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LIVING IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY. Titus 2:11-15. 02/19/2023. #7
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Key verse: II Peter 3:10-18
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
1. The glorious appearance
a. Paul tells Titus that the grace of God which brings salvation has appeared to all men
a1. Obviously, Jesus did not appear to all
a2. God’s grace is evident throughout the earth
b. God’s grace is abundantly evident
a1. Ps. 19, Rom. 1, Mt. 5:45 God provides the goodness of the bounty of the earth for all
a2. God sends sun and ran and air and seed…
c. God’s grace (Charis; Eng. word charity) is fully on display in his creation
d. God has also made manifest (Epiphanes; Eng. Word epiphany – a revealing by light, shining) salvation through Jesus Christ
a1. First revealed to Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and Magi at his birth
a2. Later revealed to his disciples and then many people throughout his ministry
a3. Revealed by testimony and miracles by the disciples of Christ
a4. Now made manifest through the Word of God and the testimony of his children
e. 2 PT. 3:10-18 since the grace of God is demonstrated abundantly via the ministry of Jesus, we are obligated to submit to him and live worthy lives
2. A path less traveled
a. Sanctification is a result of salvation
a1. The Lord taught not only about faith, but about faithful living
a2. Jm. 2 if coming to Christ produces no positive change in a life, perhaps there
was not a genuine conversion to Christ
b. Paul lists several traits of the faithful believer:
a1. Rejects ungodliness (impiety, irreverence) – a man can’t love God and be ungodly (1 Jn. 4)
a2. Rejects worldly lusts (longings of flesh that typifies a fallen world
a3. Live soberly (sensibly, rationally), righteously (doing what is right and just), and godly (devoutly well) – both integrity and grace
3. Living in the light of eternity
a. We should live in the present age in preparation of the coming of the glorious age of the kingdom
a1. The hope of eternal life and glory should motivate godly living in the present
a2. The glorious anticipation of Christ’s reappearing should overshadow all other concerns of trials and challenges
b. Jesus not only paid for sin, but redeemed us from committing lawless deeds (empowered to be holy)
c. Jesus redeemed because God wanted a special (exclusively dedicated) for himself
a1. A pure (holy, cleansed) people
a2. Dedicated to doing good works (the works of God: witness, charity, mentoring…)
d. Titus was to approach his witness from 3 angles:
a1. Teach the truths of God
a2. Exhort (admonish, parakaleo – to come alongside to counsel and guide) or persuade men to come to faith and live holy lives
a3. Rebuke (reprove, refute) those who resist and mock the faith
e. As with Timothy, Paul instructs that Titus allow no man to hinder his authority or despise his youth
a1. Our authority is in the World of God
a2. We are commissioned by God to witness