WEBVTT

00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:04.379
 All right, well this morning we are turning the page to a new book of the Bible.

00:00:05.020 --> 00:00:08.939
 We just finished going through the book of 1 Timothy this past fall,

00:00:09.140 --> 00:00:12.200
 and now we are turning the page to the book of Titus.

00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:19.039
 Just like Paul wrote a letter to Timothy, he also wrote a letter to a man named Titus.

00:00:20.219 --> 00:00:23.480
 And if we just for a moment think of these two letters side by side,

00:00:23.980 --> 00:00:28.019
 there's some similarities between them, but there are also some differences.

00:00:29.019 --> 00:00:32.019
 These two letters both have a similar feel to them.

00:00:32.979 --> 00:00:41.140
 This letter to Titus is full of instruction to Titus about how to put things in order in the churches where Titus has been stationed.

00:00:42.480 --> 00:00:49.399
 There's also warning about false teachers and about controversies and arguments and division,

00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:52.980
 similar to the letter that Paul sent to Timothy.

00:00:52.979 --> 00:01:00.719
 There's instructions about elders and how various people ought to relate to each other in the church.

00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:05.299
 But there's also some major differences in this letter.

00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:10.359
 Paul says very little about money or wealth or social status.

00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:20.900
 It seems in Titus' area, laziness and lust and a lack of self-control are the big problems.

00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:27.719
 Everybody seems to be really focused just on their own pleasures at all costs.

00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:34.519
 And in this letter to Titus, Paul spends quite a bit of the letter talking about the gospel

00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:43.239
 and reminding them of what is this good news of what God has done according to his love and his grace and his kindness for us.

00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:48.319
 So we're going to start this morning just by looking at the first four verses of this letter

00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:54.680
 and do a little bit of an introduction, and then we'll work our way towards the Lord's table.

00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:59.740
 Let me read the first four verses for you.

00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:08.920
 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God's elect

00:02:08.920 --> 00:02:16.100
 and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness in the hope of eternal life,

00:02:16.099 --> 00:02:22.719
 which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:29.259
 and which now, at his appointed season, he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me

00:02:29.259 --> 00:02:31.459
 by the command of God our Savior.

00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:37.419
 To Titus, my true son in our common faith,

00:02:38.519 --> 00:02:43.740
 grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

00:02:43.740 --> 00:02:50.820
 So this letter begins in a manner very similar to Paul's other letters.

00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:55.320
 Paul begins by introducing himself and stating who he is in the first three verses,

00:02:55.740 --> 00:02:59.960
 and then he states who he's writing to in verse 4,

00:03:00.140 --> 00:03:06.060
 and he gives that customary blessing or greeting also in verse 4.

00:03:07.580 --> 00:03:10.240
 Let's begin by talking about Titus.

00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:12.439
 Who is Titus?

00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:12.539
 Titus.

00:03:13.079 --> 00:03:19.219
 Most of us know who Paul is, but who is this guy named Titus, and where is he?

00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:21.180
 What's the background to this letter?

00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:25.300
 Well, we don't know exactly where Titus is from,

00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:27.699
 but we do know that he was a Greek.

00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:30.919
 We know that from the book of Galatians.

00:03:31.659 --> 00:03:35.340
 Somewhere along the way, Titus became a follower of Jesus, a believer,

00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:42.780
 and he ended up being one of Paul's trusted co-workers and partners in the ministry.

00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:49.140
 And we first see Titus at Paul's side at the end of Paul's first missionary journey,

00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:56.500
 when Paul goes to Jerusalem to speak to the Jerusalem Council on matters of circumcision.

00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:59.319
 Titus is there with him at that meeting.

00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:02.560
 We read about that in Galatians chapter 2.

00:04:03.799 --> 00:04:07.939
 Then, as Paul embarks on his second missionary journey,

00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:11.780
 one of the places that he gets to is a city called Corinth,

00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:14.319
 which is on the Grecian peninsula.

00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:20.259
 I don't have a laser pointer, but you can see it in the top left corner in Icaa there.

00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:28.540
 And we read in the book of Acts, chapter 18, about how the church at Corinth was established.

00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:33.600
 Paul stays there for a year and a half, and then he moves on in his travels.

00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:37.819
 But then sometime later, after the church had been established at Corinth,

00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:42.240
 Paul sends Titus to the church there in Corinth,

00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:47.420
 and Titus seems to serve there in the church as an apostolic delegate,

00:04:48.019 --> 00:04:50.840
 much in the same way that Timothy did in Ephesus.

00:04:51.740 --> 00:04:56.740
 And we read about how Titus goes back and forth between the church there in Corinth

00:04:56.740 --> 00:05:00.100
 and Paul, wherever he is, a couple times.

