The Fruit of Christian Living And Its Gospel Roots

It's good to be with you guys here today and especially good to be with the kids that are here.

I have a special favor to ask of the kids that are with us.

If you guys wouldn't mind, I would love if you would draw a picture of something that you hear or learn about today in our sermon.

And then if you're able, I'd love it if you would show me afterwards.

And if you can't happen to find me or grab me, show your mom or dad or your grandparents and I'm sure they would love to hear it and see it and talk to you about it.

And the rest of us, you're welcome to draw pictures as well.

But let's turn to Titus 3, chapter 3, verses 1 through 11.

And let me read God's word.

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities.

To be obedient.

To be ready for every good work.

To speak evil of no one.

To avoid quarreling and be gentle and show perfect courtesy towards all people.

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

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God, our Savior appeared, he saved us.

Not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.

By the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured on us richly through Christ Jesus our Savior.

So that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things.

So that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.

These things are excellent and profitable for people.

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law.

For they are unprofitable and worthless.

As for the person who stirs up division after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him.

Knowing that such a person is warped and sinful, he is self-condemned.

So it's been two weeks since we've been in Titus.

And so before we dig into our text here, let me just take a quick moment to remind us of what we've been through so far.

Remember that the book of Titus is a letter from the Apostle Paul to Titus, who is on the island of Crete.

Paul left Titus in Crete to finish the work of establishing the Cretan church.

In chapter 1, Paul instructs Titus about establishing the position of elders.

He addresses the qualifications of elders, and then he specifically speaks about the role of elders in combating the false teachers and the false doctrine that was spreading among them.

Next week, Pastor Salvati will be preaching on Titus chapter 2.

Titus 2 · chapter mention

But just to give you a little quick overview in order to help orient ourselves to our text here today,

Paul instructs Titus at the start of chapter 2 to teach what accords to sound doctrine.

Paul had just finished in chapter 1 describing the characteristics of what false doctrine produces.

And now he's telling Titus to teach correct doctrine and describes what this looks like.

What we'll see next week is that Paul first speaks about how Christians are to interact with other Christians.

And specifically, he describes about how that looks within a believing household.

Now in our chapter, in chapter 3, Paul moves his instructions about teaching sound doctrine from an internal discussion to an external discussion.

In chapter 3, he speaks about how Christians are to interact with society.

Paul gives some very concrete instructions about how we as believers are to interact in a non-believing world.

Needless to say, instructions on how we as believers should live godly lives in the context of society is just as practical today

and beneficial for us as it was for the first century Cretan church.

But what I also want us to get from this text today is not only the instructions on how to live in society,

but why we should conduct ourselves this way.

What reason is there for us as Christians to interact with society in a particular way?

What we'll see is that there's a cause and effect relationship that's going to happen here.

There's going to be a thing, and this thing is going to produce an effect in us.

It's going to produce the effect that Christians should interact with unbelievers.

Another way to state this is that there's going to be a root, like the root of a tree.

And this root is going to produce a certain kind of fruit.

What's interesting here, though, is the way that Paul teaches us this lesson.

Instead of starting at the base of the tree and describing how the root produces the fruit,

he starts with talking about the fruit first, and then he's going to trace back down to the root.

It's kind of opposite of how we normally would think.

Then, to finish off our text, Paul's going to contrast sound doctrine with false doctrine.

So we want to answer three questions here today.

By the end of our time, I want us to be able to answer these.

The first one, how should we interact with society?

Concrete examples of how we should be.

Number two, how are we able to accomplish these interactions with society?

And three, what's the difference between the false doctrine fruit and the sound doctrine fruit?

So let's jump in.

Point number one, the uniqueness of the Christian fruit displayed in society.

So let's look at what Paul has to say about how we are to interact with society.

Look at verse one.

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities,

to be obedient and to be ready for every good work.

The first thing that Paul gives us instruction on is our posture towards government.

