. If you have not before understood and embraced those truths fully before, I pray you will today, by Gods grace, come to repentance, trust in Christ and His cross and take up your cross and follow Him. It has also appeared in Greek literature as the word, discreet. Unity will produce peace. It instead proclaims that Jesus Christ has already given his life in order to set us free from our lawlessness (anomia), in which we opposed Gods purposes, and to purify us in a way that adherence to external commands alone cannot do (see also Titus 1:14). This word, appeared, is the same word that is used in Greek literature to describe the bursting forth of the sun in a glorious sunrise over the darkened earth! Titus 2:11-14 - Sermon Writer What a love! There was no obligation on His part to do what He did. But the intent is to always move the person in a certain moral direction. Scripture is clear. The glorious message of the gospel in these four verses can be summarized in four words. We dare not stand still, but must make considerable effort to grow. It is each individual's responsibility to make sure that they are contributing to that. We need to rediscover grace. Are you with me? In churches which follow the Lectionary tonight, people are hearing not only the account of Christs birth in the 2nd chapter of Luke, but also a brief epistle lesson from Titus, chapter 2 where Paul writes, For the GRACE of God has appearedJesus bringing salvation to all (3) Grace the essence of Christmas. There is one gift I need though, and, as the childrens pageant last week reminded, I need it 365 days a year. Why? According to one reporter, this process where his eyes were opened to the falsehood of Islam was his epiphany, interestingly thats the root Greek word in Titus 2:11 for appearing of grace. It is getting meaner and meaner and meaner out there. Then you have to make the effort to put it on, do you not? Why grace? And I mean it, they are sick! These are the kinds of things that build unity, produce peace, and bring us more into harmony. I think it was a Hardcopy program. Biblical Commentary It always gives the impression of a person who is even-handed and who has his passions under control; one who is making the proper use of his drives and desires. I think that these things are so clear. Do you know them and love them? But these things that we are talking about are things which are much more difficult to grow into and to do. Getting rid of leaven, for example, has the most negative connotation of the terms we are using here. Worthy is the lamb that was slain worthy are you for you were slain and purchased for yourself men from every tribe and tongue . We have to get rid of the oldthe bad tenantsbefore a new tenant can come in. I know that this is a concept with which we are familiar. One is translated, sane, and the other, conforming to that which is right. "Set your mind on things above." But if we are growing we will be moving in that direction. Pray for Yousef (Joseph), that Gods grace will sustain him in the difficult days ahead and will use him to bring salvation to all types of men, even those who hate and want to annihilate the Jews. Then He tells us that in addition to this we have to humbly bear any burden that comes upon us as a result of our discipleship, as a result of our having received such forgiveness. It is true that we cannot save ourselves through our works, but I am going to paraphrase what Mr. Armstrong said. I wish I could say that the answer to that is in the church. That hardly looks to me like someone who is drifting into the Kingdom of God! The work of the ministry consists of equipping the body to grow and mature in love and unity. Thus, folks are stuck with going for golf balls or cologne or ties items which are pretty prosaic, but they are safe, and I can always use them. We find in other places, which we will not go into at this time, that those who divide the body are to be gotten rid of. TRY SERMONWRITER! Codified law only involves those things that are basic and elementary. Its basic thrust is repeated in v. 14. It is their responsibility to give the right kind of teaching (doctrine) that is necessary for the right kind of an environment. You look at a Bible text on the screen. It made me feel young.'(4). . Let me expand on this just a little bit more. This is what drives us to do what needs to be done. The Life-Changing Power of the Gospel ~ Titus 2:11-14, Preached by Pastor Phil Layton at Gold Country Baptist Church on August 17, 2008. I can promise it will make a difference in everyone of our lives. These things have little or nothing to do with codified law and yet every one of them is righteousness. You see we begin to degenerate if we do not make an effort to grow. He wants us to desire that we become like Jesus Christ. It is not a seeking after truth. 