00:05:00.840 --> 00:05:03.879
 We learn all this from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.

00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:08.240
 So Titus has a bit of a history of working with Paul,

00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:11.319
 even before we get to this letter.

00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:16.740
 Then we fast forward, and Paul does a third missionary journey.

00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:19.740
 And if you know the story from the book of Acts,

00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:23.819
 this journey ends with him going back to Jerusalem,

00:05:24.719 --> 00:05:26.620
 preaching, getting imprisoned,

00:05:27.159 --> 00:05:30.139
 and then later being shipped all the way off to Rome.

00:05:30.139 --> 00:05:38.979
 And it's generally thought that Paul was released from his house arrest in Rome in 62 AD,

00:05:39.979 --> 00:05:46.439
 after which he continued doing ministry for a few years before he was martyred.

00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:50.639
 So it's in that time period, that time after he was released,

00:05:50.779 --> 00:05:52.019
 but before he was martyred,

00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:57.180
 that seems to be the likely time that this letter to Titus was written.

00:05:57.180 --> 00:06:02.420
 And we discover in this letter that Titus has been given a new assignment.

00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:05.920
 In verse 5, it says,

00:06:06.019 --> 00:06:11.379
 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished,

00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:15.939
 and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.

00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:20.439
 So for Titus, Corinth is history.

00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:25.579
 His new assignment from Paul is to see that these already established churches

00:06:25.579 --> 00:06:30.800
 on the island of Crete come to have proper leadership and order.

00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:35.839
 Crete is a big island,

00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:39.860
 and it's just southeast of Greece.

00:06:39.860 --> 00:06:47.020
 This was the island that Paul stopped at briefly before he was shipwrecked on the way to Rome.

00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:52.860
 And this island of Crete is the location of Titus, as Paul writes this letter.

00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:57.379
 Now this island has quite the history to it.

00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:00.480
 It was the home of the ancient Minoan civilization.

00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:05.379
 It's thought to be, by some, the place where the Philistines originated from.

00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:11.100
 Back in the days of the Greek Empire, there were about 40 cities on this island.

00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:14.939
 And probably most of them were along the coast, all around the edges,

00:07:15.139 --> 00:07:17.420
 because I don't think you can really see it on the screen,

00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:19.219
 but it's quite a mountainous island.

00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:22.719
 By the days of the Roman Empire,

00:07:22.899 --> 00:07:25.800
 there were at least 20 cities that we know of on the island

00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:29.019
 through archaeology studies.

00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:32.500
 And there was quite a religious mix on this island.

00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:35.680
 There's lots of evidence of the worship of Greek gods.

00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:40.319
 There are some Roman religions that were present,

00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:42.220
 some Egyptian religions.

00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:48.759
 And we know from the Bible that there was an established Jewish presence in Crete.

00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:52.540
 Some of the Jews that were present on the day of Pentecost,

00:07:52.620 --> 00:07:55.740
 when Peter preached his sermon, were from Crete.

00:07:55.740 --> 00:08:00.819
 And there's also mention in this letter of the circumcision group

00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:02.620
 and quarrels about the Jewish law.

00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:07.439
 It's quite possible that the church on Crete first got its start

00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:12.780
 from some of those Jews who had gone to Jerusalem for Pentecost,

00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:18.019
 heard Peter preaching the good news of Jesus that day,

00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:19.800
 and then went back home to Crete

00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:23.560
 and shared the news with other people in their hometown

00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:25.960
 or home cities on the island.

00:08:27.460 --> 00:08:29.980
 Whatever the case, there are now churches there.

00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:33.899
 There are now followers of Jesus in many towns and cities on the island.

00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:38.019
 And this is why Paul has assigned Titus to be there.

00:08:38.779 --> 00:08:41.120
 We notice in verse 5

00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:45.620
 that he not only serves the congregation in one city,

00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:49.320
 but that he is functioning in the whole region.

00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:53.320
 His job is to appoint elders in every town.

00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:57.460
 So we get the sense that the gospel has really spread by this time

00:08:57.460 --> 00:09:00.279
 to many of these cities and towns on the island of Crete.

00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:04.039
 And on top of all this, we discover at the end of this letter,

00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:06.460
 if we look ahead to chapter 3, verse 12,

00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:09.799
 that Titus' assignment here is temporary.

00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:13.560
 Chapter 3, verse 12, Paul says,

00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:16.079
 As soon as I send Artemis or Tychicus to you,

00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:17.939
 do your best to come to me at Nicopolis,

00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:19.659
 because I have decided to winter there.

00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:24.359
 So Titus is not the pastor of one of the churches there.

