“Our Biblical Worldview” (11): 12/19/2021

First Baptist Church Leominster

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

00:23

The remaining portion of Luke's infancy narrative Luke chapter 2 25

00:30

Through 52 and then he'll pray for us Luke 2 22

00:47

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses They brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the

00:55

Lord as it is written in the law of the Lord Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the

01:01

Lord And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons

01:09

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the

01:17

Holy Spirit was upon him and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the

01:24

Lord's Christ and He came in the Spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child

01:31

Jesus To do for him according to the custom of the law He took him up in his arms and blessed

01:36

God and said Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples a light for revelation to the

01:50

Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel and His father and his mother marveled at what was said about him and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother

02:01

Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel For a sign that is opposed and a sword will piece through pierce through your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed and There was a prophetess

02:18

Anna the daughter of Faneuil of the tribe of Asher She was advanced in years having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin and then as a widow until she

02:29

Was 84 she did not depart from the temple worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day

02:36

Coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who are waiting for the the redemption of Jerusalem and When they had performed everything according to the law of the

02:49

Lord they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth and the child grew and became strong filled with wisdom and The favor of God was upon him now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the

03:04

Passover and when he was 12 years old they went up according to custom and When the feast was ended as they were returning the boy

03:12

Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem His parents did not know it But supposing him to be in the group

03:19

They went a day's journey But they when they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances and when they did not find him

03:26

They returned to Jerusalem searching for him After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers listening to them and asking them questions and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers and Was his parents saw him they were astonished and his mother said to him son

03:44

Why have you treated us? So behold your father and I have been searching for you in great distress And he said to them.

03:51

Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my father's house? and they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them and he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them and his mother treasured up all these things in her heart and Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man

04:13

Let's pray Our Heavenly Father We are so very thankful for the incarnation of Christ We're thankful for his birth.

04:26

We're thankful for his life We're thankful Lord that it serves as a pattern that we must follow as we yield ourselves to the

04:34

Spirit of God We pray Lord that we would better understand the incarnation of Christ that we would think it through Every day we pray

04:42

Lord that we would live in light of this glorious truth And we pray Lord that you would help us in our understanding of it

04:48

Help us in our standing of the scriptures, especially as now we go and listen to this sermon that is preached we ask

04:56

Lord that you would take this truth and Take it from our ears and put it deep within our hearts.

05:02

Help us to live these things out We ask Lord that you would be merciful and gracious to us now as we hear your word

05:08

Thank you in Jesus name. Amen Well, let's turn in our

05:19

Bibles, please to Titus chapter 3 You see

05:28

Aidan and Lynn you're with us today. Welcome Did you bring Max with you? Oh, he's right there

05:37

Sleeping and I haven't even started preaching yet. So I Mean good to have you up here

05:46

Today we want to give our attention to God's Word recorded for us in Titus chapter 3 and the first eight verses

05:57

Paul's epistle to Titus is the third of three pastoral epistles that we find in our

06:02

New Testament The first two pastorals were written to Timothy first and second

06:09

Timothy In which Paul instructed and equipped Timothy for his pastoral work that was to commence in the church at Ephesus In this epistle of Titus Paul gave instruction to this young man

06:26

To represent him in establishing and organizing churches on the island of Crete Paul commissioned

06:34

Titus to appoint elders over the churches as we see in chapter 1 verse 5

06:40

These elders were to be godly and faithful men who would proclaim and promote the faithful word as they had been taught

06:49

These men must be capable of defending and promoting the Word of God when withstanding those who would contradict its teaching and In his pastoral work

07:00

Titus would encounter difficult and persistent opposition From corrupt and greedy men whose mouths must be stopped to subvert whole households teaching things

07:11

Which they ought not for the sake of dishonest gain The ministry often is accompanied with conflict in different forms

07:23

Titus was to instruct the people of the churches in sound doctrine as we read in chapter 2 verse 1

07:30

But he was to do so to the end that they would be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience.

07:38

In other words Titus was to teach the people rightly so that they might live rightly

07:45

Good doctrines should produce good living. That's the end. That's the purpose and Paul exhorted

07:53

Titus that in all things he was to show forth himself as to be a pattern of good works in Doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned

08:07

He was to do this so that an opponent may be ashamed having nothing evil to say of him

08:14

And so Titus was to live an exemplary life Consistent with the faith

08:22

Now beginning in chapter 3 we read of Paul's instruction to Titus of specific matters

08:28

That he was to teach the people of the churches of Crete And so Titus 3 verse 1 reads remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities to obey

08:41

To be ready for every good work to speak evil of no one to be peaceable gentle Showing all humility to all men and of course that's generic all people

08:56

And so Titus was to promote civility and decency care and courtesy to all people for all people and Then after verses 1 & 2 beginning with verse 3

09:10

Titus gives the reason why Christians Should have a compassionate benevolence toward all people

09:19

Verse 3 for we ourselves were also once foolish disobedient deceived

09:24

Serving various lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another

09:31

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness

09:37

Which we have done, but according to his mercy. He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the

09:45

Holy Spirit Whom he poured out upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior that having been justified by his grace

09:53

We should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life that is one of Paul's characteristic long sentences and Then the

10:06

Apostle closed his word of instruction to Titus By affirming a foundational truth of the

10:13

Christian faith, and he wrote these words in verse 8 This is a faithful saying and these things.

