Titus: Salvation Appears

Carl McCunn loved for the outdoors. In the late 70’s he moved to Alaska and took a trucking job for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. He made good money, a lot of friends, took up photography and planned to make an expedition that still, to this day, bewilders everyone who hears his story.

At the age of 35, he embarked on a five-month photography expedition in the wilds of Alaska.

He’d spent a year planning every detail. He solicited advice and purchased supplies. In the Spring of 1981, he hired a bush pilot to drop him at a remote lake 70 miles northeast of Fort Yukon. He took two rifles, a shotgun, fourteen hundred pounds of provisions and five hundred rolls of film.

He arrived, set up his camp there in the isolation of the wild – surrounded by nothing but nature, where he would spend his five months of hiking, hunting, fishing and photographing the splendor of his surroundings.

He was blissfully unaware of one overlooked detail that would cost him his life.

He had made no arrangement with anyone, to be picked up.

It didn’t dawn on him until August.

No one came. By the end of September, the lake was frozen and the snow began piling up. Hiking out was now impossible. His supplies were nearly gone as well as his ammunition.

ting, fishing and photographing the splendor of his surroundings.

He was blissfully unaware of one overlooked detail that would cost him his life.

The details of his final days are known to us because of a 100 page diary found near his body where he detailed those last months of starvation and the freezing cold. He was found by authorities nearly a year after he had first set up his camp and begun his expedition.

He had made no arrangement with anyone, to be picked up.

“I think I should have used more foresight about arranging my departure.”

It didn’t dawn on him until August. His only hope was that a friend would remember his plans and notice his absence.

He had planned every detail for his expedition . . . but he’d never made plans for his exit.

And so every day he searched for food and scanned the skies for rescue.

He’d planned almost everything. The omission of one small detail had profound implications.

No one came. By the end of September, the lake was frozen and the snow began piling up. Hiking out was now impossible. His supplies were nearly gone as well as his ammunition.

Titus 2:11–12 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,

Frankly, that is the story of most human hearts today. They think only of living and nothing about leaving.

The details of his final days are known to us because of a 100 page diary found near his body where he detailed those last months of starvation and

Titus

Christ came to provide salvation to everyone who repents and believes.

Titus 2:11–12 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,

Titus 2:11 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

The scriptures teach a universal offer of salvation.

Note and how the word “whoever” is emphasized. This speaks about a universal offer of salvation. We believe that we can look anyone in the eye and declare that if they repent and believe they will be saved.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Listen to how Paul puts it in

Romans 10:12–13 ESV

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The Ku Klux Klan are known for their hatred of other races. You know what the Klan would dear sing at their cross burnings? “Onward Christian Soldiers”

Onward Christian soldiers marking as to war with the cross of Jesus going on before.

If it is not for all people it is not the gospel.

and “The Old Rugged Cross.”

This universal offer is not automatic.

The scriptures reject a universal application of salvation.

This text doesn’t teach that everyone without exception will be saved.

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matt

Matthew 7:13 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

Listen to how the modern day Universalist reject the message of Christ. Take Rob Bell for example - In his book Love Wins

A staggering number of people have been taught that a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better…. This is misguided and toxic and ultimately subverts the contagious spread of Jesus’ message of love, peace, forgiveness, and joy that our world desperately needs to hear.

Salvation inevitably leads to sanctification.

Titus 2:12 ESV

12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

As a result of God grace extended to us in Christ - lets put away certain things.

As a result of God’s grace extended to us in Christ - lets put on certain things.

Christ promises to come again which is the basis of our hope for the future.

tit 2 1

Titus 2:13 ESV

13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Biblical eschatology/end times in a nut shell.

Christ came and he will come again.

Keep it simple - notice the chart!!!

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Jesus is our mighty God.

Titus 2:13 ESV

13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Jesus is our merciful savior.

Titus 2:13 ESV

13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

sacrificial - He gave himself for us! - That is the gospel

Titus 2:14 ESV

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.

tit 2 14

redemptive - We are purchased out of the debt of sin. We are now owned by Christ. “A people for his own possession.”

Titus 2:14 ESV

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.

This is what Paul was saying in 1 cor. When he was reminding us what redemption means. it is a slave term. It is where a slave was place on the trading black and that slave because of what he owed his master would be purchased out of that relational bondage and given a new master. The gospel teaches that you were a slave to sin but Christ purchased you out of the bondage of that relationship and now you have a new obligation to a new master.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

missional - Christ saved us by his works for our works.

We are eager, enthusiastic, passionate!