00:09:25.339 --> 00:09:26.819
 He's a co-worker of Paul.

00:09:26.939 --> 00:09:29.539
 He's an apostolic delegate who's assigned here

00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:32.559
 to put things in order for the churches on Crete

00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:36.179
 until he is relieved in the near future by someone else.

00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:40.819
 Finally, notice how Paul refers to Titus

00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:44.500
 in his salutation in verse 4.

00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:50.000
 To Titus, my true son in our common faith.

00:09:50.640 --> 00:09:52.180
 These are really warm words.

00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:55.660
 Not just a friend, not just a co-worker or partner,

00:09:56.300 --> 00:09:57.200
 but son.

00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:01.000
 Just like Timothy has been as a son to Paul,

00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:05.120
 we get the sense that Titus is like family with Paul.

00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:07.720
 They've worked together, they've traveled together,

00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:10.080
 there's high trust between them,

00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:12.820
 but of course this closeness of family

00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:14.120
 runs even deeper than that.

00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:14.800
 Paul says,

00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:18.379
 My true son in our common faith.

00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:22.500
 It's because they share in the same faith in Jesus.

00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:24.519
 And through the Spirit,

00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:26.759
 are members together of the family of God.

00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:31.899
 Let's now go back up to what we skipped over

00:10:31.899 --> 00:10:32.960
 in the first three verses

00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:34.680
 and just talk a little bit about Paul.

00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:39.139
 Paul introduces himself as two things here.

00:10:40.099 --> 00:10:42.120
 First, a servant of God.

00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:47.819
 And second, as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

00:10:49.419 --> 00:10:51.779
 And we've talked about this many times before,

00:10:52.459 --> 00:10:55.679
 but we'll just run it over one more time

00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:58.159
 in case you're new or you miss some of those Sundays.

00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:01.339
 The apostles were men specially chosen

00:11:01.339 --> 00:11:05.279
 by Jesus himself to speak on Jesus' behalf

00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:07.740
 the very words of God to the people.

00:11:08.339 --> 00:11:10.519
 They were tasked with preaching,

00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:12.740
 much like the prophets of old.

00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:15.579
 They were tasked with bearing witness

00:11:15.579 --> 00:11:17.980
 to what they had seen and heard

00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:21.439
 of Jesus Christ when he was here on earth.

00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:24.600
 Although Paul is a bit of an exception to that

00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:25.519
 if you know his story.

00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:29.079
 And they were tasked with spreading that message,

00:11:29.319 --> 00:11:31.600
 that good news in Jerusalem

00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.799
 and from there outward all over the world.

00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:37.840
 And they bore a special authority

00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:40.000
 from Jesus to do this work.

00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:43.000
 Christ spoke through them,

00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:45.279
 which is why we count their words,

00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:46.579
 like in this letter,

00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:48.439
 as the very words of God.

00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:54.260
 So Paul is reminding Titus of his role,

00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:56.900
 his authoritative role from Jesus.

00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:59.920
 These aren't just the words of Paul.

00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.240
 They're the words of Christ through me

00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:04.620
 because I am his apostle.

00:12:05.780 --> 00:12:07.740
 And here in this introduction,

00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:09.300
 Paul actually goes on a fair bit

00:12:09.300 --> 00:12:12.560
 about what his role is as an apostle.

00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:14.520
 Let's look at some of the things

00:12:14.520 --> 00:12:16.500
 that Paul says here for a moment.

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:18.220
 He says,

00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:20.139
 An apostle of Jesus Christ

00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:23.860
 to further the faith of God's elect

00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:26.379
 and their knowledge of the truth

00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:29.519
 that leads to godliness

00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:32.639
 in the hope of eternal life.

00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:35.700
 Now, depending on your translation,

00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:37.500
 there may be a little bit of a difference there,

00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:40.039
 but the gist of this seems to be

00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:41.840
 that Paul's purpose as an apostle

00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:44.860
 is to further the faith of God's people.

00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:48.680
 It's that they would go deeper

00:12:48.680 --> 00:12:50.120
 in their knowledge of the truth,

00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:53.940
 which will result in them being more godly,

00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:56.139
 more fully devoted to God.

00:12:57.680 --> 00:13:00.279
 And this is his work as an apostle

00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:01.480
 wherever he goes.

00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:02.300
 This is his aim.

00:13:03.580 --> 00:13:05.240
 Paul speaks on behalf of Jesus,

00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:06.039
 or in this case,

00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:08.279
 writes on behalf of Jesus,

00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:11.379
 and it's for the benefit of God's people

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:14.039
 that they will come to know the truth,

00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:16.740
 how they're to worship God,

00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:19.100
 how they're to be devoted to God,

00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:23.919
 and for those who don't already believe in him,

00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:25.480
 that they would believe in him,

00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:28.039
 that they would come to have that faith.