10:20

I want you to affirm constantly That those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works

10:28

These things are good and profitable to men. We seem to be living in an increasingly hostile and hardened world

10:39

The general tenor and demeanor of people seems to be deteriorating and degenerating toward rudeness and unkindness

10:48

Insensitivity and coarseness Hardness and disregard for the well -being of others this is not to say that our present generation is worse than others have been in the past because Down through human history sin has erupted in most societies at different times in different degrees to greater degrees

11:10

But I think it's apparent that our world has been moving in this sad direction in recent history

11:17

The Christians are to be of a different demeanor And are to be distinguishable from the people of the world

11:27

Christians are not to be harsh or hardened stingy or miserly insensitive or unsympathetic

11:34

We are to desire the general well -being of all people everywhere We are to be gentle kind and loving toward all

11:46

This may and should distinguish us from the fallen people of the world Should commend us

11:53

And our message of salvation through Jesus Christ to the world The world which is diametrically opposed to us

12:01

And to our lord This is an important aspect of our biblical world view

12:08

The series to which we are addressing This should govern our thinking

12:15

It should shape our values and opinions. It should direct our living. Christians are to be a kind and caring people

12:24

Christians are to be characterized as peaceable approachable kind courteous Genuinely concerned for the well -being of all people everywhere

12:35

And so let's consider and reflect upon the Christians heart for all people everywhere

12:42

Christians have benevolence toward all people Christians desire the well -being of the human race.

12:47

This is how we should be. This is what our Christian nature Has within us.

12:57

God created this within us when we became Christians Now we'll consider this by Examining the meaning of the words and statements of our passage titus one through eight

13:10

And then we'll speak a few words of application And so let's first consider a few words of instruction

13:17

This is the word of god As we look over these first eight verses of titus three we can discern three divisions

13:26

Verses one and two we read of the gracious nature and merciful ways That should characterize god's people

13:34

And then in verses four through seven we read why it is that Christians should be this way And the reason is of course because god has been so gracious in his dealings with us who've experienced salvation in jesus christ

13:48

So we should have the same attitude and behavior toward others in the world And then lastly thirdly verse eight contains this faithful word that we should all take to heart

14:01

And so let's first consider verses one and two Christians are to be characterized by a gentle spirit

14:07

With a sincere desire for the well -being for all people everywhere Paul instructed titus

14:16

Of what he was to teach the christians in the churches on crete He wrote in verses in one and two remind them.

14:23

This is a command that paul gave to titus Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities

14:28

To obey to be ready for every good work to speak evil of no one to be peaceable

14:34

Gentle showing all humility to all men all people Notice titus was to remind them

14:44

To remind them to be good law -abiding citizens Willing to assist others in any way and at any time there was opportunity

14:53

They were to be kind and gentle Humble before all desiring the well -being of all people

15:02

Again, we see that titus was to remind these christians of these things This suggests that they were already this way or had been taught these things

15:13

Christians are normally of this nature for the grace of god and christ has made them to be so They don't necessarily need to be taught these things anew.

15:24

They need to be reminded of these things The true christian is characterized by a recognition of legitimate authority human authority whether it be in the family the church or the civil society government

15:39

For the lord has instilled in the christian a spirit of compliance toward authority But this is coupled with the desire to serve others

15:48

Christians are generally ready for every kind of good work They'll tend to be people characterized as peaceable and gentle And of a humble spirit before others

15:59

Again, this is what characterizes the new nature of a true christian But just as these christians on crete needed to be reminded of these things

16:09

So all christians need to be reminded of these things. Do we not? Certainly we do

16:17

You and I are in need of exhortation to reset ourselves to think And live in this way so that these character qualities are manifested in our daily lives

16:30

The hardness of the world and the deceitfulness of sin within our own souls will have a negative influence even on the best of christians

16:40

And so we need to be reminded of scriptural truth to correct us and reset us In the way that we are to be living as christians in the world

16:49

And paul commissioned commanded titus you teach these things to these people on crete these christians in the churches

17:00

This task of titus reminding the people speaks of the need for repetition Of teaching for the reinforcement of instruction and principles.

17:09

They should characterize christians There are some who only want to hear things that are new.

17:15

They're like the philosophers on mars hill. We should not be that way We should be willing to hear and receive things.

17:23

We've already known to be reminded of them and reinforced in them And so there's a need of reminding peter had written to his people in for in second peter his practice of repeating truth

17:41

Of bringing to remembrance to christians of faith They should believe in practice and so he wrote these words in second peter 1 12 and following For this reason

17:50

I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things Notice he would have been negligent to fail to do so He said even though you know and are established in the present truth

18:04

They already knew it but they needed to be reminded of these things and he says i'm going to see to it that I do remind you

18:11

And yes, I think it's right as long as i'm in this tent that is in his Body the tent in which his soul dwelled in this world

18:19

As long as i'm in this tent, I think it's right to stir you up by reminding you

18:26

It was going to be an ongoing practice Knowing that shortly

18:32

I must put off my tent. He was anticipating his soon martyrdom perhaps Just as our lord.

