When God's Grace is Your Teacher You Become Pure in Mind, Conscience, & Daily Action
Notes
Transcript
As we began this second pastoral letter to the island of Crete and very mature strong Christian leader of very young church: the key truth we examined is that: merely receiving salvation is not enough to build a strong church that will last generations and grow in influence in this broken world in the present!
by reformation based on God’s Word of Promise
We must be constantly reforming & growing in godliness, by reformation based on God’s Word of Promise.
We saw that the fourth of Paul’s trustworthy sayings focus ed on that lived out godliness - on how grace produces good works =
The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Next week we’ll see how that is to be lived out in various relationships you have with male female, young old. Friends, employers.. But that instruction is sandwiched between the dynamic, the process by which good works are produced in the Christain life. If you think purity is just a matter of trying to be a good moral person, if purity is not connected to a radical new root of grace in your life, in Christ; just like taping cut flowers to a rock instead of a root. Flowers fade, really articfical flowers. Self-contrtol, purity, holiness, not acheieved by self-effort - that’s Stoicism. Christianity says these are produced, when all groups, alll peoples have GRACE appearing, and becoming their teacher, like Joda with Luke Sywalker, Christ, by Sirit and Word come to you - and you come under ht eindfluence, the sanctifyin,g the holy=-nmaking influnece of the Spirit of HOly . And so before Paul gives the instruction to all of us in reltoinships in , and then to Titus in chapter 3, he now gives us all the dynamic the process by which good works really grow in a Chrsitian’s life. And it is a process described by this simpole key truth:
Key Truth: Purity in daily good works grows out of living with purity in mind and conscience in Christ.
That is counterintuitive to a culture that is activist that lives by the motto deeds, not creeds, or nike just do it. In speaking of good works we’d rather just say - try hard be good, love, mercy do justice. Even outside of the church have great impuse to do justice, but there too it can be cut off from the root. We forget that says that’s only going to be possible with that last ENOCH criterion: walk humbly with your God.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Now by nature we want to have God a “comfortable distance” close enough we can say yeah I’m spiritual , tip my hat to the supernatural, hope for more , but not so close that the holiness of God His intense presence would make demands and woudl tranform us. Like in the Chronicles of Narnia - we are asking of God, like the children - is that Lion safe. No not safe, not tamed dwon, He is the real thing, He is wild, but He is good!
This is why our catechism spells out how to be truly good and pure giving three criterioin too: arises out of tru faith, conforms to God’s law (not our standard of right andwrong or our traditions), and it done for God’s glory!
It is why Jesus says, yes I am looking for real good fruit, good works, pure life from you, but the only way its produced is by a trusting reliance, a communion with my life, by faith:
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Without that kind of faith it is impossbile to please God. Somehow you’ve got to draw near to God, believe that he rewards those who draw near and seek to please him. Do you have that kind of good works in your life? What’s the process that your Christian life can produce such good works that please God?
A) Getting Rid of the Defiled Mind & the Defiled Conscience
When a mind becomes spiritually darkened, as all our minds have in the Fall, not matter how smart, no matter how much knowledge, even worldly-wise skill you may have, spiritually dark and the conscience is sure to follow. As a man is within this heart, is us he.
The seat of your desiring and affections, understanding are - so is the man. Jesus says again and again, that its not unclean stuff, rituals, meat, even action that make a man defiled, but its a mind, heart, conscience - the core of your life - out of the overflow of the heart your mouth speaks, - this is the source of all our words and actions, and if it isn’t pure and pure in Christ - there is no hope for real reformation! The spring of life is pollutered!
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
There are none pure in themselves, and only by the new creation in Christ. The result is a defiled conscience. Here I have to do some discrimnatory preaching. Have to dicern to discrimante what condition your conscience is in. In the NT the conscience is described in thre ways. DEAD, DEFILED, WEAK, SOUND. The last two are young and then mature Chrsitian. But the first two are of people, that no matter how religious that person is, not matter how many religiuos practices and excitment about novel teachings and rituals, has not been saved and their conscience is malfunctioning.
There are none pure in themselves, and only by the new creation in Christ. The result is a defiled conscience. Here I have to do some discrimnatory preaching. Have to dicern to discrimante what condition your conscience is in. In the NT the conscience is described in thre ways. DEAD, DEFILED, WEAK, SOUND. The last two are young and then mature Chrsitian. But the first two are of people, that no matter how religious that person is, not matter how many religiuos practices and excitment about novel teachings and rituals, has not been saved and ultimately their conscience is malfunctioning.