00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:33.500
 And Paul says,

00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:35.399
 it's not only about godliness,

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.079
 they kind of chopped the verse off

00:13:37.079 --> 00:13:38.899
 before it gets to the end of the thought here.

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:42.199
 It's not only about being devoted to God,

00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:45.019
 but it's in the hope of eternal life.

00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:50.019
 The sure hope of everlasting life

00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:53.360
 is what this is all about for Paul.

00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:56.539
 It's why he has been sent by Jesus

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:58.639
 as an apostle to speak and to write.

00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:00.220
 It's so that people can believe

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:02.700
 and so that they can know the truth

00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:05.259
 that leads them to receiving God's amazing gift

00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:07.879
 of everlasting life.

00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:10.000
 Because that's what Jesus promised

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.279
 time and time again

00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.399
 as he walked the earth.

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.379
 That was his message,

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:15.879
 that those who believe

00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.980
 will be raised from the dead

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:20.560
 and will receive eternal life.

00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:24.279
 At this point,

00:14:24.359 --> 00:14:25.759
 Paul goes on a bit of a rabbit trail

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.119
 and he just gets talking about

00:14:27.119 --> 00:14:29.719
 this promise of eternal life.

00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:32.619
 And when God made this promise,

00:14:33.119 --> 00:14:35.699
 Paul says that

00:14:35.699 --> 00:14:38.399
 God, who does not lie,

00:14:39.099 --> 00:14:42.379
 promised this before the beginning of time.

00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:45.019
 First, we notice the way

00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.599
 that Paul describes God here.

00:14:46.979 --> 00:14:48.459
 Quite literally, in the original,

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:50.680
 it's the unlying God.

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:53.519
 The unlying God.

00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:57.920
 Which means that God always tells the truth.

00:14:58.940 --> 00:15:00.280
 He never lies.

00:15:01.400 --> 00:15:03.780
 Think about the false gods of Greek mythology.

00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:05.320
 If you ever learned about those stories

00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:06.379
 as a kid in school,

00:15:07.040 --> 00:15:09.360
 they were known to lie at times,

00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:10.460
 to be deceptive,

00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.840
 to be manipulative,

00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:14.639
 to try to further their own little ends.

00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:16.840
 But God,

00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.379
 the creator,

00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.059
 Yahweh,

00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:21.480
 is not like that,

00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:22.659
 says Paul.

00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:24.240
 He never lies.

00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:26.240
 He is the unlying God.

00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.439
 Which means

00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:30.000
 that his promises

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.860
 give us sure hope.

00:15:33.319 --> 00:15:35.179
 Not the flimsy,

00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:37.019
 hope so kind of hope.

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:40.299
 Next, we notice

00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:42.259
 when God made this promise.

00:15:43.319 --> 00:15:43.779
 And again,

00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.480
 there's some variance

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.699
 in the translations here,

00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:47.139
 but quite literally,

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:49.740
 which the unlying God promised

00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:51.559
 before the times of eternity.

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.699
 And all of the translations

00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.559
 seem to recognize

00:15:55.559 --> 00:15:57.600
 that this is an idiom of sorts,

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.120
 but there's a couple different thoughts

00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:00.220
 on how to translate it.

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:00.779
 Some say

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:02.980
 that he promised

00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:06.399
 before long ages ago,

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:08.700
 which God promised

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.680
 long ages ago,

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:11.060
 possibly referring to God

00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:12.360
 speaking through his prophets

00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:14.259
 in the Old Testament days.

00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.580
 But the majority

00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.659
 of translations

00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:18.100
 seem to understand

00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:18.680
 this idiom

00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:20.320
 to refer to that period of time

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.680
 before God created

00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:22.820
 the heavens and the earth.

00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:23.879
 And so,

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:25.180
 before time began,

00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:27.100
 before the beginning of time,

00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.840
 not that time

00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:29.879
 is anything of itself

00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:31.120
 or had a beginning

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.759
 of its own,

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.399
 but before time

00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.639
 as in the history

00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.539
 here on earth,

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.639
 the times of man,

00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:38.439
 before all that,

00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:40.000
 before we were even created,

00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.360
 before the earth was made,

00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:44.179
 God made the promise

00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:46.200
 of everlasting life

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:48.299
 for his chosen people.

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.899
 His elect,

00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:52.840
 as Paul calls them

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.720
 in verse 1.

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:57.120
 So this promise

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.919
 of eternal life

00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:59.299
 was made long,

00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.039
 long,

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:00.899
 long ago

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.000
 before the world

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.459
 was made.

