It's good to be with you guys here today and especially good to be with the kids that are here.
I have a special favor to ask of the kids that are with us.
If you guys wouldn't mind, I would love if you would draw a picture of something that you hear or learn about today in our sermon.
And then if you're able, I'd love it if you would show me afterwards.
And if you can't happen to find me or grab me, show your mom or dad or your grandparents and I'm sure they would love to hear it and see it and talk to you about it.
And the rest of us, you're welcome to draw pictures as well.
But let's turn to Titus 3, chapter 3, verses 1 through 11.
And let me read God's word.
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities.
To be obedient.
To be ready for every good work.
To speak evil of no one.
To avoid quarreling and be gentle and show perfect courtesy towards all people.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our day in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God, our Savior appeared, he saved us.
Not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.
By the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured on us richly through Christ Jesus our Savior.
So that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things.
So that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.
These things are excellent and profitable for people.
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law.
For they are unprofitable and worthless.
As for the person who stirs up division after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him.
Knowing that such a person is warped and sinful, he is self-condemned.
So it's been two weeks since we've been in Titus.
And so before we dig into our text here, let me just take a quick moment to remind us of what we've been through so far.
Remember that the book of Titus is a letter from the Apostle Paul to Titus, who is on the island of Crete.
Paul left Titus in Crete to finish the work of establishing the Cretan church.
In chapter 1, Paul instructs Titus about establishing the position of elders.
He addresses the qualifications of elders, and then he specifically speaks about the role of elders in combating the false teachers and the false doctrine that was spreading among them.
Next week, Pastor Salvati will be preaching on Titus chapter 2.
But just to give you a little quick overview in order to help orient ourselves to our text here today,
Paul instructs Titus at the start of chapter 2 to teach what accords to sound doctrine.
Paul had just finished in chapter 1 describing the characteristics of what false doctrine produces.
And now he's telling Titus to teach correct doctrine and describes what this looks like.
What we'll see next week is that Paul first speaks about how Christians are to interact with other Christians.
And specifically, he describes about how that looks within a believing household.
Now in our chapter, in chapter 3, Paul moves his instructions about teaching sound doctrine from an internal discussion to an external discussion.
In chapter 3, he speaks about how Christians are to interact with society.
Paul gives some very concrete instructions about how we as believers are to interact in a non-believing world.
Needless to say, instructions on how we as believers should live godly lives in the context of society is just as practical today
and beneficial for us as it was for the first century Cretan church.
But what I also want us to get from this text today is not only the instructions on how to live in society,
but why we should conduct ourselves this way.
What reason is there for us as Christians to interact with society in a particular way?
What we'll see is that there's a cause and effect relationship that's going to happen here.
There's going to be a thing, and this thing is going to produce an effect in us.
It's going to produce the effect that Christians should interact with unbelievers.
Another way to state this is that there's going to be a root, like the root of a tree.
And this root is going to produce a certain kind of fruit.
What's interesting here, though, is the way that Paul teaches us this lesson.
Instead of starting at the base of the tree and describing how the root produces the fruit,
he starts with talking about the fruit first, and then he's going to trace back down to the root.
It's kind of opposite of how we normally would think.
Then, to finish off our text, Paul's going to contrast sound doctrine with false doctrine.
So we want to answer three questions here today.
By the end of our time, I want us to be able to answer these.
The first one, how should we interact with society?
Concrete examples of how we should be.
Number two, how are we able to accomplish these interactions with society?
And three, what's the difference between the false doctrine fruit and the sound doctrine fruit?
So let's jump in.
Point number one, the uniqueness of the Christian fruit displayed in society.
So let's look at what Paul has to say about how we are to interact with society.
Look at verse one.
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities,
to be obedient and to be ready for every good work.
The first thing that Paul gives us instruction on is our posture towards government.
This would include local city governments, state governments, national governments.
Whenever you see that phrase ruler and authorities, think government.
