S - Titus 2:1-3:8
Sermon on Living God's way
O-
(I just got an ESV study bible, so I will be using the online ESV bible too)
http://www.esvbible.org/search/titus+2/
4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, tpure, uworking at home, kind, and vsubmissive to their own husbands, wthat the word of God may not be reviled.
I guess this husband thing is not yet. We had a discussion at youth about it 2 weeks ago though, and that changed the way I thought about "submission".
I'd also definitely want to do all those things in v4-5 if that meant that the word of God was less likely to be reviled (Verb: Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner). Really hurts when that happens.
Self-control is mentioned many times in chapter 2. Whether its older men or women or younger men or women, all are to be self-controlled. (Though for older women, the v3 doesn't mention the word explicitly - "likewise are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine")
Paul condenses
v10- "doctrine of God our Savior"-->
11 For hthe grace of God ihas appeared, bringing salvation jfor all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and kworldly passions, and lto live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in mthe present age, 13 nwaiting for our blessed ohope, the pappearing of the glory of our great qGod and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 rwho gave himself for us to sredeem us from all lawlessness and tto purify for himself ta people for his own possession who are uzealous for good works.
All of that depends on God's grace, which he gave to us.
Only if we are people of God's grace, can we be these things. If Jesus is the centre of our lives, grace is the centre of our lives.
The Gospel
3 For cwe 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 dthe goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, enot because of works done by us in righteousness, but faccording to his own mercy, by gthe washing of regeneration andhrenewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he ipoured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so thatjbeing justified by his grace we might become kheirs laccording to the hope of eternal life.
Again, His grace is the key. Not our righteousness or works.
--> Judgement is what we deserve, grace is what we do not deserve from God.
3:3 - sin is: Even if God is God, I'll live my way. (sermon notes had something to wake me up - Our quiet rebellion that has no public face and no social stigma is still dangerous sin. Us going about our middle class lives with our own middle class dreams.)
And if we understand salvation, we understand that Jesus lived a life of grace. We should act like how we understand Jesus is God's grace to us, and he took our rebellious lives. and he took God's condemnation for it.
Salvation is not saying "please save me, please forgive me" to God, but "thank you - for giving me Jesus, that jesus has saved me completely. Thank you that I am born again".
He forgave and saved us and changed our lives (not just forgiven!) - v7 "become heirs according to the hope of eternal life"
8 The saying ismtrustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful nto devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
False teachings -->
9 Butoavoid foolish pcontroversies, qgenealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for rthey are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, safter warning him once and then twice, thave nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
If Jesus is no longer the centre of our lives and our teaching, then God's grace is no longer in the centre. Then there is no truth! Our relationship with God depends on a true knowledge of God.
Sermon notes - Christians and "churches" can displace Christ and the Cross and be man-centred in many ways.
Can be morality-centred (do lots of good social work, believe you are good and moral without Christ),
prosperity-centred (if you want to be rich, claim it!),
problem-centred (all about solving problems for people),
growth-centred (growth could be a cover up for the unconverted need for achievement),
religion-centred (all the religious and spiritual activities make people FEEL holy),
holy ambiance-centred (e.g. nice church building...)
All this escapes the confrontation of our sin and our need for Jesus.
Paul says to avoid these things.
A - Say no to rebellion because of Jesus. We say no by his Spirit, and by grace. Grace "trains" us to say no to ungodliness. It's no longer about me ruling myself, what I want, when and how I want. but my Christian life by grace, to continue by grace, and end by grace.
Our motivation is Christ - his two appearings.
Our confidence is - It is done - to thank God.
Don't say "no" to human rebellion by human effort in spiritual routine - fasting, confession etc, BUT say "no" to rebellion in submission to Jesus.
By human effort, we are only suppressing sinfulness. It is not the end to sin.
Be self-controlled towards myself! - under Jesus' control. Be upright towards others. Change in my relationships within God's household - because God saved us.
There's something wrong if we are no longer amazed by grace, by Jesus, when we think "maybe I'm not such a rebel, it's not my problem" We have displaced Jesus from the centre.
Christ may not be the centre if I believe in God to make me achieve, be properous, or solve my problems. Then the centre of my life is the problem, morality, prosperity, or achievement.
P - Make Christ the centre of my life, truly. So that the Holy Spirit can put my sin to death, for it is by grace not by our own righteousness or works. Then I can be self-controlled, and upright towards others.
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