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.419
 God knew exactly

00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.460
 what he was going to do.

00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.920
 He knew what would happen

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.420
 on the earth.

00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.480
 He knew how things

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.240
 would unfold

00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.259
 and back then

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.500
 he made the promise.

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.400
 But,

00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:13.940
 Paul says,

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.319
 it's just now

00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:17.819
 that God has brought

00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:18.680
 all of this to light.

00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.879
 His great plan

00:17:20.879 --> 00:17:22.059
 to save us,

00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.240
 to give us

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.720
 this eternal life.

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.480
 Now,

00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:27.099
 in the time of Paul's writing,

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.099
 in the days of Jesus

00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:29.019
 and the apostles,

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:32.139
 according to God's

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:33.439
 own appointed time,

00:17:34.439 --> 00:17:36.980
 he has brought it to light

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:39.679
 through the preaching

00:17:39.679 --> 00:17:41.439
 entrusted to me

00:17:41.439 --> 00:17:43.379
 by the command of God,

00:17:43.659 --> 00:17:44.240
 says Paul.

00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.699
 So Paul knows exactly

00:17:46.699 --> 00:17:47.439
 what he's doing

00:17:47.439 --> 00:17:48.579
 as an apostle.

00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.299
 He knows that he has been

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.399
 tasked with declaring

00:17:51.399 --> 00:17:53.500
 the promise of eternal life,

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:55.159
 the promise that God made

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:57.340
 before the world began.

00:17:58.040 --> 00:17:59.380
 A promise that God

00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:00.220
 is now revealing

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.640
 through Christ

00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:02.640
 and through

00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.759
 his apostles

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:05.940
 so that God's elect,

00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:08.420
 God's chosen people,

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.580
 might hear

00:18:09.580 --> 00:18:11.460
 and believe

00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.940
 and receive

00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:14.259
 this wonderful gift

00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:16.100
 of eternal life.

00:18:18.340 --> 00:18:19.920
 Let's talk for just a minute

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.860
 about that word

00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:22.740
 elect

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.359
 in verse 1.

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.059
 This is the way

00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.759
 that Christ

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.319
 refers to the people

00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:28.859
 of God

00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:30.859
 as the elect.

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.220
 It means

00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.720
 those who are selected

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.000
 or chosen

00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.339
 and it is a word

00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:38.900
 that sometimes

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:40.180
 makes people uncomfortable.

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.900
 There's a lot of debate

00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:42.620
 around this

00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:43.720
 idea

00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.019
 and how

00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.660
 and when

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.120
 and who

00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:46.880
 is chosen.

00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:48.440
 What does it mean

00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.220
 to be chosen

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.440
 by God

00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.380
 and we're not going

00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:52.200
 to get into all that

00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:52.740
 this morning

00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:54.059
 but the word

00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:54.519
 chosen,

00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:55.039
 the idea

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.100
 of being chosen

00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:57.940
 is right here

00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.840
 in the words

00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.299
 of God.

00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.480
 That's how Jesus

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:01.920
 refers

00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.880
 to the people

00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.400
 of God.

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:04.960
 They are God's

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.440
 elect.

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.559
 He has chosen

00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:07.900
 them

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:10.660
 and this word

00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:11.220
 is interesting.

00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:11.960
 Maybe one of the

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.680
 reasons for it

00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:13.480
 is because

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.559
 it partly

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.140
 can refer

00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:15.640
 to people

00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:16.299
 who have not

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:16.840
 even yet

00:19:16.840 --> 00:19:18.340
 come to believe.

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:21.059
 think about

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:21.740
 Paul's

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.980
 commissioning

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.779
 as an apostle.

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.659
 Before he had

00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.259
 gone out

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.639
 and done

00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:27.399
 any preaching

00:19:27.399 --> 00:19:28.919
 there were people

00:19:28.919 --> 00:19:29.619
 that God knew

00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:30.299
 in advance

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:32.220
 would receive

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.299
 the message

00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:34.980
 and be saved.

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:36.980
 God's

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:39.019
 God's

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:40.519
 choosing

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.079
 and so

00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:41.680
 for Paul

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:43.059
 this

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:44.360
 choosing

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:44.980
 of God

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.680
 it wasn't

00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.599
 a disincentive

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.059
 to preach

00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:47.599
 the gospel.

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.079
 It wasn't

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.299
 as though

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:48.579
 he said

00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.180
 well God's

00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:49.539
 chosen

00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.019
 we'll just

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.019
 let it happen

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.279
 then.

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.660
 No it was

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.120
 the opposite.

