Visionaries pt4

WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S MERCY AND TO LIVE IT OUT AMONG OUR NEIGHBORS.

One of the words that os on our wall that is easy to say, but often hard to understand, is the word Mercy. I say that word a lot at our house, and in my prayers, because Mercy is also the name of my daughter in Ghana. She is quite possibly the kindest and gentlest person I have ever met, and when I pray for her, which is daily, I often ponder how much it is in the providence of God that her name would cause me to meditate on that word so often, because mercy is something I really struggle with.

See mercy means to not give someone what they do deserve. And I really wrestle with that. I think, to be honest, that part of what bugs me the most in our broken world, is that people are not held accountable for their actions enough. Often, in a desire to avoid conflict or to “keep the peace” we let people go unconfronted and uncorrected, which breeds a lack of responsibility. That bugs me, and on the surface that’s why I struggle with mercy.

Until I get to me. See I have REASONS for what I do. My misdeeds and failures can be rationalized and excused. Y’all are simply overreacting to me. Sound familiar?

I’m not the only one right? The only one who thinks they deserve mercy, but doesn’t want to extend it?

That’s part of what Paul seeks to address in his short letter to Timothy, and what makes our vision statement about mercy both come and alive and issue a challenge, we can’t really understand mercy- both how to receive it and how to give it, until we accept that God has had mercy on us.

(Read Titus 3:1-11)

Paul begins the close to his letter with a reminder- that is actually repeated at the beginning and end of this passage. It forms a parentheses, which is a common practice in the letters of Paul to draw emphasis to a point he is making. Look at verses 1-2, and 9-11.

Paul wants our lives to merciful- to avoid causing or pursuing conflict and to seek the best for those around us- to the point that we are actually told to separate ourselves from believers who refuse to do so.

Why?

Because that is going backwards. Back to the way we were before Jesus.

The American church is no stranger to looking for battles to fight. I honestly think we believe that pre social media everything was calm and sedate in the church and everyone basically got along. But I’m a student of history.

You can go back to Galatians in the Bible and see the disagreement between Paul and Peter over the Gentiles. You can look at Martin Luther and the Reformation. Henry VIII of England and the split with the Catholic church. Spurgeon and the Downgrade controversy- or his more humorous argument over cigars. The Temperance movement. A boycott of Walt Disney world. The list could go on. And we haven’t even touched on the last 30 years.

There are always going to be things to fight about- some of them serious, some of them miniscule. And here is the worst part, many of those disagreements that start out minor wind up destroying churches, movements, friendships, and even families…and when they spill over into the broader culture, they damage the witness of the Church- which affects the spread of the Gospel.

That does not mean we should approach everything as relative or that there are not times to draw lines in the sand and part ways, but it does mean how we disagree and how we treat those with whom we disagree- even when they are disagreeable matters. And into that discussion, Paul inserts the term mercy.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (1) Respect for Governmental Authorities (3:1)

This extends the Christian’s responsibilities from a mere passive posture (obeying laws) to an active, positive involvement in society. This idea is a practical outworking of Jesus’ teaching concerning being “the salt of the earth … and the light of the world … that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (2) Respect for All (3:2)

Christians should be careful not to speak evil of or verbally abuse others, who are created in God’s own image and the object of his saving grace

Look at verse 3- we were one like this! We were deceived, we were rebellious, we were mired in sin…it is not a pretty picture. And how did God meet us? Did He come at us with a corresponding anger and aggression? Did He meet force with force?