This would include local city governments, state governments, national governments.

Whenever you see that phrase ruler and authorities, think government.

It's nothing like starting on an easy topic here, is it?

Couldn't he have started with something a little bit easier like,

remind them to say hi to strangers and smile to everybody?

No, he starts with submission and government.

What's even more interesting is thinking about the historical context that he's giving these instructions in.

The island of Crete and the Christians there,

they're living under the forceful rule of the Roman Empire.

Rome controlled them.

They were the government authorities.

And by the way, they weren't elected officials.

Rome had come in and invaded their land and ruled them by force.

Rome not only imposed their rules and authority on them,

they often extracted a high tax on those they conquered to help fund their empire.

Can you imagine what the Christians in Crete were thinking when Titus was instructing them to submit to the rulers and authorities?

The ones who were ruling them by force?

What do you think their response was?

Wait.

You want us to do what?

You want us to submit to their authority?

Those guys.

The ones that are oppressing us?

It had to be quite shocking for them.

Yet, here's Paul instructing Titus to remind the Christians to believe, to submit, and be obedient to the governmental authorities.

However, Paul's just not pulling this idea of submission out of the clouds.

Submission and obedience is a theme that he's carrying over from chapter 2.

In chapter 2, we'll see how submission and obedience functions between believers,

and specifically within a Christian household.

And Paul's just carrying this same theme now over into how Christians should interact in society.

What we can start to see is that the fruit of the sound doctrine is characterized by godly submission and obedience.

How do you think this would look if the Cretan church lived out this godly submission and authority with the society around them?

Do you think they would just blend in?

I don't think so.

What about us?

How does this present for us today?

What would the fruit of submission and obedience look like for us when there's a politician or local government authority who's in power and we don't agree with them?

What do we do when there's a political party that's in charge and we don't agree with their stances?

What would we say if somebody asked us,

Why are you acting this way?

Well, maybe we say that we believe in Romans 13,

where God establishes governments,

and God is sovereign over the governments,

and therefore our submission that Titus describes here,

or Paul describes in Titus,

is ultimately a submission to God's sovereignty.

Paul's instructions to Titus is to make sure that the believers are displaying a general posture of submitting to their authority.

Let's see what other instructions Paul has to say about our conduct with society.

Verse 2.

Speak evil of no one,

to avoid quarreling,

to be gentle,

and show perfect courtesy towards all people.

I can just hear the Cretan Christians saying to Titus as he's instructing them,

Okay, you know,

you're kind of pushing the envelope a little bit here.

You know that whole thing about submitting to authorities and rulers?

It was kind of tough,

but okay,

I can get on board.

But now you're telling us to never speak poorly of anyone,

avoid arguments with them,

and be gentle with them all the time,

and to top it off,

you say show perfect courtesy towards all people.

Well, I'm pretty sure you don't know the people that I work with,

or that neighbor that lives behind me,

because if you did,

you would know that this isn't possible.

How can I do this?

Can we relate with this, church?

Do any of the same thoughts ever pass through your head?

Sure, that's a nice thought.

Be kind and courteous to everyone.

But I'm not supposed to really do that, right?

How can I do that all the time,

and with everyone?

Paul doesn't mince his words here.

He doesn't say,

don't speak evil most of the time.

Or he doesn't say,

generally don't speak evil to people.

He says,

speak evil to no one.

So what does that look for us,

to speak evil to no one?

What would it look like with that situation at work with my coworker,

and everyone speaking behind their back?

Does speaking of evil apply in that situation,

or to that person?

What would it say if we didn't engage in that type of activities?

Or what about the person on social media,

who is always posting those things that make your eyes roll,

or saying things that just make your blood boil?

They can't hear what I'm saying about them.

So does speaking evil of no one apply in that situation?

What about showing gentleness to your boss,

who is constantly hard,

mean,

unkind,

and abrasive to you?