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:53.759
 There are people

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.339
 out there

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:54.920
 whom God

00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:55.579
 has chosen

00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.019
 to be

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.559
 his own

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.500
 but how

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:57.799
 can they

00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:58.240
 have faith

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:58.620
 in God

00:19:58.620 --> 00:19:59.319
 and believe

00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:00.079
 in his

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.400
 son

00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.319
 unless they

00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:01.839
 hear this

00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.460
 good news

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.400
 about Jesus.

00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:04.740
 I gotta get

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.079
 out there

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.319
 I gotta

00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:05.819
 proclaim

00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.440
 this message

00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:07.000
 as we heard

00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.980
 in Sunday

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.420
 school this

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:08.660
 morning.

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.420
 I'm obligated

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:09.819
 to get

00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:10.660
 to those

00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.240
 people in

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.559
 Rome

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.460
 and preach

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:12.860
 the good

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.240
 news to

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.460
 them.

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:14.740
 This was

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.299
 Paul's role

00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.779
 to play

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.500
 in God's

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.000
 elect

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.539
 coming

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.579
 to faith

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.140
 in him.

00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.460
 We shouldn't

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:20.900
 shy away

00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.299
 from this

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.700
 idea

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.799
 that God

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.220
 has

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:24.120
 chosen

00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:25.740
 his people

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.140
 even before

00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:27.519
 they hear

00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:27.980
 the message

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.680
 of the gospel.

00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:30.360
 He chose

00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:30.799
 Abraham.

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.819
 he chose

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.220
 Isaac.

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:33.720
 He chose

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.379
 Jacob in

00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:34.639
 the Old

00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:35.019
 Testament.

00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.619
 He chose

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.359
 specially the

00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:36.919
 nation of

00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:37.519
 Israel to

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:37.859
 be his

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.700
 special people

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.619
 and not

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.019
 the other

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.639
 nations.

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.339
 But in the

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:42.779
 nation of

00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.680
 Israel he

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.059
 chose the

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.460
 tribe of

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.000
 Levi to

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.299
 do that

00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.000
 special work

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.299
 at the

00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:47.819
 temple and

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.480
 the priesthood.

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.059
 And here we

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:51.639
 read that those

00:20:51.639 --> 00:20:52.019
 who have come

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.659
 to faith in

00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.799
 Jesus through

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.659
 Paul's preaching

00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.720
 are the

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.159
 chosen,

00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:57.680
 the elect

00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.200
 of God.

00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.399
 And so if you

00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:00.960
 are here this

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.640
 morning and

00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.840
 you truly

00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:05.240
 have faith in

00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.140
 Jesus then this

00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:06.840
 is true of you

00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:07.300
 as well.

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.100
 You were

00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:10.500
 chosen by

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:10.880
 God.

00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:12.980
 This should be

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.620
 precious to

00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:13.940
 us.

00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.220
 Do we

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:16.800
 deserve it?

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.100
 No.

00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:21.259
 We've all

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.700
 sinned.

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:22.580
 We've all

00:21:22.580 --> 00:21:24.019
 fall short of

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.660
 God's glory.

00:21:25.800 --> 00:21:26.800
 But God's

00:21:26.800 --> 00:21:28.060
 choosing of us

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:29.099
 even before we

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.759
 had heard the

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.559
 gospel speaks

00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.700
 of his great

00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.460
 love for us.

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.359
 It tells us

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:34.299
 that he wanted

00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.299
 us.

00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.599
 He desired us.

00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.480
 A relationship

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.579
 with us for us

00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:41.259
 to be his

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.559
 people despite

00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:43.899
 our sin,

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.819
 despite the bad

00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.460
 things that he

00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:46.039
 knew we would

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.359
 do.

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.720
 God's choosing

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.779
 speaks of his

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.940
 unconditional love.

00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:51.980
 love.

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.340
 So this is how

00:21:54.340 --> 00:21:55.200
 Paul starts his

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:55.660
 letter to

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.799
 Titus here on

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.440
 the island of

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:57.660
 Crete.

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.220
 He reminds

00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.019
 Titus of who

00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:00.120
 he is, an

00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:00.680
 apostle of

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.420
 Jesus Christ,

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:03.019
 and that he

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.700
 does in fact

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.580
 carry spiritual

00:22:04.580 --> 00:22:06.420
 authority, and

00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.160
 yet he speaks to

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.279
 Titus affectionately

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.820
 as his true

00:22:09.820 --> 00:22:11.440
 son because they

00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.100
 share the same

00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:12.920
 faith in Jesus.