11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. So it is just not a matter of eating right. Godliness and good works are probably not the topics that most preachers would choose for a Christmas sermon.1. "Beware" could mean to just look around to make sure that you are safe. You watch his pen draw out meaning. . There is a common grace Scripture speaks of and a general call to all, and there is also a particular grace or effectual grace and call at the moment of salvation for the redeemed people of God (v. 14). . This is the way that Moffatt puts it. Did you know that grace taught us that? Titus 2:11-14 All I Want for Christmas (Leininger), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. In other words, doing nothing in the area of spiritual responsibility is akin to doing nothing in the area of physical responsibility in regard to our physical health. In fact, we may be unable, totally, to do it! Is society getting meaner! First century readers were well familiar with the concept of redemption of slaves (remember v. 9 just mentioned literal slaves). And yet they are the icons of most of the young people in this nation. Do you agree with what I am saying? Sermon: Titus 2:11-14 Growth #123 John W. Ritenbaugh Given 09-Apr-94; 75 minutes listen: download: . Israel Today is a Jerusalem-based news agency that actually used this word repent in its opening sentence on this story where it says Yousef has converted to Christianity and repented of his sins for being an active part of a culture of hate and death that targeted Israel. So if I am getting in harmony with the way of God, these things will be produced. The responsibility for this does not just fall on the ministry. The theologians among us will hear that word and think, AHA! The priorities must be set according to thisthe overriding part of our lives. If we did not take the steps to make sure that we were able to eat, what would happen to us? When God talks about growth, He is not talking about technicalities concerning the Word of God, but growth in the kinds of things about which we are reading. The sign is defaced, the pastors name scratched out. "I know that I'm endangering my life and am even liable to lose my father, but I hope that he'll understand this and that God will give him and my family patience and willingness to open their eyes to Jesus and to Christianity.". Verse 12 indicates that Gods grace is actively educating or disciplining (paideuo) Christians to be who they were created and redeemed to be (see also Titus 2:14). Verse 12 tells us how grace works, beginning with the word instructing your translation may have teaching or training. He wants us to desire the love of God, the peace of God, the joy of Godall of the fruits of God's Spirit. What we do doesnt cause our salvation; rather it is Gods salvation that causes good works we do in response to the power of the life-changing gospel. He Himself comes to the slave market of sin and purchases us with a price, the highest price, the death of His only beloved Son in exchange for slaves that hated Him, while they were yet sinners, Christ died to buy back with His precious blood these elect slaves as His own possession, for His own glory. . In other words, in order to do this, the holy life comes first and then the giving of this kind of devotion to God is made possible. I am sure he was a man well versed in Greek writings. It begins with number one. He is the son of one of the founders of Hamas, the terrorist organization. It is pretty sweeping in terms of its consequence. When did I first become aware? [1] Phillip Towner, New International Commentary on the New Testament, Pastoral Epistles, Eerdmans, 740, 744. Now, notice this word, love. So grace is a self-motivating, stooping, communicating, tender, and forgiving mercy which has appeared, it says in this verse (back to Titus 2). [2] Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary, 371. It also includes chastisement in the sense of spankingrebuking to bring about correction. Young men love to tool around in their Corvettes or their street rods or whatever it might happen to be. This is true of all who believe. Is it a part of my environment as a result from my being assimilated in this family? John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. And then, the positive: living soberly, righteously, godlyliving a life of self-mastery, of integrity, and of piety in this present world. When I called to apologize profusely and seek forgiveness, Alice simply replied, Dont worry about it, Ron. Bullying drives people to despair. Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek. That is why River Phoenix diedseeking pleasure from something other than that which God counsels us in His Word. Verse 18 makes it very clear that there is a contrast. Whatever happened to grace? 