Or the person who speaks to you disrespectfully in front of others,

and is constantly making you feel bad?

Do I need to show gentleness,

and kindness,

and avoid quarreling with them?

Well, Paul doesn't use middle-of-the-road language here.

He uses the words,

no one,

avoid,

perfect,

all people.

Remember,

Paul's giving instructions on the fruit of sound doctrine,

and it is uniquely different than the fruit of false doctrine.

Can we ask ourselves,

is our conduct as believers uniquely different than society's?

And notice,

there's something very interesting here that's missing from these instructions.

There is no indication that our actions towards others

is dependent upon their actions towards us.

At no point does it say,

those who show courtesy and respect and love to you,

then you show courtesy and respect and love to them.

No,

the fruit that believers are to display

is independent

of their actions towards us.

So to answer question one,

our first question here,

how am I supposed to act

in society?

What we see with our passage

in verses one and two,

is that we should be characterized

by submission,

obedience,

good speech,

gentleness,

peacemaking,

and we are to do it to all people

at all times.

Anyone else feel the weight

of those instructions?

How am I supposed to even come close

to doing that?

How can I avoid gossip

at work

or in conversations with friends?

How can I not be annoyed

with those people in the stores

that are always getting in my way?

It's impossible

to not argue with people.

It just happens.

Well,

recall the outline

of our text.

Paul first

is giving us

the fruit

and then he's going

to trace backwards

to reveal the source

of that fruit.

So if you're wondering,

how can I produce

this kind of fruit

with others?

The answer

is found

in the root.

So let's look at

point two.

The root

produces

the fruit

sorry,

the root

that produces

the fruit

is the gospel.

Let's look at

verse three.

For we ourselves

were once foolish,

disobedient,

led astray,

slaves to various

passions and pleasures,

passing our day

in malice

and envy,

hated by others

and hating one another.

after Paul

instructs us

on the fruit,

he takes a moment

to remind us

of who we once were.

Just in case

you forgot

what you were like

in the past,

here,

let me remind you.

Paul doesn't

hold back.

Listen to how

he describes us.

Foolish,

disobedient,

slaves to passions

and pleasures,

envious,

hated by others

and hating.

These are not

very flattering

things,

and notice

that they are

complete opposites

of what he described

in verses one and two.

He now calls us

to obedience

when we were

once disobedient.

He calls us

to gentleness

and courtesy

when we were

once hating

and envious.

He calls us

to be peacemakers

and considerate

when we were

once quarreling

and malicious.

Some of us

might be

asking ourselves

right now,

look,

I know I'm not

perfect,

but come on,

I'm not that bad.

It seems a little

bit of like

a harsh description

of me.

Well,

we see in Jesus'

sermon on the mount

in Matthew 5

when he says,

you have heard

that it was said,

you shall not

commit adultery.

But I say to everyone,

but I say to you,

everyone who looks

at a woman

with lustful intent

has already

committed adultery

with her in his heart.

What Jesus identifies

here for us

is that sin

does not originate

with the action.

Sin originates

in the heart.

And this is the thread

that Paul's pulling

on here.

Maybe you didn't

engage in the

highest level

of envy,

hate,

pursuing passions,

and being envious

of others.

Maybe you could

always find

someone else

who engaged

in those things

to a greater extent

than you were.

But what of your heart?

Jesus tells us

that sin originates

in the heart.

Again,

we see in Matthew 7,

21,

Jesus says,

from within,

out of the heart

of man,

comes evil thoughts,

sexual immorality,

theft,

murder,

adultery.

We hear this echoed

in Jeremiah 17,

9.

The heart is deceitful

above all things,

desperately sick.

Who can understand it?

So when Paul describes

in verse 3

what we once were,

he is talking

about the actions

that we were once

engaged in.

But let's not fool

ourselves,

Christians,

into believing

our hearts

were not once

pursuing the things

of the flesh.

Paul gives us

a look at our

natural heart,

and it isn't

very pretty.