The result is a defiled conscience. Here I have to do some discrimnatory preaching. Have to dicern to discrimante what condition your conscience is in. In the NT the conscience is described in thre ways. DEAD, DEFILED, WEAK, SOUND. The last two are young and then mature Chrsitian. But the first two are of people, that no matter how religious that person is, not matter how many religiuos practices and excitment about novel teachings and rituals, has not been saved and their conscience is malfunctioning.
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
In the case of a defiled, weak, and a sound, the organ of the human soul, the conscience does the same thing - little voice cretaed int he image of God, and hearing the Spirit of God - right and wrong … sometimes it condemns us, warns us; other times it vindicates. That’s the functioning of the consdience. But in an unbeliever - a deflied consience means nothing is PURE.
One person looks at the church, says no love here, no zeal - none his life either - But another looks at the church says - love and zeal here. What’s the difference? TO pure all things are pure. To the defiled and unbelieving they have no taste, no appreciation for these. Spurgeon put it this way: If you send a Turkey Vultutre over a tract of country, what will it see? Why, it will be looking out for all the dead carcasses, and it will be sure to be able to tell you how much carrion there is about. But if you send a dove over that same space, it won’t have an eye for it, for it has no taste for it. But it will tell you of everything that is fair and beautiful, like itself. So is it with the pure mind in the midst of God’s people; it sees purity. It cannot shut its eyes to impurity, but it rejoices in the truth, and speaks of it, and speaks it as well as it can at all times with a charity that thinks no evil. But with the impure and the unbelieving every place is defiled, and the man tars everything with the filth that is in his own bucket.
over a tract of country, what will it see? Why, it will be looking out for all the dead carcasses, and it will be sure to be able to tell you how much carrion there is about. But if you send a dove over that same space, it won’t have an eye for it, for it has no taste for it. But it will tell you of everything that is fair and beautiful, like itself.
over a tract of country, what will it see? Why, it will be looking out for all the dead carcasses, and it will be sure to be able to tell you how much carrion there is about. But if you send a dove over that same space, it won’t have an eye for it, for it has no taste for it. But it will tell you of everything that is fair and beautiful, like itself.
So is it with the pure mind in the midst of God’s people; it sees purity. It cannot shut its eyes to impurity, but it rejoices in the truth, and speaks of it, and speaks it as well as it can at all times with a charity that thinks no evil. But with the impure and the unbelieving every place is defiled, and the man tars everything with the filth that is in his own bucket.
So is it with the pure mind in the midst of God’s people; it sees purity. It cannot shut its eyes to impurity, but it rejoices in the truth, and speaks of it, and speaks it as well as it can at all times with a charity that thinks no evil. But with the impure and the unbelieving every place is defiled, and the man tars everything with the filth that is in his own bucket.
Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: Titus, ed. Elliot Ritzema, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 289.
Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: Titus, ed. Elliot Ritzema, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 289.
In the case of a defiled, weak, and a sound, the organ of the human soul, the conscience does the same thing - little voice cretaed int he image of God, and hearing the Spirit of God - right and wrong … sometimes it condemns us, warns us; other times it vindicates. That’s the functioning of the consdience. But in an unbeliever - a deflied consience means nothing is PURE.
For a dead conscience person not even hearing true conscience given to us all. Its defiled but now comepletely drowned out. Ask how can it be that even the good that someone with an unbeleveing heart, and a dfeiled or deaded mind and conscience , why is theri beare good action not pure? Nothing is pure? Always tainted by self-love, seeking own glory, not done out of a true love for God or neighbour. Done either to live up to standard, or earn God’s reward.
Ask how can it be that even the good that someone with an unbeleveing heart, and a dfeiled or deaded mind and conscience , why is theri beare good action not pure? Nothing is pure? Always tainted by self-love, seeking own glory, not done out of a true love for God or neighbour. Done either to live up to standard, or earn God’s reward.
The result is that their heart without recognizing need for forgiveness, purity only Christ can bring, has not been transformed, don’t realize grace, even their good works which are good in themselves to others, for society; but they aren’t motivated and guided and aimed out of pure gratitude to GOD. Though they may eve be better morally then some believers, their purity is not twoard God! COnsicence has fallen. Consience is a poor guide if not enlighteneed and transformed by God! The human heart with a dead or defiled conscience - has not yet been transformed and outfitted to please God - according to His plans for how good works are to be done what perfect plan for human life and relationships are.
