Titus 3:1-15 | Be Ready with the Gospel

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Intro

Hey Y’all?
How’s life? School?
St. Patty’s day
Joke: No green, How dare you
Ever had someone be right, but snarky about it?
We’ve probably done that.
We def all know someone growing up.
Joke: Sleep over. You mean yesterday?
or have you ever had a teacher not be fair about how they operate?
Imagine a math teacher with a calculator, you can’t use one, but they can.
So that is where I want our heads to be kind of at tonight. We are going to be talking a lot tonight about how how the gospel impacts us and how we act. How we act impacts how effective we can carry out the mission of Christ. We are going to talk a little bit about how everything we do in our life needs to be geared towards helping share the gospel, the good news of Christ.

Main Idea

So our main idea tonight, kind of the back drop of everything we are going to talk about tonight is:
Be ready with the Gospel Always
how do we act so that we can be ready with the gospel? How we carry ourselves matters in carrying out the mission of the church.

Context

Last week were in Titus 2 and we talked about discipleship, and why healthy discipleship matters. Which does remind me that I have a gift card to give out.
Disciple- Life long student.
So tonight we are going to be in Titus 3, we are finishing up the book of Titus and next week we will start something completely different. So chapter 3, verses 1-15. if you need a bible throw a hand up and we will get you one. While you’re turning there, let me give you some context as to what is going on here, there is some weird things going on that if you don’t understand the backdrop, we wont fully be able to see what is going on in the text.
So, Titus, written by Paul to Titus on the island of Crete. We talked a little bit about Crete at the start of this thing series, but what we didn’t talk about was Rome.
Rome is an important part of the new testament, it is an important part of what is going on in Titus. The world in which Titus lives in is ruled by Rome. Rome is the major player in the world, they are the only super power in that part of the world.
The thing that you need to know about Rome and the people of Rome is that, every young dude in roman life is super ambitious. Every single dude in Roman society wanted to be emperor or consul. Imagine if ever person wanted to get onto politics. Imagine every single person in here tonight wanted to be in Politics, wanted to have the top job, and would let nothing get in their way. Rome had been a major player on the world’s stage for about 200 ish years. They had been top dude for a while. 200 years before this, they destroyed the only other major player which was the people of Carthage, after that, Rome was on top.
This ambition that romans had lead to a civil war about a 100 years before this book is written, which lead to Caesar becoming emperor, literally with Julius Caesar. He set the stage for the world that Titus is taking place in. To put it terms that make sense to us, we are living in the world that WW1 and WW2 made, we still have the shadows of those conflicts hanging over the whole world. The reason the world Titus lives in is the way it is, is because of how the Roman world operated. Rome was a republic but is now ruled by an emperor. The World is living the shadow of the roman civil war that took place a couple generations before this. This world is very Roman, Rome is in power. Rome is the supreme political power and the whole might of Rome is wielded by this guy named Nero. Nero should sound sort of familiar to you if you’ve paid attention in any world history class. He is kind of a crazy person. He famously loved fire, and actually burned part of Rome down so that he could build himself a new house. anyways.
That is kind of the world that Titus is living in.
So we have to remember that the whole book of Titus is to point people towards Salvation in Christ. Remember, the first section is about how the church is to be lead. How are the leaders supposed to act in life, the second part is about the health of the church and what should discipleship look like in the church. This last section of Titus is about how should the church interact with the world around it? How is the church able to point the world towards salvation in Christ?
How does the church operate in the world. How was the church in Titus’s day supposed to interact in the Roman world, and how does the church today interact with the world we live in today. So before we get in to it, let me pray for our time in the word tonight.
pray

We are no better than other people, Preach the Gospel | v.1-3

Okay cool, so let’s jump in to it, we are going to read this passage in bits and pieces and we are going to talk about them.
So read with me starting in verse 1:

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Okay stop, let’s look at this really quick, because I think the verse can quickly get taken out of context, by christians and non Christians alike. So this verse says, very plainly, be submissive to those in authority and to the rulers. So where is this coming from? What is Paul talking about? Remember, one of our rules for reading scripture is that, scripture interprets scripture. So how do we want to pull meaning out of this text, how can we get meaning out of this text? let’s look at another passage in the bible which Paul wrote, you don’t have to flip there, but i’m going to read a little bit from Romans 13. In romans, Paul goes in to detail by what he means. let me read it,

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.

