Reminder (Titus 3:3-7)
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I. Intro. Reminder (Titus 3:3-7)
I. Intro. Reminder (Titus 3:3-7)
A. I have trouble remembering things.
A. I have trouble remembering things.
1. Any of you notice that?
1. Any of you notice that?
2. I don’t know why but sometimes things just slip my mind.
2. I don’t know why but sometimes things just slip my mind.
3. There have been times when I did not remember what I went into the kitchen for.
3. There have been times when I did not remember what I went into the kitchen for.
B. I think it’s scientifically safe to say that the older you get the more reminders you need.
B. I think it’s scientifically safe to say that the older you get the more reminders you need.
1. Can I get a witness?
1. Can I get a witness?
2. Maybe I should just speak for myself.
2. Maybe I should just speak for myself.
3. I thank God for my wife because reminds me of things I need to remember
3. I thank God for my wife because reminds me of things I need to remember
4. Like, the trash needs to be taken out.
4. Like, the trash needs to be taken out.
5. Don’t overdraft the bank account.
5. Don’t overdraft the bank account.
6. Don’t forget to call so and so.
6. Don’t forget to call so and so.
C. I want to give you a reminder today.
C. I want to give you a reminder today.
1. A reminder, not just to benefit you, but to benefit others too.
1. A reminder, not just to benefit you, but to benefit others too.
II. Easter is Coming Up in Just Two Weeks.
II. Easter is Coming Up in Just Two Weeks.
A. It seems like the year just started and we’re already two weeks from Easter!
A. It seems like the year just started and we’re already two weeks from Easter!
1. As you know, Easter is a big day in the church world.
1. As you know, Easter is a big day in the church world.
2. it’s a day we celebrate our living Lord.
2. it’s a day we celebrate our living Lord.
3. Because He is alive!
3. Because He is alive!
4. We serve and love a living person
4. We serve and love a living person
5. We know this because we know in whom we believe, our resin savour, Jesus Christ.
5. We know this because we know in whom we believe, our resin savour, Jesus Christ.
6. But Easter gives the resurrected Jesus a new Emphasis.
6. But Easter gives the resurrected Jesus a new Emphasis.
B. Easter is a big day in the church for another reason.
B. Easter is a big day in the church for another reason.
1. Easter is one of those days when people who may not have gone to church at all that year, will come to church on Easter.
1. Easter is one of those days when people who may not have gone to church at all that year, will come to church on Easter.
