WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.780 Well, then we get to this third section as we've broken it up into three different stages, really. 00:00:04.900 --> 00:00:13.599 We get to this third section in verses 7 through 10, and Paul is shifting away from age groups or life stages that he's covered earlier in the chapter. 00:00:14.540 --> 00:00:20.559 And he deals with two unique categories of people in the church. 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:24.560 The first category of people in the church is the church leaders. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:34.119 They are represented by Titus, but of course, by extension, this would be the elders that Titus is to be appointing in these churches as well. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:36.979 We find them addressed in verses 7 and 8. 00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:43.399 And then the second category of people we find are Christian slaves in the church. 00:00:44.099 --> 00:00:46.060 We see this in verses 9 and 10. 00:00:47.219 --> 00:00:51.239 Through the years, our English translations have tried to soften this word. 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:56.240 It says bond servants probably in the translation that you're reading, or maybe it says servants. 00:00:57.020 --> 00:00:58.280 It's really, it's the word doulos. 00:00:58.359 --> 00:00:59.100 It's a slave. 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:04.780 And it's speaking directly to people who are enslaved in Crete. 00:01:06.180 --> 00:01:09.680 And Paul's saying that the gospel has something to say to them. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:14.000 That it not only has something to say to them in regards to their salvation, 00:01:14.460 --> 00:01:18.700 it actually has something to say to them in regards to their godliness as well. 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:23.100 So it's unique that Paul addresses these two different groups. 00:01:23.340 --> 00:01:26.219 And why is it that that should be important to us today? 00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:28.180 Most of us are not church leaders. 00:01:28.540 --> 00:01:30.140 None of us are enslaved people either. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:33.159 So how are we actually supposed to understand this? 00:01:33.939 --> 00:01:34.800 Why does it matter? 00:01:35.980 --> 00:01:38.840 Well, the instruction for church leaders teach us that 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:44.840 every Christian is responsible for following a pattern of godliness. 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:47.500 That's the purpose of the leaders. 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:51.739 They set a pattern that Christians must follow. 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:57.560 As they follow Christ, others will follow their example and follow Christ as well. 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:02.140 So does the things that Paul is saying to Titus matter to each and every one of us? 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:03.439 Of course they do. 00:02:03.659 --> 00:02:06.560 Because it's not instruction that's specifically for Titus. 00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:11.259 It's to be in Titus, but it's also supposed to be true of everyone else as well. 00:02:11.259 --> 00:02:20.780 The instructions for the slaves teach us that gospel conduct transcends even the most devastating 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:22.419 circumstances of our lives. 00:02:22.959 --> 00:02:26.159 And we're going to dig into that a little bit more in a few moments. 00:02:26.979 --> 00:02:31.979 Now we need to see the form of structure that Paul gives to both categories. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:35.739 He really structures his teaching the same way between the two groups. 00:02:35.740 --> 00:02:37.939 He commands specific actions. 00:02:38.320 --> 00:02:41.020 Those are indicated by imperative verbs. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:42.600 You can see it in verse 7. 00:02:42.980 --> 00:02:44.420 Show yourself, he says. 00:02:44.540 --> 00:02:45.920 And then you see it again in verse 9. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:47.320 Be submissive. 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:48.900 Those are imperative commands. 00:02:48.900 --> 00:02:56.159 But then those actions, those imperatives are further explained by the intended result that 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:56.580 they have. 00:02:56.640 --> 00:03:00.599 Here is the thing that you should do, and here is why you should do it. 00:03:01.020 --> 00:03:05.460 And that is indicated, of course, by the so that clauses. 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:08.379 So that an opponent may be put to shame. 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:14.439 So that we may adorn in everything the gospel and the doctrine of God our Savior. 00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:16.000 And so that's the form. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.520 And I think it would be helpful for us to acknowledge and recognize that form as we work through this 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:21.939 text together this morning, okay? 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:24.599 First, let's look at church leaders. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:25.719 Church leaders. 00:03:26.060 --> 00:03:27.379 Look with me again at verse 7. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:30.000 Paul says, show yourself. 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:31.960 He's speaking directly to Titus again now. 00:03:32.379 --> 00:03:37.460 Show yourself, Titus, in all respects to be a model of good works. 00:03:37.460 --> 00:03:56.760 Well, there's two specific commands given to Titus here. 00:03:57.300 --> 00:03:59.740 He is to display good works. 00:03:59.740 --> 00:04:05.300 Titus, and he is to teach the gospel in a manner that cannot be condemned. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:06.580 Those are the actions. 00:04:06.860 --> 00:04:13.200 But before we get into that, I want to take just a few moments to focus in on this one 00:04:13.200 --> 00:04:17.199 word that Paul uses, that Titus is to be a model. 00:04:17.780 --> 00:04:18.360 A model. 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:23.160 That's not complicated, and I don't mean to treat you as if you can't understand basic 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:23.560 things. 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:27.019 But I do think this is helpful, at least for me, and maybe it will be helpful for you. 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:33.360 The Greek that's underlying this particular word for model, this noun, is a term that refers 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:36.860 to the impression of a die, like a stamping die. 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:43.500 We could go to most of our kitchens today, and probably your wife has somewhere in the 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:45.360 kitchen a baking mold. 00:04:45.740 --> 00:04:49.980 Maybe it's a mold for a bundt cake. 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:52.420 Maybe it's a mold for muffins or something like that. 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:54.780 Julie and the girls have some of these in our kitchen at home. 00:04:55.080 --> 00:04:56.180 And what is the purpose of it? 00:04:56.740 --> 00:05:00.220 You make your batter, whatever it is that you're going to mix, and you pour it into the 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:04.879 mold so that after it's finished baking, the finished product, the muffin or the cupcake 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:11.340 or whatever it is, the cookie, it looks exactly like the mold in which it's been poured into. 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:17.300 We would think the same thing when we take our kids to the beach, and our kids like sand 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:21.120 toys, and they'll want to build a sand castle at some point. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.300 So they have toys that are molded. 00:05:23.379 --> 00:05:28.300 They set a pattern, and they can take that wet sand, and they can push it down into those 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:33.860 toys so that when they dump the sand out, it takes the form and the pattern of the bucket 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:37.120 or the other tools that they're using. 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:41.160 That's the idea that Paul is getting across here to Titus. 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:49.220 Titus, and by extension, the elders that he was to appoint, was to be a mold into which 00:05:49.220 --> 00:05:54.060 others could be poured and therefore bear a likeness to him. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:02.960 Like the apostle himself, Titus was to so follow the pattern set by Jesus Christ that the people 00:06:02.960 --> 00:06:09.100 following him would also bear the image of Christ in the way that they lived and ministered. 00:06:09.100 --> 00:06:13.920 Now that's important for us to understand here, because if we don't acknowledge that this 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:18.720 instruction is meant to be followed by everyone, then we're going to ignore it. 00:06:18.760 --> 00:06:20.140 We're going to completely miss the point. 00:06:21.200 --> 00:06:26.640 Titus, be a model, be a pattern for good works that the people in Crete will follow. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:32.280 Titus, be a model for teaching the gospel in a way that cannot be condemned so that the 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:37.979 people in the churches will also teach the gospel in a manner that cannot be condemned. 00:06:38.859 --> 00:06:48.259 In other words, the things Paul wrote must be true of Titus because they should be true 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:49.959 of every Christian. 00:06:51.019 --> 00:06:52.059 Do you see that? 00:06:53.019 --> 00:06:54.799 They must be true of Titus. 00:06:55.019 --> 00:06:56.419 They must be true of the elders. 00:06:56.420 --> 00:07:01.580 They must be true of the leaders at Lakeside Bible Church because they should be true of 00:07:01.580 --> 00:07:02.620 every other believer. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:07.400 And whatever pattern the leadership is going to set in the church, whatever pattern the 00:07:07.400 --> 00:07:12.300 leadership was going to set in the church here or then is what the church is ultimately 00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:13.120 going to become. 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:19.340 And so Paul says, model good works and faithful teaching. 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:21.860 Now let's consider those actions themselves. 00:07:21.860 --> 00:07:29.100 First, he says, show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works. 00:07:30.020 --> 00:07:37.500 We talk about good works a lot in Christianity, but it's generally used as a general term that 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:40.439 doesn't often get helpfully defined. 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:41.740 So I want to define it. 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:44.560 What do we actually mean by good works? 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:47.500 What does Paul mean by good works? 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:51.939 At the very least, it refers to righteousness. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:08:01.139 Righteousness in particular set in contrast to the sinful behaviors and ideas of the non-believing 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:01.680 culture. 