I’m going to skip to verse 7 now.

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed

Okay so what is going on here and in Titus? First it will be easier to say what is not going on here. What is not going on here is that we are to have a blind allegiance to all rulers in all times. We aren’t called to just accept every crazy thing the government does. What this is saying in the context that scripture interprets scripture is we are to submit to authorities, as long as they do not violate scripture. We live in a world where God is sovereign, where God has ordered and allowed all things. We may not like somethings, but what Paul is saying is be ready with the Gospel. Those who are in charge and there for a reason and you are where you are for a reason. Preach the gospel.
let’s keep going, read with me starting in verse 2, Paul is about to clarify what he’s getting at in this first part of this passage. read with me:

to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Okay, so what Paul is saying is, we are no better than other people. If you’re writing things down write this down, We are no better than other people, Preach the Gospel.
Paul is saying everyone that you meet is worth dignity and respect, every person that we meet is made in the image of God. Now we may not agree with every single person we meet, odds are, you won’t. What this text is saying is, if the church id going to point people to jesus, you can’t yell them in to Heaven. Paul is saying if you are in Christ now, it means you were once not in christ, and you were just as lost as they were. We were all foolish, there was a time when all of at one point didn’t know Christ. SO if the church is going to point people toward Christ, you are going to have to meet people where they are at, listening to someone will go way further than trying to yell someone to Jesus.
Who remembers last year the very first Presidential debate, before the Election, the first debate between Biden and Trump. Who remembers that? Anybody watch that? We watched it. In shear horror. What do you remember most about the debate? Pretty sure it was the shouting. Like literally that whole exchange was a massive waste of time, no one learned anything form it, it was basically like watching a live version of twitter. Nothing useful came from that debate. Nothing. You know what would have been nice, some gentleness, some respect, less evil talk, less quarreling.
So what Paul is getting here, is as the church we cannot carry ourselves as if we are better than everyone else. We are called to make disciples, not argue people in to heaven. The Church is to point people towards Christ.
On of my professors told us, that we are just beggars showing other beggars where to find bread. There s nothing special about us, we just know where the bread is, we know Jesus, and we can help point people to Jesus.

Sola Gratia | v. 4-8

So let’s keep going because we are about to see the reason for all of this. read with me starting in verse 4:

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 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, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 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.

Okay, how many of you have ever gotten something you clearly did not deserve? I totally should have failed my 11th grade algebra class, like I went in to the final with 70, made a 23 and passed the class with a 72. Not sure what kind of math my 11th math teacher did, but who am I to question it. She didn’t have to do that. I CLEARLY didn’t deserve to pass. What I deserved was to fail, and have to my summer ruined. What I deserved was not what I recieved.
And look at this passage? it’s longer than one verse here, but it has all the same themes as the most famous bible verse of all time. John 3:16, If the book of John was written by Paul, this would have been 3:16. Paul 3:16 would be Titus 3:4-8. But Paul goes in to more detail here about what God has truly done for us.
Look at verse 5.

