WEBVTT

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 This particular greeting is somewhat unique in that it is one of the longest of Paul's

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 introductions to any of his letters.

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 Most of his letters include a brief opening with his name and the name of the recipients.

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 Paul here with Titus, though, tips his hand a little bit.

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 He tips his hand in these verses to reveal the main point of his letter, which is that

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 the gospel produces godliness and that structures must be implemented in the churches on Crete

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 that would preserve God's truth.

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 So let's refresh ourselves from last week.

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 What is it that is the theme of the book of Titus?

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 I found this helpful.

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 There was no reason to try to improve on it.

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 So from your ESV study Bibles, you'll see this as listed as the main theme.

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 The theme of Titus is the inseparable link between faith and practice.

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 Between belief and behavior.

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 And this truth is the basis for its critique of false teaching, as well as its instruction

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 in Christian living and the qualifications for church leaders.

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 And when we start off right here at the beginning of the letter, Paul tips his hand a little bit

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 and he gives us an idea, almost even a synopsis of what we can expect as we continue to study

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 further.

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 He states his call to begin.

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 And in stating his call, Paul not only provides the credentials for his authority, but he connects

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 the letter as a means by which God is accomplishing his purposes in the churches on Crete.

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 I know that was a mouthful, so let me just say that again.

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 Why is it that Paul opens up by telling them he's a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus

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 Christ?

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 Part of it does have to do with credentials.

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 There was some tendency in false teachers to diminish that in Paul's ministry.

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 And it's not unusual for him to have that purpose at the beginning of his letters, establishing

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 who he is and what his authority is.

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 But it's not just that here.

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 There is this idea where Paul is saying, this is who I am.

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 This is what God has called me to be.

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 Therefore, everything that's coming behind this, everything that I'm writing to you is

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 God's means of building you up as his people.

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 He's just using me as his instrument to do so.

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 That's an important fact as we begin to get through this.

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 He says he's a servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

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 His service to God is to bring the elect to faith, understanding, and godly living.

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 His apostleship for Jesus is to proclaim the Christian hope, which is God's eternal plan

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 in salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

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 That's what he means by this.

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 And he plainly spells it out to us so that we know what follows here is not actually coming

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 from Paul.

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 That's important, isn't it?

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 Because how do we distinguish sometimes when we come to these New Testament letters, and

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 then maybe we look at some of the extra biblical letters and books, maybe the early church fathers,

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 and how do we distinguish that this particular book belongs in our Bible, and this particular

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 book, it may be helpful, but it doesn't actually belong in our Bible.

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 And some of that comes back to how the apostles addressed it themselves.

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 Paul knew as he wrote this letter that this was not just coming from him.

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 This was coming from God.

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 This was a means by which God was building up his people.

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 And so the content of Titus serves the very purpose for which God had saved Paul and called

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 Paul into the ministry.

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 And I think that's helpful for us to note as we start.

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 The beginning here is, as we just read, I'm sure you picked up on it, it is rich in gospel

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 theology.

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 Paul's testimony here serves as a helpful model to us as to how we should even think of and

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 evaluate our own Christian lives.

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 And my aim this morning is to do two things.

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 Using Paul's greeting, I want to encourage you through the hope that we have in Jesus, because

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 that is really what this greeting is about.

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 It's about Jesus, and it's about the gospel, and we should take great encouragement in the

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 words that Paul says.

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 I want to encourage you about that.

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 But I also want to challenge you, as we look at Paul's life as a model for Christian living,

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 to examine ourselves and ask, is the gospel impacting my life in the way that I write,

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 in the way that I talk, in the way that I think about others, in the way that I carry

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 on in my life?

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 Is the gospel impacting my life in the same way that it impacted Paul's life?

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 And if it isn't, why isn't it?

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 Because it's not a failure in the gospel.

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 It's not that the gospel was more meaningful for the apostles than it is for us.

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 So there must be something there.

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 What is it that is preventing me from actually following the pattern that Paul sets forth as

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 he faithfully followed Christ?

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 So let's dig into this greeting together.

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 The first thing I want to note is Paul's gospel purpose.

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 Paul's gospel purpose.

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 Look with me again at verse one.

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 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

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 So very clearly, right off the bat, the source for Paul's authority was not a religious enterprise.

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 It was not a denominational council of Christian leaders.

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 From the opening line, he asserts that his authority came from being a servant of God

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 and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

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 And now one of the reasons we can discern that this was a public letter is that Titus

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 didn't need to know that.

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 Titus already knew that.

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 He had, for many years, traveled with the apostle Paul.

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 He was well aware of Paul's apostleship.

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 He was well aware of Paul's calling.

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 He knew Paul's testimony as well as anybody else would have known Paul's testimony.

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 He knew he was a servant of God.

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 There would have been no reason for Paul to write a letter to Titus,

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 intending only for Titus to read it and to give this type of address at the beginning.

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 Clearly, Paul understood this is not just for Titus.

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 It's a personal letter, but it is not a private letter.

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 And given the tendency that the opponents of Paul had to arouse suspicion about his credentials,

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 it makes sense that Paul would state his authority at the beginning of a letter he intended to be a public letter.

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 And just a simple note like that is helpful to us.

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 It's also necessary to see Paul didn't view his authority arrogantly.

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 He didn't think of this as a means to lord over people.

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 That's not why he's writing them a letter.

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 It's not like Paul got word that,

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 Hey, Paul, you know, there's these churches in Crete.

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 They're not doing things the way you do them.

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 And we think you should probably say something.

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 Because typically, we have that type of personality sometimes, don't we?

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 Especially in the church world, we can be bad about this,

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 where we hear about this Christian over here or this church over here,

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 and we think they're not doing things the way that we should.

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 We should be the spiritual watchdogs for the churches in our town.

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 And we should let them know that they're wrong.

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 That's not what Paul's doing here.

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 He's not getting word that the churches on Crete are doing something,

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 and he just needs to correct it because he needs all these churches to look like him

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 and do things the way that he does it,

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 as far as just his personality and preferences are concerned.

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 No.

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 He described his calling in terms of service to God.

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 I'm writing this to you because God has instructed me for this purpose.

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 I serve him, not myself.

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 I'm not trying to tell you what to do.

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 I'm trying to instruct you in what God desires for you to do.

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 He uses the Greek word for slave here.

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 We translate it servant or bond servant often in modern English translations

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 because we're so afraid of the word slave.

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 It has such a negative connotation in the history of our nation

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 that we're afraid to use it in any sense.

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 But that's exactly the word that Paul uses here.

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 He says, I am a slave of God.

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 Doulos.

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 Doulos reminds us that he had completely, willingly given his whole self,

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 all of his life, all of his will, all of his desires, all of his identity,

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 all of his freedoms.

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 He had surrendered it all to serve the Lord God.

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 The theme of Titus, of course, is that the gospel of Jesus radically transforms

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 those who believe and follow him.

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 And is there any greater example in the New Testament of this type of transformation

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 than the man who was once known as Saul of Tarsus?

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 You can read about it in the book of Acts.

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 Paul had always considered himself a servant of God.

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 But prior to trusting Christ, the service he offered to God

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 had the purpose of self-righteousness.

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 He was trying to establish his own status before God,

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 trying to earn his way into God's favor, and it made him an enemy of God.

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 He was an enemy of Christ, going throughout the churches,

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 dragging people out in their worship services,

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 persecuting the church, consenting to the murder of leaders within the church

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 as we see him consenting to the martyrdom of Stephen.

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 That's who Paul was.

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 But that man is now writing to these churches on Crete,

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 and he's saying, no, I'm not the enemy of Christ.

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 I am now the servant of Christ.

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 I am an apostle, a messenger sent by Christ.

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 Just in the very fact of that identification,

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 we see that something dramatic and transformative

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 has happened in this man's life.

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 He was a servant of God.

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 He wasn't writing from a sense of entitlement.

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 He was writing from a sense of responsibility

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 to fulfill the commission that had been given to him

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 from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 But what was the purpose of this calling?

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 Look again at verse 1.

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 Why did Jesus choose Paul?

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 What was really the purpose of this?

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 What was the plan that God had for Paul's life?

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 Well, Paul tells us here that God had saved him,

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 and Jesus had commissioned him,

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 quote, for the sake of God's elect.

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 Those God has graciously chosen to redeem as his people.

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 And there's three ways here that Paul identifies

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 that his calling was working itself out

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 in relation to God's elect, to God's church,

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 to those who believe in Christ.

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 First way is this.

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 It was for the sake of their faith.

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 For the sake of their faith.

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 Look at it again.

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 For the sake of the faith of God's elect.