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 would agree when it says our spiritual enemy has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God God, who said, Light shall shine out of darkness, is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.. Paul also said here, in verse 16, to shun those things. God wants us to desire the character of Jesus Christ. The situation was complicated by false teachings that affected some Christians (Titus 1:916). It was producing disorder and disunity. Yes, it OUGHT to be, but the church is often more reflective of what society IS instead of what it SHOULD be, so even churches can be pretty uncivil places. Titus 2:11-14 NIV - For the grace of God has appeared that - Bible Gateway Even, as Acts 2 says both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God (v. 10-11). Sermon: Titus 2:11-14 - Church of the Great God [v. 11] I, even I, am the Lord, And there is no savior besides Me. Sometimes the right thing to do is to chastise, to scourge, or to correct. Sermons about Titus 2:11-14 - SermonCentral.com To Him be the glory both now and forever. . It is used primarily in the context of teaching a childof activity (notice the word, this is not passive)of activity directed toward the moral and spiritual training of a child; to influence conscious will and action. If the ministry is divided, this is going to be very difficult. Amen. They are constantly reaching out to satisfy the cravings of their mind and body. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. Where did it likely come from? All done? Now fifth is godliness, or piety. Your favorite preaching resources have a brand-new look. Philippians 2 says He emptied Himself and took on the form of a slave when He came to earth, dying on a cross in such a form like a slave or common criminal. Brethren, is being a disciple of Christ free to us? Was it a righteousness that was kind, gentle, merciful, good, thoughtful of others, considerate, or patient? It occurs because one takes steps to yield to God to make sure that it occurs. When I was welding, we had to change the polarity from time-to-time. Ephesians 4:13-16 to a perfect man [we see the areas of growth: unity of the faith, knowledge of the Son of God, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so we should no longer be children [we are to grow up from being children] tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine [here he defines what a child is: someone who is unstable and wavering all over the place in terms of doctrine] by the trickery of men [children are people who are easily tricked, deceived], which they lie in wait to deceive; [to the ministry again he says] speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the headChrist [now here is the ultimate destinyto be in the image of Christ. .". I said that desire is usually seen in the context of a craving for the satisfaction of the physical appetite. If we do not feed ourselves, what would happen to us? This is what we are talking about here. Simple words Grace Repentance Christ. We see it in terms of codified law. You see the process here: we begin to get rid of irreligion; we begin to get rid of worldly passions, and then we begin to replace them with self-mastery and integrity. Luke 14:25-27 Now great multitudes went with Him. Brethren, if someone did something to your property and to your family the way we have treated God's property and family, I think that we would have an awfully difficult time freely giving love. We are obligated to dress and keep that which is placed in our care, improving what He has given to us. Do we think of it? It's that simple."[6]. . Remember, it is not enough to just be swept clean. In Titus 3, He tells us that such divisive things and divisive people should be rejected. For goodness sake, even the mortgage companies and bankers offer a bit of grace when things get tight, but other than that, no one seems willing to cut anyone any slack. Why? Then how can people say that it is free? A SUBSCRIBER SAYS: Thanks for all your hard work in bringing so much information to our fingertips, literally! (Zondervan, Michigan, 1999). The direction of one's life has to be changed. There is no greater price that a human being can pay than to give up his family and, yes, his own life! He turns it into something that is positive. . The for (gar) that begins verse 11 indicates that what follows is explanatory of all that preceded. 2 Timothy 2:25-26 (NASB95) 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. Did you notice that, again, there are the negative aspects and there are the positive aspects? All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. We can give our minds over to a lot of things, can we not? What a wonderful way to put it. It has the sense of something occurring suddenly and unexpectedly. Behind the metaphor was the practice of buying a slaves or captives freedom by the payment of a ransom to redeem was used widely in the biblical tradition of the action taken by YHWH to set his people free from Egypt it had become another way of speaking of Gods saving act, and it would have called to mind primarily the OT story of deliverance from Egypt [as slaves][10]. You see, we can do thatwe can will to do otherwiseso that whenever a wrong desire does arise we can consciously will to move away from it. I just want us to see the action words, the verbs, which the apostle Paul put into this. There is a reason for this: love is one of the major directions we will move toward as we grow. Its His greatest mercy for those who