00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.960
 He prays a

00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.299
 blessing of God's

00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.320
 grace and peace

00:22:16.320 --> 00:22:18.980
 upon Titus, and

00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.779
 already we've seen

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.740
 that Paul is

00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.519
 ready to just

00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.759
 declare the good

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.559
 news of Jesus,

00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.799
 even in this

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.460
 introduction.

00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:29.859
 We're going to

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:31.819
 take time now to

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:33.160
 come to the

00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:34.579
 Lord's table once

00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:34.920
 again.

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.220
 We do this every

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:38.559
 month, and it's a

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.799
 remembrance of

00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.220
 Jesus.

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.079
 It's a remembrance

00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:42.200
 of the gospel.

00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:44.579
 There are two

00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:45.960
 elements on this

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.279
 table.

00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:47.920
 There is the

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:49.279
 bread, and

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.700
 there is what

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.200
 we call the

00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:51.500
 cup.

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:52.779
 Actually, we've

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.379
 got lots of

00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:54.460
 little cups, but

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.379
 what's in them is

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.059
 grape juice.

00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.539
 Both of these are

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.559
 symbols that Jesus

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:02.200
 gave meaning to on

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:02.759
 the night that he

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:05.099
 was betrayed, on

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:05.639
 the night before

00:23:05.639 --> 00:23:06.220
 his death.

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.299
 Jesus sat around

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.139
 the table with his

00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:09.879
 twelve disciples

00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:11.480
 that night, and

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:13.619
 he took bread, he

00:23:13.619 --> 00:23:15.799
 gave thanks, and

00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.579
 then he broke it,

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.779
 and he passed it

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:19.139
 out to his

00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:19.920
 disciples around

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.420
 the table.

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:22.000
 He said, take,

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:25.619
 eat, this is my

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:27.339
 body, which is for

00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:27.579
 you.

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:30.019
 And then later he

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:32.379
 took a cup, and

00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:35.079
 it had the fruit of

00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.759
 the vine in it, or

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.720
 in some of the

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.759
 vernacular of that

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.759
 day, the blood of

00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:43.319
 the grape, and he

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.319
 passed that cup around

00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.700
 the table as well, and

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.980
 urged his disciples to

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.940
 drink from it.

00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:50.480
 He said, this is my

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.559
 blood of the

00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:53.080
 covenant, which is

00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:53.920
 poured out for you

00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.460
 for the forgiveness

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.759
 of sins.

00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.319
 Jesus was, of course,

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.440
 speaking about his

00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.620
 death the next day,

00:24:01.840 --> 00:24:03.220
 and he was

00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.080
 essentially saying to

00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:05.380
 his followers, I'm

00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:08.120
 about to die, but

00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:11.220
 my death, my body

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.519
 being broken, my

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:14.700
 blood being poured

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:17.460
 out tomorrow is

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.299
 for your benefit.

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:22.460
 It's for you, for

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.460
 the forgiveness of

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:24.960
 your sins, for a

00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.680
 new arrangement

00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:27.140
 between you and

00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:27.519
 God.

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.180
 They didn't fully

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.080
 realize at that

00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:33.059
 moment the full

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:33.840
 meaning of this.

00:24:34.340 --> 00:24:35.360
 All along they'd

00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:36.140
 been hearing Jesus

00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:37.740
 talk about all

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.840
 these wonderful

00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:39.460
 things, the

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:41.019
 kingdom of God, the

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.920
 kingdom of heaven,

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.900
 salvation, which

00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.640
 they were to be a

00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:46.060
 part of, eternal

00:24:46.060 --> 00:24:47.440
 life, as we heard

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:49.400
 as Titus mentions

00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:50.180
 here, or Paul

00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:50.980
 mentions here to

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.660
 Titus, eternal

00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:53.460
 life that they would

00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:55.680
 receive, resurrection

00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.860
 from the dead after

00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:59.680
 they die, standing

00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:01.680
 before God in the

00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.880
 judgment, not

00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:05.640
 guilty, and all of

00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.440
 these things Jesus

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.400
 was saying that they

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:09.279
 could receive just by

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:11.160
 faith, by

00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.599
 believing.

00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.920
 They didn't see,

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.339
 however, that this

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:18.079
 amazing free gift of

00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.720
 God to people had a

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.119
 cost.

00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.339
 It would come at the

00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:24.579
 cost of Jesus' life to

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.579
 make all these good

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.720
 promises a reality.

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.799
 Jesus would have to

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:31.279
 suffer and to die for

00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:34.859
 them, for us.

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:39.259
 And Jesus did that on

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:42.439
 the cross 2,000 years

00:25:42.439 --> 00:25:42.759
 ago.

00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:47.359
 Three days later, he

00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:48.719
 rose from the dead.

