Titus | Week 1

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, good morning to the

young, ladies and gentlemen, that are in training currently,

welcome to today's service. My name is Kyle.

If you're visiting with us, when introduced myself, I serve as

lead Pastor here and want to welcome you here.

We're glad that you've chosen to worship with us today.

If you have your Bible, you can turn to our.

I would ask that you would turn to Titus Chapter 1, Titus

Titus 1 · chapter mention Titus 1 · chapter mention

Chapter 1, that's found in your New Testaments, just after

first, and second Timothy before the book.

Philemon. It's a short book.

So you might could pass it depend on the way of the

arrangement of your Bibles, but it's a 3 chapter book.

And we are beginning a new series today in this book.

The reason for that is that tie? This gives us one of the best,

looks at the relationship between the gospel.

Truth, the truth that we receive from God about Christ Jesus

about our sin about our need for a savior about how we can be

born again and live for the Lord.

This Gives us the relationship between those gospel truths, and

the godliness that they require the life lived in response to

these. So, in this book, we see clearly

how the gospel affects how it causes, how it creates

godliness. And we also see in this book how

godliness then affects right effects shapes, how it adorns

the gospel in your life, these two things work together.

So our Passage For today, that will be looking at is Titus 1,

1, through 4, Titus 1134. I'm going to read that now.

And then we'll pray. Paul a servant of God and an

apostle of Christ Jesus, but the sake of faith of God's elect and

their knowledge of the truth, which Accords with godliness and

hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies promise before

the before the ages began, and at the proper time, manifested

in his word through the preaching with, which I have

been entrusted by the command of God, our savior to Titus.

I trucho In a common Faith, Grace and peace from God, the

father and Christ Jesus. Our savior, we pray for us,

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this word, which we have

just read. This is your word father, these

are words that you have spoken to us through the Apostle Paul

and we ask Lord, that you would open our hearts to receive them.

Now what open our minds to hear them to understand them to

comprehend them, to know them? Well, Lord but not just to know

them in our Mind, help them to seep deep into our hearts.

We might become men and women, boys, and girls, who take

seriously the word of God. We take seriously the godliness

that it requires, who commit ourselves to Christ Jesus.

As we find life in Him, Father, we thank you for this word.

We thank you for this time. We have now together as a church

family in it. We ask that you bless this

moment Christ's name, I pray. Amen.

So Titus is one of Paul's Pastoral Epistles on a letter

written to pastors of a church. Paul writes to this, dear

companion, as partner in Ministry, whom is Titus and we

know quite a bit about Paul most of, you know, who the Apostle

Paul is Paul was the one time persecutor who went by the name

of Saul? And he persecuted the church

heavily, he oversaw, an axe chapter 6, The stoning of

Stephen. One of the first Martyrs that we

have on record. He is dramatically converted in

Acts chapter 9, as he was on his way to persecute more

Acts 9 · chapter mention

Christians, in a place called Damascus.

Now, I'll on his way, Christ himself appears to Paul or Saul

in that moment. And says, Saul Saul.

Why are you persecuting me? Which Saul responds, who are

you? Lord, that was the moment that

Saul's life changed forever. Most much of the rest of Acts

over 2/3. Even of Acts tells us the story

of Paul's missionary journeys of, where he went of his

preaching of the Gospel, his founding of churches, his

training of leaders and pastors and various areas.

And maybe one of the most important things that we read

about therefore our own faith is weak.

Read about Paul's sufferings, if he suffered great harm for the

sake of the name of Jesus Christ, it was costly to him.

Titus is not well, known in scripture unless you were

familiar with the book of Titus, you might recall his name at

other times, it's believed by many that he is one of Paul's

early converts during his ministry at Antioch.

So after Paul's conversion, he spent time with a man named

Barnabas, ministering and Antioch preaching the gospel

They're evangelizing. The lost.

It's thought to be the tightest became a Christian under Paul's

Ministry there. This this idea at least support

or this idea is supported by this passage at least in this

that Paul addresses Titus as my true child and a common Faith.

He has no doubt a convert of Paul's.

He is one whom Paul has led to the Lord, and they now share

Faith. Paul is not speaking in

biological terms, he's not saying you are my son Birth by

Birth. He's saying you're my son by

spiritual birth through my Ministry.

The Lord made you knew, Titus is a gentile Greek, he's converted

by the preaching of the Gospel. He's born under Paul's Ministry.

He became a fellow minister with him.

Much like we read about Timothy doing.

This is why there is a pastoral epistle addressed to both of

these men. Paul is not saying that the

faith that they share is, is common that it's normal or that

it's why Spread. Even, he's not saying that it

holds little value. What he's saying is that this

Faith by this faith, we are united together in Christ.

