FHBC Sermon Notes

Preaching - Craig Stewart

Titus 3:4-8

Sometimes there is a gap between our beliefs and our behaviors.  One of the thing about the book of Titus, is that Paul speaks to both the beliefs and the behaviors. 

These four verses in many ways summarizes the central themes of this book:

Verse 3 - For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

One of the reasons we have such a problem with other people, particularly those that make us uncomfortable is someway is because we tend to forget our own past. As is often said here at City Church we should be Provoked but not Offended by the world.  This is not to say that we our own sin and rebellion has no meaning, that we some how have it all together.  In fact, it is the opposite. Our own past, and the fact the Christ has forgiven us that should provoke us to pursue each person we meant, not matter what our initial reaction may or may not be, to pursue them with the love of God, and the good news of the gospel.

Verse 5 - "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."

But why would God forgive those who do wrong at all?  The reason is because of who God is, what his character is?  What it isn't is because of anything we have done.  Heaven is not something we can work out for ourselves.

If you ask a Christian what happen if he dies, that person would answer, "I would go to heaven." To the world, this statement might seem very arrogant.  "What makes you think you are so "worthy" of heaven."  Indeed, what makes us so confident, so certain.  Is it not because we have read this truth, and know that is isn't "because of our works" but because of God's "own mercy.". From God's character, from his mercy comes any confidence we have at all.

So how is this done? Why is it done?  -  Because of his mercy.  By the washing of regeneration. 

What is regeneration?  - Regeneration happens because of something that happens to us, not because of us. A newborn baby does not birth it self.  Birth is something that happens to it.  Our spiritual rebirth is the same.  The "washing and renewal" happens because of the HOLY SPIRIT.  The first sign of a newly regenerated heart is faith.   

But we cannot be renewed if we are not first justified.

Verse 7 - "So that being justified by his grace me might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

We are justified, our past gone and covered, by JESUS, not because of ourselves, but because of Him.  And do you know what the result of this is?  Whatever struggles we are having at this moment, and any moment begin to diminish.  Diminished by the "hope of eternal life".  What is to come is so much BIGGER that what we endure right now.  That is awesome.  That is true freedom.

What does this mean? What occurs when we live in this hope?  Without Jesus, we so often just live for ourselves.  Even if we serve, those works so often fall short.  What we make without own hands does not last.  We need Jesus. We are to "devote ourselves to good works." And good works in Christ do last.

Lastly, we do this not as a way to earn God's favor, but because we have been transformed and live in gratitude.

Don't live halfway.