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 Now, my intention is not to get into the complexities

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 of the biblical doctrine of election,

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 and I'm sure many of you will be appreciative of that.

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 But this verse actually can be very helpful for us,

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 especially those of us who struggle to reconcile

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 what seems to be, in the Scripture,

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 a contradiction between the doctrine of God's sovereign election

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 and Jesus' command of evangelization,

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 of preaching the gospel to the world around us.

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 And what I want to point out to you here,

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 and for our purposes this morning,

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 is this, that Paul didn't view his ministry

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 as paradoxical to God's sovereignty.

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 He viewed it as completely consistent with it.

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 He knew that the Spirit's mysterious work in salvation

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 was God's business.

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 That was in his business to determine who is elect

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 and who is not elect.

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 His responsibility was to preach the gospel

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 to all people,

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 trusting that God would accomplish his saving purposes

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 as the gospel went forth.

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 Isn't that what Jesus had in mind in the Great Commission?

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 He told the apostles,

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 I have all authority,

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 therefore go, make disciples,

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 preach the gospel,

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 teach them what I've commanded you,

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 and then remember he followed it up with,

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 and lo, I am with you always.

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 In other words, as you go, I'm going,

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 and as you preach the gospel with your words,

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 my spirit is gonna stir the hearts of the people

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 that you speak to.

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 This is the means by which God does his saving work.

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 Paul understood that.

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 He said, God has called me.

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 He's commissioned me

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 so that people will be saved for the elect's sake.

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 Tim Chester said,

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 Paul knew there were people out there

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 whom God had chosen to make alive.

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 All they needed was someone to preach the gospel,

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 and he could be that person.

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 If he preached,

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 then those whom God had chosen

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 would put their faith in Christ.

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 It might be a long process,

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 but God would save his elect.

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 All Paul needed to do

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 was preach the gospel.

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 See, God's sovereignty and salvation

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 does not negate

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 the Christian's responsibility of evangelism.

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 It actually does the opposite.

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 It empowers those efforts.

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 It tells us that our evangelization

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 of our families and of our communities

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 and of the world

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 does not rest ultimately on our ability

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 to phrase things in just the right way

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 or to have just the right personality.

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 That burden doesn't rest with us.

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 God says, go, preach the gospel,

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 and he's gonna accomplish his work

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 as he sees fit to accomplish his work.

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 And as Charles Spurgeon said,

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 the same sun that melts the ice

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 hardens the clay.

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 And there's gonna be times

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 when we preach the gospel

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 where God's purpose

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 is a purpose of judgment,

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 where he hardens the clay

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 of someone's heart.

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 And there's gonna be a lot of times

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 where we preach the gospel

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 and the gospel melts

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 the ice of people's hearts.

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 That's not because we're good

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 at sharing the gospel.

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 It's because God is a faithful God.

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 And as we go,

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 he goes.

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 It is through the sharing of the gospel

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 that God draws sinners to himself.

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 And like Paul,

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 our call from Christ

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 is to joyfully

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 and faithfully

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 spread the good news.

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 He says, I'm a servant of God.

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 I'm an apostle of Jesus Christ.

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 And the first thing God intends for me to do,

00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:30.399
 the reason he's done this in my life,

00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:32.179
 is for the sake of the faith

00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:33.340
 of God's elect

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:34.759
 so that people will be saved.

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:36.320
 But then there's a second thing here.

00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:39.520
 It's also their knowledge of the truth,

00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.280
 their knowledge of the truth.

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.460
 Look again at verse one.

00:15:42.780 --> 00:15:43.440
 Paul, a servant

00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:45.700
 for the sake of the faith of God's elect

00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:49.020
 and their knowledge of the truth.

00:15:50.140 --> 00:15:52.680
 So if the faith of God's elect

00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:55.400
 reflects the responsibility of evangelism,

00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:57.500
 the knowledge of the truth

00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:58.500
 might be understood

00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:02.580
 as the ongoing work of discipling.

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.940
 That was also a part of

00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:06.780
 Jesus' great commission, wasn't it?

00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:07.720
 It was go,

00:16:08.160 --> 00:16:10.240
 make disciples of all nations

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:13.220
 by baptizing them,

00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:14.140
 preaching the gospel,

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:16.080
 and teaching them,

00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:19.000
 training them in the truth.

00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:21.200
 Paul saw his calling

00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:25.060
 as one that helped mature

00:16:25.060 --> 00:16:27.380
 believers in the truth.

00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:30.260
 And his emphasis on sound doctrine

00:16:30.260 --> 00:16:31.480
 as we go through this letter

00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:34.060
 indicates that discipling

00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:35.580
 was a vital ministry,

00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:36.440
 not only of Paul,

00:16:36.560 --> 00:16:37.779
 but he intended it to be

00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:39.460
 a vital ministry within the church.

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:41.360
 And we do well to note that.

00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:45.800
 But I don't think that's what

00:16:45.800 --> 00:16:48.200
 he means primarily in this verse.

00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:50.120
 I think those things are true.

00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.240
 But Paul especially has in mind

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.019
 in this moment

00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:57.320
 the full knowledge of the gospel.

00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:00.160
 The full knowledge of the gospel.

00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:04.620
 Bill Mount says this.

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.720
 He's a Greek scholar.

00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:06.220
 He says,

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:08.740
 Truth is a technical term

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.440
 in the pastoral epistles

00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:12.080
 for the gospel,

00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:15.120
 emphasizing the need

00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:16.820
 to understand the content

00:17:16.820 --> 00:17:18.799
 of the preached message.

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.620
 When Paul says,

00:17:20.820 --> 00:17:21.340
 My purpose

00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:23.559
 is for the sake

00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.900
 of the faith of God's elect

00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.900
 and their knowledge

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:26.820
 of the truth.

00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.180
 He means their full knowledge

00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:30.040
 of the gospel.

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:33.280
 Why would he say this?

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.100
 Because there's always

00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:36.900
 a temptation

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:39.240
 to water down the gospel

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:41.160
 in an effort

00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:43.040
 to produce as many converts

00:17:43.040 --> 00:17:44.360
 as we possibly can.

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.580
 But Paul understood

00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.880
 that true faith

00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:49.420
 was only possible

00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:51.960
 with a complete understanding

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.080
 of the gospel of Jesus.

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:56.339
 Not a complete understanding

00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:56.899
 of the Bible.

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:59.139
 Not a complete understanding

00:17:59.139 --> 00:18:00.240
 of all the different

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.399
 theologies

00:18:01.399 --> 00:18:02.439
 and systematics

00:18:02.439 --> 00:18:03.279
 and what's going to happen

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.059
 at the end

00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:05.079
 and what does this mean

00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:05.960
 and all of that kind of stuff.

00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:07.000
 Not that.

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.359
 But for a person

00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:09.019
 to be saved,

00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:10.419
 they need to actually know

00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:11.519
 the fullness

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.819
 of the gospel.

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.699
 And when we get our eyes set

00:18:15.699 --> 00:18:16.179
 on winning

00:18:16.179 --> 00:18:17.279
 as many people as we can,

00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:18.279
 there will always

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:18.879
 be a temptation

00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:19.599
 for us

00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.799
 to cheapen

00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:22.000
 the gospel message,

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.140
 to shorten

00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:25.000
 the gospel message

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.299
 in order to try

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.259
 to persuade people

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.779
 to believe.

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.079
 But that's not true faith.

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.559
 Churches do that this way.

00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.900
 They emphasize Christ.

00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.160
 They emphasize his love.

00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:38.400
 They don't really deal

00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:39.059
 much with sin.

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:42.119
 If you don't deal with sin,

00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.099
 if you don't deal

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.079
 with God's wrath,

00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.079
 you're not preaching

00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:45.920
 the full gospel.

00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.160
 I think what Paul intends

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:48.619
 primarily,

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.799
 I think the discipling part

00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.160
 is there.

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.200
 I think that's clear

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:51.680
 in the letter.

00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.680
 But I think primarily

00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.960
 what Paul is saying here

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:55.180
 is that God has called me

00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:56.220
 to preach the gospel

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.580
 for the sake of God's elect

00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:58.360
 and their knowledge

00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:58.860
 of the truth,

00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:00.380
 their full knowledge

00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:01.440
 of the person work

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.300
 of Jesus Christ,

00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:03.320
 which is reflected

00:19:03.320 --> 00:19:04.120
 in Paul's letters

00:19:04.120 --> 00:19:04.940
 as we read through.

00:19:06.820 --> 00:19:07.680
 There's a reason

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.840
 the apostles return

00:19:08.840 --> 00:19:10.080
 to the fundamental truths

00:19:10.080 --> 00:19:10.620
 of the gospel

00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:11.800
 over and over.

