Being a Gospel-Centered Citizen
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SUMMARY:
How is a Christian to live in this world? Are we to isolate ourselves because it is so sinful? Are we to become wrapped up in fixing all of the problems? How does God want us to live here in this world? Titus 3 gives us helpful instruction on how to be a gospel-centered citizen.
INTRODUCTION:
This week we as Americans have the privilege of voting in the local and national elections. The various races this year seem to be hard wired with a lot of passion, excitement, and uncertainty. This translates into a lot of chatter which sometimes translates into anxiety and even hostility.
As Christians we often times need to be reminded of our purpose and place in this world.
There is a dangerous tendency to think of ourselves as good and moral because of who are or who we are not. As a result we divide the world up into those who are “good” and those who are “bad”. And based upon these conclusions we may justify all sorts of otherwise sinful actions.
For example, we hear a lot from Christian leaders about the immorality or sinful lives of those who are not Christians. We hear a lot of character assignation, argumentation, judgmental and aggressive rants. However, we hear very little about the solution to such problems.
If we are listening very closely we might conclude that sum and substance of the Christian life is being heterosexual, pro-life, Creationists, that are republican. And any deviation from these things is potential trigger for anarchy.
This is not biblical Christianity.
There are scores of folks who are heterosexual, pro-life, Creationists, and republican who don’t love Christ.
As Christians our platform is not a politician, a party or an issue, it is the gospel.
On the other hand there is sometimes the tendency to completely withdraw from the world around us, becoming almost isolationists. Some folks may become rebellious to the government because it is “un-Christian”. They become harshly critical of everyone who is not like them, and even, on occasion sound like they are given to anarchy.
This is not biblical Christianity.
We live as citizens of the kingdom of Christ but at the same time exist in the kingdoms of this world. And the gospel of our King makes demands on the way we live now.
In other words, we are to live here as citizens of the United States with a mindset that is modeled in and motivated by the gospel. The gospel has requirements for believers. We are to be gospel-centered citizens.
In the letter of Paul to Titus we find some fitting help in this pursuit of living here as gospel-centered citizens.
Titus is the pastor of a small congregation on the island of Crete. Titus is obviously close to Paul as he is called his true child in the faith (1.4). At the heart of the issue for this church, and specifically the young pastor Titus, is the priority of unleashing of the gospel upon the lives of the individuals in the church and as a result the community.
In chapter one the priority is to put qualified elders in place to protect and proclaim the gospel. This has the effect of building up the church. And as a result the gospel pervades, as we see in chapter 2, the home, the workplace, and the market place. Indeed all of life is to be fixated on the truth of the gospel.
There may have been the tendency for those at Crete Bible Church to completely withdraw from their community and world around them due to its flamboyant paganism. No doubt it became easy to fall into the natural setting of the human heart that promotes self-righteousness and isolationism.
To this faulty thinking Paul applies the gospel and its trailer of good works that accompany salvation through Christ. The phrase that is repeated in this letter over and over again is ‘good works’.
Look at the end of chapter 2. Paul is showing the basis for good works:
Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
“Good works” are to characterize the gospel-centered citizen.
And how serious is Paul about the need to promote such things in the church?
Look at the next verse:
Titus 2:15 15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Titus, I know you are young, but this is no time for timidity or sugar coating things. You need to belly up to the pulpit or walk into the living room, and speak, exhort, reprove with all authority!
I remember my first few months of pastoral ministry receiving an email from an older, mature gentleman exhorting me in like fashion. His words were, “Erik, pop your pimples and preach the gospel to hearts. Don’t let anyone disregard you!”
Remind people of priority of living out the gospel.
And so what we have here in our passage this morning in chapter three are reminders for the Christian.
Specifically we’ll see 4 reminders that are intended to provoke gospel-centered citizenship.
Well, what are these 4 reminders?
- Be a Radical
- Look in the Mirror
- Dwell upon the gospel
- Value Good Works
TITUS 3.1-8 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
Let’s look together at the first reminder intended to promote gospel-centered citizenship, BE A RADICAL!