5 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

This is by his Grace. God, because he loved us, not just wiped out our sin on the cross, but also makes us in to knew Creatures. We are we made, our selves are regenerated. We are made completely knew.This means God knows everything about you, still say He loves you, and makes you new, He makes you clean. By his grace alone.
Im gonna ask you a question, and I want you to see if you can figure out what that means. And you’ll have to think back to a couple weeks ago for context clues. But what do you think Sola Gratia means? Any takers? Think about it, I asked you a couple weeks ago about a different Sola. So what do you think this one means?
Grace alone. If you’re writing things down, you should probably remember that one for next week. Grace alone.
We are saved by grace alone. I do want to make a distinction here, because I think we have used this grace for something in which it was never intended for. We are saved by grace and grace alone. But that is not the same thing as a get out of Hell free card.
Yes by grace and grace alone are we able to have right relationship with Christ. But if we look at this text, this grace makes us new creatures, this text gives us new desires. Think for a second. do you actually have any desire to worship Christ? Do you have any real desire to pursue God?
If you are thinking God has saved you because you prayed a prayer one time when you were 5, but you think you can live your life how ever you want, you are mistaken. We are saved by the grace and goodness of God alone, but that grace makes us new, it regenerates us, it costs us our old desires and lives.
If we think we can pray a prayer and be good with the man up stairs, we are cheapening the grace of God, and cheapening His work on the cross.
I am not saying that we have to work for our salvation. This passage here shows that there is no way we can get to Christ by our own doing but God, because He loves us, He did everything to make a way for us to have right relationship with Him. But what I am saying is this grace which God freely gives, creates in us new desires. It allows us to come to God, this grace adopts us in to the family of God.
Imagine if adopted families when they adopted a child, just left them as they were. Imagine if an adopted kid never came to resemble the family he was adopted in to.
I have a friend in New Orleans who adopted a kid from a crazy abusive family. He was in state custody, they fostered him then adopted him, and it is cool watching this who not blood related to his parents, but takes on his attributes. My buddy Alex is a crazy smart dude, and his wife Annelise is really artsy, and I can see both of these things starting to show in their kids personality.
So that is what is going on, when we are saved by grace and grace alone. We are transformed, we take on the attributes of our Father. we take on the Christlikeness. The desires of God, become our desires. We are made new.
So if you are sitting there and you think you may know Christ, but you know in no way do you act like Christ, you may not actually know Christ. If you think you do know Christ, but here lately you haven’t felt the desire to follow Him. Ask the Lord to draw close to you. Ask the Lord to become real in your life, submit your life to the only one who can make life worth living. By grace alone are we given access to God. By grace alone are we saved. By grace alone we are transformed in to the new of life given to us by Christ.

The Main thing is Christ | v. 9-15

Let’s keep moving, we are almost done but read with me starting in verse 9, we need to see what the point of all of this is. why are we talking about this tonight. read with me:

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Final Instructions and Greetings

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Okay, this sounds harsh, this sounds like Paul gives up on people really easy. But that is not what is going on. Remember, this is how the church should relate to the world. Paul is giving us as believers some insight into how people operate.
Y’all ever met anyone who just likes to argue? Like no matter what you say, they’re gonna dispute you over it. Like, “Man it sure is pretty outside” — “Idk, im not a fan of this weather” or y’all know who I’m talking about, the people who are know it alls? the “Well actually” people. Where you’re like, man that dude just likes to argue. That dude never feels wrong, and makes you feel never right. You can’t even debate with that guy. Like flat earthers, no matter what you say, they’ll just punt to you’re a part of the government conspiracy man. We all know someone like this.
We all know some one like this, and Paul is telling us here what to do when you meet these people. Paul is telling Titus, and telling us what to do. If you’re writing things down, write this down. The Main Thing is Christ.
Have you ever heard the phrase, keep the main thing, the main thing? Paul is saying, keep Christ as the main thing.
I’m not saying that there is no time and place for debates, there is definably a time and a place for debates, but if become people who argue just to argue, we are doing no good for carrying out the mission of the church.
Look at verse 14,

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

Devote yourself to good works. Devote yourself to pointing people to the good news.

Point to Christ.

Okay, so why does this matter? Why are we talking about this. First off if you are a believer, this is showing you what the outflow of Christ-likness in your life looks like. We are not called to argue people in to heaven. We are called to tell people about the Christ. We are called to point toward the life saving gospel of Christ.
This passage also calls us to examine our lives. are we someone who tries to argue, do we spend more time talking and arguing than listening? Are we always defensive? Examine your mind, and examine your heart. How you treat people matters. How the church treats people matters.
If you aren’t a believer, this text is asking you to consider who God is. If God you believe God is real, this is calling you to make a choice. Will you choose to see God for who He is, who this text says He is, or will you choose to disregard God, making yourself God, and choosing to live a life without ultimate purpose, and a life that will lead to eternal death.
God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. If you do not know Christ, come see Him for who he is, come see Him as king.
Pray with me.
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