deserved His greatest punishment (all of us who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God). It has everything to do with the instruction of God and little to do with codified law. Do not be deceived because even the more refined passions of pride and inordinate ambition are included within the framework of this word. Ephesians 4:12-13 For the work of the ministry, for the edifying [or the building up] of the body [now here come specific areas of growth] till we all come to the unity of the faith, [faith here meaning not so much trust as a body of belief. Childrens Sermons Commentary first published on this site on. Everyone has a yoke, everyone is a slave of something or someone, but as Paul identifies himself in Titus 1:1, as believers we are slaves of God. It is something that is caused to happen. Or from these experiences at work, or what is it? We will find it in the Bible in such places as Romans 12:3; Titus 2:6 (just a couple verses before this section in Titus 2:11); I Peter 4:7. Having renounced ungodliness or impiety (verse 12, asebeia), Christians are to journey toward godliness (verse 12, eusebos; the noun is eusebeia): a reverent devotion to God that involves both an internal conviction and behavior appropriate to such a conviction.3 Christians are to turn from worldly passionsthe human tendency toward arrogance, aggression, and self-serving actions and embrace the self-control and just treatment of others that are true expressions of the gracious and self-sacrificing God whom they profess. Dikaios means to be conformed to what is right with regard to other people. Titus 2:11-14 is one of two key pronouncements (along with Titus 3:3-7) that provide theological grounding for all of the letter's practical exhortations. That is what is being said in Timothy here: "flee also youthful lusts. An effort has to be made to conquer them. But then we also find in this context the unholy marriage of idolatry joined to immorality. To the Christian this translates into this little saying: "My duty is my right." . Ephesians 4:16 according to the effective working by which every part does its share [now get this next phrase], causes growth! The obligation that goes with grace is for the person to recognize that he has been given an opportunity to change the direction of his life. They were a long way from being a dikaios! I have to do it! Its not only based on a one-time work of Gods grace in the past, it also requires our ongoing repentance. Grace is the rich word for Gods unmerited, undeserved, unearned favor or kindness toward sinners who not only did not deserve it, but who deserved the exact opposite. Redemption and deliverance from slavery is no small thing it requires the almighty hand of our Omnipotent LORD and its the same when we are chosen and saved from bondage. Is this not what we are to grow into? You listen to John Piper. That is what I want for Christmas this yearGRACE. It might be helpful for a moment to define these terms and the relationship between grace and repentance. . By making sure that one is growing; by letting grace teach us; by consciously responding to it. In the religious (or biblical) sense, it means one who is making steady progress in growing into the balance of Jesus Christ. . Why is this here in the context of growth and unity? The peace of God has to be the umpire in you and me. Desire of and by itself is not wrongit is not sin. I saw something on the news the other night that was just sickeningif it was true! Grace. These verses are jam-packed with instruction regarding our responsibility toward this subject. Grace teaches us this. This is how it is translated in the King James Version and the New King James Version. What these verses are doing is underlying and specifying our obligations because we have received grace. Were on a mission to change that. Paul is saying that one cannot become godly until one first renounces ungodliness. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? Somehow or another an environment has to be created that will produce growth, an environment of unity. Does that connect with getting rid of worldly passions? People were getting into arguments in the congregation about genealogies, meanings of words, and technicalities about the law of Moses. It might not be something that would happen very quickly; it might take a month or two or three. Only God the Son could fulfill the perfect requirement of God the Father. It means be the umpire. What would we do? And I want to be a grace-giver to youand you and you and you and you because I know that will begin to make this world more the place that the gracious God who invites us to Christmas dinner wants it to be. 1. There can be no greater opportunity given to a human being than that. I want us to think about these verses in the context of the subject of the whole epistle. Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. In the grammar and language, it is Gods grace from verse 11 that has this role of our pedagogue or personal teacher.
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