Motivated by God's Rescue

Intro: Past, present, future

Titus 3:3–7 ESV

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Courtesy toward all people - humility toward them because

A Hopeless State v 3:3

Titus 3:3 ESV

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Sin deceives, - Makes us think we are brilliant when we really aren’t - Foolish - life lived without that understanding of GOd is the dumbest thing I could do.

disobeys, - Believes that we know better abd have a better life

distracts - it leads us away.

dictates, - enslaves and captures us Pursuing my sin is actually slavery.

desires, - various passions and pleasures outside of God’s good boundaries

deletes - passing away our days - frittering them away

detests, - malice and envy - anyone who gets in our way or has what we want - including God

destroys - relationships - if I pursue sin long enough it destroys me and all of my relationships.

Humility - this is who we were. This is the dark background to which the gospel unfolds in front of.

Picture of sinful humanity (what I was)

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus In the past We Harmed Others (Titus 3:3)

Charles Spurgeon reminds us: “Do not let me talk about these things this morning while you listen to me without feeling. I want you to be turning over the pages of your old life and joining with Paul and the rest of us in our sad confession of former pleasure in evil”

God Arrives v 3:4

Titus 3:4 ESV

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,

The Divine but now

In light of our helplessness - that is when God sent Jesus. That is when he was loving and kind. That is when he appeared.

How did he appear? The most anticipated Christmas of all time.

God’s goodness and lovingkindness appeared in the person of Jesus.

The Result of Rescue v 3:5-7

Titus 3:5–7 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Grace & Mercy

Grace - Rescue is not something we pay for. It is something that is done to us. It is not something we schedule.

Saved us - Not by our works - on my best day, I could not earn salvation.

Mercy - He withheld the wrath that we deserved and by

Regeneration & Renewal

This Think more John 3 Than baptism Though baptism does picture this reality publically.

Regeneration - New birth. being brought from death to life.

Washing, renewal - Ezek36:25-27

Ezekiel 36:25–27 ESV

25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Riches of God through Christ

Titus 3:6 ESV

6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

The access point for the goodness and lovingkindness and riches of God given to us is only Jesus. It is poured richly through Christ.

Think of the richness

In Christ I am

Forgiven, Rescued, Reconciled with God, Redeemed, Free, Bought with a price, belong to God, Known by God, Chosen, Justified, accepted, alive saved, a new creature, adopted of God, Child of the promise, citizen of heaven, freind of God, God’s workmanship, temple of the Holy spirit, member of Christ’s body, sealed, pure, secure, safe, vicorious, going to live forever, an heir of all creation,

Justified Heirs

Titus 3:7 ESV

7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Justified - To be declared righteous.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: How to Have a Healthy Church (Titus 2–3)

Justification is the gracious act of God whereby He declares a believing sinner righteous because of the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Heir - Inheritance -

Hope Eternally

Triune nature -