It's nothing like starting on an easy topic here, is it?
Couldn't he have started with something a little bit easier like,
remind them to say hi to strangers and smile to everybody?
No, he starts with submission and government.
What's even more interesting is thinking about the historical context that he's giving these instructions in.
The island of Crete and the Christians there,
they're living under the forceful rule of the Roman Empire.
Rome controlled them.
They were the government authorities.
And by the way, they weren't elected officials.
Rome had come in and invaded their land and ruled them by force.
Rome not only imposed their rules and authority on them,
they often extracted a high tax on those they conquered to help fund their empire.
Can you imagine what the Christians in Crete were thinking when Titus was instructing them to submit to the rulers and authorities?
The ones who were ruling them by force?
What do you think their response was?
Wait.
You want us to do what?
You want us to submit to their authority?
Those guys.
The ones that are oppressing us?
It had to be quite shocking for them.
Yet, here's Paul instructing Titus to remind the Christians to believe, to submit, and be obedient to the governmental authorities.
However, Paul's just not pulling this idea of submission out of the clouds.
Submission and obedience is a theme that he's carrying over from chapter 2.
In chapter 2, we'll see how submission and obedience functions between believers,
and specifically within a Christian household.
And Paul's just carrying this same theme now over into how Christians should interact in society.
What we can start to see is that the fruit of the sound doctrine is characterized by godly submission and obedience.
How do you think this would look if the Cretan church lived out this godly submission and authority with the society around them?
Do you think they would just blend in?
I don't think so.
What about us?
How does this present for us today?
What would the fruit of submission and obedience look like for us when there's a politician or local government authority who's in power and we don't agree with them?
What do we do when there's a political party that's in charge and we don't agree with their stances?
What would we say if somebody asked us,
Why are you acting this way?
Well, maybe we say that we believe in Romans 13,
where God establishes governments,
and God is sovereign over the governments,
and therefore our submission that Titus describes here,
or Paul describes in Titus,
is ultimately a submission to God's sovereignty.
Paul's instructions to Titus is to make sure that the believers are displaying a general posture of submitting to their authority.
Let's see what other instructions Paul has to say about our conduct with society.
Verse 2.
Speak evil of no one,
to avoid quarreling,
to be gentle,
and show perfect courtesy towards all people.
I can just hear the Cretan Christians saying to Titus as he's instructing them,
Okay, you know,
you're kind of pushing the envelope a little bit here.
You know that whole thing about submitting to authorities and rulers?
It was kind of tough,
but okay,
I can get on board.
But now you're telling us to never speak poorly of anyone,
avoid arguments with them,
and be gentle with them all the time,
and to top it off,
you say show perfect courtesy towards all people.
Well, I'm pretty sure you don't know the people that I work with,
or that neighbor that lives behind me,
because if you did,
you would know that this isn't possible.
How can I do this?
Can we relate with this, church?
Do any of the same thoughts ever pass through your head?
Sure, that's a nice thought.
Be kind and courteous to everyone.
But I'm not supposed to really do that, right?
How can I do that all the time,
and with everyone?
Paul doesn't mince his words here.
He doesn't say,
don't speak evil most of the time.
Or he doesn't say,
generally don't speak evil to people.
He says,
speak evil to no one.
So what does that look for us,
to speak evil to no one?
What would it look like with that situation at work with my coworker,
and everyone speaking behind their back?
Does speaking of evil apply in that situation,
or to that person?
What would it say if we didn't engage in that type of activities?
Or what about the person on social media,
who is always posting those things that make your eyes roll,
or saying things that just make your blood boil?
They can't hear what I'm saying about them.
So does speaking evil of no one apply in that situation?
What about showing gentleness to your boss,
who is constantly hard,
mean,
unkind,
and abrasive to you?
Or the person who speaks to you disrespectfully in front of others,
and is constantly making you feel bad?
