The Reason for Godliness 2.0
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Introduction
Introduction
If you have your Bibles and I hope you do or you can look on with someone, I invite you to turn with me to . I titled this sermon, The Reason for Godliness.
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.
Prayer
You guys are here probably by choice, but you are here at this school because you have felt the call on your life by God to preach his word or to pastor a church or to work in ministry in some capacity. Whatever the case may be you are here for a specific reason, but we all have different backgrounds that we come from. We all have one thing in common.
WE ALL NEED GRACE.
Grace defined as getting what you do not deserve. God’s favor toward the undeserving.
We need more grace than you and I can imagine. If there is no grace in your life, then it would not be possible to live a holy life.
Paul in this passage has talked quite a bit concerning grace and the importance it is for Titus to learn but also for us to learn today.
The question is, “Why are we to live godly lives?”
We are to live godly lives because
God’s Grace Comes to Us
God’s Grace Comes to Us
Titus
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
God intervened!! God got involved. Those seven words “for the grace of God has appeared” are some of the most exciting words to hear.
In the text before, Paul is giving Titus all these commands to do, and in the text before you is Paul giving the reason. The reason is that God’s grace has been made available for all kinds of people.
Gods grace is not restrictive in any way. Every person you come in contact with whether they are friend or enemy. They bother you to you wish you were their friend. Whether it is your boss that is not a kind boss to the president of the United States that you cannot stand. God’s grace is made available to all different kinds of people.
It is the grace of God that has appeared in the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings salvation for all people.
Does This mean everyone gets saved?
Does this text this the idea of universalism?
No. Now depending on your beliefs you may interpret the word all differently, but in essence it still means all people groups.
This verse is showing us that you do not have to be a good person to receive God’s grace. You do not have to be a certain social status because we all in this room are sinners before God in desperate need of a savior.
We need grace, and verse 11 shows that God’s grace has been made available to all different people groups. Men, women, tall, short, athletic, nerdy, weird, popular, unwanted.
This text pushes us toward evangelism because grace has appeared to us, and we pray that God’s grace may come to others.
Grace has appeared to us, and let us not keep that to ourselves but tell that to everyone.
Because God’s grace is for all different people groups. White people and black people. Discrimination should not exist in the minds and hearts of believers because grace has not shown favorites to us but is for all people groups.
The Response for Grace
The Response for Grace
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,
So like I said in the previous ten verses, Paul has been telling Titus to teach sound doctrine. Older men and women are to act and influence the way younger men and women live.
Its those days with your parents when i mean you just disobeyed them all day. You did not listen to anything they do. You were grounded, spanked, and punished to the point where no more discipline could be added. And they were mad at you because you were being mean to their friends.
But then you watch them be mean to their friends…how confused are you going to be when you got in trouble for being mean to your friends when they were mean also.
Here’s the point. Paul has been telling Titus this because he wants ultimately for them to be living Godly lives.
Because God’s grace comes to us, we must respond to living as grace-receiving people.
If you look in the text, the word ungodliness is used.
Ungodliness means the characteristic of having no regard for God or a moral life. (not caring about what God cares about)
Unbelievers would be considered having this characteristic. They do not consider what God thinks or cares about.
Jerry Bridges in his book Respectable Sins says that ungodliness is the root of all sin.
As Paul is telling Titus to say no to ungodliness we must say no to ungodliness.
As men, we may struggle with anger, hatred for a brother, sexual lust, jealousy.
You may struggle with different sins, but the point is that as Lord willing future pastors or teachers of God’s Word, we must be training to renounce ungodliness in our lives.
The Grace of God teaches us to say no to ungodliness.
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
What does self-controlled mean?
You are self-disciplined. You can exercise restraint.
When you have that piece of cake sitting in front of you. When that 20 oz steak that you know you should not eat the whole thing. When Christmas comes around and you know you are not suppose to get up late at night and go present searching around the house or open presents up early. Being self controlled is saying “No I should not do this” “This does not please God”
But here’s the issue. If our Christian lives were just meant on having self-control, we would very easily live lives based on rules and it would be all about self. “I’ve made this many good decisions today.” “I read my Bible four hours this morning.”