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
And here is the warning tonight, these were people who were religious talkers, they were involved in the church, they were even esteemed and paid by many, had own novel Jewish myth teaching, and they taught a good works type of salvation - ritual like circumcision, and keeping ceremonies… But doctrine and life must be examined and must go together necessarily. In your life and mine?
But doctrine and life must be examined and must go together necessarily. In your life and mine?
Three groups Xns being deceived, false teachers both in and out of the church with these ideas, and Jewish community in Crete denying Christ influencing false teachers - Paul’s not just name calling, he is showing the HORROR of those who lead others astray! Like Jesus - Strongest woe reserved for those who cause his little ones his followers to stumble, to sin, to be led a stray!
B. Grace Must Become Your Teacher for a Pure Life
Christians must learn to operate out of their new status in Christ, not their old status in the flesh/old self! You see entrance into the kingdom of heaven, is by faith, the poor in spirit, realize not self-righteousness, but forgiveness and atonement, God’s righteousness by faith! - we become the pure in heart. What is the first beatitude the entrance into the kingdom of God. To be poor in spirit, pure in heart!
But even in those made pure by justification . Impurity remains. But still Paul is saying the Master Principle of our life in Christ, is now PURITY! Though a Christian may still fall into sin, tell a lie, lust, greed, yet the general tenor of our lives is purity in Christ, integrity - though not absolutely pure yet!
But now continue discerning how your mind and conscience work to see if you have the purity described in
But now continue discerning how your mind and conscience work to see if you have the purity described in
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
What does that little phrase mean? To the pure all things are pure. What is pure in your life? Here is the principle: What is pure isn’t a list of rituals to keep, nor even external laws, though God’s refvealed moral law are certainly the railroad tracks. But you know what is pure in a believers life - what they do out of faith! Faith working by love! And above all love to God! That’s where good works have to root themselves and be attached to and grow out of!
You are fit for a truly good work , for pure works - not by conformiity to your standards, or any one elses. but your heart is fit to do a good work - when you are in Christ, - fogrgiven, covered, indwelt, and now - acdfepted by God in Christ, - act like a son or daughter of God - do His will, please HIm as most imprtant part of your life now.
Your good works aren’t little merit badges - See how good I am, they are living expressions of being joined with Jesus in his life, his mission, So do you see the good works are the result of salvation, not a cause. Do you see why our catechism says: The coming to life on the new self is: It is a wholeheared joy in God through Christ, and a delight to do every kind of good as God wants us to. QA 90.
Do you feel that in your living of life? You delight in God through Christ, ravished by His love and forgiveness, and Intead of a defiled mind, delifed conscience - sound in your status with God, YOu do not just say I know HIm. No inwardly you really know HIm in Christ, and now your deeds don’t deny Hisd grace, but express how you know him. This is what I mean by living out your status, your new position adopted in Christ first. This is why these letters begin, GRACE and then PEACE.
You have got to get this order right in your life - I am a person that lives by grace
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
Paul said in 1 TImothy that appearing of Christ 2000 years ago, his incarnation into a perfect life for you and me, his death on the Cross by which His blood cleanses me, and resrurected HIs ascending and appearing in heaven, His sends His PSirit to dwell in me to purify me from lawlessness! That appearance, that manfiestation of Christ is what has come upon you now!
So now in this world through the gospel in your life and mine, that is the mystery of godliness. You get a sound mind and sound conscience - by the grace of Jesus, and only when you’ve got that can you push on to purity not in status, but purity in dialy life, actual godliness. personal sanctification.
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
And here I need you to do some discriminating again. It is not only possible, but it is the Christina’s daily struggle and duty to recognize where their is ungodliness in your life even as a Christian. There are worldy passions that want to shipwreck your faith, and embed barbed hooks that will drag your Christian life down. But if you are turning to Christ daily with that battle, even though you may sin, (and that is the reality of indwelling sin), but if you fight it and that is not living in sin. And the first part of godliness in action, as opposed to godliness just in status, is this daily action of renouncing!
If I were to send you off to Harvard in September, once you got there , you’d find before you learn new things, a big part of your education would be unlearning faulty things. We need to unlearn before we can learn. No different in sports, basketball shot, study flaw, unlearn those habits. So too in your Christian life, unlearning ways of ungrace!
That’s really one of the tricky things about being a joyful, not a despairing Christian. It would be a terrible sin of presumption to pretend you don’t struggle with sin at all this side of heaven, but also a terrible sin of despair to believe that because you must wrestle with sin still, that you can’t have a sound conscience and the mind of Christ.