Do I need to show gentleness,
and kindness,
and avoid quarreling with them?
Well, Paul doesn't use middle-of-the-road language here.
He uses the words,
no one,
avoid,
perfect,
all people.
Remember,
Paul's giving instructions on the fruit of sound doctrine,
and it is uniquely different than the fruit of false doctrine.
Can we ask ourselves,
is our conduct as believers uniquely different than society's?
And notice,
there's something very interesting here that's missing from these instructions.
There is no indication that our actions towards others
is dependent upon their actions towards us.
At no point does it say,
those who show courtesy and respect and love to you,
then you show courtesy and respect and love to them.
No,
the fruit that believers are to display
is independent
of their actions towards us.
So to answer question one,
our first question here,
how am I supposed to act
in society?
What we see with our passage
in verses one and two,
is that we should be characterized
by submission,
obedience,
good speech,
gentleness,
peacemaking,
and we are to do it to all people
at all times.
Anyone else feel the weight
of those instructions?
How am I supposed to even come close
to doing that?
How can I avoid gossip
at work
or in conversations with friends?
How can I not be annoyed
with those people in the stores
that are always getting in my way?
It's impossible
to not argue with people.
It just happens.
Well,
recall the outline
of our text.
Paul first
is giving us
the fruit
and then he's going
to trace backwards
to reveal the source
of that fruit.
So if you're wondering,
how can I produce
this kind of fruit
with others?
The answer
is found
in the root.
So let's look at
point two.
The root
produces
the fruit
sorry,
the root
that produces
the fruit
is the gospel.
Let's look at
verse three.
For we ourselves
were once foolish,
disobedient,
led astray,
slaves to various
passions and pleasures,
passing our day
in malice
and envy,
hated by others
and hating one another.
after Paul
instructs us
on the fruit,
he takes a moment
to remind us
of who we once were.
Just in case
you forgot
what you were like
in the past,
here,
let me remind you.
Paul doesn't
hold back.
Listen to how
he describes us.
Foolish,
disobedient,
slaves to passions
and pleasures,
envious,
hated by others
and hating.
These are not
very flattering
things,
and notice
that they are
complete opposites
of what he described
in verses one and two.
He now calls us
to obedience
when we were
once disobedient.
He calls us
to gentleness
and courtesy
when we were
once hating
and envious.
He calls us
to be peacemakers
and considerate
when we were
once quarreling
and malicious.
Some of us
might be
asking ourselves
right now,
look,
I know I'm not
perfect,
but come on,
I'm not that bad.
It seems a little
bit of like
a harsh description
of me.
Well,
we see in Jesus'
sermon on the mount
in Matthew 5
when he says,
you have heard
that it was said,
you shall not
commit adultery.
But I say to everyone,
but I say to you,
everyone who looks
at a woman
with lustful intent
has already
committed adultery
with her in his heart.
What Jesus identifies
here for us
is that sin
does not originate
with the action.
Sin originates
in the heart.
And this is the thread
that Paul's pulling
on here.
Maybe you didn't
engage in the
highest level
of envy,
hate,
pursuing passions,
and being envious
of others.
Maybe you could
always find
someone else
who engaged
in those things
to a greater extent
than you were.
But what of your heart?
Jesus tells us
that sin originates
in the heart.
Again,
we see in Matthew 7,
21,
Jesus says,
from within,
out of the heart
of man,
comes evil thoughts,
sexual immorality,
theft,
murder,
adultery.
We hear this echoed
in Jeremiah 17,
9.
The heart is deceitful
above all things,
desperately sick.
Who can understand it?
So when Paul describes
in verse 3
what we once were,
he is talking
about the actions
that we were once
engaged in.
But let's not fool
ourselves,
Christians,
into believing
our hearts
were not once
pursuing the things
of the flesh.
Paul gives us
a look at our
natural heart,
and it isn't
very pretty.