1. Be a Radical
At its heart, the gospel creates radically counter-intuitive people.
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
REMIND THEM
Notice the tone here in verse one, continuing from the priority at the end of chapter 2. Don’t you dare fall asleep at the post Titus, you have a job to do.
The believers in Crete already knew these things but need to have them regularly reinforced. This is a similar methodology to what we read from the Apostle Peter in 2nd Peter:
2 Peter 1:12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.
So what does Pastor Titus need to remind them of?
“Be Subject to authority”
Believers are to be subject. This word is used throughout the New Testament and has a basic meaning of willful putting oneself under the authority of another. It is to subordinate oneself, recognizing the position of another and then put oneself under its authority.
In Titus we see some pictures of submission: workers to bosses (Titus 2.9); wives to husbands (2.5); and in Peter reminds us of this priority to the government (1 Pet. 2.13).
The Lord Jesus, however, is the ultimate picture and motivation for submission: (Lk. 2.51). Luke 2:51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
The command here is for a personal subjection. It is not saying that you have been subjected, or that you will be, but rather that you need to be subjected to the authority and continue to do so. As a Christian, you are to be voluntarily and willfully (not begrudgedly) continually subject yourself. You continually be submissive.
There are two nouns use here in verse one to be the subject of our submission-- used here rulers and authorities. This is a comprehensive way to include all forms of authority. He does not include particular levels of government, but includes a blanket statement of those who are humanly speaking, in authority over you.
It is probably fitting to remind ourselves the fact that believers are to be submissive to the governing authorities, but also why.
Why should all people obey and submit to the government? Turn to Romans 13:
Romans 13:1-7
-1- The government is established by God
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
-2- Resisting the government resists God
2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God;
-3- Judgment is reserved for those who are insubordinate
and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
-4- To restrain evil behavior
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
-5- To promote good
4 for it is a minister of God to you for good.
-6- Established to punish the evil
But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
-7- for the sake of the conscience
5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Let’s remember that government that ruled in the day of Paul was not one that was friendly to Christianity…(perhaps an example?) they would later kill Paul! They were brutal, violent, unjust, oppressive and anything but democratic.
You are already subject to them legally and biblically (Rom. 13) so this is the command to submit first to the revealed will of God and then to the legislative structure that God has put in place.
Christians should really make the best citizens, we should not be anarchists. One person rightly noted that this might be more palatable if Christians found themselves regularly praying for their leaders like First Timothy 2 commands us to.
Continuing on…the text says,
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient,
“Be Obedient”
I believe this is connected here with the subjection to the authorities. We show ourselves obedient to them.
Obedience is to be characteristic of the Christian life. We obey our Lord and Master in his commands of Scripture. However, here we see that part of what we are called to do in Scripture is to be obedient to the local authorities.
We see the intersection of this command with things like obeying the laws of the land. Doing such things as paying taxes, registering our vehicles, not dumping the oil from our car in our backyard, etc.
Now, let me ask you, is this an absolute principle?
What do you do if the government legislates or commands you to do something that God forbids or to not do something that God commands?
In this case we must quietly disobey the government in view of obeying our ultimate authority (cf. Acts 4.18-20; 5.40-42, Daniel 6.10)
Daniel 6:10 10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
Acts 5:28-29 28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
This has been referred to as the higher law principle. As believers living in America we are incredibly blessed that we rarely have to find ourselves in such ethical situations.
The text goes on to say, Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,
“Be Ready for Every Good work”
This again is one of the main themes of this short letter. Christians are to be zealous and ready for every good works. We are not to be people who happen to fall into good works but rather those who are eager and actively engaging in them.
And again, I believe this is to be at work both in the church and in the public square if you will. Christians should be the best citizens, the most perceptive of needs, the most vocal voices for good, for we understand mercy, grace and love like no one else. We live here in the kingdoms of this world with our bodies, minds and affections fueled from the heavenly manna of God’s own kingdom. So we live as eager participants in good works. We look for these opportunities to magnify the grace of God in our lives.
Look again at verse 2, , Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one
“Be Careful not to attack people”
There is no room for a Christian to malign, to speak evil of. The word used here is blasphemeo…which, when used in reference to God is the grave sin of blashphemy to defame God’s holy character. Likewise, God, as the image giver, is attacked through the ungodly attack upon the image bearer through malicious slander and personal attacks. The Christian is to malign no one!
This does not mean you can’t point out error, for even Jesus did this, but to avoid the practice of maligning, slandering, character injuring, or whatever.
As believers living the gospel centered life, we are to be influencing men for good and towards God; not tearing them down.
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
“Be Peaceable”
The ESV translates this term as avoiding quarreling. It is the same word that is used in 1 Timothy 3 as an elder qualification. It has the idea of not being known as a fighter, one who is prone to arguing.
This is not “like to fight guy” or “like to argue guy”. The gospel centered citizen does not delight in arguing with people.
“Be gentle”
This is the idea of forbearing, good, and gentle. It goes with being peaceable.
Are you known as a peaceable and gentle person?
Finally here in verse 2, showing every consideration for all men.
“Be considerate to all men”
This is the expression of the heart shows itself in forbearing, considerate understanding.
And notice the scope of this? It is to all men.
The point here is that the Christian believer has his life characterized by kindness and consideration to all people; not just people who may look or act like him.
JESUS
These commands truly are radical; they are not natural. As a matter of fact each and every one of these statements are true expressions and characteristics of the life of our Lord Jesus. He is the model and motivation for all of these things.
We think of Jesus even submitting to the leaders in his trial, thought unjustly accused. He was always ready for every good deed, never spoke evil of anyone (even when provoked), he was peaceable in the midst of contention, his life was characterized by gentleness, and he was the most considerate of all men. And what happened to him? He was crucified. The good works of Christ made him the most radical person in history. And people could not wait to get rid of him.
How close do you find your day to day actions towards others motivated by and patterned after the Lord Jesus Christ?
There is no doubt that if you as believers live out the Christian life, leaving a trail of good works, you will be radical.
First, Be a Radical
Then Second, Look in the Mirror
2. Look in the Mirror
There really is no better cure for religious pride and self-righteousness than to remember who we really are. So here in Titus 3, in effort to promote the good works that characterize the gospel centered citizen Paul assaults our pride with 7 precision guided missiles aimed at our egos.
This pride smashing assault is really is a good cure for religious pietism. It is not exhaustive in its scope but it is comprehensive in its inclusion. We are all here.
We all were…
1. Foolish:
Outside of Christ all men are foolish, we are “without understanding” we are “ignorant and foolish” Jesus used this word in Luke 25, condemning those who would not believe the Word of God. (Lk. 24.25). The darkness pervades the inner man and is characterized by foolishness.
There are two primary ways to be foolish here: 1) To be completely immoral and see no need for a Savior, or 2) To be completely religious and moral and see no need for a Savior. All of us in this room fall into one of these categories.
2. Disobedient
This is always the picture, inner perversion produces outward perversion. Out of a foolish and uncompliant heart comes the disobedience that Paul references here. Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.
A great reminder to us here, within a calling to be obedient, this reminder that we ourselves were characterized by disobedience, outside of Christ.
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
3. Deceived
This is the picture of wandering around, further and further from the point. It is used to describe sheep who wander off. It is often translated misled (matt. 24.5). In light of what we know about the human heart, I know who/what is holding the leash here.
4. Enslaved to Lusts
Why do they do these things? Why is this world so sinful? Why aren’t they like us?
Instead of excersicing pietistic, self-rightous, condemning, unloving, self-promoting judgment, Paul says here, spend some time looking at the spiritual cardiograph. Remember that you too, though you stand now in grace, once stood in sin, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures.
The word for enslaved can be used positively (i.e. Phil. 1.23) and negatively (Titus 2.12). Here Paul reminds the Cretian church, and us too today, that apart from Jesus Christ you are like a spiritual addict when it comes for your enslavement to lusts of this world. You would sell your soul to accommodate lust (for you cannot ever satisfy lust).
So when you need a mental image to associate with your sinful condition, actions, and potential outside of Jesus Christ, it is not perfect, but it will do, think of a skinny, shameless, fiending crackhead. For we are hopelessly lost left unto ourselves.
5. Malicious
Malice is the evil mindset that manifests itself both in the desire to be hurtful and also in the practice of hurting folks. It is the Gk. Word kakia (anomonopoetic)…it is also translated evil, malice, wickedness) Jesus teaches that out of the heart comes these murderous actions.
We don’t need a change of scenery or a new outfit, we need a new heart!!
6. Envious
Envy is the practice of coveting what others have and is the product of a hatred for anyone else’s success at your expense. Illustration of Gallum.
7. Hateful
This is the natural fruit of envy. The text goes on to say that we hate one another.
We cannot have things, we cannot control things or people so we hate others. We hate the prospect of submitting to anyone or anything, especially God.
Summary: God is calling us in this passage to be radical in our homes, churches and communities; to live out the gospel as we live in a manner that is pleasing to Christ. Before heading out the door to do this Paul exhorts us to look in the spiritual mirror and remember who we really are.
If there is a reluctance to sacrifice and live for something other than yourself we are called to look in the mirror and remember who we really are. We are no better than anyone else. We are just like everyone else. Prior to the radical grace of God we were: foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to lusts, malicious, envious, and hateful.
This type of spiritual X-Ray is a great aid for us in living with and loving our neighbors in this fallen world. These missiles of divine truth serve to eradicate pride and have us changed from thinking that we are a self-made religious somebody to remembering that we are a self-made spiritual insurgent, and apart from Jesus Christ we are no better than the “worst” people we see, so therefore we have no right to look down our religious noses, out of heart that flows rivers of self-righteousness.
This reintroduction to ourselves should serve to deflate pride and compel a life of radical sacrifice.
But there is still more.
First, Be a Radical
Second, Look in the Mirror
Then Third, Dwell upon the gospel
3. Dwell upon the Gospel
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
What a rich and glorious passage this is. We first are given the pride suffocating realities of our depravity outside of Christ, now we are given these pride-shattering realities of how God has saved sinners like us. So not only are we condemned in sin, but we are helpless to save ourselves.
The Apostle Paul gives us such richness here, it is like a spiritual zip file; there is so much here, compressed and consolidated together, but when unfolded its depth is inexhaustible.
A great path towards humility is the gospel, and the premier way to fight pride and pursue humility is the gospel. We should all be reminding ourselves of the gospel, preaching it to ourselves daily.
So, in terms of salvation, and in effort to cultivate good works in the lives of Christians, we are to remember our salvation…look with me at verse 4:
4 But
We can’t even go further than that. See the blessed contrast from dead in sin, enslaved to various lusts and selfish pleasures to… “but”. The contrast is emphatic. It is to say that while you were in that state and in spite of your state, God did something. God acted. This is the glorious gospel.
Look again at verse 4: 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared
1. God’s Loving-kindness
This is the marvelous truth of the gospel friends. While you and I are busy sinning our brains out, totally disregarding God and his glorious Son, walking around with our middle finger up at God, he shows us his loving kindness.
Please do not grow numb to this glorious truth: While you were helpless God invaded this world with his kindness and love for mankind.
You may see reflections and beams of God’s love in food, friendships, and the blessings of life, however, in Jesus Christ you do not have beams, but rather the burning center of the divine affections, the Lord Jesus Christ, is love incarnate.
Do you need motivation to be kind to others?
Look at yourself then consider how God has dealt with you!
Do you need motivation to love others?
Look at yourself and consider how God has dealt with you!
What an awesome and unfathomably loving God we serve! He is God our Savior!
The text goes on to say that this love had wheels, it acted: 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy,
2. God’s Mercy
Well of course he cannot save us on the basis of deeds, for we have no deeds! Do you see? not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness This is so humiliating. On of the chief seeds that brings gospel life is the realization that you have no deeds. To import Isaiah, even our best are filthy rags, disgustingly filthy rags. Paul says in Philippians that our deeds appear to God as dung. If you are need a more contemporary image, your good deeds are on par with the steaming pile that your dog leaves in your backyard. They are offensive in sight and stench to God.
You might say, “But Erik, I thought this whole passage is about good works. What do you mean my good works are offensive to God?”
Good question.
This passage is all about good works. You are right. But the marvelous reality and the mind bending, pride shattering truth is…that it is God who brings about the good works in our lives by saving sinners through the gospel.
This is the point: you are not saved by your good works (for we have all seen our spiritual resumes), but rather we are saved by God’s grace and mercy unto good works. That is, he brings them about to be done for the glory of his name, with the finger prints of his own Son upon them.
Please see the initiator here? HE SAVED US….
God in Christ, exercises mercy. He does not give us what we deserve…we are enemies…His hand is drawn back, ready to punish iniquity, ready to squash us like the treasonous enemies that we are, and instead of squashing us, he saves us. This is mercy.
God is the only one who knows and understands the depth of our depravity, he is the only one to fully understand how sinful you and I are, he is the only one to fully comprehend what justice is; for he has an unpolluted, unstained, untarnished view of justice, in his eyes it is pure and our sin is wicked.
But, He saved us. He saved us. He saved us in spite of us. This is mercy. This is kindness. This is love. This is the gospel!!
Remember the pride-shattering grace of God in salvation, specifically God’s kindness, God’s love, God’s mercy…now continuing on…
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
3. God’s Holy Spirit
How did God appropriate this mercy? Through the Holy Spirit. The text says it is through the washing of regeneration.
Regeneration: Regeneration refers to the instantaneous, sovereign act of God, by which he takes a dead sinner and makes him alive, through the Holy Spirit. It is to be born again. Jesus said in John 3, unless you are what? Born again…you will not see the kingdom of heaven.
Do you see how God made you alive to him? He regenerated you. He made you alive!
Now you see something of the connection to these works, don’t you?
God has made us alive, regenerated us and for what? To glorify him through good works.
Remember chapter 2.14?
who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Renewing: This refers to the ongoing act of being conformed into the image of Jesus. Not only does God act and make us alive, through the Holy Spirit, but he continues to act, and conform us, renew us, by the Holy Spirit, into the image of Jesus, until we are, ultimately, sanctified or made like him.
The Holy Spirit that God used to bring you to life spiritually is continuing to renew his people into the image of the beloved Son. Part of this renewing is the ongoing pregnancy of good works. We are never to be spiritually barren. God is always at work in his people for his own good pleasure.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
4. God’s Son
In remembering this great salvation we must also remember our great Savior. It is through the Savior that the Holy Spirit is poured out like a Gatorade bath on a victorious coach. We are drenched with the Holy Spirit of God through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Friends, consider the great God man, who’s life and gospel condemns and saves us.
In his infinite perfection he stands as the inflexible standard of judgment and intolerance, through his death he shows the certainty of God’s promise to judge, through the overtures of the gospel he extends himself as willing and able to forgive, and to the humbled heart he is precious substitute who’s yoke is easy and who’s burden is light.
It is this great Jesus, this great Savior, whom Charles Spurgeon rightly labeled, “a better savior than we think him to be”, perhaps today we know a bit more of this as we read our spiritual rap sheet and examine the mercy, love and independence of God as expressed through his beloved Son.
See him here, friends, “our Savior”. Oh let those words sink down into your ears, he is our savior.
Do you need motivation for godliness in the world? Remember the Savior!!
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
5. God’s Grace
Justified by his grace: declared righteous. What better demonstration and definition of grace? We are enemies of God and he has declared us righteous, not unjustly or without basis, but based upon the substitutionary death of Jesus. God can rightly declare sinners perfect because Jesus died.
We heirs according to hope: Biblical hope is not like worldly hope. Worldly hope is optimistic prospect, while biblical hope is divine certainty. Because your salvation is all of God you have the present joy of trusting in the character, ability, and promise of God to perfect what he has started.
And furthermore, you are an heir. This is a calling to live like an heir.
There are responsibilities for those who are in this family. I remember as a young man my father continuing to remind me of the tag line for our family. It was usually when I was wallowing in some form of self pity. He would always tell me that “Raymonds never give up.” We may get beat but we never quit. That has always stuck with me.
Here in Titus we are called to live like an heir:… zealous for good deeds.
The structure of this sentence grammatically indicates that believers currently are heirs…that we will inherit eternal life and so to live in light of this promise of hope that is certain.
If you are an heir you are so because the Son of the King has given his life for you. You are in this family not because you earned it but because Christ earned it. So this heir term is a pride checker and a motivator to live with genuine thankfulness towards God and consideration towards other men.
Please notice your passive involvement here in these verses. Do you see yourself doing anything to bring about or merit this favor? Or even to keep it? No!
As a matter of fact we see God in full force! Did you notice that you have all three members of the Trinity working in the lives of those who are saved by the gospel?
God is saying that He is the one who initiates and accomplishes salvation, it happens completely independent of man, that he may receive the exclusive praise of the redeemed. This produces a sanctified gratefulness that demonstrates itself in humility and good works.
Here again we have the pearls of the gospel of grace laid out before you on the black backdrop or your own sinful heart. The goal here is to remind you of the depths of mercy, love, and grace God has shown to you through his beloved Son. And the purpose for which he has left you here on earth. You are to engage in good works that glorify Christ.
First, Be a Radical
Second, Look in the Mirror
Third, Dwell upon the gospel
Then Fourth, ‘Value Good Works’
4. Value Good Works
8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
This message is valuable and trustworthy…so therefore: Speak confidently! Tell your congregation Titus, remind them that they need to be engaged in good works. They need to be living in such a way that they are doing and saying things in such a way as to give glory to God for what he has done!
Notice what the text says in verse 8, “so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men
God is glorified through the lives of his people.
We are not to be consumed with making this life our heaven but we are also not to be disengaged from this life and this world like some sort of isolationist. We are called as those who have believed in God to be careful to engage in good deeds. This includes those in the church and those outside the church. You are to look for ways to glorify God in all manners of life.
Do you see the statement at the end of verse 8? “These things are good and profitable for men.”
If you are living as a gospel-centered citizen of this world with a motivation for the glory of your heavenly King, you will be a blessing to others. If we live with the gospel near to our heart then we will bring the gospel to those in the world.
CONCLUSION
One may rightly conclude that it is doubly perverse to have been shown kindness and love, while being a vassal, and then to not likewise do the same.
For if you were evil and you were left in your evil, it would be bad enough, but to have received kindness and love from the ultimate source, God himself, through his precious Son, with the price being his life, in spite of your wickedness, and then to turn around and be unkind and unloving to others?
Yes indeed this is the height of hypocrisy and the fruit of meditating on the greatness of self and neglecting the greatness of God.
We have been laid ahold of by God in Christ. One of the chief purposes of this is for us to engage in good works that glorify God and benefit those around us.
I think of Jeremiah who was being shipped up to the pagan country of Babylon as a result of invasion and deportation.
And what did God tell him to do?
Jeremiah 29:4-7 4 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 5 'Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 'Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. 7 'Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.'
Similarly, we are to live here as citizens of the United States with a mindset that is modeled in and motivated by the gospel.
- Be a Radical
- Look in the Mirror
- Dwell upon the gospel
- Value good works
The gospel has requirements for believers. We are to be gospel-centered citizens.
By God’s grace may we do so humbly, fervently and with great joy.
Pray.