Until..

The last month has been full of reminders to be good. Parents have leveraged the gifts under the tree to motivate proper behavior. But now that the gifts have been opened, is there any motivation for the days and weeks ahead?

Some will make New Year’s resolutions as a form of accountability to make positive changes. But is there any reason to keep on after the resolution has worn thin?

God’s Word tells us that Jesus is coming back to judge the living and the dead. The names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life has much more dire consequences than any naughty/nice list from the North Pole.

Jesus told a parable of 10 maidens waiting for a wedding. But only half of them were ready when the fiancé arrived in Matthew 25.

As we just celebrated Communion, looking back. 1 Cor 11:26 says that when we look back in this specific way, it is a proclamation that also looks forward!

Transition: Today’s text also looks back, looks forward, and addresses the in between.

The Grace of God has appeared (v.11)

God’s grace has a name--Jesus (bringing salvation)

1. God’s grace cannot be separated from the 2nd person of the Trinity who came down from Heaven, whom we celebrated yesterday.

2. The name literally is a contraction of 2 Hebrew words—YHWH saves. And just as Juan in Central America becomes John in North America and becomes Johann in parts of Europe, Yeshua became Ἰησοῦς in Greek, and HAYZUS in Spanish, and Jesusin English.

3. Since the name was common in His lifetime, He was usually referred to in a more specific way, such as “Jesus of Nazareth”. “Christ,” the anointed one, is a title that acknowledged that He was the expected Messiah of Israel. In the Gospels, Jesus is usually identified as “the Christ.” Hence today many Jews refer to Him as Y’shua ha Messhia. After Peter’s sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2:38, He was usually referred to as “Jesus Christ.”[i]

Precision Matters

There is a quote that has been attributed to various politicians since the 1980s. Yesterday I found it attributed to President Richard Nixon, Fed Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, & Robert McCloskey of the US State Dept. “I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant”

1. We read v. 11 in English, and we apply our understanding to the words we read. But what if the rules of grammar were different when Paul wrote this to Titus? What if what you read is not what Paul meant?

2. Does “all people” complement appeared or bringing salvation? In English we usually refer to the closest word, in Greek it can refer to either.

3. Since it can refer to either, some of us are asking, “Does this mean all people are saved”? To clarify questions the best place is to compare Scripture to Scripture, especially other Scripture that has both the same divine and human authors.

4. We all agree that God’s saving grace has CAPACITY to save all. But does Scripture teach it is EFFECTIVE in saving all people?

1 Timothy 4:10 ESV:2016

10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

· I told you last week that 1 Cor 1:21 specifically states that those who believe are saved, even if the sermon is not that good.

· Elsewhere Paul (same author of Titus) writes:

o Ga 3:22 – to those who believe

o Ro 4:24 – counted to us who believe

o 1 Ti 1:16 – to those who were to believe in Him.

5. This is why the “B” in the ABCs of the Gospel is so important!

Transition: Since God’s grace has appeared in the Person of Jesus, and since we believe that Jesus died and rose for our salvation, what do we do with this truth? What difference does it make in 2021-2022 in Chase County, Kansas?

Grace prompts Godly living & Good works now (vv.12&14)

Our UPward response (renounce ungodliness & worldly passions)

1. To what do we say “no”?

2. I don’t think I can make it any simpler than what we tell the kids in Flint Hills Kids Club: Sin is anything we think, say or do that displeases God.

3. If sin is anything that displeases, than godliness is anything we think, say or do that pleases God.

4. I don’t need to make a long list of the things that we do or don’t do. Jesus summed it up that godliness is when we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

5. As recipients of God’s amazing, saving grace we respond to Him by renouncing what displeases Him and that which reflects a love of worldly things.

Transition: Our Upward affections also have an Outward evidence. If our devotion is to the things that God loves and God so loved the World, then what should be our approach to the World?