But pay careful
attention
attention,
pay careful
attention to passages
like this.
When we read
difficult things
described about us
and ourselves
and our sinful
human nature,
and then you see
the word but
right after it,
be prepared.
Listen closely
because this is
where the treasure
is found.
So let's look
at verse 4.
But when the
goodness and
loving kindness
of our God
and Savior,
of God our Savior
appeared,
he saved us.
Not because of
works done by us
in righteousness,
but according
to his own
mercy.
By the washing
of regeneration
and renewal
of the Holy Spirit
whom he poured
on us richly
through Jesus
Christ our Savior.
in verses
1 and 2,
Paul shows us
the fruit
that we should
be displaying
in society.
He then reminds
us of the way
our hearts
and lives
used to be,
and now
we see
that what
moves us
from what
we once were
to who we
are called
to be
is the gospel.
Believer,
there is only
one way
that can
produce
godly fruit
that is
described
in verses
1 and 2
and that
is by
standing
on the
sound
doctrine
of the
gospel.
What do I
mean by the
gospel?
Where am I
getting that
from?
You might be
asking,
I don't see
the word
gospel in
verse 4.
Well,
let's look.
who appeared?
What's this
talking about?
The person
who appeared
is Jesus.
In John
1
14,
we read,
the word
became
flesh
and dwelt
among us.
Philippians 2
6 tells us
that Jesus,
who though he
was in the
form of
God,
did not
count equality
with God
a thing to
be grasped,
but he
emptied himself
by taking
on the form
of a servant
being born
in the
likeness
of men.
the
incarnation.
This
is when
the goodness
and loving
kindness
of God
appeared.
And notice
what happened
when he
appeared.
He saved
us.
This is
the gospel.
God
incarnate
appears.
He lives
a sinless
life,
dies on
the cross
for our
sins,
and saves
us.
That's
the gospel.
And we
see the
aspects of
it here
in verse
four.
The gospel
is the
root of
the fruit
that we're
called to.
We're asking
ourselves the
question,
how can I
produce this
kind of fruit
that I'm
called to
in verses
one and
two?
The answer
is by
the root
of the
gospel.
And just
in case
we're a
little
confused
about what
that root
is,
let's
look at
verse
five.
Verse
five says,
not because
of works
done by
us in
righteousness,
but according
to his
mercy.
It's not
only God's
mercy to
us that
the gospel
makes it
possible for
us to
produce the
fruit that
is in
accordance
Godliness.
Do you
remember that
feeling that
we were
having as
we were
going through
verses one
and two?
That feeling
of impossibility?
How are we
supposed to do
this?
How can I
even begin to
live in this
manner that
Paul's instructing
us to?
Remember the
weight of that
feeling?
Do you know
why we felt
that weight?
it's because
that we know
that if we
were to rely
on our own
abilities,
our own
power to
live this
way,
we'd never
be able to
do it.
I know that
I don't have
the strength
and resolve
to speak evil
of no one,
to avoid
quarreling,
to be ready
for every good
work.
I know that
I don't have
it in me of
my own
abilities to
show perfect
courtesy towards
all people.
but thanks
be to God
that the
root of my
ability to
do these
things is
not my own
righteousness,
but God's
mercy to me
through Jesus.
Isn't that a
load off the
shoulders?
Isn't it good
to know that
the root that
produces the
fruit is not
my own
righteousness,
but God's
mercy?
I think of
John Bunyan's
book,
Pilgrim's
Progress.
If you're not
familiar with
it,
Christian's the
main character,
and he's
traveling from
his hometown
of destruction
to the
celestial city,
and as
Christian is
walking along
the road,
he's encountering
various obstacles
and trials
along the way,
but Christian's
got a problem.
He is
constantly
bogged down
by this
heavy burden
on his
back.
The burden
is described
like a
heavy backpack,
and it's
constantly weighing
him down,
almost pushing
him down.