Whenever we should being living our lives depending on God. The Christian life is one where we depend on God. Godliness does not come out of human willpower, but it is relationship with God that results in a life honoring to God. The grace of God in our lives gives us a chance to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Titus 2:12
What does upright mean?
mean having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right. UPRIGHT implies a strict adherence to moral principles 〈a stern and upright minister〉.
In order to be upright. In order to know what is morally right and adhere to moral principles, you need to be in God’s Word letting God communicate with you so you adhere to them. Not out of a legalistic sense, but because the grace of God has appeared in your life.
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,
“in the present age.” That means now. We who are believers need to be living a life of grace now. We have no time to waste. We do not need to start tomorrow. Not Next week. Not Next year.
When your parents tell you dinner is ready. Do you wait? When you go on vacation to a water park I am sure all of you take your time to get to each slide. Of course not!
We need to act now. But while in the present age, we wait for our blessed hope. what is our blessed hope?Hint* its after the words blessed hopeOur hope. What keeps us living on this life.
Our blessed hope is that in this world when life gets tough. When we suffer persecution, when we are going through hard trials, Jesus is returning to get his people.
But until then..
we must practice godliness and renounce ungodliness. We can expect that Christ is returning any moment and this puts expectancy in us. it grants us perseverance in our trials.
Preaching the Word: 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit Acting Now (vv. 12c, 13)
We are not allowed to say that in this age of grace there are no standards for us to follow. Godliness remains our obligation until Jesus returns.
But godliness in this culture, in this time period we are to say no to ungodliness and train in godliness.
Now heres the challenge for all of us. Where is the line we as believers draw. What movies do we watch and do not watch. What places can we go as believers that's acceptable and unacceptable. Some of you may be okay watching a movie that has cussing in it. Some of you it may bother you.
Each person in here under the wisdom of the Lord, wisdom from counselors and convictions from the Holy Spirit to guide us into this world.
In this culture, we must strive to glorify God in everything we do.
We must ask questions about it.
Are we evaluating or simply enjoying?
Are we living as though there is no division between what is godly and what is worldly?
Does what we are doing really reflect the conviction that a holy God who rescued us from the death grasp of sin is with us in every place and is coming back in power and glory?
When you sin, God is there. He sees it. There’s no hiding. He knows every thought, every click, every action. Do we truly grasp this reality?
As we are trained to say no to ungodliness, have we lost our ability to say no?
These questions each of us individually must answer.
That is why the first ten verses of this chapter are crucial to this text. Older men show the younger men how to train for godliness and say no to ungodliness.
Every single one of us should have someone older and much wiser in our lives pouring into us. Men you can trust to go to and learn godliness. There must be men at the churches you attend that you can ask to help you learn. We have professors here that I am sure are willing to help you and I grow in godliness.
We need grace. And we have received grace by believing in the gospel. And this gospel has changed us and we are being sanctified becoming more like Christ.
In This present age, let us await the appearing of the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ by saying no to ungodliness and yes to godliness.
In This present age, let us await the appearing of the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ by saying no to ungodliness and yes to godliness.
Our Response to Grace
Our Response to Grace
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.
He gave himself for us to redeem us form all lawlessness. We are characterized as lawlessness and wickedness. This is our condition before Christ.
This is you and I before grace appeared into our lives. We were wicked sinners in desperate need of a savior. It is when you understand this truth is when you start to cherish and rejoice in the fact that grace has appeared in your life. That you are saved under the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Redeemed in this verse means to release upon the receipt of ransom. Christ gave himself up for us so he could satisfy divine justice.
cleansed
cleansed
Everything we have talked about. Saying no to ungodliness and saying yes to godliness. All for the means of ridding sin out of our lives.