00:08:02.379 --> 00:08:05.000 And we see this happening a lot in the book of Titus. 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:08.160 In chapter one, Paul deals with the false teachers. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:13.480 He deals with the cultural ideas and the cultural sins of the people in Crete. 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:18.000 And he says that the Christians here need to be standing in contrast to that. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:22.660 At the very least, good works refers to that. 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:30.620 It is fundamentally holiness that by God's grace sets a believer apart from the world in 00:08:30.620 --> 00:08:31.319 which they live. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:37.139 Allah was teaching the kids about this on Thursday night in the adventure club class about they 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:39.820 were defining holiness and they were talking about sanctification. 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:44.800 And there's this dynamic of holiness that I think is so important for us to understand. 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:49.440 Yes, it means set apart, but think in the Old Testament for just a moment. 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:56.379 As God commanded Moses in all the things related to the tabernacle and eventually the temple, 00:08:56.520 --> 00:08:58.400 but the tabernacle and all the instruments. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:01.500 Remember he said they were to be made holy to the Lord. 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:03.480 What does that actually mean? 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:08.220 That the instruments in there, the altar, all the things that were being used, 00:09:08.420 --> 00:09:13.620 they were devoted specifically for the glory and the purposes that God had given them. 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:20.080 So it wouldn't be right for Ashlyn if she lived amongst the children of Israel in those days. 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:23.159 It wouldn't have been right for her to decide she wanted to make a cake. 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:28.939 And so she just kind of runs into the tabernacle there and grabs one of the basins that they have 00:09:28.939 --> 00:09:32.059 to mix or batter together because all of hers were dirty. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:34.299 That would be unholy. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:37.459 Because those things have been devoted to God. 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:43.459 Now that's the idea of holiness when it comes to God setting apart his people in holiness. 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:48.399 He has set them apart, St. Clair Ferguson says, to be devoted to God. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:55.459 That everything about our lives is set apart by God to be devoted to his purposes and to his glory. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:00.559 And when we talk about good works in the Bible, fundamentally it is referring to holiness, 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:07.959 this devotion to God whereby God sets his people apart from the world in which they live. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:11.019 But it's not just that. 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:14.840 There's something more to it. 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:22.680 The biblical idea of good works is more than just resisting temptation and being orthodox in faith. 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:33.360 It also includes positive cultural engagement that is clearly evident to the watching world. 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:39.080 Consider Jesus' words on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5. 00:10:40.180 --> 00:10:41.019 Jesus says, 00:10:41.019 --> 00:11:11.000 He says, 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:12.340 It's being set apart. 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:13.360 It's devoted to God. 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:14.439 It's resisting sin. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:17.579 And it's devoting ourselves to orthodoxy in belief. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:18.600 But it's more than that. 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:23.480 It's living in such a way that other people can actually witness the good works. 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:30.819 They can witness the positive outcomes of the life as we are transformed by the power of Christ. 00:11:32.259 --> 00:11:40.439 Think about this in terms of first and second century Christians that we're reading about here in Titus. 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:45.480 The fruit of Christian works was abundantly evident in the centuries following this. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:54.160 Colin Hansen wrote that early Christianity was not only offensive to Jews and to Romans, but it was also attractive. 00:11:55.160 --> 00:11:55.960 And here's what he meant. 00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:57.420 He wrote, 00:11:57.420 --> 00:12:02.180 Christians opposed abortion and infanticide by adopting children. 00:12:03.280 --> 00:12:06.340 They didn't retaliate, but instead forgave. 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:09.660 They cared for the poor and marginalized. 00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:15.319 Their strict sexual ethic protected and empowered women and children. 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:20.559 Christian churches brought together hostile nations and ethnic groups. 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:29.139 Jesus broke apart the connection between religion and ethnicity when he revealed a God for every tribe and tongue and language. 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:36.980 Allegiance to Jesus trumped geography, nationality, and ethnicity in the church. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:43.319 And it wasn't that all of these things were producing salvation in these Christians. 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:48.000 No, this was the overflow of the gospel at work in their life. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:55.980 In the second and third centuries in the city of Rome, Rome was devastated by two different plagues. 00:12:56.980 --> 00:13:00.600 The second plague in the third century or second century, excuse me. 00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:01.960 No, this was the third century. 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:06.379 It had a mortality rate of 5,000 people a day at one point. 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:12.939 That's 35,000 people a week in a city that did not exceed in population, one million. 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:19.539 They didn't know how to cure the plagues that were coming upon them, whatever they might have been at that particular moment. 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:23.299 But the people eventually discovered that it was spread by contact. 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:28.000 So what inevitably happened is people began to flee the city of Rome. 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:32.700 Family members were leaving their family and their children to die in the city. 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:39.660 Doctors, the people who had whatever knowledge was possible to try to help overcome this, also left the city. 00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:44.060 But not the Christians, says Tim Keller. 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:46.720 The Christians stayed in the cities. 00:13:47.680 --> 00:13:52.560 Not only did they care for their own sick, but they had dynamic nursing services to others. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.759 They went out and brought in. 00:13:54.920 --> 00:13:58.020 They cared for all sorts of the pagan sick. 00:13:58.140 --> 00:14:01.220 And as a result, many of them died. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:04.660 You say, well, wasn't that such a waste? 00:14:05.940 --> 00:14:12.100 These Christians could have gone out and they could have gone around to other places around the world, perhaps sharing the gospel with others. 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:14.460 But because they decided to stay, they lost their lives. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:15.400 And what good was that? 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.900 It was actually tremendous good. 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:22.340 Because the people that they were helping were also hearing this gospel of Jesus. 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:24.520 People were being converted to Christ. 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:36.480 And as a result of their commitment to good works in that time, we see the progression of the gospel flourishing and beginning to flourish in the city of Rome in the time thereafter. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:39.019 And here's what I mean by all of that. 00:14:39.439 --> 00:14:40.759 We must preach the gospel. 00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:50.279 But a gospel that doesn't affect the way that we live in regards to the way we view humanity and the way that we help others is not a true gospel. 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:58.240 Christians sacrifice their wealth to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:05.319 Using a parable, Jesus said that in the final judgment, Christians will be commended because he says, 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:07.439 For I was hungry and you gave me food. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:09.559 I was thirsty and you gave me drink. 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:11.879 I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 00:15:11.959 --> 00:15:13.799 I was naked and you clothed me. 00:15:13.939 --> 00:15:15.879 I was sick and you visited me. 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:18.419 I was in prison and you came to me. 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:25.439 Christians sacrifice their time to care for the widow and orphan. 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.259 James chapter 1 says, 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:32.699 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this, 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:39.179 to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:46.259 Christians give their voice to defend the oppressed and afflicted. 00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:48.580 Isaiah chapter 1. 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.519 Learn to do good. 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:53.080 Seek justice. 00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:54.659 Correct oppression. 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:56.860 Bring justice to the fatherless. 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.659 Plead the widow's cause. 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:02.939 Of course, these works do not earn salvation, 00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:08.319 but they reveal the radical transformation that's brought about as a result of salvation. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:15.020 They declare the gospel of Jesus in a way that can be seen rather than only heard. 