That, that Paul as a Jew, who formally persecuted Christians,

in the name of upholding, the way, the Jews viewed.

God is drastically different than this young gentle, man.

He's saying we are we share now a union in Christ wrought in Us

by the spirit of God, through the preached words of the

Gospel. It's also clear in this letter

that he is a well trusted partner in Ministry.

He's referred to thoroughly in second Corinthians as Paul

writes there about a letter. We don't have to the Corinthians

that apparently was even more scathing than the first pulse

sense. He writes there about Titus in

the way that they received him. He calls him a Rather a partner,

a fellow worker in the ministry, will look more at titus's

assignment next week. As that really begins to be

spelled out for us. But in the name of context, I

want us to have some ideas of what is Titus doing.

What's the purpose of the letter to Titus?

Titus has been left on the island of Crete?

He's there to put what remained in to order to appoint elders

and every town, I think we have a map of this that would show

you. Yeah, so you see Crete here,

it's off the mainland of Greece and it's an island.

It measures roughly 160 miles long by 35 miles wide.

It had on fairly large population.

It was in a port area. If you will, by way of travel,

from Jerusalem on up to Rome, you would have stopped near the

island of Crete or on the island of Crete for resupply.

Restocking the Thing about create that kind of was fun.

Fun for me to see. One of the things was this is

that it's a mountainous area, there's a mountain range that

spans the length of the island and the tallest mountain on this

island is roughly 8,000 feet tall.

So it's a rough terrain, but maybe rougher than the terrain,

are the people of Creed's that the men and women who hold

residents on the island of Crete screed host, multiple cities.

It how Most both Jews and Gentiles.

There are Jews who we will read about, who are stirring up

division. In on the island are storing up

division in the churches who are committing themselves to

maintain? Uphold Jewish Customs that

Christians are not called to uphold It also hosts, many

Gentiles people who are filled with worldliness.

They have no idea of who God is or a purpose or reason for even

following the Lord, and there's more even than that.

Goddesses assignment is not an easy one, it's a difficult

assignments, he's told, and again, in verse 5 to put what

remained into order and to appoint Elders in every town.

So he's to go throughout the island, not just one part of

them, but go to their out the island.

And ensure that the churches are healthy.

There's a lot of difficult work to do.

And so, Paul begins is letter with a reminder about the

purpose of the work. Here's why.

We're here, Titus. Here's what this is, here's why

we exist. Here's what we're for, here's

what we're about. The purpose for the work and

it's an encouragement to stand strong in god.

Let's go back to verse 1 and begin our study here.

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

A servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Paul is giving us two, massive statements about his own

identity about who he is. Servant of God, the word servant

is the word doulos in the Greek. It means slave.

It's often translated servant Bond servant slave.

But the word is the same. Anytime you see that?

It's the word slave. Paul is saying I'm a slave.

Of God. I'm a slave of God, Paul's

identity is first and foremost who he is.

Because Paul's identity first and foremost is who he is

because of what God has done in his life.

He's saying I'm a slave of God. God Has Changed who I am.

He is made me new God, intervened in Paul's life.

God saved Paul from his sins. I want to remind you that when

we read the word God we ought not immediately think father.

We ought to think Our son and spirit.

Paul has the Triune God in mind here is he's thinking about what

God is and how he is a slave to God about who God is he saying?

I'm a slave to the father to the son and to the spirit Calls

received a new identity because of the work of Christ Jesus on

the cross but because of the for Dane to work of God from

eternity past as well as we'll see in a moment.

What I once was Paul is saying, I am no longer what I am now

belongs to God. I am his he is mine Galatians

Galatians 2:20

2:20. Paul really sums up this

thought? He says this in.

Galatians 2:20 says I have been crucified with Christ.

Galatians 2:20

It is no longer. I who live but Christ, who lives

in me and the life. I now live in the flesh, I live

by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for

me. He's saying I'm a slave to God.

My life is not my own. My life belongs to him.

This is the way slaves, talk. This is the way servants talk,

brothers and sisters. This is the way we are to speak

about our relation to God. God is Not Not as he is often

treated a slave for us to do our bidding and are beckoning to

come at our call. God is God, and we are his

people. We are to submit ourselves to

him. He is in control, he has made us

new. He gives us our identity then.

He said I'm a slave to God. He bought me with the blood of

his own son, he owns me. My entire life is determined by

him. You'll see throughout the letter

of Titus, that this idea of being a slave to God is not an

all am at all. A miserable thought.

If you're familiar at all, with the writings of Paul, you'll

understand that this is by no means a miserable thought that

you're relegated to some. Some type of servitude that is

done with a Hardness of Heart That is done with without your

personality. There is done without life.

That's not what Paul has in view here.