And a few
times along
the journey,
this burden
is so heavy
and such a
problem that
it almost
causes his
death.
But eventually
something happens
to that burden
that Christian
is carrying.
Let's read
what John
Bunyan writes.
He says,
Now I saw
in my dream
that the
highway up
which Christian
was to go
was fenced
on either side
with a wall,
and that wall
is called
salvation.
Up this way,
therefore,
did burden
Christian run,
but not
without great
difficulty
because of
the load
on his back.
he ran
thus till
he came
to a place
somewhat
ascending.
And that
place
stood a
cross,
a little
below in
the bottom,
a sepulcher.
So I saw
in my dream
that as
Christian came
up to the
cross,
his burden
loosened
from his
shoulders
and fell
from his
back.
And it
began to
tumble,
and so
continued to
do so
until it
came to
the mouth
of the
sepulcher
where it
fell in
and I
saw it
no more.
Just as
the cross
releases
Christian
from the
burden
on his
back,
the cross
releases
us
from the
burden
to have
our own
righteousness
be the
root
of our
fruit.
Brothers
and sisters,
leave that
burden
at the
cross.
So we're
trying to
answer
question
two.
How are
we to
accomplish
the fruit
that is
called to
in verses
one and
two?
The answer
is by
the root
of the
gospel.
Moving
on to
point
three.
Cling
to sound
doctrine
and pursue
godliness.
Avoid
false
doctrine
that proves
worthless.
starting
in verse
eight,
Paul returns
to giving
specific
instructions
to Titus
again.
He says,
I want
you to
insist
on these
things.
Paul's
kind of
bringing
his letter
full circle
here.
Paul
starts
his letter
by saying
that the
instructions
he's going
to give
is to
the benefit
of the
believer
to improve
their faith
and their
godliness.
Now he's
wrapping it
all up.
He's
saying,
I want
you to
insist
on those
things that
increase
faith and
godliness.
And Paul
gives one
last contrast
in verse
nine.
He says,
but avoid
foolish
controversies,
genealogies,
dissensions,
and quarrels
about the
law,
for they
are unprofitable
and worthless.
Can we
see the
difference
between the
fruit in
verses one
and two
and in
verses nine?
False
doctrine
produces
controversies
and dissension,
fighting,
and it
ultimately
proves
unprofitable
and worthless.
This is
very different
than the
trustworthy
doctrine
Paul insists
on that
produces
obedience,
gentleness,
good speech,
and is
ultimately
profitable.
Sound
doctrine
unites.
It does
not divide.
It is
gentle and
courteous,
not quarrelsome.
It speaks
evil of no
one.
Not
creating
controversies.
And the
difference
between
teaching
false
doctrine
and
sound
doctrine
is such
a serious
matter.
Look at
what Paul
has to
say about
those
false
teachers
who are
stirring up
division.
Verse
10.
After
warning him
once
and then
twice,
have nothing
more to do
with him.
This is
serious
stuff.
It highlights
the importance
of why
Paul is
instructing
Titus to
establish
godly
leadership
in the
church.
It's God's
goodness to
us.
false
doctrine
and not
speak to
one that
we see
being taught
by some
in our
society and
has implications
to our
text.
I'm speaking
of the
false teaching
of the
prosperity
gospel.
The
prosperity
gospel tells
us that
it is by
our
righteousness
that God
shows mercy
and blessing
to us.
The
prosperity
gospel says
if you
pray harder,
if you
give more
money,
if you
clean yourself
up spiritually,
if you
use the
power of
your own
words to
claim something,
then God
will show
you mercy.
The
prosperity
gospel says
if you
don't have
material
things,
it's because
you need
to increase
your
righteousness.
Brothers
and sisters,
avoid such
false teaching.
It is
worthless
and unprofitable.
Instead,
cling to
the sound
doctrine.