00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:17.440 Martin Luther said, 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.080 Because the heathen cannot see our faith, 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.940 they ought to see our works, 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.720 then hear our doctrine, 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:26.400 and then be converted. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:30.000 And we have this tendency sometimes, 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:31.959 there's ditches on both sides of the road here. 00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:36.059 We have this tendency on one end of cultural accommodation, 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:39.539 where we come into the world and we end up losing the gospel 00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:42.799 because all we care about is positive cultural engagement, 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:45.100 but we never actually bring the name of Christ. 00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:47.079 We never actually bring the gospel of Christ. 00:16:47.439 --> 00:16:49.399 What we ultimately end up doing in that situation 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:52.799 is we accommodate ourselves to the culture. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.779 Intending to help them, 00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:56.220 we become like them. 00:16:57.579 --> 00:17:00.399 On the other side of this is cultural isolation, 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:05.279 where we determine that the world is too sinful for us 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:07.039 and it is too far gone for us, 00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:09.599 so I'm just going to isolate myself from it. 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:13.539 And I'm not going to be involved in any way with the culture that's around me. 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:16.980 I'm going to keep my faith to myself and to my Christian community. 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:19.740 And then the world never actually sees our good works. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:22.579 And they never hear our gospel message. 00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:27.160 And somewhere in the mix of that is the impossible. 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:30.139 And it's the impossible that Jesus calls us to 00:17:30.139 --> 00:17:31.599 when he tells his disciples, 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:33.500 I am sending you into the world, 00:17:33.639 --> 00:17:35.500 but I don't want you to be of the world. 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:40.339 So Jesus takes away the option of cultural isolation. 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.500 He says, you must be in the world. 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:45.700 And then he removes the option of cultural accommodation. 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:47.359 And he says, while you're in the world, 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:50.740 you need to look very different from that world around you. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:55.339 And it's a battle for us. 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:57.660 It's a constant tug of war. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.160 What do we do? 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:01.680 Who are we supposed to see? 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.940 How are we to be involved? 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:06.579 And at the end of it is good works. 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.259 Informed by the gospel. 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.579 Founded on the gospel. 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:15.740 But has compassion and mercy for others. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:20.740 So that the faithful Christian life is marked by works of mercy 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:23.099 and compassion and unity. 00:18:23.899 --> 00:18:28.099 Because Jesus' life was marked by such radical love. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.379 Mark chapter 10. 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:34.339 For even the Son of Man came not to be served, 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.599 but to serve. 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.759 And how did he do that? 00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:40.659 By giving his life a ransom for many. 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:43.320 Well, how do we follow that pattern? 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.880 You can't give your life a ransom for anyone. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:49.240 You can give your wealth to feed the hungry 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.519 and to clothe the naked. 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:54.600 You can give your time to care for the orphan and the widow. 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:57.340 You can give your voice and your vote 00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:59.740 to help the afflicted and the oppressed. 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:05.660 Well, he's not only to be a model of good works, 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:08.180 he's to be a model of gospel teaching. 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.779 Look again at verse 7. 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:13.519 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.980 And in your teaching, 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:19.400 show integrity, dignity, and sound speech 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.500 that cannot be condemned. 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:24.559 So in the case of these verses, 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:28.779 Paul is primarily concerned with Titus' manner of teaching, 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:32.140 more so than he is the content of his teaching. 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:34.980 Now, that's not to say that the content doesn't matter. 00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:35.960 Of course, it does. 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:38.380 We've covered that extensively already in this book. 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:40.079 But in this verse, 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:44.500 he's concerned with the way that Titus teaches. 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:48.140 He was to put the gospel on display in his teaching 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:53.180 through teaching it with integrity and dignity and sound speech. 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:56.039 Integrity speaks to motives. 00:19:57.319 --> 00:20:02.920 The false teachers in Crete wanted to be the social influencers of the first century. 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:05.279 They wanted to build their own brands, 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:06.880 and they wanted to build their own wealth. 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:08.300 We saw that in chapter 1. 00:20:08.820 --> 00:20:09.960 Titus wasn't to do that. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:13.080 Titus and the elders in the churches, on the other hand, 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:15.740 were to preach the gospel with pure motives 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:19.039 for the glory of God and for the good of his people. 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:23.800 Dignity refers to Titus' manner, 00:20:24.800 --> 00:20:25.620 his persona. 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:31.819 He was to present the gospel in a way that was worthy of respect, 00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.659 is what dignity means. 00:20:35.419 --> 00:20:37.919 Sound speech certainly includes the right message, 00:20:38.239 --> 00:20:41.019 but it also involves the gracious and winsome words 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:43.939 of speaking grace and persuading others 00:20:43.939 --> 00:20:45.579 to believe the truth of the gospel. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:50.359 He was to boldly declare the gospel with a spirit 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:52.479 that could not be condemned. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:57.180 Of course, Colossians 4 helps us with this. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:00.500 Walk in wisdom toward others, Paul writes, 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.839 making the best use of the time. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:06.720 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, that is, toward unbelievers. 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:09.960 Let your speech be always gracious, 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.980 seasoned with salt. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.160 That means useful, 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:18.740 so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:20.079 He tells Titus here, 00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:21.319 as you preach the gospel, 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:23.619 do it with integrity and dignity and sound speech. 00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:25.899 Be gracious in the way you preach the gospel. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:28.339 Be salty in the way you preach the gospel. 00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:29.779 Not as a curmudgeon, 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:32.220 not as we mean salty in that sense, 00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:34.379 but salty in the fact that you're actually useful. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:39.419 That people can get beyond the way of your teaching 00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:42.839 to actually hear the message that you're proclaiming to them. 00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:46.000 And what's the intended result of all this? 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:47.259 There's the model of good works, 00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.720 there's the model of gospel teaching, 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:51.200 and then in verse 8 we see the intended result. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:55.620 So that an opponent may be put to shame, 00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:59.640 having nothing evil to say about us. 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:03.180 What's the result here? 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:06.600 Silencing gospel opponents. 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:10.240 Put to shame here as passive. 00:22:11.899 --> 00:22:15.759 Meaning our works and our words should shame our enemies 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:21.379 rather than fuel the fires of their indignation towards us. 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:23.019 Do you see the difference in that? 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.719 That the way that we live, 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:27.199 even if they hate our message, 00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:28.500 and they hate our purpose, 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.759 and they hate everything that we're doing, 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:31.659 that the way that we live, 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:33.099 and the way that we speak, 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.839 and the way that we preach, 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:37.819 does not fuel the fire of their condemnation, 00:22:37.939 --> 00:22:39.459 but it actually puts them to shame 00:22:39.459 --> 00:22:43.279 because they cannot justifiably condemn us. 