18:38

Jesus christ showed me the lord revealed to peter At the end of the gospel of john that he would die a violent death

18:46

And then peter wrote moreover. I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease

18:55

And so peter had been writing these christians about the important matters of salvation including God having elected them and graciously called them to salvation

19:04

And that they have a responsibility to live holy lives before god with view to the second coming of christ

19:11

And peter then said That he would always remind them of these things even though they were established in their knowledge of them

19:18

He purposed to always be reminded of them of these truths In fact, he declared he'd see to it that even after he died.

19:26

He'd make sure that They would be reminded of these things and of course

19:34

Second peter itself being scripture Has continued to be an abiding word to christians for the last 2 000 years

19:43

Peter was true to his word. He would see to it after his death That he'd be reminding these people of the importance of these matters

19:52

And so paul told titus to do what peter would be doing Titus needed to remind the people of god of certain spiritual truths and responsibilities

20:01

Titus you remind these people of these things Well, let's consider what it is

20:08

That god wanted to remind his people through titus What matters would god want to remind us that we be faithful and fruitful in our work with him or walk with him?

20:21

And so first we are to be reminded to speak evil of no one This is quite a challenge for the christian in an evil hostile world.

20:32

Is it not? For there's much evil and many evil people about us and so there are some of us perhaps all of us that need to be

20:40

Reminded of this don't speak evil of anyone Perhaps though you have read and you've been taught about speaking evil of no one.

20:51

Nevertheless, maybe it's been a problem for you Some people tend to be rather negative in their general outlook and assessment of things and people

21:00

Rather than giving the benefit of the doubt they seem to doubt the benefit of most everything and they'll let you know

21:09

But all in any of us may slip into this way of thinking and and behaving Maybe you've been out of the word of god for a while You've neglected the means of grace that daily quiet time with the lord, which is so important and essential for a consistent godly life

21:27

And then something or someone irritates you and you immediately respond by saying something very negative perhaps even evil

21:36

Regarding the person or the persons that annoyed you Titus remind them to speak evil of no one

21:46

Some need to be reminded frequently of this word of instruction for they transgress this law of christ repeatedly

21:53

Some rather than speaking evil of no one have a tendency to speak evil of most everyone This should not be done each of us

22:04

Know that we should not do this, but we do it anyway And so we're in need of being reminded that this is wrong and it displeases the lord

22:14

When you speak evil of others Secondly we are to be reminded to be peaceable

22:21

The english standard version reads that we are to avoid quarreling The new american standard version says something similar that we are to be uncontentious

22:35

All christians should be this way, but it's actually a requirement for a pastor A Man who is quarrelsome is disqualified from the ministry

22:46

And I think we probably all know some that Have been of this type

22:52

Some people seem to revel in debate There are more of a contentious spirit than a peaceable spirit and there are some that must

23:01

Seem to always have to give the last word on anything and everything I when

23:09

I put that statement in my notes I was reminded of an occurrence years ago

23:14

When I was much younger I recall pressing my views upon a friend our neighbor who had come to christ dean nice guy

23:23

I could sense he was somewhat put off by my insistent manner because I was pressing upon him my view or my understanding of something

23:32

And I could see he was a little bit irritated And so I I thought to soften my words a bit by saying dean

23:38

Just ask for my opinion about anything and i'll give it to you And he responded me just bang

23:46

Loris, you give me your opinion about everything whether I ask you or not We were good friends by the way

23:54

People with strong convictions will often be ones who express their strong opinions

24:02

And there is a place and time to do so But we don't need to win every argument To give forth the final word in every conversation

24:11

And yet some are that way We are to be peaceable Thirdly, we are to be reminded we are reminded to be gentle Well, let's consider who it was that set forth this reminder for christians

24:27

Paul is telling titus you teach these people to be gentle This was paul

24:33

Known as saul of tarsus Who was once anything but gentle?

24:42

Before his conversion he was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the lord Acts chapter 9 verse 1

24:49

He sought authority to arrest christians and take them bound to jerusalem. But upon his conversion his character was transformed

24:58

And he could later appeal to the gentle manner in which he administered to the lord's people

25:03

Formally, he was arresting them even murdering some of them and then he could write to the church at thessalonica

25:10

We were gentle among you Just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children and so affectionately longing for you

25:19

We were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of god But also our own lives because you had become dear to us

25:31

Paul had actually taught that all servants of the lord should be characterized by gentleness

25:39

And A servant of the lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all able to teach patient in humility correcting those who are in opposition if god perhaps

25:48

Will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth And that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil having been taken captive by him to do his will

26:00

And paul was instructing timothy on how to deal with christians Who were deceived and caught up in this manner

26:10

Really by the grace of god Paul had become gentle hadn't he in his dealings with the people of god

26:16

He became gentle just as god himself is gentle Hear the words of god in the prophecy of hosea

26:26

When israel was a child, I loved him and out of egypt. I called my son speaking of the exodus

26:32

I taught aphraim another word for another name for israel I taught aphraim to walk taking them by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them.