2. Did you know that people tend to attend church on Easter more than any other day of the year.
2. Did you know that people tend to attend church on Easter more than any other day of the year.
3. Maybe it’s just tradition.
3. Maybe it’s just tradition.
4. However, the focus of Eater is about transformation not tradition.
4. However, the focus of Eater is about transformation not tradition.
5. It’s about being spiritually transformed into the resurrected life of Jesus christ.
5. It’s about being spiritually transformed into the resurrected life of Jesus christ.
C. So I want our church to begin having an Easter focus today.
C. So I want our church to begin having an Easter focus today.
1. What do you mean pastor “an Eater focus?”
1. What do you mean pastor “an Eater focus?”
2. I mean, having a focus on those not here today.
2. I mean, having a focus on those not here today.
3. A focus on those who have never been here before.
3. A focus on those who have never been here before.
4. Our family who needs Jesus.
4. Our family who needs Jesus.
5. Our friends who need Jesus
5. Our friends who need Jesus
D. We may feel secure in our relationship with Jesus.
D. We may feel secure in our relationship with Jesus.
1. If we’re saved, secure.
1. If we’re saved, secure.
2. Sure, we still have problems.
2. Sure, we still have problems.
3. Life is still tough.
3. Life is still tough.
4. But our eternity is still secure.
4. But our eternity is still secure.
5. We are complete because of our salvation in Jesus.
5. We are complete because of our salvation in Jesus.
6. And we have everything we need in Jesus.
6. And we have everything we need in Jesus.
E. So, I would like for us to do something radical this morning.
E. So, I would like for us to do something radical this morning.
1. Let’s do something radical for the next two weeks.
1. Let’s do something radical for the next two weeks.
2. Let’s take our complete focus and sole focus of ourselves.
2. Let’s take our complete focus and sole focus of ourselves.
3. Because we’re OK, in Jesus.
3. Because we’re OK, in Jesus.
4. But there are those who are not.
4. But there are those who are not.
5. Sometimes we lose sight of the need of our family and friends who don’t know Jesus.
5. Sometimes we lose sight of the need of our family and friends who don’t know Jesus.
F. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of where Jesus has brought us.
F. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of where Jesus has brought us.
1. Paul wrote Titus and told him to remind the church in Crete what Jesus had done for them.
1. Paul wrote Titus and told him to remind the church in Crete what Jesus had done for them.
2. Here is what Titus was to remind them of—
2. Here is what Titus was to remind them of—
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
3. We need to be reminded from time to time where we have come from.
3. We need to be reminded from time to time where we have come from.
4. When we remember where we’ve come from, maybe it will help us see the urgent need of our family and friends who are still where we were.
4. When we remember where we’ve come from, maybe it will help us see the urgent need of our family and friends who are still where we were.