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:14.420
 It's because it's tempting

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.600
 to think that the gospel

00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:16.480
 is only helpful

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.180
 at the moment

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:17.840
 of conversion.

00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:20.299
 Sometimes we think,

00:19:20.459 --> 00:19:21.319
 I know that.

00:19:21.439 --> 00:19:22.299
 I don't have to keep

00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.299
 thinking about that.

00:19:24.199 --> 00:19:25.099
 But then you come

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.899
 to your New Testament

00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:27.159
 and your Bible reading plan

00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:28.019
 and you'll find that

00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:28.799
 the apostles,

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.980
 they never shut up

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.399
 about it,

00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:30.740
 did they?

00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:32.359
 They just kept talking

00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:33.000
 about Jesus.

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.439
 They just kept talking

00:19:34.439 --> 00:19:35.139
 about the gospel.

00:19:35.439 --> 00:19:35.779
 Why?

00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.959
 Because there will never

00:19:37.959 --> 00:19:39.039
 be a day in your life

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.039
 that you don't need

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:41.019
 to at least preach

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.599
 to yourself

00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.619
 the truth of the gospel.

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:46.059
 It's through daily reflection

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.779
 on Jesus

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:48.159
 that the Holy Spirit

00:19:48.159 --> 00:19:49.159
 shapes us,

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:51.039
 that he fashions us

00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:52.479
 in the likeness of Christ.

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:56.119
 And if the end result

00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.639
 of faith in Christ

00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.939
 and knowledge of the truth

00:19:58.939 --> 00:20:00.159
 is godly living

00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:00.719
 as we'll see

00:20:00.719 --> 00:20:01.479
 in just a moment,

00:20:01.719 --> 00:20:02.559
 doesn't it make sense

00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:03.159
 that every day

00:20:03.159 --> 00:20:04.099
 we think on Christ,

00:20:04.239 --> 00:20:05.339
 we think about Christ,

00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:06.419
 we think about his gospel,

00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:07.439
 because that seems

00:20:07.439 --> 00:20:08.000
 to be the way

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.000
 that the Holy Spirit

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.599
 comes in

00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.219
 and he begins

00:20:10.219 --> 00:20:11.139
 to shape our lives

00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:12.939
 to be like Christ.

00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:15.799
 Paul's call

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.019
 and our call

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.980
 is to preach

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.839
 the whole truth

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:21.259
 and nothing but the truth.

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.259
 So help us God, right?

00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.079
 Well, what's his purpose?

00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:29.359
 It's the forsake

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.059
 of the faith

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.679
 of God's elect,

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.319
 it's their knowledge

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:31.759
 of the truth

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.199
 and then it's

00:20:32.199 --> 00:20:32.779
 their godliness.

00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:34.639
 Look again at the verse.

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.359
 For the sake

00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:35.759
 of the faith

00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.359
 of God's elect

00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:37.000
 and their knowledge

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:37.480
 of the truth

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.819
 which accords with

00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:40.139
 godliness.

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.259
 It's really complicated,

00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:41.799
 isn't it?

00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:43.779
 It lays it right out

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:44.220
 for us.

00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.439
 Well, what is godliness?

00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.240
 Godliness is the

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.059
 total commitment

00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:51.759
 of one's life

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.279
 to God

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:54.819
 and it emphasizes

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.700
 the practical

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:57.079
 outworking

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.659
 of one's faith.

00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:00.399
 I don't remember

00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:01.220
 which letter it was,

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.839
 it might have been

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.980
 to the Philippians.

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.539
 Paul said,

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.919
 work out your own salvation

00:21:04.919 --> 00:21:05.759
 with fear and trembling.

00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:06.759
 Do you remember that?

00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.500
 That doesn't mean

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.420
 figure out a way

00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:10.039
 to be saved.

00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:12.019
 It means the salvation

00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:13.900
 that God has put in you,

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.900
 the gospel that God

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.740
 has transformed

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.880
 inside of you.

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.619
 Let it work itself out

00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:19.960
 in the way that you believe,

00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:21.740
 in the way that you live,

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:23.019
 in the way that you talk,

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:23.619
 and in the things

00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.660
 that you do.

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:27.740
 Accords with,

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.500
 here in this verse,

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:30.019
 it means that godliness

00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:31.460
 is not exclusive

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:34.059
 from faith and knowledge,

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:36.119
 but instead it is

00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:37.819
 the inevitable result

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:40.339
 that they bring about.

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:41.679
 In other words,

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.679
 faith and knowledge

00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:43.659
 and godliness

00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:44.919
 are not three options

00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:45.500
 and you choose

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.379
 kind of independently

00:21:46.379 --> 00:21:48.079
 which one you want

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.339
 to focus on.

00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.379
 Oh, they all three,

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.599
 they work together.

00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:54.379
 They make us like Christ.

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:56.480
 And again,

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.319
 this is the main point

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:57.919
 of the whole letter.

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.200
 Paul's tipping his hand here.

00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:01.720
 He saw it as a fulfillment

00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.480
 of his call

00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.960
 to instruct godly behavior

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.980
 that accords with one

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.700
 who truly belongs to Christ.

00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:09.700
 It just makes sense,

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.240
 doesn't it?

00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:12.340
 If we belong to Christ,

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.680
 wouldn't that affect

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.519
 the way we live?

00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:16.960
 And Paul opens up,

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.059
 he says it just makes sense.

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.519
 As you believe the gospel

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.279
 and know the truth,

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.559
 things are going to change

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.080
 in your life.

00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.680
 They're going to change.

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:25.980
 You're going to look

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.720
 at the word different.

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.360
 Your obedience

00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:29.180
 is going to be different.

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:29.819
 It's going to come

00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.680
 with a different spirit.

00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:32.700
 Of course,

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.700
 he's going to flesh that out.

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.160
 Maybe we summarize

00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:36.299
 this point this way.

00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:37.340
 Paul says,

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.240
 God has called me.

00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:41.100
 Jesus has commissioned me

00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:42.920
 so that his chosen

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.819
 will be saved

00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:45.400
 so that they'll know

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.740
 the fullness of the gospel

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:48.980
 and display godliness

00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.180
 in the way that they live.

00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.240
 And what I'm writing

00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:53.259
 to you in this letter,

00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:55.720
 Titus and Cretans,

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:57.860
 is the fulfillment

00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:59.180
 of my responsibility.

00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:01.120
 as God's servant.

00:23:02.080 --> 00:23:02.920
 This is what God

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.640
 called me to do

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.600
 and I'm doing it.

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.380
 And that's how you should

00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:06.180
 receive this letter.

00:23:06.360 --> 00:23:07.200
 Not as me lording

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.940
 over your life,

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.539
 but as a message from God

00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.380
 and from our Lord

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:10.779
 and Savior,

00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:11.539
 Jesus Christ.

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:12.840
 And if that's how

00:23:12.840 --> 00:23:13.960
 Paul intended the Cretans

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.799
 to understand it,

00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:15.799
 that's the way we need

00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.660
 to understand this letter

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.720
 as we work our way

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.360
 through it as well.

00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:19.939
 So we see Paul's purpose.

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:21.119
 That was the longest part.

00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:23.039
 Now we'll see Paul's hope.

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:25.299
 His gospel hope.

00:23:26.199 --> 00:23:26.879
 Look at verse 2.

00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:30.599
 In hope of eternal life,

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.779
 which God who never lies

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:34.819
 promised before the ages began

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:36.819
 and at the proper time

00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:39.019
 manifested in his word

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.279
 through the preaching

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:42.179
 with which I have been entrusted

00:23:42.179 --> 00:23:44.319
 by the command of God,

00:23:44.959 --> 00:23:45.799
 our Savior.

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:48.339
 Well, verse 1 shows

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.879
 the purpose of Paul's letter.

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.740
 Verses 2 and 3 revealed

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:53.419
 the spirit with which he wrote it.

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:56.039
 He did write with urgency.

00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.419
 We talked about that last week,

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:59.720
 but his tone was not worrisome.

00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:01.859
 You know, when I get urgent

00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:02.879
 or stressed out,

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:05.059
 the tone with which I speak

00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:06.659
 to Julie and the girls

00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:08.680
 is not typically hopeful.

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:11.079
 It's typically harsh

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:13.319
 and worrisome and fretful.

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.339
 If we don't get going

00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.000
 on these things,

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.019
 it's not going to happen

00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.559
 the right way

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.079
 and things are going

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.660
 to fall apart.

00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:19.259
 That's not the sense

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:21.099
 that Paul has here.