But Paul has in view is I was once dead in my sins and now

have been made alive in Christ Jesus.

What Paul has a view here is Thanksgiving to God for saving

him out of his sin, out of his persecution of the church.

Revealing the true nature of God to him, revealing Christ to him.

That he might be a new creation created in Christ Jesus.

Where old things have passed away, all have become new and

now he's dead. Dedicating his life committing

his life to the service of God. Paul is excited in this service.

This is not a dutiful thing. This is not him saying I'm a,

I'm a slave to God Titus. Paul is saying, I am held

captive Titus by the goodness and kindness of God toward me

and salvation. That I can do nothing more, and

nothing less than surrender, that the totality of my life to

God, I'm his slave, he is my master, he is my Lord.

Amen. Hopefully you grasp the

difference between slave and slave.

It's excited about what God has done for him.

We should also note that he mentions this first.

It's a statement of humility before he makes a statement

about the authority which God has given him.

Paul has been given great Authority by the Son of God.

Jesus Christ, appears to him and calls him to apostleship who

ministry? That's given to to certain men

specific men. Men whom we know the names of

now, He says, I'm a slave to God and Apostle of Jesus, Christ.

That is title of apostle. Again, belongs only to those who

witnessed the resurrection of Christ or witnessed him

personally. After his resurrection, it

belongs only to those who have received a call to apostleship

personally from God. There is no, there are no true

apostles today, not in the sense of what we see in the Bible

here. This office is finished.

It was a special Ministry given by Christ for the establishment

of the church. So I'm going to say the church,

I'm not talking about a local church and talk about global

Church Universal Church. What these men were given what

these men were able to do is not been seen again.

He's been were special because Christ did something special in

them and scriptures. We read that they were the that

Christ was the Cornerstone of the church, but that the

apostles were the foundation of the truth.

That we, now know, meaning, they're the ones who pinned it.

They're the ones who wrote it out there, the ones who taught

it. They're the ones who receive the

instruction from the holy spirit.

That we might know God's breathed word.

Apostles were to be deputies of Christ Jesus.

They were not to go anywhere, say anything or do anything that

opposed. What Christ told them to do,

they were to follow him. Holy Jesus, commissioned them.

They are either commissioned by him himself, or by other

apostles, who use those two, qualifying things to call an

apostle. To apostleship we see that in

Acts chapter 1 with the calling of Matthias, But Paul

Acts 1 · chapter mention

establishes his humility first. He makes a statement about

humility makes a statement about who I am and how this informs

what he does. He says, I'm a slave of God and

then he talks about his Christ given authority and authority.

That that meant Titus should follow what he says that Titus

should listen to him and Authority.

That meant that the elders who taught us would go in and struck

should listen to Paul and Authority that meant that the

men and women who would be under the instruction of tight And

those Elders should listen to what Paul is saying is Christ.

The Apostle. It's a Heavenly Authority.

It was meant to be understood in that way.

And they would have understood it in that way.

As this was read aloud before them, as Titus read this, he

would have known exactly what was being said, by the Apostle

Paul here about his apostleship As noted though, in Galatians,

2:20, whatever Paul is he is first a new creation in Christ.

Jesus. Whatever he might become,

whatever God calls him to do. He is first God's child.

God lives in him. And so now he gives his life by

faith in the Son of God, who loved him and gave himself for

Paul. Paul was one of 13 Apostles.

Paul has a lot of reason to boast in himself to be arrogant

even although we could argue that would make him probably not

worthy of being an apostle. All begin with But he knows that

he is, he knows what he's been called to, he knows the grace of

God that he's received. And God has made him a new

creation. God has called him to

apostleship God blesses his ministry to the Gentiles.

Paul was wildly fruitful for the lord.

It's not it's not hyperbole to say that.

We are Christians today because of the ministry of Paul.

We owe Paul a lot, the Paul would say no you.

Oh God, all of that. God blesses his ministry.

God is the source of all. That is good and Paul's life.

Brothers and sisters. We ought to take something from

Paul here, whatever you are. But whatever your identity,

might be whatever you think of first.

When someone says, well who are you or one of the first things

were prone to ask, especially as men is, what do you do for a

living that kind of sets, the trajectory of our identity but

whatever you are, whether you're a recent convert, whether you're

a mature Christian, whether you're a son or whether you're a

daughter, whether you're a mom or a dad, a husband or a wife

and employee or an employer, whether you're a friend.

Your brother or sister. Whatever you may be, if you are

a Christian, you are God's child first, that's where you get your

identity. This is where you align

yourself. Is you say, I am, this may be.

But first and foremost, I'm settling myself on my identity

in Christ Jesus. Something that God has given to

us. If you are a believer in Christ,

it's because God saved you, by his gracious intervention.

