How to Live Beautiful & Beneficial Lives: from Self-Centered to God-Centered Living
Notes
Transcript
Dear Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ,
If 1 Timothy is about defending the gospel, and the last epistle before Paul dies is about proclaiming the gospel, this middle one, 65 AD after Paul had visited many churches, preparing to head W, remember September wind picks up, Nov- Feb absolutely not sail-able, Maybe going to Spain, or back to Rome where he is arrested, writes 2nd Timothy is then beheaded. Defend and Proclaim until Christ comes again. But the middle pastoral epistle given to prepare Christ’s church for this in between stage of Christ’s first coming and its’ second,, so much about how to do church, how to do Christian life in our home s and in public. What is this central middle teaching focus on? How to Live out the gospel. 6x the phrase good works is used. Not good work supposed to try to do sometimes by your own self-effort, as a way to salvation. This is not based on mere moralism; Last week we saw the hear to the letter, that trust worthy saying - we saw the basis the foundation, the fuel and motivation for which Christian do good works: Titus 3:4-5
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
And if you have experienced that grace, and are all about the grace of Jesus, the purpose for which Christ saved you and won you back to God - are these good works that grow organically as fruit from a good root of new life of Christ in you: Titus 2:14
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.
Paul in chater 2 spelled out how our relatinoshisp in home, and church family - m/f, y/o. slaes -
the good works are to be - and this the unique word he uses for good - theey are to be beautiful -
respect, self-ctonrol that slalows the Spirit to demonstrate with itergiry and dignity - trat peole like Christ treaets us, value them - submit to them, - remeber our doctrine of th gosopel is to be dressed up, adorned by our good beautiful works of how we relate to otehr and the revernce with which we relate to God! Paul has drawn a huge contrast to how Creatns themselves with Roman Empire and with each other live , and with - just palin fallen huamn nature : rember that psycholgy of sin: foolishy, disboedeint, but where tdoes that lead: slaves to various pleasures and passion. And Paul’s instruction is that Titus must mdoel good worsk, so that we all become a bill board for ht gospel.
But the more common word that he uses for good, in good works both at the beginnign and the end of the letter, is not like good attractive, beautifylul . But good like useful, beneficial as opposed to useless! You remeber that in the trustwrothy saying: Titus 3:8
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.
Paul has said that the Lord appeared bringing salvation to all people - it was an epiphany to the world. In 3:2 He says we do this because God is phil-anthropia - human loving, - remember the trait that the Greeks said the gods have a benevolence and that leader like our queen are to imitate. Paul said, all Christian are to be devoted and dedicated to being the same: Titus 3:2
to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Well Paul, has said Titus you better teach not just saving grace, but sanctifying grace. Remember Berhkhof’s definition: “Sanctification is that gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Spirit, by which he delivers the justified sinner from the foolishness of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God, and enables him to perform good works. Sanct. grace that makes people like Jesus - that is an other epiphany of Christ to the island of Crete.
People are watching you in your trials and conflicts, and how you live in a time of pandemic, and when you get sued, and when your family falls apart and when you are blessed and when things going well - They see whether you are devoted and committed to good works that flow from the gospel. Paul says those are excellent ad profitable.
But this is all good in theory, but when a bunch of half sanctified, Satan wants to stop that sanctifying work that announces grace to the world. And so this evening, Paul addresses wheat has been in the background of the letter, how to overcome detriments to good works in Christ.
Key Truth: Overcome detriments to sanctifying grace by avoiding religion without the gospel, joining with believers in doing good works!
A. Avoid religion with false teaching, not the gospel, at the centre
Time management experts say it is a wise thing to have a “Stop Doing List”, if you are to make some changes in your life - let’s say old woman - means empty-nester to spend time with a young woman in this church, or like some of you do with Pregnancy Resource center, or young adult, discipling teen, or more mature elder deacon with less. If you choose to help at volunteer fire fighters or hospital - means saying no, to other things you spend your time on. May identify time killers, or even sinful and foolish habits that steal time from real relaxation or service in your life.
Well Paul gives us a list of things we are literally to avoid, step around, don’t even engage with. Titus 3:9a
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
Comes with increasing intesity. False teachers - majored in cotnroversies - no doubt standing for truth and gospel require standing and that brings conflict - but it is one thing to enter the fray - with a love for the church and the people and the truth, and another - with no sense of proportion just to love a good fight, to be a person who loves to major on the minors, and even more has to be the one who wins every argument no matter the cost. And Paul says these controveries are foolish because - they are not majors -
But up the ladder of intensity in Crete, these false teachers, and it would seem with Jewish pedigree, stress genealogies, about the worth of you doing or at least knowing your religious family history - If a priest was marrying in Jewish religion then, go 8 generation s back checking bride’s family 2000 years for high priests. And it would seem the idea was get secret religious bonus points for your pedigree. Something in our selves to to exclude others, and credit ourselves to God.