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.539
 He is writing with urgency

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.359
 because all of this

00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:23.920
 is important,

00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:24.880
 but the spirit

00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:25.799
 with which he's writing

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:27.079
 is actually very hopeful.

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:29.539
 His eyes are set

00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.640
 on eternity

00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:32.559
 as he writes this letter.

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.259
 And it is through the lens

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.759
 of Christian hope

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:37.700
 that we are to understand

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.279
 the message.

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.779
 So let's consider it.

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:40.599
 Verse 2.

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.319
 He says,

00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:44.500
 hope of eternal life.

00:24:45.659 --> 00:24:47.039
 And can I remind you

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.720
 that in the Bible,

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.220
 hope is not a wish.

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:54.779
 Hope is a confident anticipation.

00:24:56.179 --> 00:24:57.279
 By faith,

00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:59.419
 we believe God is going to do

00:24:59.419 --> 00:25:01.000
 what God said he'd do.

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:03.779
 That's what biblical hope is.

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.759
 It's not,

00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.720
 I'm clinging to this

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.839
 as best I can

00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:08.939
 and hopefully

00:25:08.939 --> 00:25:10.500
 it all works out.

00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:12.339
 That's not biblical hope.

00:25:12.699 --> 00:25:13.619
 Biblical hope is

00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:15.179
 God has said this,

00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:16.419
 I believe this,

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.639
 and I am awaiting

00:25:17.639 --> 00:25:19.240
 with confident anticipation

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.199
 the fulfillment

00:25:20.199 --> 00:25:22.399
 of all that God has said.

00:25:23.679 --> 00:25:25.279
 When Paul is writing this,

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.980
 he doesn't mean to indicate

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:28.220
 a cautious optimism.

00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:32.139
 No, he's absolutely convinced

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:34.960
 that believers

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.920
 by faith

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:38.320
 receive eternal life.

00:25:39.320 --> 00:25:40.440
 And that comes through

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.680
 Jesus Christ alone

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.800
 because Jesus is our Lord

00:25:43.800 --> 00:25:45.020
 and Jesus is our Savior.

00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:49.140
 But hope with Christ

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:51.340
 reminds us of our

00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:52.720
 hopelessness

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.440
 without Christ.

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:56.480
 So let's take a moment

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.940
 and just rehearse

00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:59.060
 this truth of the gospel.

00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:00.500
 What is this hope

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:02.299
 that Paul speaks of?

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.799
 Kids are learning this

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.460
 on Thursday nights.

00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.039
 Maybe kids,

00:26:06.139 --> 00:26:07.059
 you can help me out here.

00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.099
 The Bible says

00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:10.279
 that God created us

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.440
 to reflect his image

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.859
 and to bring him what?

00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:15.079
 Glory.

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.059
 That's our purpose.

00:26:18.879 --> 00:26:19.899
 The world tells you

00:26:19.899 --> 00:26:20.799
 you have no purpose.

00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:22.779
 It will tell you

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.899
 that you're here by chance.

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:26.379
 What you do with your life

00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.759
 is really up to you.

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.220
 So you live it the way

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.079
 that you want to live it?

00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:31.519
 You live your truth

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.559
 because your purpose

00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.379
 is whatever purpose

00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:34.220
 you want it to be.

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.379
 There's no one else

00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:36.539
 indicating why you're here

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.839
 or why you should be here

00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.420
 or why you should do

00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:38.980
 any one thing.

00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:40.200
 That's what the world tells us.

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.140
 That's not what the Bible

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:41.839
 tells us.

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.819
 The Bible says

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.900
 we actually have a purpose.

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.299
 That God created us

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.879
 for the purpose

00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:47.700
 of his glory.

00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:51.680
 Kids, what does the Bible say?

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:53.319
 How can we glorify God?

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:53.420
 God.

00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:53.420


00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.319
 God.

00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:54.519
 God.

00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:54.720
 God.

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.420
 God.

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:55.519
 God.

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:55.759
 God.

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.000
 God.

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.119
 God.

00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:56.519
 God.

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.599
 God.

00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:56.599


00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:56.599


00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:56.599


00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:56.599


00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:56.599


00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:56.599


00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.599
 God.

00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.439
 By loving him

00:27:00.439 --> 00:27:02.399
 and obeying him.

00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:04.919
 Wasn't that Adam and Eve's

00:27:04.919 --> 00:27:05.859
 purpose in the garden?

00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:07.259
 Of course, God gave them

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.959
 responsibilities.

00:27:08.199 --> 00:27:08.919
 We understand that.

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.659
 They were to be fruitful

00:27:09.659 --> 00:27:10.439
 and multiply,

00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:11.659
 but the ultimate purpose

00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:12.199
 of all of that

00:27:12.199 --> 00:27:13.000
 was God's glory.

00:27:13.159 --> 00:27:14.159
 And they would display

00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:14.759
 God's glory

00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.919
 and they would give him glory

00:27:15.919 --> 00:27:17.159
 by loving him

00:27:17.159 --> 00:27:18.559
 and their love for him

00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.919
 would ultimately be shown

00:27:19.919 --> 00:27:21.480
 in their obedience to him.

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.619
 And God comes down

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.099
 and he says,

00:27:23.199 --> 00:27:24.000
 you can have whatever you want

00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:24.480
 in the garden,

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:26.400
 but don't eat of this tree.

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.400
 Now, everything God made

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:28.880
 was good.

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.599
 There wasn't poison

00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.180
 in the tree.

00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:33.099
 It wasn't a bad tree.

00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.460
 It was just God said,

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.160
 don't eat of it.

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:36.759
 And it's God's prerogative

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.620
 as creator

00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.620
 to tell us

00:27:38.620 --> 00:27:39.500
 what he likes

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.599
 and what he doesn't like,

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.779
 what he wants us to do

00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:43.180
 and what he doesn't want us to do.

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.319
 And for Adam and Eve,

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:46.039
 it was don't eat of this tree,

00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.259
 but they did it anyways,

00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:47.680
 didn't they?

00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.539
 And the problem is

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.400
 that every one of us

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:51.960
 has done the same thing.

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.360
 We haven't eaten

00:27:53.360 --> 00:27:54.380
 of a forbidden tree,

00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:56.100
 but we've fallen short

00:27:56.100 --> 00:27:56.940
 of God's glory

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:59.140
 by sinning against him,

00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.620
 rebelling against him.

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.600
 And every one of us

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.039
 are guilty.

00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:03.279
 That's Romans 3.

00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.840
 All have sinned

00:28:04.840 --> 00:28:05.880
 and fall short

00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:07.480
 of the glory of God.

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.519
 What's the glory?

00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:10.220
 Loving and obeying him.

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.779
 How do we fall short?

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.140
 We sin against him.

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:15.039
 We disobey him,

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.840
 indicating that we love us

00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:17.720
 more than we love him.

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:20.700
 Well, then the Bible

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.819
 also reveals to us

00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:22.720
 that God is holy.

00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:25.660
 He can't tolerate sin.

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:28.059
 He can't have communion

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:28.660
 with sinners.

00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:31.440
 Therefore, he must judge

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.079
 our sins.

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.960
 And what does sin bring, kids?

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:38.019
 Sin brings death.

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.819
 Now, God even shows

00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:41.900
 his kindness to Adam

00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.920
 in even the fact that

00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.140
 he could have taken

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:45.019
 their life right there

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.440
 on the spot,

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.039
 but he didn't.

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:48.319
 Graciously,

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:50.539
 they live a full life.

00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:51.980
 They live the life

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:53.019
 of a thousand people

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:54.899
 in the years that they lived.

00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.779
 That's because of God's grace.

00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.359
 But in that moment,

00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.740
 they died in a different way.

00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:02.180
 Spiritually, they died.

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.940
 They could no longer

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:05.039
 have fellowship with God

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:06.420
 the way they had enjoyed before.

00:29:06.899 --> 00:29:07.980
 And they never would

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:10.119
 apart from God's intervening

00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.859
 in their lives.

00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:13.240
 The same is true for us.

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.500
 Sin makes us

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.440
 the enemy of God.

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.799
 And our only hope

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.880
 of peace with God

00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:23.180
 is if he forgives our sins.

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.400
 But that's the problem,

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:24.859
 isn't it?

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.940
 God is holy.

00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:29.400
 How can a holy God

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.819
 forgive our sins?

00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:33.640
 Because he wouldn't be holy

00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:34.720
 and just

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.960
 if he just pretended

00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:37.700
 like our sins never happened.

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:39.279
 That's not the gospel.