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:46.259 That their condemnation clearly comes 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:48.959 as a result of their hatred for Christ and his gospel, 00:22:49.199 --> 00:22:51.859 not a hatred for the sins of our own lives 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:53.500 in the way that we treat everyone else. 00:22:54.959 --> 00:22:56.679 It's an important dynamic here. 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:00.240 Notice that this doesn't guarantee their conversion. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:03.059 That's not the object here. 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:05.120 Not at least in this verse. 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:07.599 It doesn't guarantee their conversion. 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:10.700 It prevents them from having a justifiable reason 00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:12.420 to speak evil of Christians 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:15.380 and therefore speak evil of the gospel 00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:17.420 because that's exactly what happens. 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:21.319 You read news articles 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:23.279 or maybe you listen to podcasts or whatever it is. 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:26.980 If you're immersed in any kind of Christian cultural information, 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:30.400 then you're going to find every time, 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:34.900 every time someone is going through these deconstruction phases 00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:36.759 in their faith as it's come to be called, 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:41.559 it almost inevitably starts with the sin of another Christian. 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:44.620 And rather than looking to the person of Christ 00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:47.740 and the truth of what Christians should be in Christ, 00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:49.299 they take their eyes off of Christ 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:51.140 and they look at all of these sinful men 00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:53.519 and they see the pattern of these sinful men 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:56.440 and what they ultimately do is renounce the gospel 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:58.400 instead of just renouncing the men. 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:02.000 And Paul's telling Titus here, 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:05.839 live in such a way that that cannot be said of you. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:09.240 That anyone who's rejecting the gospel 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:13.500 must reject it on the sole basis of their hatred for the gospel, 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:15.819 not because you've communicated it 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:18.759 in such an unpalatable way that they hate you. 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:25.839 The Bible guarantees that the world will hate us, 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:29.599 but you don't have to invite that hate. 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:34.180 It guarantees that they'll persecute us. 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:37.140 That doesn't mean that your persona on social media 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:40.740 needs to agitate them so that they will persecute you. 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.379 That's foolish. 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:45.039 It doesn't glorify God. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:49.579 It actually condemns the gospel. 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:54.240 If the world must hate us, 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:56.720 let it be for the truth that we proclaim, 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:01.079 not for the way that we communicate that truth. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.859 If they must despise us, 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:08.879 let it be for the gospel consistency of our lives 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:10.920 that brings conviction to their own 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:13.779 rather than the religious hypocrisy 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:15.779 that has become part and parcel 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:18.060 of those who name the name of Christ. 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:22.680 Well, that's for church leaders. 00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:26.019 Secondly, he deals with Christian slaves. 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.840 Christian slaves. 00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.140 Verse nine, 00:25:29.560 --> 00:25:31.920 bond servants or slaves are to be submissive 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:33.460 to their own masters in everything. 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:36.640 They are to be well-pleasing, 00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:38.700 not argumentative, 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:40.360 not pilfering, 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.779 but showing all good faith 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:44.319 so that in everything they may adorn 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:45.440 the doctrine of God, 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:47.220 our Savior. 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:51.840 Now, before we jump into Paul's instructions here 00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.980 for enslaved people, 00:25:53.840 --> 00:25:57.559 let's bring some clarifying understanding, 00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:57.960 perhaps, 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.640 of the New Testament's view 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:01.039 and understanding of slavery. 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:04.319 Because we can't get beyond the fact 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:06.819 that the New Testament addresses slaves 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:08.799 in their enslaved condition 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:11.299 many, many times in the New Testament. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.680 The apostles do this. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:15.920 But it doesn't always have in view 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:17.960 the kind of chattel slavery 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:21.000 that we think of in terms of American history 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.440 and American slavery. 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.859 The Christian ethic 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:27.139 represented in the New Testament 00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:28.980 always rejects kidnapping. 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:31.180 It rejects enslaving. 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:33.660 It rejects dehumanizing people 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.620 so much so 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:36.140 that in American history, 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.079 the enslavers, 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:38.620 when they would give these slaves, 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.339 American slaves, 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:39.799 a Bible, 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.279 there's portions of the Bible 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.420 they would actually remove 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.579 because they were afraid 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.220 that the slaves 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.220 are going to read the Bible 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.620 and think that God 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:48.599 was against slavery 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:50.579 in the way that they were dealing with it. 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.819 That's how plain the Bible 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.819 is actually about this. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:54.220 We need to understand that. 00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:56.960 Slavery and the ongoing remnants 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.840 of social prejudice 00:26:58.840 --> 00:27:00.120 and racial prejudice 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:02.180 that it has produced in our nation 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:03.360 are egregious sins. 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:05.740 They need to be lamented 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.840 and repented of, 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:09.079 not defended in any way. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.640 And the Bible doesn't do that. 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.960 The Bible doesn't give us grounds 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.900 for defending it. 00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.680 But it is true 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:16.420 that the culture of the New Testament, 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:20.299 while including this kind of 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:22.220 egregious slavery, 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:25.160 was actually much broader than that. 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:27.360 It was a culture of slavery 00:27:27.360 --> 00:27:28.559 that involved apprenticeship. 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:32.460 It involved indentured relationships, 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.480 domestic workers, 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.440 government officials. 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.640 If you wanted to become 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:37.559 a Roman citizen as an adult, 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.700 you could be adopted 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:40.220 by a Roman family 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:41.559 and that would be your pathway 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.420 to citizenship. 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:44.220 There were economical arrangements 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:46.640 where slaves would 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:49.059 volitionally choose slavery 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:50.360 in order to get ahead 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:51.919 in some kind of way in their life, 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.219 whether it was economically 00:27:53.219 --> 00:27:54.279 or whether it was through 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.379 social status. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.839 And there were term limits 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.659 set on that 00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.339 and there were things 00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:59.740 that they went through 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.679 that they thought, 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:02.199 the slave themselves thought, 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:04.019 was actually putting them forward 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:06.379 in society. 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:08.039 And I don't mean to paint 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:10.099 a rosy picture of slavery here 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:10.979 because that's not at all 00:28:10.979 --> 00:28:11.479 what it was. 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.639 Even those who entered slavery 00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.379 volitionally 00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:16.799 were subjected to harsh practices. 00:28:17.879 --> 00:28:19.159 They were dehumanized 00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:19.879 by their masters. 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:21.260 They were often mistreated 00:28:21.260 --> 00:28:22.740 by their masters. 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.020 But it wasn't always 00:28:24.020 --> 00:28:25.560 the dynamic that we think of 00:28:25.560 --> 00:28:26.620 or at least the culture of it 00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:27.700 wasn't always the dynamic 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:29.420 that we think of today. 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:31.840 Which is why the New Testament, 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:33.340 while condemning the things 00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:34.640 related to slavery, 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:38.380 did not often hit head on 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:40.260 the issue of slavery. 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:42.580 Rather, the New Testament 00:28:42.580 --> 00:28:44.520 speaks directly to enslavers 00:28:44.520 --> 00:28:46.440 and to the slaves. 00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:47.720 Why? 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:50.539 Because the gospel is for them 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:52.480 and the gospel has something 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.700 to say to them 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:56.279 in their current condition. 00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.940 And when we think about that 00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:58.960 in the terms of the New Testament, 00:28:59.100 --> 00:29:00.160 that's what's happening 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:00.839 and that's what we need 00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:01.400 to understand. 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:03.120 So what is it that Paul's saying here? 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.940 He's not condoning slavery. 00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:07.839 Neither is he promoting it. 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:09.279 He's just acknowledging 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:10.940 that it's a reality in Crete 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:12.400 and he wants to say something 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.220 to the Christians 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.420 who are caught up 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:15.720 in that particular structure 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:17.019 of their culture. 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.640 And he says 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:21.100 that they need to be submissive 00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:22.640 in everything. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.519 That's verse 9. 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:27.120 Slaves are to be submissive 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:28.180 to their own masters 00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:29.900 in everything. 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.600 And of course, 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.200 that submission 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:33.380 has clear limitations. 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:34.860 The Bible 00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:36.819 never commands someone 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.960 to obey man 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.759 in a way that would 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.720 sin against God. 00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.200 And of course, 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.819 that is not Paul's intention 00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.480 here either. 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.480 The sense here 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.519 is that they are to 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:47.480 willingly submit themselves 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.580 to their masters, 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.400 Christian or not, 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:52.880 insofar as their duties 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:54.000 do not violate 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.400 the Word of God. 00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:57.720 Which is further revealed 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.640 when Paul says 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:00.240 how he intends 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.160 for them to obey, 00:30:01.340 --> 00:30:02.720 which is listed for us here. 00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.620 He gives two positives 00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.660 and then two negatives. 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:06.000 The first thing he says 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.819 is they are to be 00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.860 well-pleasing. 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.160 This is how they're 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:09.600 going to submit. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.039 This is how they're 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.859 going to display 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.439 this submission. 00:30:11.699 --> 00:30:12.199 They're going to be 00:30:12.199 --> 00:30:12.879 well-pleasing, 00:30:12.959 --> 00:30:13.639 which simply means 00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:14.939 that they are to serve 00:30:14.939 --> 00:30:15.980 and behave in a way 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.159 that is pleasing 00:30:17.159 --> 00:30:18.079 to their authorities. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.959 That it is to be done 00:30:19.959 --> 00:30:20.799 genuinely 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:22.639 with the aim 00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:23.899 of glorifying God 00:30:23.899 --> 00:30:25.219 with their behavior. 00:30:26.679 --> 00:30:27.459 Let me just read 00:30:27.459 --> 00:30:28.519 Colossians chapter 3 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.119 so it gives 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:30.059 some more clarity 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:31.059 to this. 00:30:31.439 --> 00:30:32.779 Slaves obey in everything 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.559 those who are 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.619 your earthly masters, 00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:37.179 not by way of eye service. 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.179 In other words, 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.399 not just when they're looking, 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:42.679 not as people-pleasers, 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.659 just putting on a front, 00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:46.399 but he says, 00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:48.539 with sincerity of heart, 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:50.439 fearing the Lord. 00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:52.639 Whatever you do, 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.459 work heartily 00:30:53.459 --> 00:30:55.379 as for the Lord 00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:57.219 and not for men, 00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:59.399 knowing that from the Lord 00:30:59.399 --> 00:31:00.159 you will receive 00:31:00.159 --> 00:31:00.759 the inheritance 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.619 of your reward. 00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:03.679 You are serving 00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:04.559 the Lord Christ. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.639 That's what he means 00:31:05.639 --> 00:31:06.539 by well-pleasing, 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.720 that they're not 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.599 to put on a show, 00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:09.480 that they're not 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.000 to only do 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.599 what they're supposed 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.960 to do when their 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:13.259 authorities are looking on, 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.379 but they're to look 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.159 at their condition 00:31:15.159 --> 00:31:16.319 as a way to glorify 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:18.099 the Lord even in their work. 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.279 He says, 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.700 they're not to be argumentative. 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.899 This refers to that 00:31:22.899 --> 00:31:25.000 kind of contrarian attitude 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:27.299 that pushes against authority 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:28.059 no matter what. 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:30.819 This is what we do 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.519 when we're teenagers. 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.980 We so hate authority 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.599 that it doesn't matter 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.799 if the instruction is good 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.519 and even helpful, 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.940 we're going to push against it 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.819 just because we hate 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.259 the authority 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:41.279 that's put in our lives. 