For the Grace of God

I. Introduction

a. Pastoral Letter (1 & 2nd Timothy & Philemon)

b. Paul would have met Titus during his last missionary journey when he visited Crete

i. Written sometime between late 50s AD to Mid 60s AD

c. Theme of overall Titus – To show the inseparable link between faith and practice, belief and behavior

i. Our faith is not just in words but if we claim Jesus as savior there should be a visible sign in how we conduct our life.

d.

i. Like Timothy, Paul viewed Titus as a son

e. Suggest studying all of Paul’s letters and discover all of his recurring themes

II. The foundation

a. Grace of God appeared () – manifested – came to be

i. Jesus appeared to fulfill the promise first given in

ii. Grace, grace, grace – God made the promise and only he can fulfill his promises

1. You can’t force the promises of God to happen

2. Fulfilment of God’s promises based on:

a. His good and perfect will

b. His timing

c. Not on your actions, behavior etc. –It is grace – get it?

b. Grace brought salvation

i. Rescued us from the bondage / slavery to sin

ii. Available for all people

1. Have to believe by faith when drawn by the Holy Spirit

2. Reformed – just the predestined elect

c. Instructing us (training, teaching, disciplining / discipline) ()

i. “One cannot truly claim to be a recipient of saving grace without also being a pupil [student] of training grace” – Note, ESV Study Bible

ii. Ongoing activity of the Holy Spirit (flows out of grace)

1. We are saved – now we move forward in that grace with the instructing of the Holy Spirit + the Word

iii. Deny ungodliness (renounce, to say no to) (the negative we turn from)

1. Deny – once and for all, to not take advantage of or seek enjoyment from ungodly acts

2. Ungodly = denying or disobeying God or living contrary to God’s moral law

3. Worldly lusts / desires

a. Selfish desires

b. Money, greed, sexual immorality, fame, anger, revenge

4.

iv. Live in a sensible / self-controlled, and godly way in the is present age (positive we turn to)

1. Present age – to live this out in our current day

2. Sensible – a way that is in line with God’s way and most importantly God’s will

3. Godly way – becoming Christ like

a. The more we connect with Jesus and grow in that relationship the more and more our lives reflect Jesus – we truly become Christian – Christ Like

4.

a. grow up in your salvation by feasting on the pure word – detest the ungodliness in our own lives

5.

a. Crucified with Christ

i. His desire, his will, his dreams, his passion

ii. Don’t define will of God by your own desire or passion

1. Makes gospel about me

b. Live by faith in the righteousness of Jesus

III. Why live this way – marker of who we are – priority of vision ()

a. We wait – active (not waiting for the bus) - looking forward to Jesus appearing again

i. Our soon and coming King

ii. No distracted by end times junk

b. A blessed hope – Christ promised he would return and redeem (glorify all things)

i. Hope does not = wishful thinking

1. Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen –

2. Our hope is a real thing

3. We see it with the enlivening of the Holy Spirit

c. Appearing of the glory

i. To God be all glory and honor

1. Glory – abundance, wealth, treasure and honor

2. Splendor, brightness and majesty

ii. When Christ comes he will redeem all things – new heaven and new earth

iii. We then will be glorified – new bodies – our resurrection

1.

a. Don’t be focused on earthly things – focus on our citizenship in heaven

b. We will be transformed

IV. He gave himself () – gave his whole self – the greatest gift (there is not greater gift than to lay your life down for another.)

a. Paul goes back to where we started in verse 11

i. The grace of Jesus giving himself (Paul repeating themes, forward then back then forward and back)

1. It all hinges on this grace

b. Why did Jesus give himself for us?

i. Redeem us from all lawlessness

1. Our ungodly life, trying to live outside or in rebellion to God’s law

2.

ii. Cleanse us – cleanse us from our sins

1. Our sin hinders us and keeps us from a right relationship with God

2.

a. According to the richness of his grace – see grace again!

b. Richly poured out

3.

a. Seen already – deny our evil deeds – ungodliness

i. Learn to do what is good

ii. Be obedient to God

iii. Cleanse us for himself a people

1. Remember John the Baptist – to prepare a people for the Lord

a. Christ prepares us and we as we live a life on mission allow him to work through us to prepare others for his people

2. – we have received mercy!!!

3.

a. Again we see deny ungodliness joined with being cleansed by God – God gives us the power by his grace to do this

c. Eager to do good works – zealous- committed – I like zealous

i. It is Christ who works in us by the Holy Spirit that causes us to be zealous to do good works.

ii. Are you not zealous or eager to do good works?

1. Pray for that working of the Holy Spirit in you

2. Step out in obedience / faith – what do you know to do

a. Laundromat outreach next week

V. Tie it together

a. The grace of Jesus draws us unto salvation by believing in him

b. We then move into Christ’s school

i. Learning to deny ungodliness – the lusts of this world and move into desiring the things of God and to do his work

1. The Holy Spirit that moves us in this direction

a. Renew our mind – re-order our desires and passions

c. We then begin to see things from a heavenly perspective

i. Not moved by the systems of the world

ii. And active looking, waiting and watching for our soon and coming King – the glory of his appearing.

d. Growing in a deeper understanding of God’s grace in sending his son to redeem us

i. Forgive our sins

ii. Prepare us for his people

1. We can’t work for it – it is Christ who cleanses us

2. Take on the righteousness of Jesus

e. Let us be zealous to do good works for the glory of God