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:41.059
 The gospel isn't

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:42.940
 if you do these things

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.319
 that the Bible says to do

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:46.200
 that God will turn a blind eye

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:46.920
 to all the things

00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.920
 you've done in your past

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.559
 and he'll give you

00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:50.099
 a free pass into heaven.

00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:51.420
 That's not the gospel.

00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.740
 If that's what you think

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.639
 the gospel is,

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:55.099
 you are not a Christian.

00:29:56.859 --> 00:29:58.940
 And your home

00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.599
 in eternity

00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:00.559
 is not heaven.

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.180
 That's a lie.

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:05.119
 God can't turn a blind eye

00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.779
 to our sin.

00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:08.180
 He must judge sin.

00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:10.700
 That's why Jesus is a gift.

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:13.599
 Because God sends his only son,

00:30:13.899 --> 00:30:15.019
 his perfect son,

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.420
 his sinless son,

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:19.039
 because only a sinless sacrifice

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:21.119
 could atone for our sins.

00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:23.420
 And when we come to Christ in faith,

00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:25.019
 it's not that God the Father

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.639
 looks at us

00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:27.039
 and turns a blind eye

00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:28.119
 to the things that we've done.

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:30.019
 No, he takes our sin

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:32.220
 and he pours out his wrath

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.440
 that's meant for us

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:35.720
 on his perfectly sinless son.

00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:37.259
 That's why atonement

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.480
 is made at the cross.

00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:41.200
 Christ, through the cross,

00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:43.299
 bears the wrath of God

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:45.279
 that's intended for sinners.

00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:48.579
 And because he's absolutely sinless,

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:51.180
 it's a sufficient sacrifice.

00:30:51.899 --> 00:30:53.059
 And God proved

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:55.240
 that it was a sufficient sacrifice

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:57.220
 by raising him from the dead

00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.059
 three days later.

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.359
 That was the purpose

00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.200
 of his resurrection.

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:02.039
 Yes, indeed.

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:04.220
 Death has no claim on him

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:05.359
 because he had no sin.

00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:07.399
 Yes, he has the power

00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.420
 over life and death

00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:09.599
 because he's the Lord

00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:11.160
 and creator of the universe.

00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:12.700
 Jesus, the second person

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.299
 of the Trinity,

00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:14.579
 the Son of God.

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.500
 But it was also to show us

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:18.779
 that God received his atonement

00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:21.039
 as sufficient for us.

00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.940
 Why does Paul write with hope?

00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:25.440
 Because Paul knows

00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:27.460
 that it worked,

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:31.039
 that we actually have forgiveness.

00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:33.440
 This is the hope

00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:34.500
 with which he's writing.

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.180
 And he means that

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.299
 because of Jesus,

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:40.159
 the sinless Son of God,

00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:41.059
 eternal life,

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:43.019
 is a certainty for him

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.420
 as a believer.

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:46.700
 Two things I want to point out quickly.

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.940
 Here's the first one.

00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:50.039
 The foundation of hope

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:52.180
 is God's righteousness.

00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:54.639
 The foundation of hope

00:31:54.639 --> 00:31:56.000
 is God's righteousness.

00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:57.680
 Look again at verse two.

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:59.620
 in hope of eternal life,

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:01.039
 which God,

00:32:01.620 --> 00:32:03.100
 who never lies,

00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:06.759
 promised before the ages began

00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:08.740
 and at the proper time

00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:10.799
 manifested in his word.

00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:13.940
 What is Paul basing his hope on?

00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:17.400
 It's not on his own reasoning.

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.620
 He wasn't sitting back one day

00:32:22.620 --> 00:32:24.299
 and just as a genius,

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:26.160
 and I think Paul was actually a genius.

00:32:26.340 --> 00:32:27.960
 I don't think he was sitting back one day

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.440
 and thinking,

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.460
 you know,

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.160
 I'm going to examine

00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:31.960
 all that I know about world history

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:33.180
 from the very beginning.

00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:35.259
 And he didn't start to piece together

00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:35.559
 and think,

00:32:35.620 --> 00:32:35.799
 you know,

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:37.420
 here is a method

00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:38.640
 that I think maybe

00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:41.740
 we can work our way back to God.

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.759
 And there's this guy, Jesus.

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.500
 And I think maybe

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.579
 there's the stories of him.

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.920
 That's not what Paul was doing.

00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:47.119
 His hope wasn't based

00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:47.859
 in his own reasoning.

00:32:48.099 --> 00:32:48.980
 His hope was based

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.920
 in God's righteousness.

00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.400
 His hope was based

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:52.900
 in God's word.

00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:55.539
 Now this phrase,

00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:57.259
 before the ages began,

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.779
 it might refer

00:32:58.779 --> 00:33:01.259
 to God's plan in eternity

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:03.379
 to bring about our salvation.

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.299
 That truth that

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:07.640
 even before he created us,

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.879
 God promised

00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:11.079
 our ultimate redemption in Christ.

00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:12.879
 Now that doctrine is true.

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:13.980
 Paul talks about it

00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.779
 in other places.

00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:16.259
 Ephesians chapter one

00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:17.439
 is the one that comes to mind

00:33:17.439 --> 00:33:18.859
 most frequently

00:33:18.859 --> 00:33:19.939
 where Paul says,

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:22.839
 even as he has chosen us in him

00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:24.579
 before the foundation

00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.639
 of the world.

00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:26.939
 So clearly,

00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:28.240
 God's plan of salvation

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:29.500
 is an eternal plan,

00:33:29.679 --> 00:33:31.379
 not just eternal future,

00:33:31.619 --> 00:33:33.240
 but also an eternity past.

00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.759
 This is always God's plan.

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:35.839
 But I don't think

00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:38.359
 that's what Paul means right here

00:33:38.359 --> 00:33:39.399
 in this text.

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.359
 I don't think that's what he means.

00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:44.439
 While that is true,

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:46.519
 the context suggests

00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:48.579
 that what was promised

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:50.019
 before the ages began

00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:52.539
 are the promises of God

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.539
 shown to us

00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:54.740
 in the Old Testament.

00:33:56.419 --> 00:33:58.659
 And what is listed as

00:33:58.659 --> 00:33:59.679
 at the proper time

00:33:59.679 --> 00:34:01.379
 was manifested in his word

00:34:01.379 --> 00:34:03.719
 refers to the gospel of Jesus

00:34:03.719 --> 00:34:05.519
 in the New Testament.

00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:07.440
 Now it's very much

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:09.340
 like the way Paul opened

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:11.000
 his book of Romans.

00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:12.400
 Would you just flip there quickly?

00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.239
 Let's read it together.

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.679
 Romans chapter one.

00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:21.659
 Romans chapter one,

00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:23.099
 verse one.

00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:25.099
 Listen to how similar this is.

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:27.619
 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,

00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:30.119
 called to be an apostle,

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:33.539
 set apart for the gospel of God.

00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:35.500
 Now look at this in verse two,

00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:38.719
 which he promised beforehand

00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:41.579
 through his prophets

00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:43.279
 in the Holy Scriptures.

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.360
 And what were the promises

00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.259
 referring to?

00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.000
 Verse three,

00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:49.119
 concerning his son

00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:51.460
 who was descended from David

00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:52.900
 according to the flesh

00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:54.259
 and was declared

00:34:54.259 --> 00:34:55.420
 to be the son of God

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.199
 in power

00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:57.759
 according to the spirit

00:34:57.759 --> 00:34:58.320
 of holiness

00:34:58.320 --> 00:35:00.140
 by his resurrection

00:35:00.140 --> 00:35:01.019
 from the dead,

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.559
 Jesus Christ,

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:03.640
 our Lord.

00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:06.160
 I think this is what Paul means

00:35:06.160 --> 00:35:07.340
 in Titus chapter one.

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:09.460
 He's not necessarily referring

00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:10.820
 to the eternal truth

00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:11.640
 of salvation.

00:35:11.640 --> 00:35:12.340
 He's saying,

00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.640
 my hope rests,

00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:14.620
 not on my own reasoning,

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:16.140
 my hope rests on the fact

00:35:16.140 --> 00:35:17.620
 that God gave us his word

00:35:17.620 --> 00:35:19.059
 and God never lies

00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:20.980
 because God is absolutely perfect

00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.440
 and holy

00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.420
 in all that he does.

00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:23.780
 And I can prove

00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:24.920
 that he didn't lie here

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:26.360
 because if you go over here

00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:27.480
 and you look at the person

00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:28.360
 of Jesus Christ,

00:35:28.620 --> 00:35:30.220
 he fulfilled every prophecy

00:35:30.220 --> 00:35:31.039
 about the Messiah,

00:35:31.220 --> 00:35:32.019
 every one of them,

00:35:32.260 --> 00:35:33.440
 not one is lacking.