00:31:41.659 --> 00:31:42.039 Of course, 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:42.619 that's not limited 00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:43.220 to teenagers. 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:45.220 I'm 36 years old almost 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.759 and I still do that often. 00:31:48.179 --> 00:31:48.980 That's what he's saying. 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.639 He said, 00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:51.099 don't have a contrarian attitude 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:53.000 where you just constantly 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.940 push against 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.859 no matter what. 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:56.319 He says, 00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:56.980 not pilfering, 00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.720 that's just thievery. 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.740 Don't steal from them. 00:31:58.860 --> 00:32:00.279 Don't misuse the privileges 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.140 that may be gained 00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:01.720 from your work. 00:32:01.860 --> 00:32:02.259 He says, 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:03.960 showing all good faith, 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.500 faithful to the Lord, 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.940 faithful to their work 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.799 and the things that they do. 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:08.539 That's the action. 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:10.059 What's the intended result? 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:10.940 Verse 10. 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:16.559 So that in everything 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:19.360 they may adorn the doctrine 00:32:19.360 --> 00:32:21.640 of God our Savior. 00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:23.400 So what's the point 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:23.940 of all of that? 00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.579 Christian slaves 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.440 were to submit 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.000 in everything 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:29.960 so that they might glorify God 00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:31.340 in everything. 00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:36.140 And he uses this word adorn. 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.840 And I love this word. 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.140 There was a culture 00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:39.820 of adornment. 00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.980 You can actually look this up. 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.759 That's what it was called, 00:32:41.840 --> 00:32:43.039 a culture of adornment 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.759 in ancient Greek 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.039 and Roman societies 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.180 where it's very similar 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:47.720 to our own, 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:49.340 where statements were made 00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:50.700 by the way that people dressed 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.519 or the way that they 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:53.080 accessorized their bodies. 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:54.279 We do the same thing. 00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.759 They did it really 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.960 to an extreme. 00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.859 1 Timothy and 1 Peter 00:32:58.859 --> 00:33:00.119 both deal with this 00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:01.839 in terms of living 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.579 in such a way 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:03.980 that our adornment 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:06.079 is modest, 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.779 pleasing to the Lord, 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.799 looking to show our faith 00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:11.639 rather than to show 00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:12.740 our social status 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.680 or our wealth 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.899 or whatever it is 00:33:14.899 --> 00:33:16.059 that we may be trying 00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:16.819 to prove in the way 00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:17.819 that we carry ourselves. 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:20.480 Here, Paul says 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.319 that when slaves 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.559 behave in this way, 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.319 these four categories, 00:33:25.179 --> 00:33:27.839 that they wear 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.960 the gospel of Jesus. 00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.059 It's like putting on a coat. 00:33:30.379 --> 00:33:31.419 They put on the gospel 00:33:31.419 --> 00:33:32.179 of Jesus, 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:34.179 putting it on display 00:33:34.179 --> 00:33:36.319 for everyone to see. 00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:40.359 It's a transcendent gospel 00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:41.019 that we have. 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.700 It transcends 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.559 every circumstance 00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:46.659 that you may find yourself. 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:50.539 And that's proven further 00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:51.480 in the very next verse. 00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:52.240 We'll get there next, 00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:53.159 or two weeks from now, 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.720 but look at verse number 11. 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:56.259 Look what the very next sentence 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.059 is that Paul writes 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.519 in this letter. 00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.519 He says, 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.359 do this so that you can 00:34:00.359 --> 00:34:00.799 in everything 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.619 adorn the doctrine 00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:02.200 of God our Savior 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:04.099 for the grace of God 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:04.759 has appeared, 00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:06.240 bringing salvation 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.500 for what people? 00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:10.159 all people. 00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:13.320 It's a transcendent gospel. 00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.420 What did this mean 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:15.039 for these people? 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.500 This meant that 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.500 the gospel of Jesus 00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.840 extended to those 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:20.679 in society 00:34:20.679 --> 00:34:22.460 whom their culture 00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:24.099 considered worthless 00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:25.860 and servile. 00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:28.239 When the world 00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:29.480 had looked at these slaves 00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:29.920 and said, 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:30.840 you're not even worth 00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:31.579 being counted 00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:32.840 as a human being, 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:35.280 the gospel says, 00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:35.740 no, 00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:37.780 you're valuable. 00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:41.660 You have worth 00:34:41.660 --> 00:34:44.360 if not to the people 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:45.039 in your life, 00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:46.059 to the God 00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:46.960 who has created you. 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:49.659 It also meant 00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:51.460 that a believing slave 00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:52.199 could understand 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:53.480 that the gospel of Jesus 00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:55.420 extended to the very people 00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.980 who were abusing them, 00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:58.500 to the very people 00:34:58.500 --> 00:35:00.000 who were ruling over them, 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:01.579 sometimes ruthlessly. 00:35:02.260 --> 00:35:03.119 And here's the point. 00:35:04.199 --> 00:35:05.679 You may not look like much 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.320 to the world, 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:07.679 but to Jesus, 00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:08.940 you're wanted 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.220 as much as anyone else. 00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:15.679 Your sin may be so egregious 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:16.779 that you would be 00:35:16.779 --> 00:35:18.119 utterly embarrassed 00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:19.619 if the people in this room 00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:21.199 knew what you had done 00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:22.480 and knew what you maybe 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.399 are doing 00:35:23.399 --> 00:35:25.099 and knew what the condition 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.679 of your heart 00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:26.239 and the condition 00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:27.199 of your mind is. 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.899 But to Jesus, 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:31.799 you're never beyond mercy 00:35:31.799 --> 00:35:33.440 and forgiveness 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:35.599 and eternal life. 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:41.179 Jesus loves you. 00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:45.319 It is never wrong 00:35:45.319 --> 00:35:46.440 when we say 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:48.899 Jesus loves you. 00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:51.440 The very fact 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.599 that you have life 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.699 proves it. 