Preaching the Word: 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit Cleansed (v. 14c)Christ’s sacrifice and blood cleanses all to whom it is now applied by faith. These words remind us that God has cleansed us from the defilement of our sin by the sacrifice of his Son
Treasured
Treasured
“A people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” The wonder of this statement. He claims us as his people even though we are sinful and in rebellion against him. The God of the Universe who created everything and sustains everything treasures us. This wording is the similar to that as God claiming the Israelities when leading them out of Egypt. We are precious to God despite the sin that required the sacrifice of his own son. This is grace. Grace that leads to godliness. This is not legalistic. We do not work toward our salvation. Christ’s work on the cross. His blood. And its his work that purifies us.
How does this affect us?
How does this affect us?
We become more sensitive to sin. If we do not get rid of sin, It is like a woodpecker. Each particular attack makes noise but doesn’t seem to do much damage. But, like a woodpecker, if you let it chip away at your life long enough, it will leave many an ugly hole that never fills in.
Michael P. Green. 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. Print.
Look at the language of the text to.
He redeems us.
He purifies us then we are zealous to do good works.
We are able to be sensitive to our sin, because God enables us to see our sin. You do not notice your sin on your own. The Spirit living within you directs and convicts. What makes us holy is not our willpower. Not our own desire. But the grace of God with the Spirit inside us that will make us holy.
Our Response to Grace is that we are a people who have been redeemed, being purified for himself, and treasured. We are put in wonder of who our God is.
Finally the standard
Finally the standard
15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Paul is instructing Titus to declare these things
What things?
The message of grace
intolerance to sin
encourage and rebuke
These things are ongoing emphasis in Titus’ ministry and also in ministry today. Grace and godliness is our standard.
race despite sin and obedience through grace. “Exhort and rebuke”What do these words mean? exhort - earnestly supporting or encouragingrebuke - an act of criticismWe are to do this with one another. and not let anyone disregard you for your youth. Just because you are a youth does not mean you cannot be an example for others. The grace of God that appeared to older men and women in the church is the same grace that has appeared to you. Just because you're young does not mean you do not have to say yes to godliness and no to ungodliness. That is the standard!
Grace despite sin and obedience through grace.
“Exhort and rebuke”
What do these words mean?
exhort - earnestly supporting or encouraging
rebuke - an act of criticism
We are to do this with one another. and not let anyone disregard you for your youth. Just because you are a youth does not mean you cannot be an example for others. The grace of God that appeared to older men and women in the church is the same grace that has appeared to you. Just because you're young does not mean you do not have to say yes to godliness and no to ungodliness. That is the standard!
Preaching the Word: 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit Our Standard (v. 15)May we so powerfully believe and proclaim the love of Christ that affection for him drives out the affections of this world!
Application
Application
How do we take and apply this to today? What is God trying to tell us through the writing of Paul to Titus. Like I titled my message “The Reason for godliness” What is the reason for godliness?
Why are we to live godly lives?
We are to live godly lives because
1. Grace Comes to Us
2. The Response of Grace. Grace that appeared bringing salvation for all people. Living in the present age.
3. Our Response to Grace
Living today for young people may be harder than ever before. We are always connected through our phones, yet there is more disconnect with people today in person because of our phones. Sexual sin is rampant. Drug addiction. Families are broken. Divorced parents. It is hard for young people to live in the present age.
And let’s be honest. You guys probably do not watch the news but you hear things and it just seems like this world is falling apart. Maybe you feel like your world is falling apart.
It is hard to have hope. But we must in this life learn this. We must learn to fix our eyes on Jesus, waiting on our blessed hope. Waiting on the appearing of the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Living expecting him to make his glorious return.
And while we wait we say yes to godliness putting off our old self and putting on the new. We say no to ungodliness and worldly passions.
We can live the grace filled life because the grace of God is the foundation for Godly living.
Saying yes to godliness and no to ungodliness
Saying yes to godliness and no to ungodliness
Train for godliness.
Say no to ungodliness.