00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:35.160
 And all the power

00:35:35.160 --> 00:35:35.920
 that was displayed

00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:37.380
 in his life,

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.120
 all the power

00:35:38.120 --> 00:35:39.320
 that we see ultimately

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.280
 in the resurrection

00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:41.280
 of Jesus Christ,

00:35:41.620 --> 00:35:42.260
 Paul says,

00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.640
 my hope is founded

00:35:43.640 --> 00:35:45.579
 on nothing less

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:47.180
 than Jesus' blood

00:35:47.180 --> 00:35:48.160
 and righteousness.

00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:50.640
 My hope is not

00:35:50.640 --> 00:35:51.539
 on what I think,

00:35:51.640 --> 00:35:53.320
 my hope is on the word of God

00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:55.000
 and God doesn't lie.

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:57.519
 What a wonderful hope this is.

00:35:57.679 --> 00:35:59.820
 This is real hope

00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:02.460
 based on God's truth.

00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:04.559
 Listen,

00:36:04.719 --> 00:36:06.619
 hope can only be certain

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.300
 if it's founded

00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:07.920
 on something

00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:09.579
 that's perfectly trustworthy.

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.880
 And the only thing

00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:12.019
 that fits that description

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:13.539
 is the righteous character

00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:14.679
 of God and his word.

00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:17.239
 And if your belief system

00:36:17.239 --> 00:36:18.239
 is founded on anything

00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:19.400
 other than God's truth,

00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:20.159
 it's faulty.

00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:22.839
 And you need to abandon it

00:36:22.839 --> 00:36:25.319
 before it leads you to hell.

00:36:26.259 --> 00:36:28.000
 There's hope in Christ alone.

00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:29.639
 And it's certain

00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.519
 because it's founded

00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:31.239
 on God himself.

00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:34.339
 So, hope is founded

00:36:34.339 --> 00:36:35.639
 on God's righteousness.

00:36:36.359 --> 00:36:36.779
 Secondly,

00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:38.980
 the preaching of hope

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:42.039
 is a necessary stewardship.

00:36:42.899 --> 00:36:44.099
 The preaching of hope

00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:46.219
 is a necessary stewardship.

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:48.460
 Look at verse 3.

00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:51.260
 through the preaching,

00:36:51.380 --> 00:36:53.280
 this is how it was made manifest,

00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:54.639
 through the preaching

00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:56.920
 with which I have been entrusted

00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:59.139
 by the command of God,

00:36:59.220 --> 00:36:59.699
 our Savior.

00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.740
 So, the hope of the gospel

00:37:02.740 --> 00:37:04.059
 is revealed to people

00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:06.199
 through the proclamation

00:37:06.199 --> 00:37:07.199
 of God's truth.

00:37:08.760 --> 00:37:09.940
 Paul said this preaching

00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:10.500
 of the gospel

00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:12.340
 was entrusted to him.

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:14.220
 It was entrusted to him

00:37:14.220 --> 00:37:16.220
 by the command of God,

00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.220
 our Savior.

00:37:18.160 --> 00:37:19.640
 This means that God's purpose

00:37:19.640 --> 00:37:20.500
 in saving sinners

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:22.160
 is accomplished ultimately

00:37:22.160 --> 00:37:23.600
 through the obedience

00:37:23.600 --> 00:37:25.000
 of his people

00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:26.519
 to share the gospel.

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:30.200
 Because we know and believe,

00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:32.460
 we have a stewardship,

00:37:33.220 --> 00:37:34.640
 a responsibility

00:37:34.640 --> 00:37:36.920
 to preach the good news

00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:37.480
 to others.

00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:39.440
 Paul understood this.

00:37:39.780 --> 00:37:40.700
 It's true for us too.

00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:42.839
 He actually uses this word stewardship

00:37:42.839 --> 00:37:43.919
 in 1 Corinthians.

00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:45.879
 In 1 Corinthians 9.16,

00:37:46.119 --> 00:37:46.639
 he says,

00:37:46.759 --> 00:37:48.419
 necessity is laid upon me.

00:37:48.919 --> 00:37:49.599
 Woe to me

00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:51.460
 if I do not preach the gospel.

00:37:51.759 --> 00:37:52.819
 For if I do this

00:37:52.819 --> 00:37:53.659
 of my own will,

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:54.659
 I have a reward.

00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:56.539
 But if not of my own will,

00:37:56.939 --> 00:37:58.019
 I'm still entrusted

00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:58.739
 with a stewardship.

00:37:59.000 --> 00:37:59.359
 In other words,

00:37:59.439 --> 00:37:59.819
 Paul says,

00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:01.239
 even if I don't want

00:38:01.239 --> 00:38:02.059
 to preach the gospel,

00:38:02.399 --> 00:38:03.299
 it doesn't matter

00:38:03.299 --> 00:38:04.899
 because I have a responsibility,

00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:06.299
 a stewardship

00:38:06.299 --> 00:38:07.259
 given to me

00:38:07.259 --> 00:38:08.819
 by God the Savior

00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:10.500
 to preach the gospel.

00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:11.780
 And this stewardship

00:38:11.780 --> 00:38:13.360
 belongs to us as well.

00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:16.280
 I know only God can save,

00:38:16.600 --> 00:38:18.080
 but it is unmistakable

00:38:18.080 --> 00:38:18.860
 in this text

00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:20.180
 that he accomplishes

00:38:20.180 --> 00:38:21.200
 his saving work

00:38:21.200 --> 00:38:23.240
 when we preach the gospel.

00:38:24.240 --> 00:38:25.440
 And the stewardship

00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:26.200
 of the gospel,

00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:27.480
 it wasn't just given

00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.260
 to the apostles.

00:38:28.260 --> 00:38:28.580
 apostles,

00:38:29.520 --> 00:38:30.340
 Jesus commissioned

00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:31.320
 all of us to go,

00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:33.020
 all of us to go

00:38:33.020 --> 00:38:33.820
 with his authority,

00:38:34.040 --> 00:38:35.120
 all of us to go

00:38:35.120 --> 00:38:36.000
 and make disciples

00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:36.900
 of all nations.

00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:37.900
 And the question is,

00:38:38.140 --> 00:38:39.160
 are you faithfully

00:38:39.160 --> 00:38:40.720
 tending to your stewardship,

00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:43.220
 to the responsibility

00:38:43.220 --> 00:38:44.160
 you have?

00:38:44.660 --> 00:38:45.960
 Are you being obedient

00:38:45.960 --> 00:38:46.840
 to the Lord?

00:38:47.760 --> 00:38:48.720
 Because it is through

00:38:48.720 --> 00:38:49.380
 that obedience

00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:50.100
 that we see

00:38:50.100 --> 00:38:51.080
 the fruitfulness

00:38:51.080 --> 00:38:52.300
 of God

00:38:52.300 --> 00:38:52.880
 come forth

00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.580
 in our lives.

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:56.860
 If we don't tell

00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:58.139
 the people around us,

00:38:58.340 --> 00:38:59.779
 who will tell them?

00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:02.239
 Isn't that Paul's point

00:39:02.239 --> 00:39:03.099
 in Romans 10?

00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:05.079
 Everyone who calls

00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:05.920
 on the name of the Lord

00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:06.619
 will be saved.

00:39:06.699 --> 00:39:07.920
 What a wonderful assertion.

00:39:08.759 --> 00:39:09.679
 How then will they call

00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.059
 on him

00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:10.960
 if they haven't believed?

00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:12.460
 How can they believe

00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:12.779
 in him

00:39:12.779 --> 00:39:14.299
 whom they have never heard?

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:16.219
 How are they to hear

00:39:16.219 --> 00:39:17.319
 without someone preaching?

00:39:18.139 --> 00:39:19.679
 And how are they to preach

00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:20.539
 unless they're sent?

00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:22.980
 For faith comes by hearing

00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:23.599
 and hearing comes

00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:24.440
 by the word of God.

00:39:24.699 --> 00:39:24.960
 In other words,

00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:25.500
 Paul says,

00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:25.800
 look,

00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.860
 I know salvation

00:39:26.860 --> 00:39:27.740
 belongs to God,

00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:29.179
 but it's our responsibility

00:39:29.179 --> 00:39:30.539
 to obey his command

00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:31.639
 to preach the truth.

00:39:31.780 --> 00:39:32.780
 And if we have a burden

00:39:32.780 --> 00:39:33.800
 for the lost around us,

00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:34.480
 we're going to do that.