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:56.099 Because the holiness 00:35:56.099 --> 00:35:57.239 of God dictates 00:35:57.239 --> 00:35:58.119 that at the moment 00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:59.000 that we fall short 00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.599 of his glory, 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.980 he is worthy 00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:02.579 and he is justified 00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:04.059 to take our lives immediately, 00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:05.480 but that's not what he does. 00:36:05.879 --> 00:36:07.139 He gives us life 00:36:07.139 --> 00:36:09.420 and he gives us pleasures 00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:11.379 and he gives us provisions 00:36:11.379 --> 00:36:13.659 and he loves us to the end, 00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:14.679 but here's the best part. 00:36:14.779 --> 00:36:16.539 It's not seen anywhere greater 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.900 than on the cross. 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:21.599 And we know the verse well. 00:36:22.839 --> 00:36:25.000 For God so loved the world 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:27.319 that he gave his only son 00:36:27.319 --> 00:36:28.960 that whoever will believe, 00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:30.440 whoever will believe, 00:36:30.779 --> 00:36:32.299 will have eternal life 00:36:32.299 --> 00:36:33.619 and find forgiveness. 00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:36.119 That's not because God hates you. 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:38.579 That's because God loves you 00:36:38.579 --> 00:36:40.219 and Jesus calls you 00:36:40.219 --> 00:36:41.380 into this love 00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:42.159 when he says, 00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:43.079 come to me, 00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:44.539 all who are weak 00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:45.599 and heavy laden 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:47.079 and I will give you rest. 00:36:47.259 --> 00:36:47.859 When he says, 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:48.480 come to me 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:50.179 and I will never cast you out. 00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:52.579 This transcendent gospel 00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:53.839 for these slaves meant 00:36:53.839 --> 00:36:55.679 that they weren't so low 00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:57.239 despite what everybody else says 00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:59.539 that Jesus couldn't send his love, 00:36:59.839 --> 00:37:01.659 that Jesus didn't extend his love 00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:03.579 and that Jesus didn't care either. 00:37:04.659 --> 00:37:05.319 It's a gospel 00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:06.620 they could relish in, 00:37:07.480 --> 00:37:08.559 a true gospel, 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:10.080 but it's a gospel 00:37:10.080 --> 00:37:11.220 that they could turn around 00:37:11.220 --> 00:37:11.860 and display 00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:13.880 to their unbelieving masters 00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:15.720 because that gospel extends 00:37:15.720 --> 00:37:17.500 to the egregious sinners 00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.480 that was true 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:20.960 of their earthly masters. 00:37:21.780 --> 00:37:22.860 And they could say, 00:37:23.400 --> 00:37:24.160 Jesus loves you 00:37:24.160 --> 00:37:25.280 as much as he loves me. 00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:27.700 And if you believe him, 00:37:27.740 --> 00:37:28.380 he'll save you 00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:29.460 like he saved me. 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:32.000 And the result of that 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:33.519 will be transforming your life 00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:35.900 and transforming your thoughts. 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:38.019 You'll receive forgiveness 00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:39.039 and eternal life. 00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:40.960 This is a wonderful gospel. 00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:44.320 It's a wonderful gospel. 00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:48.120 And it speaks to everyone 00:37:48.120 --> 00:37:51.100 no matter what their circumstance is, 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:53.440 no matter what the extent 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:54.519 of their sin is. 00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:56.539 It speaks to you. 00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:59.039 It is for you. 00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:02.080 And Christ invites you 00:38:02.080 --> 00:38:03.640 into this love. 00:38:04.620 --> 00:38:06.140 He invites you to receive it 00:38:06.140 --> 00:38:06.860 by faith 00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:08.780 in what he has done for you 00:38:08.780 --> 00:38:09.519 on the cross 00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:11.440 and what he has provided 00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:11.880 for you 00:38:11.880 --> 00:38:12.699 in his resurrection. 00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:17.340 There might be some room 00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:18.699 for us to apply these verses. 00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:19.139 In fact, 00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:20.960 I've been tempted all week 00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:22.860 in regards to these last two verses 00:38:22.860 --> 00:38:24.780 to apply this to our work 00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:25.380 and our jobs. 00:38:25.480 --> 00:38:26.619 But that's not the point. 00:38:27.380 --> 00:38:28.099 That's not the point 00:38:28.099 --> 00:38:29.219 of what Paul's doing here. 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:31.800 The point is that 00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:33.320 gospel transformation 00:38:33.320 --> 00:38:34.539 and conduct 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:36.820 transcends every circumstance 00:38:36.820 --> 00:38:37.380 of life. 00:38:39.519 --> 00:38:40.659 No amount of hardship 00:38:40.659 --> 00:38:42.460 or hurt 00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:44.539 or failure 00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:46.860 is an excuse 00:38:46.860 --> 00:38:48.139 for not living 00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:49.059 a godly life 00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:50.320 if you're a believer. 00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:52.599 No circumstance. 00:38:55.679 --> 00:38:56.920 We look at some people 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.420 and we say, 00:38:57.500 --> 00:38:57.860 you know what? 00:38:57.880 --> 00:38:58.980 They've been through so much. 00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:00.440 They have every right 00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:03.360 to be mad at God 00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:05.940 or to doubt him. 00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:07.320 That's not true. 00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:09.539 We never have a right 00:39:09.539 --> 00:39:09.940 for that. 00:39:12.680 --> 00:39:13.620 We look at people 00:39:13.620 --> 00:39:14.480 and the circumstances 00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.180 of some of these 00:39:15.180 --> 00:39:16.460 Christians in creed 00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:17.900 and their slavery, 00:39:18.180 --> 00:39:19.519 whatever their situation 00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:20.019 may have been 00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:20.920 in regards to that 00:39:20.920 --> 00:39:21.440 and we would say, 00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:22.000 you know what? 00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:23.019 Who cares? 00:39:24.180 --> 00:39:25.100 Let them rebel. 00:39:26.260 --> 00:39:27.180 Look at the condition 00:39:27.180 --> 00:39:27.820 of their life. 00:39:28.660 --> 00:39:29.019 Paul says, 00:39:29.080 --> 00:39:29.600 no, the gospel 00:39:29.600 --> 00:39:30.660 says different than that. 00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:34.140 There's never an excuse 00:39:34.140 --> 00:39:34.740 for us 00:39:34.740 --> 00:39:35.980 to abandon 00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:36.880 in godly behavior. 00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:38.740 Our hardships 00:39:38.740 --> 00:39:40.039 actually do the opposite. 00:39:40.740 --> 00:39:41.400 Our hardships 00:39:41.400 --> 00:39:42.940 provide a backdrop 00:39:42.940 --> 00:39:43.639 against which 00:39:43.639 --> 00:39:44.219 the gospel 00:39:44.219 --> 00:39:45.240 shines the brightest. 00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:48.539 That's the point here. 00:39:49.800 --> 00:39:50.659 Like a jeweler, 00:39:50.740 --> 00:39:52.079 I remember in the days, 00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:52.960 it's probably been 00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:54.079 about 15 years now 00:39:54.079 --> 00:39:54.920 since I've looked 00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:55.860 for jewelry for Julie 00:39:55.860 --> 00:39:58.000 and I remember 00:39:58.000 --> 00:39:59.300 looking for engagement rings 00:39:59.300 --> 00:39:59.860 and she told me 00:39:59.860 --> 00:40:00.380 what she liked 00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:01.599 and I went to Jared's 00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:02.820 and they pulled out 00:40:02.820 --> 00:40:03.659 because I have to get it 00:40:03.659 --> 00:40:03.960 from there 00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:06.399 and they pull out 00:40:06.399 --> 00:40:06.699 the thing. 00:40:06.839 --> 00:40:07.339 You know, guys, 00:40:07.420 --> 00:40:08.159 you know how they do it. 00:40:08.239 --> 00:40:09.299 They pull out the thing 00:40:09.299 --> 00:40:11.960 and they put all 00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:13.219 of the really expensive 00:40:13.219 --> 00:40:16.579 rocks on the black felt. 00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:17.839 You know what I'm talking about? 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:18.779 They don't set it 00:40:18.779 --> 00:40:19.399 on the glass 00:40:19.399 --> 00:40:20.500 because you won't 00:40:20.500 --> 00:40:21.019 see it well 00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.579 on the glass. 00:40:22.579 --> 00:40:23.279 They won't put it 00:40:23.279 --> 00:40:24.059 on a white backdrop 00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:24.739 or a gray backdrop. 00:40:24.819 --> 00:40:26.119 No, they got these black ones 00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:26.879 that's just as black 00:40:26.879 --> 00:40:27.339 as can be 00:40:27.339 --> 00:40:28.599 and they stick them in there 00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:29.099 and then they take 00:40:29.099 --> 00:40:29.659 these lights. 00:40:29.739 --> 00:40:30.739 They're not fluorescent lights. 