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

Christians, though at one time degenerate and lost, were objects of God’s kindness and love, which resulted in their salvation. Christians are to demonstrate this same kindness and love to lost individuals and society, making Christianity attractive and resulting in the salvation of others

Look at verse 4:

God approached us with goodness and loving kindness. Why? Because that is how you disarm your enemy. You refuse to fight them on their own terms. You meet anger with love. Aggression with kindness. In short, you offer them mercy. Especially when they do not deserve it. (Gospel presentation here based around v5)

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

The combination of such infinite “kindness” and “love for mankind” facilitates our understanding of “the grace of God … that brings salvation to all men” (2:11). The purpose of the manifestation of God’s kindness and love was to bring salvation; therefore God is referred to as “our Savior

Jesus did not save us because we deserved it. He saved us in spite of us not deserving it. In fact, if you will think about it, He saved us before we had changed a single bit, other than acknowledging that we needed a Savior- our hearts changed before anything else. Behavior followed, over time, because we are ALL still being changed.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

Paul could not be more clear in addressing the matter of the basis of salvation: People cannot save themselves! Salvation depends solely and completely on God’s grace, displayed in “his mercy,” revealed and achieved by his Son, Jesus Christ, and applied to humankind by the Holy Spirit

So if we want to show mercy, we must first understand the extent to which we have received it! Our sins put Jesus on the cross, and yet He went to the cross so we could not receive what our sins deserved. We are recipients of a mercy far beyond what we are ever asked to extend to someone else. We are the cause and the beneficiaries of the death of Jesus.

And what amazing benefits-

-not only do we receive permanent, unalterable forgiveness,

- but we also get the opportunity to know God more fully (v6- thru the Holy Spirit)

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

The descriptive term “generously” suggests that God’s pouring out of the Holy Spirit is totally sufficient for the needs of every believer

-AND receive a permanent place in the Kingdom of God (v7- heirs…hope of eternal life) We get current and future mercy!

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

The soteriological and eschatological aspects of Christians’ being “heirs” is readily apparent in this final phrase. Paul asserted that “he saved us” (v. 5) “so that … we might become heirs” (v. 7). Christian salvation results in adoption into God’s family, which in turn makes believers “heirs.” This is the soteriological aspect. The eschatological aspect of Christians’ being “heirs” is understood in the fact that all believers still await their final future redemption and the full realization of eternal life. What has been promised by God in Christ to his heirs has not yet been experienced in the fullest measure (Rom 8:23–25). In becoming “heirs” (through salvation), Christians become possessors of a guaranteed future referred to as “the hope of eternal life” (see comments on 1:2).

(vs3-7 are the totality of the Gospel- beginning with our initial condition and ending with our eternal future with God. This would be a passage to mark in your Bible as a constant reminder of the the whole work of Jesus for all humanity. We need to be reminded of this, so we remember His mercy!

So what does that mean for our daily lives? When we understand God’s mercy, it makes it more possible for us to extend mercy to others- even, and maybe most especially when, they do not deserve it. Paul emphasizes this in vs 8 when he calls us to good works that are “excellent and profitable for people.”

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

Good works are the result, not the cause, of the saving, transforming power of God’s grace in one’s life. Theologically, they have no saving, transforming power. C. H. Spurgeon rightly states: “Works of righteousness are the fruit of salvation, and the root must come before the fruit. The Lord saves His people out of clear, unmixed, undiluted mercy and grace, and for no other reason

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

Paul stated his purpose in directing Titus to “stress these things.” It was “so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.” Once again Paul connected theological understanding with Christian behavior described as good works (kalōn ergōn). Those who have trusted in God (cf. God as “Savior,” 1:3; 2:10; 3:4) are “to be careful” (in the sense of “paying close attention”) “to devote themselves” to “good works.” In so doing, they will be like the One in whom they have trusted

Why is this so important?

We are more like Jesus the more we extend mercy to others. And mercy is in short supply in our day and time. Truthfully, we often see those who show mercy as weak or uncommitted or afraid. That’s not true. Mercy is strength. If it’s not, then Jesus is weak. And Jesus is not weak.

We need to consider who we refuse to show mercy to in light of the way Jesus showed mercy to us. And what happens when we fail to show mercy:

we let bitterness take root

which leads to broken relationships

which makes it more difficult to trust people’s intentions

which leads to a rift in our relationship with God

What is keeping you from understanding God’s mercy? Do you refuse to believe that you could receive mercy? Do you think you are beyond His mercy? You are not.

Where do you struggle to show mercy to others? Is it because you don’t think they deserve it? Neither did you. Or is it because you don’t think God would show them mercy? Why wouldn’t He…He showed you mercy.