26:42

I drew them with gentle cords with bands of love And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck

26:51

He released them from slavery from bondage. I stooped and fed them That's how god is he's gentle toward us toward his people

27:01

And of course we know the lord jesus himself the son of god was characterized by gentleness

27:07

Children and even great sinners felt they could come unto him And that he would receive them

27:14

Jesus described himself in this way come to me all you who labor or heavy laden

27:19

I will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn from me. Why? For I am gentle And lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls god is gentle His son jesus is gentle Paul told titus you teach those christians on crete to be gentle And he would remind us we are to be gentle folk

27:47

That should be a quality a character quality of us as christians rather than a hardness and a coarseness

27:58

We are to be gentle and then fourthly we're to be reminded to be showing all humility to all men

28:07

The king james version reads showing all meekness to all men The esv reads to show perfect courtesy toward all people

28:17

We're to be polite courteous the new english translation a

28:24

Common internet translation renders paul's words showing complete courtesy to all people

28:31

There is an increasingly an absence of civility and courtesy in the world Just drive right down the road and you see it in traffic.

28:39

Don't you? impatience a lack of civility But sadly this can often be seen in churches

28:47

Christians need to be reminded to be humble and courteous to all people even those who may be rude and arrogant toward you

28:55

That doesn't give you a license to respond in kind We're to overcome evil with good a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger

29:07

It's common for us Today to receive many unsolicited Telephone calls and these are irritating

29:19

And though we don't need to be courteous to a recording which most of them are We can certainly be courteous to a living person who has that miserable job of calling people.

29:28

I sympathize with them And sometimes they sound pretty mechanical One day

29:35

I I you know, I always ask the question is this a recording I want to know right at the outset

29:41

If it is I just hang up. I don't feel like i'm being rude And the guy responded am I that bad?

29:51

We had a nice conversation he's living in florida I was to comment and say you must have a miserable job

29:57

And so we had a nice nice visit on the on the phone. We ought to be courteous to people there have been times in history usually due to the influence of godliness wrought in a culture by Or pardon me

30:17

There have been times in history usually due to the influence of godliness wrought in a culture by the mercy and grace of god

30:23

When people were more civil more decent and courteous than at other times i've often referred to my mother

30:30

She's 94 now living in sacramento area But during the war world war ii she was in san francisco and she always commented

30:41

You would not see a decent woman on the sidewalk in san francisco without a hat and gloves on 1940 san francisco

30:51

And today you got to watch your step even walking on the sidewalks in san francisco. I mean what a what a change in society and culture

31:03

I was recently organizing my many pdf electronic books I have several thousand of them on my computer and I came across a book written by mrs henry mackerness entitled etiquette for little folks published in 1856

31:19

And it was about six seven pages long She set down guidelines for polite and courteous behavior in the home at the table toward parents in school in the street with strangers toward superiors

31:30

And you just read a cursory reading of these instructions

31:37

Of the common courteous behavior just reveals how far And low our culture has become

31:45

Shouldn't be so with christians We are to be courteous Showing all humility to all people now.

31:54

We're not attempting to call Us back to old ways, but as christians we are simply To be very kind and courteous and polite to people

32:04

Our behavior will show itself to be distinct And might be perceived by others as godly and commendable

32:12

Today if you're just polite you're going to stand out in this world Kind and gentle and peaceable

32:22

Well now we come to verses three through seven and here We read that we should be reminded of these things as we reflect on god's gracious dealings with us

32:31

That we've experienced salvation in jesus christ. This is the reason for For what we read in verses one and two

32:39

Remind them to be this way why for We ourselves were also what's foolish disobedient deceived serving various lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful hating one another

32:52

When the kindness and the love of god our savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness, which we have done

32:58

But according to his mercy he saved us Through the washing of regeneration renewing of the holy spirit

33:04

Whom he poured out on us abundantly through jesus christ our savior that having been justified by his grace

33:10

We should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life the first word

33:18

In english the english text is the conjunction for It may be termed or identified as an explanatory conjunction in other words

33:29

It serves to introduce an explanatory sentence Here paul gave the reason

33:36

Why titus should remind the christians of the things that he just mentioned? The reason he gave is that there was a time when god had been gentle and kind toward us

33:46

Though we were in no way deserving Or even desiring his favor Paul declared that he and titus and perhaps implying other christians also were once completely different than What we have become due to the grace of god and bringing us salvation

34:06

Even when we were steeped in our sin god dealt with us gently bringing us the gospel of peace

34:11

Tenderly drawing us unto himself through jesus christ. Should we not so toward others about us?

34:19

And so verses one and two the reason we should be this way Is verses three and following?