Cling to
the gospel
that teaches
us not
by my
righteousness,
but by
God's mercy
that he's
blessed us
by solving
our biggest
problem.
the prosperity
gospel tells
us that we
need to
earn God's
mercy and
blessing.
Sound
doctrine tells
us that
while we
were still
sinners,
Christ died
for us.
Romans 5.8
This is the
difference between
godliness and
worthlessness.
Cling to
sound doctrine.
Avoid
false doctrine.
sound doctrine.
So our
third question,
we were
trying to
answer,
what's the
difference
between false
doctrine and
sound doctrine?
Sound doctrine
produces
godliness.
False doctrine
produces
worthlessness.
goodness.
So I hope
that we
can see
as we
walk
through
this
text
here
some
applications
to our
lives.
But I
do want
to point
out just
four quick
application
points that
we can
specifically
draw out
of the
text here.
Application
number one,
we need
to be
prepared
to do
good works,
not just
reacting to
them.
twice in
our passage,
Paul mentions
good works.
He mentions
good works
that Christians
should be
engaged in.
The first
time is in
verse one
when Paul
talks about
submission to
rulers and
authorities.
He says,
be ready
for good
works.
The second
time is
in verse
eight when
Paul is
instructing
Titus to
insist on
sound doctrine
so that
believers can
devote
themselves
to good
works.
Notice
the mindset
that Christians
should have
around these
good works.
Paul says,
be ready
and devote
yourselves
to them.
Being ready
and devoting
yourself to
something means
that you're
preparing for
it.
You've put
some thought
and planning
into it.
You're
anticipating
it.
It's
not just
being ready
but consistently
and frequently
pursuing it.
There's
intentionality
here.
It's not
just a
reaction to
the occasion.
So how
does this
look for
us?
How does
it look to
be ready
and devoted
to good
works?
Maybe it
would look
like being
ready and
devoted to
not speak
evil and
avoid quarreling
with that
family member
that's never
treated you
very well.
What if
on the way
to that
family gathering
you were
praying for
God's mercy
and preaching
the gospel
to yourself
so that you
may display
good fruit
at this
family gathering?
or maybe
being prepared
to do good
works looks
like you
intentionally
going to
work
looking with
the goal
of looking
for a
situation
in which
you can
show perfect
courtesy
towards a
coworker
especially
when they
don't deserve
it.
look for
ways to
show good
works
think about
ways to
show good
works
pray that
God would
open your
eyes to
these
opportunities
and then
when we
fail at
it be
devoted to
do it
again.
We as
believers
should be
devoted and
ready for
good works
not just
reactionary to
them.
application
number two
our good
works
should be
performed
with joy.
If we're
truly grasping
that the
fruit of our
good works
is rooted
in the
gospel
then our
good works
will be
performed
with joy.
Paul says
that we're
devoting
ourselves to
good works
here because
these things
are excellent
and profitable
for people.
They're
profitable not
only for the
person who's
performing the
good works but
the one who's
receiving them.
When we
understand how
God has
shown us
mercy how
can we not
joyfully show
mercy to
others?
Mercy should
produce joy.
So church
when we
submit to the
leadership God
has placed us
under do we
do it with
joy because
it's God's
goodness to
us?
When I
avoid quarreling
with strangers
maybe the guy
who cuts me
off in
traffic do
I do it
joyfully
because this
good work is
excellent and
profitable?
Are we
joyfully patient
and gentle
during our
interactions with
our children or
spouse because
it's in
accordance with
godliness?
As believers
our good works
should be
performed with
joy.
Application
number three
the health
of our
Christian
witness is
dependent upon
our grasp of
the gospel.
A proper
grasp of the
gospel is
crucial for
maintaining the
health of a
Christian witness.
When we
properly grasp
the gospel it's
like a car
traveling safely
down the
middle of a
road.
when the
fruit of our
good works is
not rooted in
the gospel
our car is
going to
slowly drift
to one of
the ditches on
either side of
the road.