But pay careful

attention

attention,

pay careful

attention to passages

like this.

When we read

difficult things

described about us

and ourselves

and our sinful

human nature,

and then you see

the word but

right after it,

be prepared.

Listen closely

because this is

where the treasure

is found.

So let's look

at verse 4.

But when the

goodness and

loving kindness

of our God

and Savior,

of God our Savior

appeared,

he saved us.

Not because of

works done by us

in righteousness,

but according

to his own

mercy.

By the washing

of regeneration

and renewal

of the Holy Spirit

whom he poured

on us richly

through Jesus

Christ our Savior.

in verses

1 and 2,

Paul shows us

the fruit

that we should

be displaying

in society.

He then reminds

us of the way

our hearts

and lives

used to be,

and now

we see

that what

moves us

from what

we once were

to who we

are called

to be

is the gospel.

Believer,

there is only

one way

that can

produce

godly fruit

that is

described

in verses

1 and 2

and that

is by

standing

on the

sound

doctrine

of the

gospel.

What do I

mean by the

gospel?

Where am I

getting that

from?

You might be

asking,

I don't see

the word

gospel in

verse 4.

Well,

let's look.

who appeared?

What's this

talking about?

The person

who appeared

is Jesus.

In John

1

14,

we read,

the word

became

flesh

and dwelt

among us.

Philippians 2

6 tells us

that Jesus,

who though he

was in the

form of

God,

did not

count equality

with God

a thing to

be grasped,

but he

emptied himself

by taking

on the form

of a servant

being born

in the

likeness

of men.

the

incarnation.

This

is when

the goodness

and loving

kindness

of God

appeared.

And notice

what happened

when he

appeared.

He saved

us.

This is

the gospel.

God

incarnate

appears.

He lives

a sinless

life,

dies on

the cross

for our

sins,

and saves

us.

That's

the gospel.

And we

see the

aspects of

it here

in verse

four.

The gospel

is the

root of

the fruit

that we're

called to.

We're asking

ourselves the

question,

how can I

produce this

kind of fruit

that I'm

called to

in verses

one and

two?

The answer

is by

the root

of the

gospel.

And just

in case

we're a

little

confused

about what

that root

is,

let's

look at

verse

five.

Verse

five says,

not because

of works

done by

us in

righteousness,

but according

to his

mercy.

It's not

only God's

mercy to

us that

the gospel

makes it

possible for

us to

produce the

fruit that

is in

accordance

Godliness.

Do you

remember that

feeling that

we were

having as

we were

going through

verses one

and two?

That feeling

of impossibility?

How are we

supposed to do

this?

How can I

even begin to

live in this

manner that

Paul's instructing

us to?

Remember the

weight of that

feeling?

Do you know

why we felt

that weight?

it's because

that we know

that if we

were to rely

on our own

abilities,

our own

power to

live this

way,

we'd never

be able to

do it.

I know that

I don't have

the strength

and resolve

to speak evil

of no one,

to avoid

quarreling,

to be ready

for every good

work.

I know that

I don't have

it in me of

my own

abilities to

show perfect

courtesy towards

all people.

but thanks

be to God

that the

root of my

ability to

do these

things is

not my own

righteousness,

but God's

mercy to me

through Jesus.

Isn't that a

load off the

shoulders?

Isn't it good

to know that

the root that

produces the

fruit is not

my own

righteousness,

but God's

mercy?

I think of

John Bunyan's

book,

Pilgrim's

Progress.

If you're not

familiar with

it,

Christian's the

main character,

and he's

traveling from

his hometown

of destruction

to the

celestial city,

and as

Christian is

walking along

the road,

he's encountering

various obstacles

and trials

along the way,

but Christian's

got a problem.

He is

constantly

bogged down

by this

heavy burden

on his

back.

The burden

is described

like a

heavy backpack,

and it's

constantly weighing

him down,

almost pushing

him down.