34:26

This is how god Has been toward you First paul described sinners apart from the grace of god again verse three read for we ourselves were also once foolish disobedient deceived

34:40

Serving various lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another

34:45

This is what characterizes fallen people in the world Apart from the restraining common grace of god and his providence

34:54

And apart from the effectual transforming grace and bringing us salvation We would have continued in this way had god not stopped us arrested us by his mercy and his grace

35:06

Now granted there are kind and polite and caring people in the world who are not christian

35:12

Some cultures are more So than others But we recognize that the only reason they are so is due to the common grace of god and providence in their lives

35:22

Because if god were to turn them loose They would be exactly as paul described himself and titus and probably included us, too

35:33

Notice first we were foolish That is we were without clear understanding of ourselves

35:39

Or anything about us our whole world view Was skewed because our thinking and values had been corrupted by sin

35:47

We were ignorant of god and his ways and we were foolish in our perception of how god regarded us

35:53

Why we thought that he just so tenderly loved us and just wanted to cuddle us up to himself

36:01

We thought all too well of ourselves. We were foolish We were also disobedient each of us desired to be our own god

36:09

Jesus christ is lord and you and I are not But before we were converted we thought we were

36:17

We wanted to determine for ourselves what we wanted And what we wanted to do we were disobedient to the will of god to the word of god to the laws of god to god himself and often this disobedience

36:30

Was toward those in authority like our parents or our work supervisors or the government

36:38

Disobedient we were thirdly deceived We thought we saw things rightly as they truly were you read some of these comments to these articles and the arrogance and the

36:50

Claims and assertions and you just have to shake your head. It's incredible But the devil had deceived us when we were outside of christ.

37:00

The world had deceived us. We had deceived ourselves But we were ignorant of the deception that characterized us

37:09

And then we were serving various lusts Desires and pleasures.

37:14

That's what we lived for some of us We were slaves to these things. We thought we were free in doing those things

37:21

But actually we were slaves serving them as matthew henry wrote of this observe

37:27

Men deceived are easily entangled and ensnared They would not serve diverse lusts and pleasures as they do were they not blinded and beguiled into them

37:40

See here, too What a different notion the the word gives of a sensual and fleshly life from what the world generally has of it

37:47

Carnal people think they enjoy their pleasures the word calls it servitude and vassalage your slave

37:55

They are very drudges and bond slaves under them so far Are they from freedom and felicity faithfulness in them that are captivated by them and serve them as taskmasters and tyrants

38:08

Observe further it's the Misery of the servants of sin that they have many masters

38:15

One lust hurrying them one way another and another pride commands one thing covet just another and often a contrary

38:21

That vile slaves are sinners while they conceit themselves free. They think they're free

38:28

The pharisees said we've never been slave to anybody as they're under the yoke of rome

38:34

They're in jerusalem Jesus said no if you commit sin, you're a slave of sin

38:41

The devil is your master What vile slaves are sinners?

38:47

Well, they conceit themselves free the lusts that tempt them promise them liberty But in yielding they become the servants of corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same

38:57

He is brought into bondage as the scriptures say And we were living in malice and envy

39:05

It was as though we were in conflict with most everybody and everything about us We perhaps thought and felt nothing seems to be going right according to my will

39:16

But everything seems to be going right according to him and what she wants and so you envious And then you get angry malicious

39:24

They have something I deserve I want One could not be truly happy of another's good fortune for envy wanted it for oneself

39:35

Conflict sinful competition vying for greater prestige and superiority than others governs many people in the world

39:45

And lastly we were hateful and hating one another These are characteristics of people in whom or upon whom the grace of god has not been present or evident

39:57

Now again unsaved people may not these things might not be fully manifest in them But if god were to remove his common grace from them, they would rush into this

40:11

But then notice paul described god and his grace bringing us to salvation Verse 4 reads but when the kindness and the love of god

40:21

Our savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness, which we have done but according to his mercy.

40:26

He saved us By the way, this is one of the few times where paul speaks of salvation as having occurred in the past We have been saved

40:38

The context conveys this thought we are to be kind and loving toward others because god had been kind and loving toward us

40:47

There was nothing we could have done were doing or would do that moved god to save us from our wretched condition

40:54

It was wholly due to god's sovereign grace It was according to god's mercy and mercy by definition is god giving people freely what they don't deserve nobody

41:06

Deserves mercy That completely negates the whole meaning of mercy

41:16

Nevertheless god does bestow mercy In spite of the fact that we're unworthy and undeserving of the least of his favors

41:25

Well, how did he save us and paul gets into some? wonderful detail here First he speaks about the grace of regeneration

41:35

Secondly, he talks about the grace of justification faith The order here is important regeneration precedes faith

41:45

And so here we read of the manner that god saved us by his grace first we read that god saved us through the washing of regeneration

41:54

What is regeneration? It's the act of god in which he causes a soul who's spiritually dead to become spiritually alive

42:01

Capable of understanding desire and responding to the call of the gospel To regenerate is to be born again generate born reborn again regeneration

42:13

It is a work wholly of god's grace. No man can cause himself to be born again

42:18

Contrary to billy graham's book and not many other books, you know how to be born again the bible nowhere tells a person

42:26

Or prescribed steps to a person if you follow these steps you can become born again

42:33

Nowhere in the bible It declares you must be born again But you cannot bring about your own new birth.