00:40:30.739 --> 00:40:31.679 They're these spotlights 00:40:31.679 --> 00:40:32.399 and they shine them 00:40:32.399 --> 00:40:34.099 directly on this rock 00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:36.379 so that when your girlfriend 00:40:36.379 --> 00:40:37.399 sees these rocks, 00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:37.759 Brian, 00:40:37.859 --> 00:40:38.379 when your girlfriend 00:40:38.379 --> 00:40:39.139 sees these rocks 00:40:39.139 --> 00:40:40.059 and she's like, 00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:42.000 sorry, Brian, 00:40:42.379 --> 00:40:44.539 she sees these rocks 00:40:44.539 --> 00:40:45.799 and she's like, 00:40:45.980 --> 00:40:46.359 wow, 00:40:47.059 --> 00:40:48.139 wow, 00:40:48.659 --> 00:40:50.699 it's so beautiful. 00:40:52.500 --> 00:40:54.199 Look how glorious it is. 00:40:56.299 --> 00:40:57.759 That's what Paul's saying here. 00:40:57.760 --> 00:41:00.280 The hardships of our lives 00:41:00.280 --> 00:41:01.800 are like that black felt. 00:41:03.560 --> 00:41:04.640 Sometimes the circumstances 00:41:04.640 --> 00:41:05.620 of our life we feel 00:41:05.620 --> 00:41:06.020 are unfair 00:41:06.020 --> 00:41:07.080 and from a human perspective 00:41:07.080 --> 00:41:07.860 they very much are. 00:41:09.780 --> 00:41:11.820 Maybe it's struggles 00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:12.380 with your work 00:41:12.380 --> 00:41:13.360 or maybe with your family 00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:15.780 or maybe it's a financial issue 00:41:15.780 --> 00:41:16.280 you're facing. 00:41:16.380 --> 00:41:17.360 There's some kind of suffering, 00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.180 some kind of trial, 00:41:18.280 --> 00:41:19.000 some kind of hardship 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:20.080 and it doesn't look like 00:41:20.080 --> 00:41:20.900 you're going to get out of it 00:41:20.900 --> 00:41:21.680 anytime soon. 00:41:21.980 --> 00:41:22.900 And the gospel says, 00:41:23.020 --> 00:41:23.200 no, 00:41:23.640 --> 00:41:24.600 it's okay 00:41:24.599 --> 00:41:26.500 because the lights 00:41:26.500 --> 00:41:27.119 are shining 00:41:27.119 --> 00:41:28.119 on the gospel 00:41:28.119 --> 00:41:29.079 in your life right now 00:41:29.079 --> 00:41:29.880 and if you will live 00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:30.679 according to the gospel 00:41:30.679 --> 00:41:31.400 and you will live 00:41:31.400 --> 00:41:32.500 this gospel life, 00:41:32.679 --> 00:41:34.739 it will shine so brilliantly 00:41:34.739 --> 00:41:37.639 that God will use it 00:41:37.639 --> 00:41:38.839 so that when the world 00:41:38.839 --> 00:41:40.000 looks on at your works 00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:40.940 and at your teaching 00:41:40.940 --> 00:41:42.500 and at your faithfulness, 00:41:42.739 --> 00:41:43.059 they'll say, 00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:43.319 wow, 00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:44.000 it's beautiful. 00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:45.679 That's beautiful. 00:41:45.940 --> 00:41:46.819 Not the person, 00:41:47.259 --> 00:41:48.400 but whatever it is 00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:49.339 that has done this 00:41:49.339 --> 00:41:49.940 in their life, 00:41:50.259 --> 00:41:51.360 I want to know more 00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:52.199 about that thing. 00:41:53.039 --> 00:41:54.099 That's a beautiful thing. 00:41:54.099 --> 00:41:54.980 And what is that thing? 00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:56.980 It's the gospel of Jesus. 00:41:57.779 --> 00:41:59.139 It's no other thing. 00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:01.619 It's the gospel. 00:42:04.219 --> 00:42:05.639 And we spent a lot of time 00:42:05.639 --> 00:42:07.219 these last three weeks 00:42:07.219 --> 00:42:07.799 thinking about 00:42:07.799 --> 00:42:08.339 what it means 00:42:08.339 --> 00:42:08.880 to live out 00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:10.059 this gospel life, 00:42:10.199 --> 00:42:10.819 gospel behavior. 00:42:12.480 --> 00:42:13.319 And conduct befitting 00:42:13.319 --> 00:42:14.319 the gospel applies 00:42:14.319 --> 00:42:15.019 to every age 00:42:15.019 --> 00:42:15.599 and circumstance. 00:42:15.819 --> 00:42:16.719 We've discovered that. 00:42:17.480 --> 00:42:18.539 And it's always 00:42:18.539 --> 00:42:19.460 for the glory of God 00:42:19.460 --> 00:42:19.960 and His word. 00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:22.279 But I must say it again, 00:42:22.280 --> 00:42:24.140 we have to recognize 00:42:24.140 --> 00:42:25.100 that our efforts 00:42:25.100 --> 00:42:26.040 in this godliness 00:42:26.040 --> 00:42:27.640 are not a means 00:42:27.640 --> 00:42:28.760 of earning God's favor. 00:42:29.160 --> 00:42:29.900 You can never 00:42:29.900 --> 00:42:30.960 earn God's favor 00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:32.740 because your righteousness 00:42:32.740 --> 00:42:33.440 will never be 00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:34.260 righteous enough. 00:42:37.760 --> 00:42:38.320 Instead, 00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:40.600 this behavior 00:42:40.600 --> 00:42:41.700 is the overflow 00:42:41.700 --> 00:42:43.019 of a heart 00:42:43.019 --> 00:42:43.980 that by faith 00:42:43.980 --> 00:42:45.440 has come to realize 00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:47.900 that through Christ, 00:42:47.900 --> 00:42:49.139 we already have 00:42:49.139 --> 00:42:49.820 God's favor. 00:42:52.780 --> 00:42:53.720 And when a person 00:42:53.720 --> 00:42:55.000 trusts Jesus alone 00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:55.960 as Lord and Savior, 00:42:56.440 --> 00:42:57.500 the Holy Spirit comes 00:42:57.500 --> 00:42:58.139 and He changes 00:42:58.139 --> 00:42:59.119 their affections 00:42:59.119 --> 00:43:00.740 so that they obey 00:43:00.740 --> 00:43:01.680 in response 00:43:01.680 --> 00:43:03.139 to God's salvation 00:43:03.139 --> 00:43:04.720 rather than 00:43:04.720 --> 00:43:05.300 at a means 00:43:05.300 --> 00:43:06.099 of gaining 00:43:06.099 --> 00:43:07.720 salvation. 00:43:08.720 --> 00:43:10.340 And now their desire 00:43:10.340 --> 00:43:11.240 to obey 00:43:11.240 --> 00:43:12.099 boils down to 00:43:12.099 --> 00:43:12.980 three statements 00:43:12.980 --> 00:43:13.860 in this text. 00:43:14.539 --> 00:43:15.180 Verse 5, 00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:17.319 Do these things 00:43:17.319 --> 00:43:19.119 so that you will avoid 00:43:19.119 --> 00:43:20.980 reviling the word of God, 00:43:21.399 --> 00:43:22.619 rejecting the word of God, 00:43:22.739 --> 00:43:23.819 condemning the word of God. 00:43:24.239 --> 00:43:24.940 Verse 8, 00:43:25.759 --> 00:43:26.500 so that you would put 00:43:26.500 --> 00:43:27.759 opponents to shame, 00:43:27.960 --> 00:43:29.319 not to gain some type 00:43:29.319 --> 00:43:30.339 of social high ground, 00:43:30.579 --> 00:43:32.519 but to not give a reason 00:43:32.519 --> 00:43:33.159 for the gospel 00:43:33.159 --> 00:43:34.039 to be condemned. 00:43:34.719 --> 00:43:35.639 That the opponents 00:43:35.639 --> 00:43:36.199 of the gospel 00:43:36.199 --> 00:43:37.619 would be put to shame. 00:43:38.419 --> 00:43:39.199 And then thirdly, 00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:41.199 that you would adorn 00:43:41.199 --> 00:43:42.119 the doctrine of God 00:43:42.119 --> 00:43:42.599 our Savior 00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:43.480 in every circumstance 00:43:43.480 --> 00:43:44.219 of your life. 00:43:45.179 --> 00:43:45.960 That's what 00:43:45.960 --> 00:43:46.960 this godliness does. 00:43:47.079 --> 00:43:47.460 That's what 00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:48.699 the true Christian desires. 00:43:50.980 --> 00:43:52.219 And the question is, 00:43:52.519 --> 00:43:53.679 are you living your life 00:43:53.679 --> 00:43:55.199 with those desires in mind? 00:43:56.799 --> 00:43:57.659 When you wake up 00:43:57.659 --> 00:43:58.139 in the morning, 00:43:58.399 --> 00:43:59.219 in some way, 00:43:59.299 --> 00:44:00.960 is your life patterned 00:44:00.960 --> 00:44:01.639 in such a way 00:44:01.639 --> 00:44:02.679 you're so in tune 00:44:02.679 --> 00:44:04.139 with the truth of God 00:44:04.139 --> 00:44:04.599 that you think, 00:44:04.679 --> 00:44:05.460 I don't want to revile 00:44:05.460 --> 00:44:06.239 God's word today. 00:44:06.319 --> 00:44:06.739 I want to put 00:44:06.739 --> 00:44:07.259 the opponents 00:44:07.259 --> 00:44:07.779 of the gospel 00:44:07.779 --> 00:44:08.259 to shame 00:44:08.259 --> 00:44:09.099 in the way that I live. 00:44:09.239 --> 00:44:10.199 And I want to adorn 00:44:10.199 --> 00:44:11.019 the doctrine of God 00:44:11.019 --> 00:44:11.859 no matter how terrible 00:44:11.859 --> 00:44:12.659 my day is today. 00:44:13.699 --> 00:44:14.919 I want to please the Lord. 00:44:15.179 --> 00:44:17.819 not because I'm afraid 00:44:17.819 --> 00:44:18.139 of Him, 00:44:19.079 --> 00:44:20.139 but because I love Him. 00:44:23.139 --> 00:44:23.719 Do you care 00:44:23.719 --> 00:44:24.399 if your belief 00:44:24.399 --> 00:44:25.000 and behavior 00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:26.000 rejects the Bible? 00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:28.259 We talked about earlier. 00:44:28.639 --> 00:44:29.480 Are you more prone 00:44:29.480 --> 00:44:29.960 to say, 00:44:29.960 --> 00:44:30.899 I see what that says, 00:44:30.980 --> 00:44:32.759 but I just feel like 00:44:32.759 --> 00:44:35.299 that's reviling the word. 00:44:36.659 --> 00:44:37.699 Are you eager 00:44:37.699 --> 00:44:38.319 to live 00:44:38.319 --> 00:44:39.599 so that the gospel message 00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:40.079 is held 00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:41.799 above reproach 00:44:41.800 --> 00:44:43.560 before your enemies? 00:44:45.760 --> 00:44:46.700 Is your life 00:44:46.700 --> 00:44:47.820 adorned by the truth 00:44:47.820 --> 00:44:48.280 of God 00:44:48.280 --> 00:44:48.900 and for your love 00:44:48.900 --> 00:44:49.300 for Him? 00:44:49.340 --> 00:44:50.660 And if the answer 00:44:50.660 --> 00:44:51.700 to any of those questions 00:44:51.700 --> 00:44:52.300 is no, 00:44:53.140 --> 00:44:53.640 then you have 00:44:53.640 --> 00:44:54.620 some serious, 00:44:54.940 --> 00:44:56.519 serious spiritual 00:44:56.519 --> 00:44:57.440 deficiencies 00:44:57.440 --> 00:44:59.620 that need to be addressed. 00:45:00.720 --> 00:45:01.940 Because one of two things 00:45:01.940 --> 00:45:02.340 is true. 00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:04.960 Either you've never 00:45:04.960 --> 00:45:06.080 had the new birth, 00:45:06.260 --> 00:45:07.080 you've never been 00:45:07.080 --> 00:45:07.680 born again, 00:45:07.800 --> 00:45:08.860 so that the Holy Spirit 00:45:08.860 --> 00:45:09.880 has actually changed 00:45:09.880 --> 00:45:10.579 your affections 00:45:10.579 --> 00:45:11.440 and your desire now 00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:12.200 is to please the Lord 00:45:12.200 --> 00:45:12.780 with your life. 00:45:13.780 --> 00:45:14.860 Either that's the case 00:45:14.860 --> 00:45:17.000 or you just don't 00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:17.880 faithfully walk 00:45:17.880 --> 00:45:18.539 with Christ 00:45:18.539 --> 00:45:19.160 through prayer 00:45:19.160 --> 00:45:19.680 and the word. 00:45:21.260 --> 00:45:21.559 Listen, 00:45:21.720 --> 00:45:23.019 even as a believer, 00:45:23.019 --> 00:45:25.140 if you're not serious 00:45:25.140 --> 00:45:26.240 about walking with God, 00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:27.700 your life will never 00:45:27.700 --> 00:45:28.539 reflect the gospel 00:45:28.539 --> 00:45:29.300 the way that it should. 00:45:31.720 --> 00:45:32.500 God begins 00:45:32.500 --> 00:45:33.440 this work in us, 00:45:33.640 --> 00:45:35.000 but we must pursue 00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:35.960 that work as well. 00:45:36.460 --> 00:45:37.280 That begins 00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:37.900 with the word 00:45:37.900 --> 00:45:39.360 and it begins 00:45:39.360 --> 00:45:39.880 with prayer.