But the next two reveal even more how anti-gospel religion can become, even within the Christain church. Dissensions and quarrels about the law. Who knows wheter talking about ceremonial law, or about circumcision, or endless man-made applications of the Jewish law, but they would battle for the sake of waging war about hese things - thinking they don’t nee d the law to drive us to Christ, we are all law breakers and the gig things isn’t getting a handle on the law for looking better to God or each other, but that it drives us to Christ, who by grace reconciles us and then give s ut he SPirit to keep the moral law. Witout that encouneter of grace with Christ - with religiou just being laws and rituals and pseudo-spirituality of genalogies and club, and speculations - you know what someones life to humanity is missing - real practical appleid, lived out LOVE KINGDNNESS. You know what else its missing lvoe to God for the grace of Jesus. And so look at why Paul says stear clear of any thing like this: Titus 3:9b
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
But someone influenced by these ideas approach d with gentleness and engage with them. But what about the person who persistently and unrepentantly is teaching religion without grace and Christ at the centre, so so caught up in finer arguments of their law, spirituality, but not of the gospel! Paul say,s you can’t just live avoiding these teaching, when there are teachers in the church peddling this - as Jesus warned and Paul the Ephesians elders, out f love for the truth and for Christ’ church, and ultimately those erring teachers you need to have a strategy to deal with them!
B. Warn, then Shun False Teachers who are Bent on Division
There are a lot of pastors who get burned in ministry, and you know what they say and then have all sorts of people repeating - the church is the only army that shoots its officers. And a terrible reputation for the church is spewed out to the watching world that Christian are not only hypocritical, but they thrive on division. John Calvin trying to advice England on how to avoid religious division that Europe underwent, at a time when he was supporting an effort to have on protestant church in Germany -the body of Christ lies strewn across the battle fields of Europe. So sad. You need to understand that Paul is not advocating for divisions and separation here, but writes this so that we are not bent on division but real unity in living the Christian life around the central truths of Christ and the gospel.
The aim of Titus 3:10 is to have an antenna not for people who have been influenced by false tachers, or to become some sort of inquistion , its not to be judges of sins outside of the church. But when someone publically and persistently is teaching false teaching, denies the gospel. Robinson, (Lex.), “one who creates dissensions, introduces errors, a factious person. that his fault is to be fairly set before his mind. reject in relation to an office; that is, to decline appointing one to an office. These are the people Paul edescribes in Romans 16:17
As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
- you and I have got to CONFRONT in kindness and gentleness - kind of like Matthew 18 - what’s going on this is how I see it how do you see it? The word is admonition, warn in the sense of counseling one another! Richard Nevel - living with girl friend, single mom on dialysis , friendly enough, but not my favorite person - walked by his house once and gigantic flames shooting right out of his chimney - i guess 20 feet in chimney and 5 out… Walked right pass? What it cannot do is stand by and do nothing when one of the family is ensnared by sin
When you have explained it and they are bent on dividing and making a separate party in the church over something that is not about the gospel or central teaching of God’s word - and they persist in stirring dissension - no love for the body - no grief - just love of being “right” - the church together we are to say -that’s not what we’re about - not persecute or hate, but recognize not living the gospel and won’t associate with him or her as a Christian. Sounds, harsh but its being honest - this what we’re about this what your way of religion, we can’t pretend same - aim is repentance and any moment that happens.
We have got to be a church and people that keep the gospel central: Paul Kooistra, seminary and mission leader, once distressed some of his listeners when he was asked why he preached so much on grace. He said, "There is nothing else to preach." Intellectual argument at once ensued. Several claimed, "There are many other things to preach in terms of our obligations, relationships, and personal character." Yet, what we should understand as we see the organization of this pastoral epistle is that all of these matters find their proper context and motivation in our understanding of grace. Mission to World PCA, Erskine College and Seminary in SC.
And there are somethings in the church that would pull us off that foundation = foolish = not sentimental love of man divorced from love of truth! ,
Give that person and the teaching they are pressing as so vital - with a wide birth - they aren’t all about the gospel about the transformation that leads to profitable good works for the kingdom! Paul isn’t talking about any whiff of heretical teaching, but only time in the NT word not just how to deal with heresy, but a heretical Person,
And look at who amtches that description Titus 3:11
knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
The verbs there are perfect - this isn’t someone who falls once or twice into error, who is doubting something. No this is someone who as a settled habit says I can stay divisive and I can stay bent on this doctrine, and I see nothing at all wrong about it, and this isn’t just about my opinion or your opinion, Paul says this person doesn’t just have indwelling sin like any Christian, but is totally all right with living in it it and not fight ing it! And Paul for that reason says, they are bringing condemnation on themselves.