We may drift
and crash into
the ditch of
legalism.
This would
look like our
works producing
the bad fruit
of pride.
Look at me.
Look at all
the good things
that I'm doing
while all those
other people are
doing nothing.
the ditch of
legalism can
look like us
becoming
judgmental and
thinking that
our good works
that we're
performing are
superior and
more acceptable
to God than
the works of
others.
It makes us
believe that
we're more
spiritual and
superior than
others and
ultimately we
become like the
Pharisees.
Or without a
grasp proper
grasp of the
gospel we can
slowly drift to
the other side
of the road and
crash into the
ditch of
laziness and
inaction.
But there's no
way around it.
Paul gives us a
clear call for
believers to
engage in good
works.
So with a
proper understanding
of the gospel
is vital for the
health of our
Christian witness
and it allows us
to avoid crashing
into either one
of the ditches.
application four.
Don't let past
sins prevent you
from performing
good works.
Many people are
familiar with the
song Amazing
Grace.
The song was
written by a man
named John
Newton.
John Newton
lived in the
1800s and when
he was a young
man he was
forced into the
Royal Navy.
He hated his
position so much
that at one
point he tried to
run away from
his post which
is interesting
because he was
on a ship.
He was caught
shockingly,
received a
humiliating physical
punishment and
demoted in front
of his peers.
He was transferred
to another ship
but was not
able to get
along with
this new
crew either.
He so severely
clashed with
them that while
they were docked
in a port in
Africa they
left him there
and just went
home.
Newton was
actually taken
as a slave
and treated
miserably and
frequently beaten.
Eventually he
was rescued but
Newton had
become angry,
bitter,
and hateful.
He then went
on to become
the captain of
a ship that
was a part of
the African
slave trading
system.
But God
would show
mercy to
John Newton
calling him
out of darkness
and into light
and saving
him.
Newton would
then spend the
next several
decades of his
life pastoring
a flock as
well as
becoming one
of the loudest
voices of his
time fighting
for the
abolishment of
slavery and the
slave trade.
It was out of
these experiences
that Newton
wrote the words
amazing grace
how sweet the
sound that
saved a wretch
like me.
how easy would
it have been
for Newton
when reading
through our
text today
or hearing
the Lord's
call to him
to do good
works,
how easy would
it have been
for him to
say,
Lord,
surely I am
not the
appropriate person
to be
pastoring a
flock of
believers.
I'm definitely
not the person
who should be
fighting against
the abolishment
of slavery.
I'm the person
who is
characterized by
foolishness,
disobedience,
quarreling,
envy,
hate.
I'm the person
who devalued
fellow image
bearers of
God.
Lord,
with my past
sins,
how can I
ever be
expected to
perform the
good works
that you're
calling me
to?
But thanks
be to God
that our text
speaks to
John Newton
as well.
Oh no,
John Newton,
the fruit of
your good works
that I call
you to is
not because
of your works
of righteousness,
but because
of my mercy.
Can we relate,
church family?
Has the thought
run through
your head,
I can't perform
good works,
I'm not worthy,
I would be a
hypocrite,
people would see
right through me,
but God
says,
oh no,
the good works
we perform
in our
neighborhoods,
at our
jobs,
with our
interactions
with others
at the store,
while walking
down the
street,
at any
time,
it is not
because of
works done
by us in
righteousness,
but because
of his
mercy.
Don't let
past sins
stop us
from doing
good works,
because they
are rooted
in his
mercy,
not our
righteousness.
Amen.
Pray with
me.
Father,
thank you
for your
mercy to
us.
Thank you
that it is
not by our
righteousness,
but by your
mercy that
produces the
fruit and
gives us the
ability to
live in
accordance with
godliness.
goodness.
Lord, we
want to be
set apart
for you in
the way that
we live our
lives, in
the way we
interact with
society.
We ask for
more grace
from you to
help us
accomplish this.
In your
name, amen.