God's adorning grace and authority

This last few weeks we have really been unpacking instructions for those who are recipients of God’s abounding grace, today is no different. First, a few reminders to keep this grace in front of us.

Titus was given instructions to set standard for the church:

Set things in order (1:5) - Tit1:5 “5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,”

Qualifications for appointing of elders (1:6-9)

Reason for the appointing of elders (1:10-16) -

Speak things for sound doctrine - Tit2:1 “1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”

Then came instructions about conduct (2:1-10) - covering men, women, young, old

The reason for the instructions were they were recipients of God’s abounding grace (2:11-14)

Tit2:11-12 “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,”

Tit2:13-14 “13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

(Transition) - then we got to that the message of God’s adorning, God’s amazing grace has to be attractive, for it is the Good News that is available to all men. And as recipients of it, it impacts our interactions and view, our attitude with other people, starting with the person in the mirror first.

One more thing need to be reminded of this morning before pressing on.

God’s adorning grace

Redeems us (2:11, 14)

Reforms us (2:12, 14)

Brings rewards (2:13)

Do you have to agree with all those in authority? Let’s see what scripture has to say.

Titus 3:1–2 NASB95

1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

Be subject (3:1) and obey those in authority.

Paul told other churches the same thing (Rom13:1-7; 1Tim2:1-2)

That is where we stopped last week, and today we will pick up with Peter. We mentioned Peter last week

Peter did the same (1Pt2:13-17)

May we now turn to 1Pt2?

1pt2:13-14 “13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.”

1Pt2:15-17 “15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”

As did Jesus (Mt22:17-21)

Now, flip back to Mt22.

Mt22:17-19 “17 “Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19 “Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.”

Mt22:20-22 “20 And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.”

(Transition) Our duty to government can be summed up simply as obey, pay and pray.

Now that leads to being ready

Be ready for every good work (3:1)

Ready to serve consistent with the teachings of Christ (Mt5:16; Php2:14-16)

Mt5:16 “16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Now may we turn together to Php2:14-16 “14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

Every good work is a theme you can find throughout this epistle (Tit2:14, 3:8, 14)

We have seen

Titus 2:14 NASB95

14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

and will see more in very near future

Titus 3:8 NASB95

8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

Well, lets look at one more

Titus 3:14 NASB95

14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

(Transition) Our conduct, gracious conduct is proper for we are heirs of the grace of God. Now we do need to remember

and this leads us to our next point.

Outlook toward all men

What Christians think, what Christians do does not just impact Christians but our outlook toward all men matters too.

Speak evil of no one (3:2)

When you think of speaking evil, what do you think? what does this mean?

Speak evil (blasphemeo) To blaspheme, revile. TO hurt the reputation or smite with reports or words, speak evil of, slander, rail - TCWD

In some versions it says “to malign no one” or “to slander no one”

In our verse it is all men, but in other places it is toward the brethren

Ephesians 4:31–32 NASB95

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

In looking at Eph4:31-32 what are the instructions given?

Now turn to Jm4:11-12

James 4:11–12 NASB95

11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

Keep your thinking cap on, in looking at Jm4:11-12, what is the results if you speak against or judge your brother?

You are judging the the law, Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy.

Be peaceable (v.2)

Peaceable (amachos) - not disposed to fight, not contentious or quarrelsome - TCWD)

Paul exampled this (1The2:7)

1 Thessalonians 2:7 NASB95

7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.

Being peaceable is not always easy, but needs to be exampled when others may be wrong - turn with me to 2Tim2:24-25

2Tim2:24-25 “24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,”

This peaceable grace is indicative of heavenly wisdom as noted in Jm3:17 “17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”

(Transition) As heirs of God’s grace we need to be able to contend without being contentious, to disagree without being disagreeable. How, best to do that, well let’s look at our next thing.

Be gentle (v.2) (also see Php4:5; Mt5:38-39)

Gentle (epieikes) - Equitable, fair, mild, gentle - Thayer

Toward those who attack us, Yielding, considerate, not urging one’s rights to the uttermost, but forbearing and kindly - JFB

Gentle is a grace extended toward all men (Php4:5)

Philippians 4:5 NASB95

5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

This willingness is both literal (Mt5:38-39) but figurative too

for by it is shows all humility and we are going there next, but first the literal in Jesus words Himself.

Matthew 5:38–39 NASB95

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Can this be taken literal and figurative?

Showing all humility (v.2)

Humility (praotes) - gentleness, mildness, meekness - Thayer

In other versions it says:

To show perfect courtesy (ESV)

Showing all meekness (KJV)

To show true humility (NIV)

To show every courtesy (NRSV)

Gentleness, and humility, well, they are not self generated they are God given fruit - check out

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

(transition) Humility is a great example of gracious conduct as an heir of the grace of God. - but wait, let me introduce you to the passage in context to set us up for next week too

Titus 3:1–2 NASB95

1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

In closing the reason for us to have such conduct (Tit3:3-7) which we will develop more next week.

Titus 3:3–4 NASB95

3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,

Titus 3:5–6 NASB95

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Titus 3:7 NASB95

7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The reason for such gracious conduct as recipients, as heirs of God’s grace is shown in this passage.

Though we were foolish (v.3)

We have been saved by His kindness (vv.4-5)

WE have been justified by His grace and become heirs of grace (vv.6-7)

So, in wrapping this up this morning regarding our conduct, our standard as heirs of God’s grace should be in a manner that is appropriate toward.

Those in Authority

And toward all men, not just the brethren.

As heirs of God’s grace may we be examples of Gods grace in our conduct, in our standards. We will close with this and pray.

Titus 2:14 NASB95

14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

May we be a people who are zealous for God, for good deeds as heirs of Gods wonderful abundant grace.