But what is the goal of the letter -living and practicing the life of good works that results form the gospel. We are going to have to give a wide birth here around false teachings, and especially false teachers, if we want to be undistracted and doing good gospel works Here at Covenant. So Paul now concludes the letter with a beautiful example of ho we are to join and partner in doing good works! And what I want you to hear for this final instruction about joining and partnering in good works here, is that it’s something we need to learn, to be discipled in order to become devoted to such gospel good works!
C. Learn to Join in devotion to gospel works and meeting urgent needs!
Paul was coming from Asia and Macedonia, and was ready to winter in Nicoplis. And he leaves us with a picture of what gospel ministry together looks like, both for him and for these Cretan churches. We don’t know much about Artemas, but Tychicus - was an encourage er - like Titus he was from Asia and not Jewish. He accompanied Paul on that third missionary journey and succeed Timothy as leader of the Churches in Ephesus. He had brought letter to Colosse and Ephesus when troubles there earlier . But we see Paul the super apostle sharing ministry with them. Interesting that pastor’s never lone rangers in the NT, always two or more doing ministry. Paul for winter s when no traveling, after frantic visiting, has home base in bigger cities. And it is a team. Ie holidays .. burden of office Jeff; But Paul is so willing to send help. Paul had left Titus there, but now needs him - Titus in 2 Timothy we see went to Dalmatia. Paul arranged half way rendezvous, and after getting these changes in place, Paul says, indigenous inside leadership of elders not enough yet, need support from other churches and leaders - here are my best guys. If we plant a church, if we care about health of these other CRC churches do the same?
But look at the next snap shot, this time of Church life in Crete. Apollos and Zenas - it would seem both Jews - one with incredible legal background like a scribe, and the other Apollos who had minister in Ephesus beside Aquila and Priscilla, same Apollos whom Corinthians loved his oratory and mastery of the Scriptures - said we follow him not you any more Paul, but Pau not Jealous says, I sow, Apollos waters, but it’s God who gives the growth. And now Paul seems to have sent this letter to Crete with Apollos and Zenas. Jews so knowledge and devoted tot he gospel to combat all that false teaching.
But its v.14 and 15 we have such a beautiful illustartion of how we are to practice the gospel together through adorning it with good wroks done together! Titus 3:14
And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
IT’S EVEN STRONGER IN THE GREEK. Let our own people, we are all one, we belong to each other in the church of Jesus Christ, and we don’t just attempt good works from time to time. No The word is disciple - as much as we learn saving grace, we also are committed to learning sanctifying grace together - we devote ourselves to that in our relationships, in our homes - we see that empowered by the gospel 0 our good works - that love , submission that being a benefit tot others - its an Epiphany of the grace of Jesus to the people around us. And so its not just Titus who is to see to Apollos and Zenas, travel arrangements, ship, food, hospitality along the way, prayers and giving - but help them and any other urgent need. Don’t have to be in a pandemic for us to have urgent need, but certainly now too. It saying we don’t supply the luxuries for people , but real need we know it, and we meet it together. We are to commit to KEEP ON LEARNING - how to join with each other like that. Whether making masks, or humble prayer on the telephone.
One commentator gives an example of the churches in the West, partnering in real way - sharing ministry with those with fewer resources in the persecuted, or developing world. Not paternalistic not even about money, - but know ing needs - meeting the together. What we want to do with a learning vision tri with Gurret in Ethiopia. But you don’t have to go to Ethiopia to start partnering with some here. Epidemic of depression and anxiety form this pandemic. You can start calling checking in here.
Paul says it’s like your coming to the end of your life and service here? And what will you have to show? Don't be empty handed, not saved by good works, but they are the fruit of true Christianity. It’s all base don grace - but it produces fruit - and we are to be as devoted to producing that fruit as we are in seeking grace. Jesus put it this way: John 15.
Paul was separated from these believers in Crete whom he had shared part of his life and he can’t be with them, has to take Titus from them. But look at how he ends the letter, Titus 3:15
All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
You know people say the handshake is dead, after this virus. I can’t see how that awkward Dutch greeting of the air kiss on either side of the cheek will continue. No one told me with my dikke tante that it was AIR kiss. But Paul says the church those in Christ here greet you. And he doesn't say greet everyone, but rose one with us in the FAITH - Grace UPON US ALL. The holy kiss symbolized that back the. Your connection, your greeting, whether on Zoom after the service, our fellowship time, even more reaching into each others lives and need. Supposed to have and coffee social again, could we set that up virtually. That’s part of learning sanctify grace,.
I can’t imagine how do this self-isolating without neighbors, and kids and grand parents. So too in doing church! Amen.