And a few

times along

the journey,

this burden

is so heavy

and such a

problem that

it almost

causes his

death.

But eventually

something happens

to that burden

that Christian

is carrying.

Let's read

what John

Bunyan writes.

He says,

Now I saw

in my dream

that the

highway up

which Christian

was to go

was fenced

on either side

with a wall,

and that wall

is called

salvation.

Up this way,

therefore,

did burden

Christian run,

but not

without great

difficulty

because of

the load

on his back.

he ran

thus till

he came

to a place

somewhat

ascending.

And that

place

stood a

cross,

a little

below in

the bottom,

a sepulcher.

So I saw

in my dream

that as

Christian came

up to the

cross,

his burden

loosened

from his

shoulders

and fell

from his

back.

back.

And it

began to

tumble,

and so

continued to

do so

until it

came to

the mouth

of the

sepulcher

where it

fell in

and I

saw it

no more.

Just as

the cross

releases

Christian

from the

burden

on his

back,

the cross

releases

us

from the

burden

to have

our own

righteousness

be the

root

of our

fruit.

Brothers

and sisters,

leave that

burden

at the

cross.

So we're

trying to

answer

question

two.

How are

we to

accomplish

the fruit

that is

called to

in verses

one and

two?

The answer

is by

the root

of the

gospel.

Moving

on to

point

three.

Cling

to sound

doctrine

and pursue

godliness.

Avoid

false

doctrine

that proves

worthless.

starting

in verse

eight,

Paul returns

to giving

specific

instructions

to Titus

again.

He says,

I want

you to

insist

on these

things.

Paul's

kind of

bringing

his letter

full circle

here.

Paul

starts

his letter

by saying

that the

instructions

he's going

to give

is to

the benefit

of the

believer

to improve

their faith

and their

godliness.

Now he's

wrapping it

all up.

He's

saying,

I want

you to

insist

on those

things that

increase

faith and

godliness.

And Paul

gives one

last contrast

in verse

nine.

He says,

but avoid

foolish

controversies,

genealogies,

dissensions,

and quarrels

about the

law,

for they

are unprofitable

and worthless.

Can we

see the

difference

between the

fruit in

verses one

and two

and in

verses nine?

False

doctrine

produces

controversies

and dissension,

fighting,

and it

ultimately

proves

unprofitable

and worthless.

This is

very different

than the

trustworthy

doctrine

Paul insists

on that

produces

obedience,

gentleness,

good speech,

and is

ultimately

profitable.

Sound

doctrine

unites.

It does

not divide.

It is

gentle and

courteous,

not quarrelsome.

It speaks

evil of no

one.

Not

creating

controversies.

And the

difference

between

teaching

false

doctrine

and

sound

doctrine

is such

a serious

matter.

Look at

what Paul

has to

say about

those

false

teachers

who are

stirring up

division.

Verse

10.

After

warning him

once

and then

twice,

have nothing

more to do

with him.

This is

serious

stuff.

It highlights

the importance

of why

Paul is

instructing

Titus to

establish

godly

leadership

in the

church.

It's God's

goodness to

us.

false

doctrine

and not

speak to

one that

we see

being taught

by some

in our

society and

has implications

to our

text.

I'm speaking

of the

false teaching

of the

prosperity

gospel.

The

prosperity

gospel tells

us that

it is by

our

righteousness

that God

shows mercy

and blessing

to us.

The

prosperity

gospel says

if you

pray harder,

if you

give more

money,

if you

clean yourself

up spiritually,

if you

use the

power of

your own

words to

claim something,

then God

will show

you mercy.

The

prosperity

gospel says

if you

don't have

material

things,

it's because

you need

to increase

your

righteousness.

Brothers

and sisters,

avoid such

false teaching.

It is

worthless

and unprofitable.

Instead,

cling to

the sound

doctrine.