00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:35.679
 We're going to share

00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:36.199
 the gospel.

00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:37.780
 Even if we don't have

00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:38.699
 a burden for the lost

00:39:38.699 --> 00:39:39.179
 around us,

00:39:39.280 --> 00:39:39.980
 we're going to do it

00:39:39.980 --> 00:39:40.599
 out of obedience

00:39:40.599 --> 00:39:41.340
 to the Lord

00:39:41.340 --> 00:39:42.679
 and a desire for him

00:39:42.679 --> 00:39:43.539
 to show fruitfulness

00:39:43.539 --> 00:39:44.280
 in our lives.

00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:46.320
 Well,

00:39:46.800 --> 00:39:48.119
 that's the gospel hope.

00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:48.719
 Finally,

00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.460
 let's look at

00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:50.960
 Paul's gospel greeting.

00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:53.340
 Paul's gospel greeting,

00:39:53.460 --> 00:39:54.000
 verse four,

00:39:55.059 --> 00:39:55.840
 to Titus,

00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:57.440
 my true child

00:39:57.440 --> 00:39:58.420
 in a common faith,

00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:00.720
 grace and peace

00:40:00.720 --> 00:40:01.679
 from God the Father

00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:03.500
 and Christ Jesus

00:40:03.500 --> 00:40:04.059
 our Savior.

00:40:06.420 --> 00:40:07.420
 Not as flashy

00:40:07.420 --> 00:40:08.340
 as the other parts,

00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:10.599
 but it's good

00:40:10.599 --> 00:40:13.079
 because it's a model.

00:40:14.220 --> 00:40:15.980
 This became a standard greeting

00:40:15.980 --> 00:40:16.940
 in the early church.

00:40:17.659 --> 00:40:18.480
 You'll see it often

00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:19.099
 all throughout

00:40:19.099 --> 00:40:19.760
 the New Testament,

00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.380
 this phrase,

00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:21.480
 grace and peace

00:40:21.480 --> 00:40:21.920
 from God,

00:40:22.039 --> 00:40:22.639
 grace and peace

00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:23.460
 from God to you.

00:40:23.900 --> 00:40:24.659
 It was a blessing

00:40:24.659 --> 00:40:25.639
 that Christians

00:40:25.639 --> 00:40:26.619
 gave to one another

00:40:26.619 --> 00:40:27.300
 in recognition

00:40:27.300 --> 00:40:27.880
 of the hope

00:40:27.880 --> 00:40:28.400
 that they had.

00:40:29.200 --> 00:40:30.039
 Some of you do this

00:40:30.039 --> 00:40:30.820
 when you email me

00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:31.460
 and you text me

00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.200
 and I love it.

00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:33.860
 I've tried to do it myself

00:40:33.860 --> 00:40:34.500
 because of some

00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.200
 of your example

00:40:35.200 --> 00:40:36.220
 that when I write a note

00:40:36.220 --> 00:40:37.500
 to not just end

00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:39.220
 with your friend

00:40:39.220 --> 00:40:41.340
 or whatever,

00:40:41.579 --> 00:40:43.099
 but something like

00:40:43.099 --> 00:40:44.000
 grace and peace

00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:44.460
 from God

00:40:44.460 --> 00:40:45.740
 or in Christ Jesus

00:40:45.739 --> 00:40:46.199
 our Lord

00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:47.279
 or whatever it is.

00:40:47.339 --> 00:40:47.899
 I love this

00:40:47.899 --> 00:40:48.679
 because it shows

00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:50.179
 that Paul was so consumed

00:40:50.179 --> 00:40:51.179
 with the truth

00:40:51.179 --> 00:40:51.819
 of the gospel

00:40:51.819 --> 00:40:53.000
 that it pervaded

00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:54.000
 all of his thoughts.

00:40:54.319 --> 00:40:55.139
 It pervaded

00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:56.219
 all of his interactions.

00:40:56.859 --> 00:40:57.619
 Even his personal

00:40:57.619 --> 00:40:58.659
 greetings to others

00:40:58.659 --> 00:40:59.799
 were shaped

00:40:59.799 --> 00:41:01.279
 by his understanding

00:41:01.279 --> 00:41:02.679
 and the impact

00:41:02.679 --> 00:41:03.239
 of the gospel

00:41:03.239 --> 00:41:03.979
 on his life.

00:41:04.919 --> 00:41:05.559
 Grace to you,

00:41:05.599 --> 00:41:06.079
 he says.

00:41:06.479 --> 00:41:07.619
 Peace from God

00:41:07.619 --> 00:41:08.719
 to you.

00:41:10.219 --> 00:41:11.479
 It was only because

00:41:11.479 --> 00:41:12.019
 of Jesus

00:41:12.019 --> 00:41:13.880
 that Paul,

00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:14.579
 a Jew,

00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:16.920
 could refer to Titus,

00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:18.159
 a Gentile,

00:41:18.679 --> 00:41:20.800
 as a true child

00:41:20.800 --> 00:41:22.039
 in a common faith.

00:41:23.619 --> 00:41:24.280
 For him,

00:41:24.380 --> 00:41:25.199
 Titus wasn't merely

00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:26.420
 a friend and colleague.

00:41:27.900 --> 00:41:29.300
 He viewed his relationship

00:41:29.300 --> 00:41:30.000
 to Titus

00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:30.759
 through the lens

00:41:30.759 --> 00:41:32.159
 of his unity

00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:32.800
 with Titus

00:41:32.800 --> 00:41:33.500
 in Christ.

00:41:34.219 --> 00:41:35.380
 I think this is the way

00:41:35.380 --> 00:41:36.239
 we should view one another.

00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:37.159
 We talked about it

00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:38.159
 in our partnership class

00:41:38.159 --> 00:41:39.159
 for a little while yesterday.

00:41:39.159 --> 00:41:40.420
 We view one another

00:41:40.420 --> 00:41:41.399
 not through the lens

00:41:41.399 --> 00:41:42.379
 of what we hope

00:41:42.379 --> 00:41:44.299
 each other will do for us.

00:41:44.359 --> 00:41:45.000
 We view each other

00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:45.559
 through the lens

00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:46.179
 of what Christ

00:41:46.179 --> 00:41:47.079
 has done for us.

00:41:48.259 --> 00:41:49.279
 We love each other

00:41:49.279 --> 00:41:49.659
 that way.

00:41:49.739 --> 00:41:50.559
 We forgive each other

00:41:50.559 --> 00:41:51.059
 that way.

00:41:51.179 --> 00:41:52.079
 We see each other

00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:52.719
 as brother,

00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:53.879
 sister,

00:41:54.940 --> 00:41:55.839
 child in the faith.

00:41:57.699 --> 00:41:58.819
 Paul was so impacted

00:41:58.819 --> 00:42:00.699
 by the grace of God

00:42:00.699 --> 00:42:02.539
 that he used it

00:42:02.539 --> 00:42:03.420
 as a language

00:42:03.420 --> 00:42:05.779
 with which he greeted believers.

00:42:07.299 --> 00:42:08.000
 And I won't belabor

00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:08.519
 the point.

00:42:09.159 --> 00:42:11.239
 I just want you

00:42:11.239 --> 00:42:12.559
 to see what it looks like

00:42:12.559 --> 00:42:14.319
 when a believer

00:42:14.319 --> 00:42:15.299
 allows the gospel

00:42:15.299 --> 00:42:16.539
 to saturate their hearts

00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:17.099
 and minds.

00:42:17.859 --> 00:42:19.119
 What does that look like?

00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:21.039
 It looks like

00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:22.139
 the first four verses

00:42:22.139 --> 00:42:23.079
 of Titus.

00:42:23.599 --> 00:42:24.699
 That's what it looks like.

00:42:27.219 --> 00:42:28.000
 And if you're here

00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:28.519
 this morning

00:42:28.519 --> 00:42:29.159
 and you don't have

00:42:29.159 --> 00:42:29.940
 a lot of confidence

00:42:29.940 --> 00:42:31.619
 about your eternal

00:42:31.619 --> 00:42:32.639
 standing with God,

00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:36.500
 can I just remind you

00:42:36.500 --> 00:42:39.119
 that true hope

00:42:39.119 --> 00:42:41.099
 can only be found

00:42:41.099 --> 00:42:41.619
 in Jesus?

00:42:43.260 --> 00:42:44.599
 You'll never be good enough.

00:42:45.320 --> 00:42:46.380
 You may be good enough

00:42:46.380 --> 00:42:46.840
 for me

00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:48.239
 and for most people,

00:42:48.579 --> 00:42:50.019
 but you can never

00:42:50.019 --> 00:42:51.059
 reach God's standard.