Our OUTward response (good works)

1. To what do we say “yes”?

2. Self-controlled is a word we studied in the Manly Discussions group recently on Wednesdays downtown.

I explained that this word is not a middle-of the road, wishy-washy idea, but it is the ability to stay centered in the path God wants us to move. illustrate with tie-downs and bungee cords and 2 volunteers

3. Upright – This is a legal term. Because we have tasted God’s grace and salvation, we say “yes” to things that are consistent with His law.

Watching sports, from rec league to professional, can test one’s spiritual maturity. Because sports are officiated by humans and sometimes one human doesn’t see things the same way another human does. But a good official is needed to make sure the game is played according to the agreed to rules. Whether it is accidental or dirty, the official is not there to determine the outcome, he is there to ensure to the best of his or her ability that the rules of the game are followed. This is what it means to be upright.

I heard a new chant from our student section during this year’s football season – a few times the ref would blow a whistle, motion his hands, and if it was against the other team, our students would chant, “You can’t do that!” A player who is upright rarely hears that chant. A person who is upright rarely pays a fine or experiences conflict in relationships.

4. Godly is not a word unique to Christianity or Judaism. This word appears in other religious text describing anyone who honors his god by doing what that god commands.

5. When we receive God’s grace and salvation, we receive the indwelling Spirit of God who compels us to do what pleases God. The writer to Hebrews put it this way:

Hebrews 13:21 ESV:2016

21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

A New Team (v.14)

1. For his own possession is one word in Paul’s language that is difficult to convey with few words in English.

2. We bristle against the idea of being possessed by another. The atrocities of chattel slavery have left a bitter taste in our minds so that we push back at the mere mention of belonging to someone else. This is why many brides remove “to obey” from the traditional marriage vows.

3. But this is more than just, who you work for as in employment.

4. As a virus is mutating and spreading, School districts and sports leagues are adjusting how to respond to learning and playing. One thing is clearly evident, what students do away from school has a bearing on the whole school experience. What players do off the field has bearing on if they are allowed to participate in the game.

5. V.14 says that since we belong to God’s team, we live zealous for good works, so the goals of the team may proceed.

Transition: So we know how God’s grace appeared to us in the person of Jesus. We know that right now that means we say “no” to what displeases God, and “yes” to what He approves. The text goes on to show the eventual outcome of His saving Grace.

The Appearing of Jesus will be Glorious! (v.13)

Expectation (hope)

1. We started Advent by setting an expectation for An Even Better Christmas because so many of us are fatigues, worn-down, and fed up with this pandemic and the many responses to it.

2. Last week I mentioned that I was busting out and was going to celebrate 7 days of Ann. To which some of you reminded that she deserves 10 days this year. My response on Facebook was that I try to under promise and overdeliver. This week the UPS driver will probably resent my attempt to over deliver.

3. But the expectation that God has set for us is a blessed hope.

4. The dominant meaning of this word blessed is pertaining to being fortunate or happy because of circumstances, fortunate, happy.[ii]

5. We endure now and we serve now, even when it is difficult and goes against our nature, because we anticipate a change in circumstance that will make us happy.

Brilliance & Majesty (glory)

1. The coming glory is reminiscent of the pillar that led the Israelites from Egypt to Jericho. It was a brilliance that lasted for days after Moses was in the Tabernacle! It was a majesty that demanded they move whenever it moved!

2. Majesty is communicated again in a way that can be missed in English. We see and and think plural—but maybe we should think both. Because this is not talking about Father as great God and Jesus Christ as Savior; this should be understood that Jesus Christ is both our Great God and Savior!

Conclusion:

He is the one who will appear in the Eastern Sky and make his route to Jerusalem where He will sit on the Throne of David for a Millennium, then a glorious new Heaven and Earth will descend, and it will be glorious!

Our final song today is a song of celebration. A song that reminds us that our hope is blessed. A song that celebrates the grace of God that brings salvation to all who will believe in Him.

Song of Response . “O That Will Be Glory for Me”

Benediction: Romans 11:36 (ESV) - For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

[i] J. Lanier Burns, “Jesus Christ,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016). [ii] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 610.