Cling to

the gospel

that teaches

us not

by my

righteousness,

but by

God's mercy

that he's

blessed us

by solving

our biggest

problem.

the prosperity

gospel tells

us that we

need to

earn God's

mercy and

blessing.

Sound

doctrine tells

us that

while we

were still

sinners,

Christ died

for us.

Romans 5.8

This is the

difference between

godliness and

worthlessness.

Cling to

sound doctrine.

Avoid

false doctrine.

sound doctrine.

So our

third question,

we were

trying to

answer,

what's the

difference

between false

doctrine and

sound doctrine?

Sound doctrine

produces

godliness.

False doctrine

produces

worthlessness.

goodness.

So I hope

that we

can see

as we

walk

through

this

text

here

some

applications

to our

lives.

But I

do want

to point

out just

four quick

application

points that

we can

specifically

draw out

of the

text here.

Application

number one,

we need

to be

prepared

to do

good works,

not just

reacting to

them.

twice in

our passage,

Paul mentions

good works.

He mentions

good works

that Christians

should be

engaged in.

The first

time is in

verse one

when Paul

talks about

submission to

rulers and

authorities.

He says,

be ready

for good

works.

The second

time is

in verse

eight when

Paul is

instructing

Titus to

insist on

sound doctrine

so that

believers can

devote

themselves

to good

works.

Notice

the mindset

that Christians

should have

around these

good works.

Paul says,

be ready

and devote

yourselves

to them.

Being ready

and devoting

yourself to

something means

that you're

preparing for

it.

You've put

some thought

and planning

into it.

You're

anticipating

it.

It's

not just

being ready

but consistently

and frequently

pursuing it.

There's

intentionality

here.

It's not

just a

reaction to

the occasion.

So how

does this

look for

us?

How does

it look to

be ready

and devoted

to good

works?

Maybe it

would look

like being

ready and

devoted to

not speak

evil and

avoid quarreling

with that

family member

that's never

treated you

very well.

What if

on the way

to that

family gathering

you were

praying for

God's mercy

and preaching

the gospel

to yourself

so that you

may display

good fruit

at this

family gathering?

or maybe

being prepared

to do good

works looks

like you

intentionally

going to

work

looking with

the goal

of looking

for a

situation

in which

you can

show perfect

courtesy

towards a

coworker

especially

when they

don't deserve

it.

look for

ways to

show good

works

think about

ways to

show good

works

pray that

God would

open your

eyes to

these

opportunities

and then

when we

fail at

it be

devoted to

do it

again.

We as

believers

should be

devoted and

ready for

good works

not just

reactionary to

them.

application

number two

our good

works

should be

performed

with joy.

If we're

truly grasping

that the

fruit of our

good works

is rooted

in the

gospel

then our

good works

will be

performed

with joy.

Paul says

that we're

devoting

ourselves to

good works

here because

these things

are excellent

and profitable

for people.

They're

profitable not

only for the

person who's

performing the

good works but

the one who's

receiving them.

When we

understand how

God has

shown us

mercy how

can we not

joyfully show

mercy to

others?

Mercy should

produce joy.

So church

when we

submit to the

leadership God

has placed us

under do we

do it with

joy because

it's God's

goodness to

us?

When I

avoid quarreling

with strangers

maybe the guy

who cuts me

off in

traffic do

I do it

joyfully

because this

good work is

excellent and

profitable?

Are we

joyfully patient

and gentle

during our

interactions with

our children or

spouse because

it's in

accordance with

godliness?

As believers

our good works

should be

performed with

joy.

Application

number three

the health

of our

Christian

witness is

dependent upon

our grasp of

the gospel.

A proper

grasp of the

gospel is

crucial for

maintaining the

health of a

Christian witness.

When we

properly grasp

the gospel it's

like a car

traveling safely

down the

middle of a

road.

when the

fruit of our

good works is

not rooted in

the gospel

our car is

going to

slowly drift

to one of

the ditches on

either side of

the road.

