God's Public Service Announcement
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A word to the wise
A word to the wise
introduction
A Word to the Wise
Titus 2:11-13 esv
Since God has graced us with salvation, remain Godly and renounce ungodliness.
Renounce Ungodliness v.12
Remain Self-controlled v.12
Rejoice In Hope v. 13
Titus has been a great read for us, a couple of verses a day. . . but powerfully changing our hearts and minds to understand the truth of God’s words.
In this short book; Paul has given words of encouragement to Old men and Old women. . . young men and women. Wise words to help us walk through life with confidence and assurance of God’s faithfulness.
Before he jumps into the ungodly passions that many times overtake us. . Paul reminds us of the salvation offered to ALL people!
He says specifically, “for the grace of God has appeared...... bringing salvation to all people.
It is amazing that we have this reminder this week, just a few short days since we celebrated the resurrection of Christ- Christ has appeared and at the close of our time today we will be reminded that He will appear again!!
It is this blessed salvation the Bible speaks of in the Old testament that was to come. .. The salvation we see living in the Gospels. . . Jesus Christ.
This message of hope Paul tells us in ephesians 3 . . . it was a mystery not revealed in previous generations.
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
This is great news and this is what trains us to Renounce what’s evil.
Renounce
Renounce
Ungodliness and worldly passions
1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit Saying No (v. 12a)
First, Paul says that that grace “teaches us to say ‘No’ to [the nuance is to renounce on an ongoing basis] ungodliness and worldly passions.” “Ungodliness” is a reference to the Christian’s conduct—or, in this negative phrasing, his misconduct.
we are to reflect the grace of God in our outward actions and our inward sensibilities!
Ungodliness- is mostly what people can visibly see
Worldly passions- mostly what people can’t see. It’s what happens in our mind and in our hearts. The impulses, appetites, desires
its similar to what 1 John tells us
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
desires in the text is the greek word epedimia (39 times its used in scripture- only once is used positively)
There is no question that sexual compulsions are included in the term, but there is also concern about anger, hatred, ambition, and other urges that result in uncontrolled speech or behavior.
why renounce ungodliness?
2 peter 3:7 “7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
Jude 1:4 “4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”
1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit Saying No (v. 12a)
When we have seen God clearly in the appearance of his grace, we have an intense awareness of our unholiness
examples of ungodliness
over-indulgence in whatever
sexual immorality of all kinds
systems of this world that are against the Gospel of Jesus
greed
lust
self-centeredness
unfaithfulness
praise be to God for dying for the ungodly.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 4:5 “5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,”
If we are going to live for God and save this society we must Renounce ungodliness and worldly passions
and
Remain
Remain
Self-controlled and godly
self controlled-These first two of the positive terms are about control of passions (i.e., righteous constraint on one’s own impulses)
Upright-uprightness (i.e., righteous conduct in dealing with others).
1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit Living Yes (v. 12b)
If being a Christian only involved self-control over our passions and “upright” behavior before others, we might get the idea that the Christian life was only a matter of living according to certain rules or performing in an acceptable way
So paul says. . Godly to remind us that we need God to help us.
We can’t do it on our own. . we need the Lord to Guide our footsteps . . be a lamp to my feet and a light to my pathway.
We are to depend on God!!!!!
If we are going to live for God and save this society we must Renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, live Godly and finally
Rejoice
Rejoice
in the Hope of the appearing of our saviour
we rejoice now and later
we rejoice now and will rejoice at his glorious appearing.
Paul says that grace teaches us to live so as to honor God “in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (vv. 12c, 13). We are not allowed to say that in this age of grace there are no standards for us to follow.
Godliness remains our obligation until Jesus returns.
The future grace of Christ’s return, when his “glorious appearing” will mark our deliverance (see earlier discussion of “appear” in v. 11) from the evil and suffering of this world, is also identified here as “the blessed hope.”
scriptures that speak of this glorious hope:
rom 8:24 “24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?”
gal 5:5 “5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.”
col 1:5 “5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,”
27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.