So, Titus 3:1-7 gives us —
III. A Reminder of Who We Were.
III. A Reminder of Who We Were.
A. Before we were saved, this is what we looked liked through the Eyes of God.
A. Before we were saved, this is what we looked liked through the Eyes of God.
1. We were foolish.
1. We were foolish.
2. We were going our own way.
2. We were going our own way.
3. We were not willing to admit and submit to the gospel truth.
3. We were not willing to admit and submit to the gospel truth.
4. The way and the wisdom of the world seemed to us the right way.
4. The way and the wisdom of the world seemed to us the right way.
B. We were even disobedient
B. We were even disobedient
1. Being disobedient involves choice.
1. Being disobedient involves choice.
2. When we had the opportunity to chose God’s ways, we rejected God’s ways.
2. When we had the opportunity to chose God’s ways, we rejected God’s ways.
C. We were deceived.
C. We were deceived.
1. We followed the deceptive ways of the world.
1. We followed the deceptive ways of the world.
2. We chased after various lust and pleasures.
2. We chased after various lust and pleasures.
3. We were prisoners to our own urges, wants and needs.
3. We were prisoners to our own urges, wants and needs.
4. And we could not free ourselves.
4. And we could not free ourselves.
D. We were also living with malice and envy.
D. We were also living with malice and envy.
1. We were hateful towards another person.
1. We were hateful towards another person.
2. We sought revenge against another person.
2. We sought revenge against another person.
3. When did bad things to others because we did not like the them.
3. When did bad things to others because we did not like the them.
E. Does this remind you of somebody?
E. Does this remind you of somebody?
1. This was you and I at one time.
1. This was you and I at one time.
2. If you find yourself frustrated with your family and friends, remember you were just like them.
2. If you find yourself frustrated with your family and friends, remember you were just like them.
3. Remember this is were you were.
3. Remember this is were you were.
So, this is also—
IV. A Reminder of Who Changed Our Lives.
IV. A Reminder of Who Changed Our Lives.
A. “But When...”
A. “But When...”
1. Titus 3:3 says—
1. Titus 3:3 says—
3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
2. But verses 4;5 says—
2. But verses 4;5 says—
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
B. We weren’t changed by our works of righteousness.
B. We weren’t changed by our works of righteousness.
1. Whoever we were and what ever we did had no bearing on what God did.
1. Whoever we were and what ever we did had no bearing on what God did.
2. Our best efforts and our best living had no effect on what God did.
2. Our best efforts and our best living had no effect on what God did.
C. It was God’s love and God’s kindness and God’s mercy that saved us.
C. It was God’s love and God’s kindness and God’s mercy that saved us.
1. The word “kindness” here is where we get the word “philanthropy” — “Love of people.”
1. The word “kindness” here is where we get the word “philanthropy” — “Love of people.”
2. God loves us.
2. God loves us.
3. He had mercy on us.
3. He had mercy on us.
4. We didn’t get what we deserved for the life we used to lived.
4. We didn’t get what we deserved for the life we used to lived.
D. God’s love and mercy is still available.
D. God’s love and mercy is still available.
1. God was patient with you and I when He brought us to Jesus.
1. God was patient with you and I when He brought us to Jesus.
2. He didn’t stop with you I.
2. He didn’t stop with you I.
3. And let me remind you that He’s still a God of love and kindness and mercy.
3. And let me remind you that He’s still a God of love and kindness and mercy.
4. Your friends, neighbors and family are not outside the reach of God.
4. Your friends, neighbors and family are not outside the reach of God.
5. Think of were you were and God reached out to you.
5. Think of were you were and God reached out to you.
6. God is still reaching out to people today.
6. God is still reaching out to people today.
7. He is still preparing peoples hearts to receive salvation in Jesus christ.
7. He is still preparing peoples hearts to receive salvation in Jesus christ.
8. In Titus 3:1 we are reminded to “to be ready for every good work”
8. In Titus 3:1 we are reminded to “to be ready for every good work”
9. One of those good works is being a witness unto Jesus Christ for the work of salvation.
9. One of those good works is being a witness unto Jesus Christ for the work of salvation.
This is—
V. A Reminder of Who We Are Now.
V. A Reminder of Who We Are Now.
A. We have been regenerated.
A. We have been regenerated.
1. We weren’t just fixed up.
1. We weren’t just fixed up.
2. We weren’t just cleaned up.
2. We weren’t just cleaned up.
3. God didn’t just repair us.
3. God didn’t just repair us.
4. He made us new.
4. He made us new.
5. He gave us a new heart and a new life.
5. He gave us a new heart and a new life.
6. We are not who we used to be.
6. We are not who we used to be.
7. We’er Children of God.
7. We’er Children of God.
B. We are justified by His grace.
B. We are justified by His grace.
1. We have been made right by God’s grace.
1. We have been made right by God’s grace.
2. What we could not do on our own, God did for us.
2. What we could not do on our own, God did for us.
3. He justified us.
3. He justified us.
4. We have been granted a pardon from the life we us to live.
4. We have been granted a pardon from the life we us to live.
C. We are heirs of eternal life.
C. We are heirs of eternal life.
1. This is God’s ultimate goal in saving us.
1. This is God’s ultimate goal in saving us.
2. To give us eternal life.
2. To give us eternal life.
3. God desires that everyone live forever in heaven with Him.
3. God desires that everyone live forever in heaven with Him.
4. John 3:16 says—
4. John 3:16 says—
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
5. 2 Pet 3:9 says—
5. 2 Pet 3:9 says—
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
6. God wants to share eternity with us and with our family and friends.
6. God wants to share eternity with us and with our family and friends.
That’s why we need to—
VI. Remember Who We Were Before We Got Saved.
VI. Remember Who We Were Before We Got Saved.
A. None of us looked like a prime candidate for God’s love.
A. None of us looked like a prime candidate for God’s love.
1. But He saved you because of His love for you.
1. But He saved you because of His love for you.
2. Rom 5:8 says—
2. Rom 5:8 says—
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
B. Let’s remember that He is still saving people today.
B. Let’s remember that He is still saving people today.
1. He is still saving family members and friends.
1. He is still saving family members and friends.
2. And it may be you He uses to introduce them to God’s loving salvation in Jesus Christ.
2. And it may be you He uses to introduce them to God’s loving salvation in Jesus Christ.
3. This coming Easter my be a good time for us to introduce someone to God’s love.
3. This coming Easter my be a good time for us to introduce someone to God’s love.