We may drift

and crash into

the ditch of

legalism.

This would

look like our

works producing

the bad fruit

of pride.

Look at me.

Look at all

the good things

that I'm doing

while all those

other people are

doing nothing.

the ditch of

legalism can

look like us

becoming

judgmental and

thinking that

our good works

that we're

performing are

superior and

more acceptable

to God than

the works of

others.

It makes us

believe that

we're more

spiritual and

superior than

others and

ultimately we

become like the

Pharisees.

Or without a

grasp proper

grasp of the

gospel we can

slowly drift to

the other side

of the road and

crash into the

ditch of

laziness and

inaction.

But there's no

way around it.

Paul gives us a

clear call for

believers to

engage in good

works.

So with a

proper understanding

of the gospel

is vital for the

health of our

Christian witness

and it allows us

to avoid crashing

into either one

of the ditches.

application four.

Don't let past

sins prevent you

from performing

good works.

Many people are

familiar with the

song Amazing

Grace.

The song was

written by a man

named John

Newton.

John Newton

lived in the

1800s and when

he was a young

man he was

forced into the

Royal Navy.

He hated his

position so much

that at one

point he tried to

run away from

his post which

is interesting

because he was

on a ship.

He was caught

shockingly,

received a

humiliating physical

punishment and

demoted in front

of his peers.

He was transferred

to another ship

but was not

able to get

along with

this new

crew either.

He so severely

clashed with

them that while

they were docked

in a port in

Africa they

left him there

and just went

home.

Newton was

actually taken

as a slave

and treated

miserably and

frequently beaten.

Eventually he

was rescued but

Newton had

become angry,

bitter,

and hateful.

He then went

on to become

the captain of

a ship that

was a part of

the African

slave trading

system.

But God

would show

mercy to

John Newton

calling him

out of darkness

and into light

and saving

him.

Newton would

then spend the

next several

decades of his

life pastoring

a flock as

well as

becoming one

of the loudest

voices of his

time fighting

for the

abolishment of

slavery and the

slave trade.

It was out of

these experiences

that Newton

wrote the words

amazing grace

how sweet the

sound that

saved a wretch

like me.

how easy would

it have been

for Newton

when reading

through our

text today

or hearing

the Lord's

call to him

to do good

works,

how easy would

it have been

for him to

say,

Lord,

surely I am

not the

appropriate person

to be

pastoring a

flock of

believers.

I'm definitely

not the person

who should be

fighting against

the abolishment

of slavery.

I'm the person

who is

characterized by

foolishness,

disobedience,

quarreling,

envy,

hate.

I'm the person

who devalued

fellow image

bearers of

God.

Lord,

with my past

sins,

how can I

ever be

expected to

perform the

good works

that you're

calling me

to?

But thanks

be to God

that our text

speaks to

John Newton

as well.

Oh no,

John Newton,

the fruit of

your good works

that I call

you to is

not because

of your works

of righteousness,

but because

of my mercy.

Can we relate,

church family?

Has the thought

run through

your head,

I can't perform

good works,

I'm not worthy,

I would be a

hypocrite,

people would see

right through me,

but God

says,

oh no,

the good works

we perform

in our

neighborhoods,

at our

jobs,

with our

interactions

with others

at the store,

while walking

down the

street,

at any

time,

it is not

because of

works done

by us in

righteousness,

but because

of his

mercy.

Don't let

past sins

stop us

from doing

good works,

because they

are rooted

in his

mercy,

not our

righteousness.

Amen.

Pray with

me.

Father,

thank you

for your

mercy to

us.

Thank you

that it is

not by our

righteousness,

but by your

mercy that

produces the

fruit and

gives us the

ability to

live in

accordance with

godliness.

goodness.

Lord, we

want to be

set apart

for you in

the way that

we live our

lives, in

the way we

interact with

society.

We ask for

more grace

from you to

help us

accomplish this.

In your

name, amen.