Having a sound conscience is our at conversion, but it is also something that must be maintained - you must - sing like Jason Grey Remind Me Who I Am.
Or like Mercy Me in Flawless…Or like Martin Luther - I am a baptized Christian. Paul commands us to have the mind of Christ: ,
No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless Or like Martin Luther - I am a baptized Christian. Paul commands us to have the mind of Christ: ,
This is what it means to be genuinely sorry for sin, hate it more and more, and run away from it. Second part of our salvation is sanctification, to become more like Christ as we abide in him in our new status, new identity. And this second half, unlike justification, requires your effort and your training
Like, Donald Grey Barnhouse, who would later become the senior pastor of Tenth Pres in Philadelphia, was walking the streets outside the Belgian city of Mons. There had been a series of extended battles during World War I. First, Mons was the site of a massive Allied retreat and then at the end of the war of a dramatic German retreat. And then lining the streets outside the city were German artillery and the material of war left by the retreating German army. And Barnhouse was wandering along on a beautiful spring day – clear sky, not a breeze to stir the trees – observing the German material of war, just looking around him, enjoying the quiet after the ferocity of the battles, when a leaf fell, leaves began to fall from the trees overhead. Now, this is spring. Why are leaves falling in spring? One of them stuck in the belt of his uniform and he plucked it out and it crumbled in his fingers, dry and desiccated. These leaves have somehow managed to cling to the branches through the strong winds of autumn, through the frost and the snow of winter. And now that it was spring, there's not a breeze in the air and still, the leaves are falling; now the leaves are falling. Why are they falling in spring? Well, it's new life, you see; new life budding on the branches pushes out these dead, old leaves. pushing old growth off for new growth… what is falling away - ungodliness… wordly passions, where in your life are you living wihtout self-contro, out of control and resisting the SPirits’s lead in your self. By way of application - what are you shedding…
Well, it's new life, you see; new life budding on the branches pushes out these dead, old leaves. pushing old growth off for new growth… what is falling away - ungodliness… wordly passions, where in your life are you living wihtout self-contro, out of control and resisting the SPirits’s lead in your self.
By way of application - what are you shedding…
But understand that at the very same time you really fight against what is not in accord with your new status in Christ, as you push dead leaves out of your life, you make room for new leaves and the fruit it produces. That’s the last part of
When Grace becomes your teacher, positively how does the Grace of Jesus actually like Joda teaching Luke, produce purity in your life and mine. It is not just the law which is the school master who brings us to Christ. But grace is also a teacher, pedagogue, Grace has its discipline, a wonderful training power that the law can’t teach you. God’s free favour, fills us with new principles, suggests new thoughts, inspires us with new motivation of gratitude. And if grace is a teacher , and discipler;, it must have real disciples. Are you a student, a pupil, a trainnee, Jedi, a disciple of grace? What does that look like, What does God’s grace used to do this in our daily lives? This is the postive half of what happens when Christ’s grace begins to penetrate our lives!
C. The Grace of God Becomes the Effective-Preparer for the New World.
Most people live in this life, stuck in the present as if that’s all there is. But a Christian knows the salvation of the Past and how it is leading to a glorious future that you and I are going to be so involved in. It’s kind of like a teenage kid gets a scholarship let’s say field hockey, but its to an Ivy League School. And he knows with the academics he is going to be out of his leage. Even the manners .. so she hires a coach, a tutor - prepare for the rigors of that kind of academic life, to mix with the brightest minds and most cultured people.
Well, this is what Paul means by saying, we are going to learn real self-control, upright/just, and godly/reverent lives in the present age. Why?
waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
IN the ancient world Juilus Ceasar said he was God and Saviour, before him Antiochus Ephhanes, Ptlomey. They all said they were God and Saviour. But Paul says, Jesus Christ the real God and Saviour and He not only appeared in human life 2000 years ago , working salvation for ages, but He is coming again.
You know his epiphany, his appearance, the curtain opening 2000 years ago, you know it your conversion, but here is the big deal. The curtain is rise more suddenly than this last great change of Cov 19, bring a change so much bigger and more wonderful - this Jesus bring the blessed hope -
Life with him, renewed heaven and earth. Vision not only of dying and going to clouds of heaven, some spiritual disconnected world, but renew world - what are you dogingt o do there… well what this world was intended to be what you were intended to do and be, not less than here nbut more!