00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:54.840
 And you need not even try.

00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:56.960
 You'll never make it.

00:42:57.019 --> 00:42:57.619
 You'll fall short

00:42:57.619 --> 00:42:58.199
 every time.

00:42:58.199 --> 00:43:01.159
 Jesus is everything

00:43:01.159 --> 00:43:02.179
 that you need him to be.

00:43:04.359 --> 00:43:06.059
 He suffered God's wrath

00:43:06.059 --> 00:43:06.939
 for sinners.

00:43:08.359 --> 00:43:09.599
 And if you will repent

00:43:09.599 --> 00:43:10.480
 and believe,

00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:11.719
 you'll know

00:43:11.719 --> 00:43:13.159
 that he suffered

00:43:13.159 --> 00:43:13.879
 God's wrath

00:43:13.879 --> 00:43:14.619
 for your sin.

00:43:16.619 --> 00:43:17.879
 This faith and repentance,

00:43:18.079 --> 00:43:18.779
 it's the only path

00:43:18.779 --> 00:43:19.279
 to forgiveness.

00:43:19.659 --> 00:43:20.639
 It's the only path

00:43:20.639 --> 00:43:21.519
 to peace with God.

00:43:21.859 --> 00:43:22.779
 It's the only path

00:43:22.779 --> 00:43:23.699
 to eternal life.

00:43:23.699 --> 00:43:25.500
 And if you hear

00:43:25.500 --> 00:43:26.339
 his voice today,

00:43:26.879 --> 00:43:29.559
 not with your ear,

00:43:30.179 --> 00:43:31.359
 but with your heart,

00:43:32.159 --> 00:43:34.699
 you don't need a delay

00:43:34.699 --> 00:43:35.819
 in responding.

00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:38.439
 You need to come to him

00:43:38.439 --> 00:43:40.239
 and you'll find him

00:43:40.239 --> 00:43:40.839
 to be everything

00:43:40.839 --> 00:43:41.419
 and more

00:43:41.419 --> 00:43:43.779
 than what you ever thought.

00:43:45.359 --> 00:43:46.359
 For those of us

00:43:46.359 --> 00:43:47.339
 who know Christ,

00:43:48.379 --> 00:43:50.859
 I think we need

00:43:50.859 --> 00:43:51.480
 to recognize

00:43:51.480 --> 00:43:52.759
 that Paul's purpose

00:43:52.760 --> 00:43:54.500
 and Paul's hope

00:43:54.500 --> 00:43:55.580
 is not different

00:43:55.580 --> 00:43:56.100
 than ours.

00:43:57.460 --> 00:43:59.120
 He had a unique calling

00:43:59.120 --> 00:43:59.840
 as an apostle,

00:44:00.340 --> 00:44:01.600
 but his purpose

00:44:01.600 --> 00:44:02.760
 was the same.

00:44:05.180 --> 00:44:05.920
 We're here.

00:44:06.340 --> 00:44:07.240
 Christ has saved us.

00:44:07.560 --> 00:44:08.360
 He's left us here.

00:44:08.720 --> 00:44:09.600
 He's commissioned us

00:44:09.600 --> 00:44:10.440
 for the sake

00:44:10.440 --> 00:44:10.940
 of the faith

00:44:10.940 --> 00:44:11.680
 of God's elect,

00:44:11.820 --> 00:44:12.540
 for their knowledge

00:44:12.540 --> 00:44:13.180
 of the truth,

00:44:13.300 --> 00:44:14.260
 and for their godliness.

00:44:14.560 --> 00:44:15.080
 We owe that

00:44:15.080 --> 00:44:16.260
 to the community around us.

00:44:16.440 --> 00:44:16.720
 We owe it

00:44:16.720 --> 00:44:17.280
 to one another.

00:44:18.180 --> 00:44:19.060
 It's our cause,

00:44:19.120 --> 00:44:19.660
 our purpose.

00:44:20.560 --> 00:44:21.480
 Live out that purpose

00:44:21.480 --> 00:44:23.039
 to the glory of God

00:44:23.039 --> 00:44:24.460
 and with great joy.

00:44:25.800 --> 00:44:26.420
 Maybe today

00:44:26.420 --> 00:44:27.159
 you need to repent

00:44:27.159 --> 00:44:28.059
 of a lethargy

00:44:28.059 --> 00:44:30.920
 in regards to evangelism

00:44:30.920 --> 00:44:32.500
 or a lethargy

00:44:32.500 --> 00:44:33.500
 and your commitment

00:44:33.500 --> 00:44:34.699
 to study the gospel

00:44:34.699 --> 00:44:35.300
 regularly

00:44:35.300 --> 00:44:36.619
 and be faithful to it.

00:44:38.019 --> 00:44:38.780
 Maybe you need

00:44:38.780 --> 00:44:39.780
 to refresh yourself

00:44:39.780 --> 00:44:41.119
 on the beauty

00:44:41.119 --> 00:44:41.800
 of the gospel

00:44:41.800 --> 00:44:43.019
 so that you'll

00:44:43.019 --> 00:44:44.420
 once again reflect it

00:44:44.420 --> 00:44:45.699
 in the way that you live

00:44:45.699 --> 00:44:46.320
 and in the things

00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:46.900
 that you do

00:44:46.900 --> 00:44:48.420
 and the way that you think.

00:44:48.420 --> 00:44:50.900
 Maybe you'd do well

00:44:50.900 --> 00:44:51.820
 to evaluate

00:44:51.820 --> 00:44:53.300
 the extent

00:44:53.300 --> 00:44:54.000
 of the gospel's

00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:54.980
 impact on your life,

00:44:55.980 --> 00:44:56.960
 the extent

00:44:56.960 --> 00:44:57.599
 of the gospel's

00:44:57.599 --> 00:44:58.659
 impact on your routines.

00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:02.019
 Are you with Christ

00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:02.740
 day by day?

00:45:03.099 --> 00:45:04.200
 Are you in the word

00:45:04.200 --> 00:45:04.940
 day by day?

00:45:05.300 --> 00:45:06.159
 How has the gospel

00:45:06.159 --> 00:45:07.220
 impacted the way

00:45:07.220 --> 00:45:08.099
 that you live,

00:45:08.579 --> 00:45:09.840
 the way that you speak,

00:45:10.599 --> 00:45:12.000
 the way that you pray,

00:45:12.800 --> 00:45:14.220
 the way that you regard

00:45:14.220 --> 00:45:15.400
 the people around you,

00:45:15.860 --> 00:45:17.119
 the way that you think

00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:17.719
 about that guy

00:45:17.719 --> 00:45:18.440
 that cut you off

00:45:18.440 --> 00:45:18.960
 this morning

00:45:18.960 --> 00:45:20.659
 or your husband

00:45:20.659 --> 00:45:21.400
 when he refuses

00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:22.279
 to make the bed?

00:45:23.819 --> 00:45:25.159
 The gospel impacts us

00:45:25.159 --> 00:45:26.179
 in all of those ways.

00:45:26.579 --> 00:45:27.400
 It really does.

00:45:29.019 --> 00:45:29.819
 You're going cold

00:45:29.819 --> 00:45:31.380
 or callous to this?

00:45:32.339 --> 00:45:33.719
 Oh, I know.

00:45:33.980 --> 00:45:35.099
 I know if you come

00:45:35.099 --> 00:45:35.940
 to the Lord today

00:45:35.940 --> 00:45:37.219
 repenting of those things

00:45:37.219 --> 00:45:38.539
 and trusting in Him,

00:45:38.599 --> 00:45:39.179
 He will give you

00:45:39.179 --> 00:45:40.279
 the grace that you need

00:45:40.279 --> 00:45:41.579
 to make the change

00:45:41.579 --> 00:45:42.799
 necessary in your life

00:45:42.799 --> 00:45:44.759
 because that's the hope

00:45:44.759 --> 00:45:45.559
 we have in the gospel.

00:45:45.559 --> 00:45:47.380
 It's not just a hope

00:45:47.380 --> 00:45:48.259
 we have at conversion.

00:45:48.739 --> 00:45:50.039
 It's a hope that is good

00:45:50.039 --> 00:45:50.619
 and sufficient

00:45:50.619 --> 00:45:53.619
 every single day.

00:45:53.619 --> 00:45:55.619
 It's good to takeNING

00:45:55.619 --> 00:45:55.619


00:45:55.619 --> 00:45:55.619


00:45:55.619 --> 00:46:09.599
 to take

00:46:09.599 --> 00:46:09.599


00:46:09.599 --> 00:46:09.599


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00:46:09.599 --> 00:46:09.599