42:41

It's an act of the sovereign grace of god No works you can do can give you a new heart

42:50

No fasting praying serving bowing giving sacrificing suffering promising walking talking confessing

42:56

Will bring about the breaking of the power of sin in your life It takes the free and sovereign work of god's grace to break the power of sin

43:06

Salvation is not giving your heart to jesus though. You hear that all the time The fact is that heart that father defray wicked heart is the worst possible thing you could offer god

43:18

It's desperately wicked Who knows it yet people are told that if you give your heart to jesus, he'll embrace you

43:28

That's not salvation Salvation is not you giving your heart to jesus salvation occurs when he gives you a new heart

43:38

It's god's work of grace and regeneration. He causes a spiritually dead person to come to spiritual life

43:44

Which results in that person repenting of his sin and placing his faith in jesus christ

43:50

Repentance and faith are the fruit of regeneration not the cause of it Regeneration cleanses a sinner of his sin notice it's the washing of regeneration

44:03

That's important most people don't See the nuance of this The expression washing of regeneration or cleansing of sin is not a direct reference to the forgiveness of sins

44:18

He deals with that later when he talks about justification the washing of regeneration

44:24

Speaks about god cleansing the heart of the love of sin Breaking the reign of sin

44:30

And implanting the desire to no longer live in sin. It's a cleansing of regeneration

44:37

Not the forgiveness of sins That's justification One of the old scottish puritans thomas, boston

44:45

Wrote a classic book entitled human nature in its fourfold state. It's a classic He talks about the human nature

44:55

Unregenerate unsaved he talks about the The soul being regenerate talks about the life of a christian and then then the state in glory

45:05

He set forth what the regenerated sinner is like and so boston described what god does in regeneration

45:11

In regeneration god does a work of grace with respect to the fallen man's mind his will and his affections

45:20

That is what he values and loves Whereby his conscience is renewed his body is affected

45:26

And his manner of life is affected. So here's a summary i've listed them Boston goes into great detail in red regeneration.

45:34

The mind of the sinner is savingly enlightened He's enlightened in the knowledge of god

45:41

He's enlightened in the knowledge of sin He's enlightened in the knowledge of himself

45:47

He's in enlightened in the knowledge of jesus christ He's enlightened in the knowledge of the vanity of the world.

45:54

He's enlightened in the knowledge of spiritual things. This is all through regeneration And then secondly in regeneration the will is renewed

46:03

We read of this in the prophecy of the gospel of ezekiel 36 Where god conforms the will to do his will?

46:13

Boston wrote the will is cured of its utter inability to will that is desire. What is good? That is what god determines is good

46:21

And there is wrought in the will a fixed aversion to evil I don't want to live in sin any longer

46:29

And the will is endowed with an inclination a bent a propensity to good

46:35

And then thirdly in regeneration there is a change in the sinner's affections his emotions what he desires and loves

46:43

First this change rectifies or corrects the affections placing them on worthy and suitable objects

46:51

We come to love What god loves and hate what god hates

46:56

When you're unregenerate you tend to love what god hates and hate what god loves

47:02

That's why they crucify jesus. That's what sinners do In regeneration the conscience is renewed

47:16

People who maybe had a seared conscience all of a sudden it's very sensitive To what's right and true and what's wrong

47:22

And wicked in the sight of god in regeneration the memories improve both in what it forgets and what it remembers

47:30

Is ezekiel 36 then you'll remember your old ways and you'll loathe yourselves in your own sight for your past wickedness

47:37

That happens to christians all the time still happens to me. I've been in the lord 50 years come the second week of january

47:45

And i'll think of something oh my and break out in a sweat mercy god

47:52

You know our memory sometimes is improved There's a change in the physical body

48:01

There's gracious change of regeneration affects one's behavior First in the change of the company he keeps peter wrote those people you used to run with now think it's strange

48:11

You don't run with them Old norm thurston, he was a college pal of mine and man we had some wild days

48:21

And we had separated I went home went to work in a grocery store Months later after i'm converted.

48:28

He seeks me out Came into the store wanted me to go out with him that night and I was a new christian

48:33

I didn't want it. I didn't know what to say. I told him I couldn't And later on my former friends told him, you know large got religion and you know, then it was all it was all understood but things change

48:48

The change of company that he keeps they think it's strange that you no longer riot with them in their company

48:55

Second your relations with others change Your worldly business is affected

49:01

Your efforts to further the kingdom of god And in his use of what it is he rests in a pond that changes his performance of religious duties changes his behavior

49:15

Regeneration is the first act of god in bringing salvation to a sinner And it happens and you're not even aware.

