the day of salvation to all who believe in the Name of Jesus!

Will you take that glorious step?!

Backslider - will you make today the day you get right and get to work?

Give glory to God

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