Titus 3:3-7 Be renewed in Christ

Church of Christ Dapto The Letter to Titus Lesson 8—Be renewed in Christ Titus 3:3-7 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.          Be reminded Titus 3:1-2 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.          Why do we need reminding? Because of our past Titus 3:3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. We were All these qualities are in our past. We are not to glory in them, except to glorify God for the depths He has brought us out of. We are not to use them as an excuse or justification for our present failures because they are now powerless. We are not to hunger to return to this state, because that would deny God and negate Christ’s sacrifice. Foolish Unintelligent, not using our minds, not acknowledging God, living like a person of the world Psalms 14:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. Disobedient “Unpersuadable”, knowing God’s commands but ignoring them, believing we knew better. Actively choosing to go against what God has clearly commanded because getting our own way is more important than any truth. Titus 1:16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Deceived Wandering from the truth, listening to liars and accepting what they say, believing lies and convincing ourselves they are true. Isaiah 44:20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this (idol) in my right hand a lie?” Enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures Being a slave to all the things that God has forbidden, and Christ died to save us from. Being under the control of our lusts while we believed we had control of them. 2 Peter 2:19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. Living in malice The motivation of our lives and lusts was malice to God, our fellow man, and ourselves, always looking for the worst in people and assuming they thought the same of us. The desire of the malicious is to always get even for any slight, or offence, not matter how minor or accidental the offence may have been. The malicious love to pay back any offence with interest. Living in envy Our lives and desires were motivated by jealousy of others and envy of their possessions and situations. We believed that we were more entitled to success, money, and position than those who have it. James 3:14 But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Being hated and hating These two qualities are connected. Those who do not know Christ do not live in love, therefore they live in hatred. They show the qualities of hate to others, and are returned the favour by those who pretend to love them. Romans 1:29-31 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, (30) slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; (31) they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. This is what you were If you deny this description of your life before you became a Christian, why did you need saving? If this verse does not apply to you, do you really believe you were a sinner? This is the picture of the life of the people of the world and you were one of them. Those who live like this are to be judged and condemned by Christ. This picture is in complete contrast to the life we are to live as described in verses 1 and 2. Why do we need reminding of the horrors of our past lives? Why would we still want to live our past lives?          You are now the opposite Titus 3:3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. Wise not foolish—because we know God through Christ and our lives are guided by His wisdom Obedient not disobedient - because we know God’s commands and obey them because we now want to Living in Truth not deceiving, being deceived and deceiving ourselves—because we now know the Truth in Christ and can see deception within ourselves or others. Free of the bonds of worldly passions, no longer slaves to all our lusts - because we have been taught to say “no” and understand that these passions have no power over us nor anything to offer us. Living in Generosity not malice—because we consider the needs of others before ourselves, and give of the provision that God lavishes on us. Living satisfied lives not envious—not ruled by possessions, ours or others. We are not jealous or envious because what we have is far superior to anything that the world can offer. Living in Love not hatred - because we seek to show God’s Love to all. The world may hate us, as Jesus warned, but we do not cause or return the hatred. John 15:18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. Which life is better? Which life is full of joy? Which life has real hope for the future? Which life is founded on Truth not lies? Which life brings real peace of heart? Which life knows and shows forgiveness from God? Which life is good?          Who changed us? Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, This kindness is not an abstract feeling or action, it is Christ Jesus who is God’s kindness. He is called God our Saviour. He appeared on earth to achieve God’s Will and show us God’s Grace in His Love and His Kindness. He showed us God’s mercy, kindness and love in what He did for us. What did He do for us? Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, He saved us What did He save us from? Did we earn His favour? Did God add up all our good deeds and balance them against our bad deeds and decide that the former outweighed the latter so that we deserved all His trouble? Is there anything we can do of our own decision and abilities to earn favour with God or please Him? Why then did He save us? What caused Him to want to save us? How did He save us? What was His method of saving us? The washing of rebirth 1 Peter 3:21 and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Renewal by the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Galatians 3:27 for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Although these are two effects, they describe the same event. We were baptised into Christ, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit made us new creatures before God, now holy and acceptable to Him and meant to live forever. How else did He show His love to us? Titus 3:6 (The Holy Spirit) whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, What did He save us for? Titus 3:7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Luke 22:29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”--          A Summary of the Gospel Titus 3:3-7 is a concise presentation of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. It shows what we were, why we needed to be saved, Who saved us, how He saved us, and what He saved us for. The Gospel continues to bless us, as we live out His life in this world, as living examples of the power of the Holy Spirit to change all human beings. All Christ went through was for you to be saved and redeemed from sin so that you can, through the power of the Holy Spirit within you, live a life of Good in this world and look forward to the inheritance promised by God. What are you to learn? We must acknowledge our past lives, and the present lives of the people of the world if we are to truly believe the Gospel and the depth of the sacrifice that Jesus gave for us. Our past lives are to be left in the past. The things that you used to do should not influence you in your new life, because they have no power over you nor are they how you are called to live in Christ. God saved us in Christ because of His own mercy, love, kindness and grace. Nothing we could do, or will do, earned any favour with God to earn His salvation. However, despite our complete lack of worth or inability to earn His favour, Christ came and died for us so that we can be made into new people. This renewing is complete our attitudes to the things of the world, our connection to our own bodies, our relationship to the people of the world, our hopes and aims for our lives, our obedience to God, our association to our brothers and sisters in the Church, our thoughts of our future, and the purpose of our lives and work, The things that satisfy us now are all in Him. We cannot any longer be satisfied by the lusts and objects of the world. The renewing is possible because we, through Christ, break all connection with our past, worldly lives and live lives that glorify Him. Our focus is to be on the eternal life promised by Christ. We must allow nothing in this present life to compromise our inheritance in God’s new World. It is the most valuable possession we have and worth all the rest combined. Imagine, you are now, through Christ, an heir of all that God can give. Why give that up?          Next Lesson: Be devoted to Good Titus 3:8 Focus Verse: Titus 3:8         