49:22

How'd this happen? You know I didn't have this concern or desire before what's happening to me

49:30

I you know And it comes on you weren't looking for it necessarily, you know

49:35

Seeking it but it happens And it puts you on a new course Paul links his washing of regeneration with the renewing of the holy spirit.

49:47

They're one in the same really Again our passage, but when the kindness and love of god our savior toward man appeared

49:55

Not by works of righteousness, which we have done But according to his mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration and here it is

50:02

Renewing of the holy spirit whom he poured out on us abundantly through jesus christ our savior

50:09

And so the sinner has made a new creature a new creation He's enlivened and transformed by the holy spirit who converts the sinner onto jesus christ

50:19

The dead sinner becomes alive in god's grace of regeneration He's born anew of the holy spirit

50:25

His body has become the temple of the holy spirit The holy spirit has made him made him alive and the holy spirit takes up residence in him

50:34

As god once occupied the earthly tabernacle tent god the holy spirit now It dwells the one regenerated by the grace of god.

50:42

Your body is a temple of the holy spirit John, gill wrote of this now it is in this way.

50:47

God saves his people namely by regenerating and renewing them In this

50:53

Is the first appearance and discovery of the love of god to them? This is their open passage into a state of grace and without this there's no entrance into glory

51:02

This is the foundation of all grace and good works and by which saints christians appear to be heirs of the heavenly inheritance

51:11

And so regeneration is the initial act of god Which results in us being saved?

51:18

But then he speaks about the grace of justification And paul rehearsed in the manner in which god saves his people by his grace

51:26

He first spoke of the sinner's regeneration, but then he next addressed the grace of the believing sinner's justification

51:33

Once again our passage But when the kindness and love of god our savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness, which we have done

51:41

But according to his mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration Renewing of the holy spirit whom he poured out on us abundantly through jesus christ our savior that Having been justified in other words it flowed forth from this earlier that having been justified by his grace

51:58

We should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life Here we see that faith follows and flows from regeneration

52:08

Faith in jesus christ comes forth from a renewed heart one that has undergone the washing of regeneration

52:14

Even the renewal of the holy spirit and so the awakened sinner Here Here's the gospel of jesus christ understands it

52:23

Desires it believes it embrace it wholly without reservation And it's through this faith alone in jesus christ alone

52:30

Which was wrought in his soul by the grace of god alone that the sinner is fully pardoned of his sin

52:36

And declared and regarded by god to be righteous due to the gift of righteousness of his son credited to the sinner through faith alone

52:47

Take note that here paul sets forth the eternal life as an inheritance Promise to us. He spoke about being saved past tense

52:55

But now he speaks of us being justified by his grace that we would become heirs of uh, according to the hope of eternal life

53:04

Hope has to be based on something. We haven't received yet For paul eternal life is something that god has promised to us

53:14

It's an inheritance we will most certainly receive it doesn't put it in doubt In fact, we're assured of it

53:21

He's got it reserved in heaven for us and he's reserving you that you come together To receive your your inheritance one day

53:29

But it's a it's an inheritance in john's gospel and john's epistles in eternal life is a present possession

53:36

Because it's a quality of life here. It's more of a quantity an unending place of blessedness

53:43

But notice it's a it's a hope of eternal life And this is not a hope

53:49

I wish it will be I hope it will be but a certainty it will be and therefore gives me hope In other words confidence and it's this assurance this hope

53:57

That is the staying power That that invigorates you and strengthens you enables you to endure all the difficulty that might come

54:06

Because you know that eternal life is on the other side This is only temporary And the lord's going to see to it

54:13

I get through He's promised me the hope of eternal life

54:19

One of the great errors of evangelicalism is presenting salvation as holy in the past You have been saved

54:26

Yes, we have been justified But our inheritance of eternal life Is much in the future

54:34

When our bodies come forth from the grave in their glorified state And we receive fully what god has promised

54:42

Well, lastly we see this faithful word that we should all take to heart titus 3 verse 8

54:49

After paul had given reasons for christians to be gentle patient tolerant of all people everywhere

54:55

He concluded this section by asserting the importance of the christian to live a holy holy life before the lord

55:02

This is a faithful saying You can repeat it and stand on it This is a bedrock truth

55:10

And these things I want you to affirm constantly titus Those who have believed in god should be careful to maintain good works

55:20

These things are good and profitable to men Paul had just declared that we're not saved through works of righteousness verse 5

55:27

Nevertheless here he declares. It's very important and profitable for the lord's people to be careful to maintain good works

55:34

Works are not the means by which god saves us. That's heresy works righteousness

55:40

He saved us according to his mercy through the washing of regeneration renewing of the holy spirit Nor are works the instrument by which god justifies us faith alone apart from works

55:52

Moreover, our works are not the ground of our having been saved Rather, it's due to god's work for us in christ that we've been saved

56:00

We're saved by christ works not our own Nevertheless, and please understand this.