Are you going to be ready. I can tell you knone of us are going to be ready, unless already now we are living for that world and towards that glorious hope. When you have been purified by the blood of Jesus from your sins, also given His Spirit and word directed, so in the same way you are to discern what wrldy passions, angeres, lusts, greeds you are dying too, so too you must discern what self-control, what justice, what godliness am I growing in
Are you going to be ready? I can tell you none of us are going to be ready, unless already now we are living for that world and towards that glorious hope. When you have been purified by the blood of Jesus from your sins, also given His Spirit and word directed, so in the same way you are to discern what wrldy passions, angeres, lusts, greeds you are dying too, so too you must discern what self-control, what justice, what godliness am I growing in
Are you going to be ready. I can tell you knone of us are going to be ready, unless already now we are living for that world and towards that glorious hope. When you have been purified by the blood of Jesus from your sins, also given His Spirit and word directed, so in the same way you are to discern what wrldy passions, angeres, lusts, greeds you are dying too, so too you must discern what self-control, what justice, what godliness am I growing in
You see waitingof rht eblessed hope, is not passively doing nothgin until the end of the world comnes. Though we patiently wait for it, even more we expectantly are receiving and welcoming the realization of God’s kingdom. And that is a grace that penetrates into our daily living.
Salvation is not just a past forgiveness and aquital, but also a present reversal of sin in our lives. So that we adorn our lies, dress our lives in daily action that is in keeping with Christ’s grace. The Son of God has appeared in your life, and He rises with healing on His wings - so that your life starts to look like his.
i. Self-control means that it changes your relationship with your self. Instead of reckless driven by inordiante sinful desire - out of contorl sexual desire, or liquer alhcol drug mania, instead of greed , rage, you possess yourself in the Spirit - overcoming ysin you live by godly desire and pleasures with mastery.
ii. IN your relation with others- you live by uprightness - justice. So instead of a proud self-assertiveness, me-first, pushiness, instead of quarrelsome, vanity, controling others - live with integrity and fairness, an love to others.
iii. And in your relationship with God - you can say you live with real devotion, true piety, reverence and respect really knowing God and indeed walking with HIm.
When your mind is in Christ, and your conscience is sound in him, when you die to the old self, it’s then that you are fit for every good work prepared in advanced in Christ for you to walk in.
When your mind is in Christ, and your consicence is sound in him, when you die to the old self, it’s then that you are fit for every good prpeared in advanced in Christ for you to walk in.
You see now in the present as you strive for day of Christ ‘s coming - realize not just surviving and or striving for self in this age of pandemic, of struggle to make ends meet, of achieving - no look at the end of
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.
And here we have the great motivation, not to cheat on our taxes, to obey our government, to serve our neighbour, to honour our promises and vows, to care for those in need, to dney our selves for the next generation, to serve - not because we need to earn favour, not to measure up or show our worth. No we pursue and live out purity why? Because of whom we belong to. God’s grace penetrated our lives, not just so we can go to heaven, but so that God would have a purified people on earth, lvign out his character, shingin with this gloyr, pursuing His goals.
This is how the Exodus began - Israel a treasured people if keep His ways. Light to nations. Now in Christ, Christian receive grace to forgive but also to purify are that treasured possession of God. What happens with married couples in come ways come to resemble each other, what Christ is doing in us until heaven. Listen to
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
We are Christ’s spouse and he has a future in mind that he is working for us - he is cherishing and nourishing us - to achieve the at dream of your life and mine purified -
This is what makes us a people zealous to be that people to do those works. To have lives truly radiant purified transformed.
If this is the end time - see how quickly little virus change so much, how about when Christ returns. If He returns today - are you living as a person of his own possession - I BELONG TO YOU .. belong to my sport, home, holidays, my - SAY I BELONG TO CHRIST and what I am most zealous for in this world are good works - love and justice, mercy. LORDSHIP salvation… evangelism everything in the world and then add Christ, vs. salvation is eternal life now in part transformation, more than forgiveness, more than just heaven…
If this is the end time - see how quicly little virus change so much, how about when Christ returns. if return today - perosn of his own possession - I BLONG TO YOU .. belong to my sport, home, holidays, my - SAY I BLODNG TO CHRIST and what I am most zealous for in this world are good works - love and justice, mercy. LORDSHIP salvation… evenaglissem everythin gin the world and then add XChrist, vs. salvation is eternal life now in part transformation, more than forgivenss, more than just heaven…
Paul says, Titus you have got to talk about this present life of sanctification a lot, Got to teach it, model, it, got to admonition and reprove. Make it shine and don’t let anyone disdain that this is what Christianity is about! I get to make this clear, even as Titus had to … next week how that looks in each of our relationships!
No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless