Demonstrate the Truth! Why!

[0:00] please take your Bibles and go to the book of Titus Titus chapter 2 Titus chapter 2 if you're visiting with us you need a black there's a black Bible in a chair in front of you you need a Bible in the chair in front of you there's a black Bible go to the back of that black Bible and you can find page 168 168 where you'll find Titus chapter 2 today we're gonna study chapter 2 11 through 15 2 11 through 15 of Titus Titus chapter 2 11 through 15 so this Titus will take us to the end of the year we got 3 1 through 7 next Sunday then 8 through 15 the following Sunday we'll be done with the book of Titus this has been a fun short little study hope you've been enjoying it Titus chapter 2 11 through 15 let me read and I'm mixing again some Greek with

[1:05] New American Standards that's why it might sound a little odd for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men instructing us that denying ungodliness and worldly desires we live sensibly righteously and godly in the present age looking for the happy hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all wickedness and purify for himself a chosen people zealous for good deeds these things speak and exhort and reprove with all command let no one disregard you our oldest daughter Chris and I our oldest daughter Chloe her and her husband they moved to Missouri and they had just purchased their first home so kind of a big deal for them brand new just built and they were actually going to purchase one house in the beginning this one is in Ozark this other one they were going to purchase was in Republic before this one that they just closed on they were having problems with this first house and then came the inspection for this first house and sure enough the inspector found mold in the foundation amongst

[2:36] I mean there's a lot of other things they found too but that was one of the highlights mold in the foundation so obviously they didn't buy that one you've heard it in other messages you've heard it used many times as an analogy and we cannot stress this enough it is vital to have a solid foundation you must have a solid foundation without it a house will fall remember Jesus says this Matthew chapter 7 the house built upon the sand versus the house built upon the rock that house built upon the rock will stand that's one who lives by his words Jesus' words Paul does the same thing here this is the basis for demonstrating the truth

[3:38] Titus is about demonstrating the truth it's the command demonstrate the truth demonstrate grace at work in your life and today in verses 2 chapter 2 verses 11 through 15 we see the reason why why do we demonstrate the truth what motivates us to demonstrate the truth at work in our lives here's some questions for you upon what basis are we exhorted to have these kinds of real relationships in the body you might say what relationships chapter 2 verse 2 through 10 those relationships I'll briefly read through that a little bit later upon what basis are we exhorted toward these relationships or another question upon what basis are we urged to live godly holy truth demonstrating dazzle displaying lives upon what basis why now remember right living flows from right thinking this is what titus is about the whole book of titus right living flows from right thinking redemption leads to sanctification god saves us so that he may change us who belong to him and demonstrate his grace his truth at work in our lives we've been redeemed from lawless deeds so that we be zealous for good deeds so why do we demonstrate the truth god's grace that's why his instructing his redeeming his changing grace that kind of grace he calls us to say no to sin and yes to real christian godly living now while we wait for the appearance of our great god and savior jesus christ god's grace god's grace it brings salvation to humanity look at verse 11 for the basis for his commands of verse 1 and through 10 or 2 through 10 for the grace of god has appeared what is grace grace undeserved favor towards humanity whereby god saves god instructs god enables his people whom he's chosen undeserved favor you don't deserve it you're not worthy you've never been worthy because if you were worthy it wouldn't be called grace you're never worthy god is worthy he shows mercy and grace to sinners who should be thrown into hell his favor towards hell bound and sinners to rescue them and then he transforms them that grace christ jesus our savior he'll mention later on died on our behalf to redeem us from lawlessness and cleanses us to be his own people who live how he wants us to live because we love him and we desire him we love him and desire him above all and that's why titus was called to teach these things urge these things and reprove with authority that's why he's called to do this god's grace is the foundation for these ethical commands how

[7:39] we live must be grounded in and motivated by truth people do nice things all the time people do good things all the time especially that's time of year Christmas they're giving we should be different because god has been so gracious to give his son and we didn't deserve it and that's what paul does here he gives you the motivation grace grace grace motivates you so older men you're called to be temperate dignified sensible sound and faith and love and perseverance older women you're called to be reverent in your conduct not slanderers not enslaved to much wine you're teaching what is good and you're teaching younger women you younger women are called to love your husbands to love your children sensible pure workers at home kind submitting to your own husbands so the word of god may not be blasphemed young men are to be sensible titus with the older men with the younger men we should be those who show an example of good deeds in doctrine pure dignified sound speech which is no one can bring reproach in order that the opponent may be put to shame having nothing bad to say about us slaves should be subject to their own masters and everything well pleasing not argumentative not stealing but showing all good faith that they may adorn the doctrine of god our savior in all things why it's god's grace that's what motivates us and here what paul does he unpacks what this grace is all about and i'll put it up here on the screen for you and then we're going to go through point by point piece by piece god's grace brings salvation which consists of one the incarnation two sanctification three consummation four crucifixion five redemption six purification seven sanctification again he repeats that this is the summation of god's salvation this is the summation of grace this is what grace is all about so as we begin on this this journey through verses 11 through 15 you'll see the grace of god unfold so this grace and it'll be up there on the screen individually just in case you're trying to write this down this grace or salvation consists of seven different aspects notice number one the incarnation the grace of god has appeared god has been so gracious to send his son in the incarnation at the incarnation salvation is brought to us as humans for unto you is born this day in the city of david a savior who is christ the lord well that sounds familiar god at the fullness of time took on flesh to save us the incarnation he appeared jesus appeared on the scene jesus broke into our world in our time to live die and rise to save us that's what we celebrate this time of year the grace of god has appeared the incarnation jesus took on flesh so all his actions in christ god's actions all that he's done in salvation it's all grace so shouldn't we act this gracious way towards each other apparently that was

[11:40] a good point phone's going off all right should not our lives be demonstrations of his grace and of his truth shouldn't that happen in us next point oh let's wait for the third one notice he says for the grace of god has appeared bringing salvation to all men that is to all classes of people the all is qualified from the context referring to us he's going to bring that up later his people who belong to him believers certainly all are called to come to christ but the actual saving work of god's grace comes only to those who belong to him whom he's chosen before the foundation of the world this grace consists of first the incarnation number two sanctification look at verse 12 instructing us that denying ungodliness and worldly desires the purpose of the appearance of god's grace is first to instruct you or to train you notice instructing us to deny ungodliness god's grace of instruction purpose to have us deny or renounce or say no to sin to say no to ungodliness which means impiety both in thought and action as one writer put it so if godliness means our beliefs in action being a god fear the outward evidence of true faith in christ a godly life demonstrating true faith in jesus then ungodliness is just the opposite and god's grace teaches us to say no to sin no god's grace teaches us to renounce it no or we could put it a different way and this is kind of this is not looking at here just sanctification but other pieces as well renouncing the past we live godly in the present looking forward to the future we're renouncing the past and that's what repentance is you repent you turn away from that you want nothing to do with that this is how god's grace works in our lives we repent of who we were it's not just a change of your mind it's a change of your heart he says denying ungodliness and worldly desires worldly desires the character is the character of this world which is every lawless deed the passions the lust the cravings friends that's why we should not be involved in immorality that's why we should not be involved in pornography that's why we should not be involved in homosexuality that's why we should not be involved in drugs that's why we should not be involved in drunkenness or lying or partying or slandering or gossiping or rebellion that is of the world why do

[15:04] Christians get involved in that if you say you're a follower of Jesus you renounce that that's what God's grace does right God's grace breaks in you say no no to that and notice the sanctification that continues on this is actually the main verb we live he says positive now three positives sensibly righteously and godly this is how we live now we're different we say no to sin and we live godly now sensibly that which is self-control which is thoughtful he's used this word numerous times righteously in an upright manner towards those around me godly as a god fearer imitating God and his actions being devoted to him obedient to him loving him this is how we live now in the present we're different we've been changed interesting too these three adverbs that he gives to live we live sensibly righteously and godly it denotes three aspects of our lives first in my personal life

[16:45] I'm self-controlled second in my relationships with others I live uprightly third towards god there's genuine piety holiness and he says we live in these ways in the present age in the now age it's not simply getting your ticket to heaven that's not Christianity we have a now mentality at least god's grace teaches us to live with a now mentality we're instructed how to live now today but also this present age is full of evil and wickedness in the world it's full of evil this age characterizes sinfulness and lawlessness friends we should not live like this now in this now age because that's not who we are anymore that's not me that's not you why are we living like that grace has has broken in right or changed the incarnation sanctification and notice number three consummation they all have a shun ending because preachers like doing silly things like that anyways 13 looking for the blessed hope the happy hope expectantly waiting looking forward to we live not just in the present but with the hope for the future glorification or consummation when Christ returned and established his kingdom for a thousand years and then the eternal state will happen this hope is Jesus

[18:59] Christ appearing notice he says looking for the happy hope and the appearing this hope appearing is for glory one writer says it's unseen but yet sure this hope hope because hope is not just a wish but factual confident expectation that God will keep his promise it's a happy hope it's a blessed hope it makes you happy it's so good because you wake up in the morning and everything hurts in your body and I gotta try and get up I'm gonna stay in bed it's too cold out there happy hope I get to see my Lord come that's that's that's motivation to get out of the bed right well at least it should be a happy hope happy because Jesus return will bring all things to a great close his grace appeared in the past so we wait for its reappearing in the future and notice he says the hope appearing the happy hope appearing is of

[20:25] God's glory found in the Lord of glory the Son of God who will be glorified by all humanity the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ in this glory is our happy hope in this glory is his appearing and so we take by the way this last part of verse 13 as it's translated in the numeric and standard our great God and Savior Jesus Christ I think the new King James has two persons our great God and our Savior Jesus Christ I take the view it's one person he is the one true God to whom all should bow and give homage so he Christ Jesus our Savior as he says in chapter 1 verse 4 will return in full glorification at the consummation bringing our happy hope this is why we live balanced lives this is why there's a present responsibility but we have future expectation this motivates us we're looking for it we're waiting for it to happen so again renouncing the past we live in the present godly in the present looking forward to the future you can sum up this part here in verse 12 and 13 friends this is what it means to be a

[21:52] Christian this is what it means to be a Jesus disciple a follower of Christ this is what it means you renounce the past you live godly in the present and you're looking forward to the future when your Lord will return number four crucifixion verse 14 Jesus Christ who gave himself for us here is the work Christ has done to bring this saveling grace this enabling grace this is the climax of God's grace toward us the crucifixion he gave himself he died what did our savior do he died on the cross for our sins for us he says those who embrace him as savior he died on behalf of his own we glory in his death in the horrible despicable shameful death of Christ that's what we glory in because it shows God's grace

[23:06] I mean there's the climax of God's grace that's why people think you're crazy because you glory in death you glory in somebody being crucified there's something wrong with you you're an idiot you're a fool why would you glory in that no you don't understand that's the epitome of grace that's where I should be be it God saves me crucifixion and then notice what happens number five redemption again verse 14 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us his crucifixion Jesus dying wasn't for nothing there was a purpose behind his death first redemption his first intention was to redeem us to set us free to rescue us from all wickedness Jesus has liberated us from the penalty of sin which makes us guilty all our deeds that we've done in opposition to God and his law

[24:18] Christ paid the price he set you free you've been redeemed are you here and not a Christian you can be redeemed are you here you don't know Jesus you can be set free you can be liberated from all your sins Jesus says come I'll forgive you come and I'll save you come and I'll free you he says come I'll save you and love you that's what we hold on to the gospel we should be judged and condemned because we're sinners but because Jesus died we repent and trust in Christ that's the gospel so his redemption that's the first intention of God crucifixion God dying for us notice the second which leads us to number six purification verse 14 he redeemed us from all wickedness he's liberated us from sin and purify for himself a people for his own possession the second intention of his work on the cross was to purify us and notice he removed our defilement for two purposes number one to have a people that belonged to him possession literally the word word means chosen so that's why you can translate it like this and purify for himself a chosen people we are chosen by Christ we are belonging to

[26:00] Christ we're loved by Christ he has a people for himself to belong to him he redeemed us from sin to a life of purity as one writer put it he graciously rescues us from sin and he purifies us to reflect his very nature which leads to the last one which is number seven which is repeated again sanctification zealous for good deeds the second purpose to remove our defilement is that we be zealous for good works eager enthusiastic for good works the badge a true Christian wears is the badge of doing what's good and eager to do the good enthusiastic to do this good of course this is the right response to God's grace isn't it the right response for us who belong to

[27:08] Christ relationally intimately now mind you doing good deeds excuse me doesn't make one a Christian but when disciples of Christ do what's good they're demonstrating the truth by their lives I mean people do good things do good things all the time but it's us being motivated by grace to do these good deeds to show the world that we're different by the way we live our lives going back to the reason why the reason why we do this is because of grace I showed it to you earlier God's grace it brings salvation it consists of one the incarnation two sanctification three consummation four crucifixion five redemption six purification seven sanctification again this is a summation of God's salvation this is a summation of grace this is grace

[28:13] God's grace breaking in this is our motivation to demonstrate the truth this is our motivation to live godly lives and then Paul adds this here to verse 15 notice these things speak and exhort and reprove with all command let no one disregard you and this is where we come up with this point and this grace is most essential this grace is most essential we stand or fall on this truth of the gospel of grace as a church notice these things what things what he just spoke about verses 2 through 14 notice he says these things speak verse 15 go to verse 1 of chapter 2 you yourself what does he say speak the things proper for sound doctrine he begins with speaking he ends with speaking he's saying this on purpose

[29:23] I'm beginning to tell you this and I'm ending with this speak these things or teach these practical instructions exhort or urge or appeal to them to live like this third reprove those who teach otherwise and those in the body well he needed to teach and exhort and reprove not just because there were false teachers and there were but also because we are so forgetful aren't we that's why we gotta we gotta come together at least once a week to remind us of grace to remind you that there's forgiveness to remind you of how God calls us to live and what motivates us is that he saved us to remind you that you're redeemed to remind you that you've been sanctified to remind you that you belong to

[30:25] God to remind you of grace because you forget and so do I wait what were we just talking about see I just forgot again we still have remnants of sin we need to be urged from the word of God to be holy we need to be reminded of his grace and notice he says this with all authority Titus this is apostolic this is authentic this must be accentuated it's apostolic it's authentic and it must be accentuated Titus this is God's authority and this is what he wants for his church so don't let anyone disregard you shoot you down look down on you despise the things you speak don't let anyone even slightly reject this grace members you have this responsibility as well make sure this pulpit is preaching the grace of God and so

[31:26] I say the same thing to you I say it come with Bible church this is how your savior wants you to live to demonstrate the truth the dazzling display of Christ this is the grace of God this this motivating you towards living the truth hold on to this grace God's grace his instructing redeeming changing grace whereas we'll sing soon by grace I am redeemed by grace by grace I am redeemed by grace I am transformed I'm changed and I can run to Jesus I'm restored let's pray another one bell to you time