56:07

I had a guy attack me a radio listener in maine because I made this statement Work good works are essential to salvation

56:16

You're not saved by your works because of your works, but you're not going to be saved apart from your works

56:23

It's your works that demonstrate that you have true faith That's why they're essential We will not get into heaven because of our good works, but we'll not get into heaven without good works

56:35

Faith without works is dead being alone is what james declared so clearly

56:44

And so one of the major purposes of god for having saved us that he might create a people Who are characterized by good works that is that they might be ones who are believing and obedient to doing his will

56:54

This is what paul stated in the previous chapter for the grace of god that brings salvation has appeared to all men

57:01

Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. We should live soberly and righteously and godly in the present age

57:08

That's what salvation does It teaches us to live rightly As we look looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great god and savior.

57:17

Jesus christ who gave himself for us For what purpose? So that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself his own special people zealous for good works

57:30

If you're not zealous for good works, you're not a christian You have with your lips you may confess him, but your life says something else

57:41

God saved us not only to deliver us from the just his just penalty of sin But that he would enable us to live righteously before him in love

57:50

And so it's very important so much So that paul said he wanted to affirm constantly that christians should be full of care and concern to maintain

57:58

That is live lives characterized by good works Again, what are these good works?

58:06

Well Within the context of titus these goods were specified in verses one and two

58:12

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities to obey to be ready for every good work speak evil of no one

58:18

Be peaceable gentle show in all humility to all men That's who we are

58:25

That's who we should be Just close and last Four minutes, okay a few words of exhortation

58:34

As christians we are to live as our lord. Jesus and as god the father's modeled for us recorded in holy scripture

58:40

The lord was compassionate toward people He came into jericho And he sought out he said it.

58:48

I must come into your house. Zacchaeus This little wretched man who was a tech collector and everybody hated

58:54

It No loyal or faithful jew liked or admired him But when jesus came to the place he looked up and saw him

59:03

And said to him zacchaeus make haste and come down for today. I must stay at your house

59:10

And so zacchaeus made haste came down and received him joyfully How did the people respond when they saw the magnanimous Treatment of this despised little man verse 7 when they saw it they all complained

59:24

He's gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner And then jesus rebuked them

59:31

He affirmed his concern and compassion for zacchaeus He said to him before them all today salvation's come to this house

59:39

Because he's also a son of abraham for the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost

59:47

He's coming to the world to save great sinners God rebuked jonah one day because jonah wasn't compassionate for nineveh coming to repentance

59:56

He wanted it about overthrown a gentile city in 40 days God would overthrow it unless they repented.

01:00:03

Well, they repented Jonah had pity over a gourd that shriveled up that was giving him shade, but he had no pity upon that city and and The book of jonah concludes with god rebuking jonah

01:00:16

Shouldn't I have pity on this great city filled with so many people and they had much cattle or much livestock as well

01:00:23

God is a compassionate and gentle and gracious god even to great sinners. He was to you and me

01:00:30

And that's how we ought to be to the people that we encounter No matter who they are

01:00:36

We shouldn't wait until we feel that they are entitled To our respect and kindness and gentleness toward them

01:00:43

We're to be to everyone regardless of who they are Because that's how god dealt with us

01:00:51

Let us seek desire and seek salvation for the ones that may be quite different from us and unlike us in many ways

01:00:58

It's god's purpose to expand his kingdom so that he has citizens from every tribe and every language of the world

01:01:06

The lord secured their redemption through his death on the cross And the host of heaven welcomed the risen jesus into heaven

01:01:13

Declaring to him you're worthy jesus to take this scroll To open its seals for you were slain and you've redeemed us unto god by your blood out of every tribe tongue people and nation

01:01:26

Let's lift our eyes and see the great opportunities before us The lord jesus exhorted his disciples to perceive the great harvest that lie before them ready for spiritual harvesters to go to work

01:01:37

Reaping the fields Don't say that there is four months until the harvest behold

01:01:45

I say to you lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they're already white for harvest He who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life

01:01:55

May the lord give us a true concern And compassion maybe for the hardest of people that are maltreating us

01:02:04

Who is the person that is most miserable in your life? All right Maybe the lord has put that person in your life and upon you so that you would have pity

01:02:14

And compassion and pray for the salvation of that soul God's in the business of saving his enemies and we ought to be too and be concerned because we were his enemies when he

01:02:27

By his own mercy and grace came to us in christ and saved us

01:02:33

The lord jesus is in sovereign control of history He's purposing to save people from every tribe from every nation

01:02:39

And he's called us to be co -workers in affecting his desired design And so rather than having an attitude of anger and resentment as to what we see unfolding in our culture and history

01:02:51

Uh, let's look at our opportunities We live in a in my opinion a glorious time in history and it's getting better Because the darker the night the brighter the light

01:03:04

And i'm i'm looking for Seeing a wonderful expansion of the kingdom of god through his salvation in jesus christ

01:03:13

And I think that's the kind of attitude that should characterize us Thank you father for your word and for your kindness and grace that you showed to us

01:03:23

And we pray you'd help us our god to similarly Demonstrate that same gentleness and peaceableness and kindness and courtesy to others and concern to others as we

01:03:36

Lord desire their salvation The salvation that you so freely and wonderfully bestowed upon us