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:53.119
 And this truth, this

00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.500
 knowledge, is what Paul

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.719
 is talking about here in

00:25:55.719 --> 00:25:56.819
 his letter to Titus.

00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:59.559
 This is the news, this

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.699
 is the gospel that was

00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:02.899
 entrusted to him, that's

00:26:02.899 --> 00:26:04.359
 been, he's been

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.459
 commanded by God to

00:26:05.459 --> 00:26:07.259
 preach, this truth

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:09.000
 that believing gives

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:11.899
 us that sure hope of

00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.639
 eternal life.

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.459
 Have you put your

00:26:16.459 --> 00:26:18.279
 faith in Jesus?

00:26:19.919 --> 00:26:21.299
 Do you believe in him?

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.719
 The one that God sent

00:26:23.719 --> 00:26:26.019
 from heaven to save us?

00:26:27.979 --> 00:26:29.199
 What does it mean to

00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:30.859
 put your faith in him?

00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:32.839
 It just simply means to

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.639
 believe, to take

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:35.800
 seriously as truth the

00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:37.420
 things that Jesus said.

00:26:39.300 --> 00:26:40.180
 The things that are

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:41.280
 revealed about who

00:26:41.280 --> 00:26:43.620
 Jesus is, that yes, he

00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.700
 is the Son of God.

00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:47.100
 He is the Messiah.

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.320
 He is the Savior

00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:48.880
 provided.

00:26:49.860 --> 00:26:51.259
 He is the way to God.

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:55.460
 Have you put your faith

00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:57.340
 in Jesus Christ?

00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:57.399
 Christ.

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.720
 If you haven't done this

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:03.279
 yet, I want to urge you to

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.959
 do it today.

00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:06.399
 This is the most important

00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:07.919
 decision that anyone can

00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:08.839
 make in their lives.

00:27:10.179 --> 00:27:11.939
 I urge you, if you haven't

00:27:11.939 --> 00:27:13.359
 done it, confess your sins to

00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:13.919
 him today.

00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:17.339
 Ask for his forgiveness.

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:20.359
 Find that sure hope, that

00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:22.220
 offer that he gives us

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:24.240
 freely of eternal life.

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:27.740
 You can even do this now,

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:29.880
 in these next minutes, as we

00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:32.519
 take time to quietly pray and

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:32.960
 reflect.

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.400
 Feel free to close your eyes and

00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:36.559
 just to be with God in these

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.240
 next moments.

00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:41.500
 And for those of us who believe

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:44.240
 what we do here is we just take a

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:46.460
 moment to pray quietly, to think

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:49.000
 over what Jesus has done for us,

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:53.039
 confess our sins to the Lord, and

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:54.740
 to be reminded of his love before

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:56.319
 we partake of the table.

00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:59.960
 After a few minutes of that, we'll

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:03.119
 have our elders come forward, and

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:05.039
 I think that's just one.

00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:06.160
 That's just Charles today.

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:10.500
 Maybe Brian will come and help as

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:10.700
 well.

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:13.200
 And they'll serve the bread and

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.720
 the cup, and if you truly believe

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:17.339
 in Jesus, whether for many years or

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.699
 whether it's for the first time

00:28:18.699 --> 00:28:22.240
 today, then join with us and

00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:23.919
 partake with us of the bread and

00:28:23.919 --> 00:28:24.299
 the cup.

00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:27.079
 We'll wait till everybody has been

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.939
 served, and then we'll eat and

00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:31.279
 drink all together in unison after

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:33.079
 I pray and give thanks.

00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:57.980
 pour us irenei, let's look past our

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.959
 sceme で ernest

00:28:58.959 --> 00:28:59.779
 to bereme the Kenneth

00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.919
 we'll sit on af.

00:29:00.959 --> 00:29:01.379
 We'll Ariana

00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:01.519
 we'll see you next time and

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.419
 before

00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:15.879
 you

00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:45.860
 Thank you.

00:29:45.880 --> 00:30:15.860
 Thank you.

00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:45.860
 Thank you.

00:30:45.880 --> 00:31:15.860
 Thank you.

00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:45.860
 Thank you.

00:31:45.880 --> 00:32:15.860
 Thank you.

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:45.860
 Thank you.

00:32:45.880 --> 00:33:15.860
 Thank you.

00:33:15.880 --> 00:33:45.860
 Thank you.

00:33:45.880 --> 00:34:15.860
 Thank you.

00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:45.860
 Thank you.

00:34:45.880 --> 00:35:15.860
 Thank you.

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:45.860
 Thank you.

00:35:45.880 --> 00:35:47.880
 Thank you.

00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:49.880
 Thank you.

00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:51.880
 Thank you.