It's because God regenerated you by the power of the Holy Spirit,

to become his child, through the work of Christ on the cross,

which you no doubt heard about through some proclamation of the

word, either, by reading it for yourself, or by hearing, it's

hot or proclaimed by a friend, or a pastor.

Or someone God has made, you knew you owe your life.

The god. We live in a world that

encourages us to have whatever identity you want to have.

And if you want to change that identity tomorrow changes, if

you want to change it, the day after that changes become

whatever you want. But Christians.

Christians are not to buy that wretched lie.

That's a lie of this world. That's a lie from the mouths of

Satan himself. Christians are however to stand

on the truth of God's word, Christians are to understand

that. Whatever I am by God's grace, I

am first God's child and that informs now my behavior that

informs now my identity as a husband or a father or male or

female Two genders. I am first his child.

He is first my God, he gives me my marching orders and I commit

myself to do whatever the Lord commands of me because I'm a

slave to God. He saved me out of the pit of

Hell. He saved me out of my sins and

gave me new life. I'm his brothers and sisters.

If you are in Christ, you are serving Servant of God.

Your servant of God. Next we see in verses in the

following verses up through verse 3, we see the revealing of

his purpose. He talks about his identity that

I'm a servant of God. I'm a I'm an apostle of Christ.

And then he gets into his purpose for life.

Paul a servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the

sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the

truth, which Accords with godliness and hope of eternal

life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began,

and at the proper time, manifested in his word, through

the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of

God, our savior I want to summarize what we see here with

this. What?

This statement you can write this down if you're taking

notes. But the gospel received by Faith

and Hope of eternal life. Forms godliness in your life.

The gospel received by faith. In Hope of eternal life forms

godliness in you. It's what creates godliness in

you. And if we ever hope to be Godly

men or women, boys or girls, we must first understand, the

truths of God's word. We must first come to faith in

Christ. We must first be transformed by

those things. So, let's examine the two

purposes that Paul's lays out one is for the sake of the faith

of God's elect. The word elect is seen

throughout the Old and New Testament.

The word elect just simply refers to those who were chosen

by God unto salvation. You see the word elect?

As you think about Israel, and what God does there you see the

word elect in the New Testament? None of the riders in the New

Testament are shy about using this word elect to describe the

people of God and their identity as New Testament.

Believers, which unites them with the same saving work of God

in the Old Testament. It creates a one people of God

at New Testament, Believers like Old Testament.

Believers are such because they have been chosen by God, to be

his people. God miraculously works on their

behalf. God miraculously makes them

children of God. The Apostle John, who was the

Beloved disciple when riding his gospel, just 12 verses in gets

into this this truth he says, but to all who did receive him,

talk about Christ came to the Jews first and they didn't

receive him. He says, but to all who did

receive him, who believed in Jesus name, he gave the right to

become children of God. Verse 13, who were born?

Not of blood painting. It wasn't their birth rights and

weren't born because they were Jews and were born of God, out

of their out of the Jewish heritage.

We're born of the will of the flesh, meaning they didn't will

up the, they didn't muster up the strength to save themselves.

He says, nor of the will of, man, meaning, I can't cause

salvation for someone else. As much as I want all to be

saved, I can't make it to where all men and women believe in

Christ. Jesus, they're responsible for

their belief or unbelief. Lisa's.

But of God, who were born but of God, who were born of God, See

Paul's Ministry was about the faith of God's elect by the

preaching of God's word. The gospel is we see?

In verse 3, he says, manifested through the preaching of his

word. However, it would have also

served to strengthen the faith of God's elect.

So, not only does, it does the preaching bring about the faith,

but it strengthens the faith in those two themes, what we see is

initial belief and ongoing belief, the initial coming to

the Lord for salvation, and the ongoing to the Lord, for

salvation reminding ourselves that we are.

His children that I'm a slave to God.

And we see how Paul's Ministry was.

Then for the sake of God's elect, for the sake of the faith

of God's elect Paul's Ministry serves Us in this way today.

I'm It's fuzzy in my mind, but I've always attributed my

salvation to memorizing scripture and Awana.

And, of course, having parents who were raising me to love the

Lord to know the Lord had me in that program to begin with, for

helping me learn those verses but Ephesians 2:8 and 9 was the

Ephesians 2:8

verse that really stands out. As I think back in my life, this

is for by Grace. You have been saved through

faith and that faith, not of yourselves.

It is the gift of God. Is anyone should boast and it's

God's gift to us. It's not a work of our own

doing, and I just remember laying in my bed as a child

thinking. I need salvation and I need the

Lord to save me. But it happens through the

faithful. Proclamation of God's word, it's

God's word that pricks a heart. It's God, it's what God's uses

to transform a life. He uses his word and Paul

Faithfully pinned those words in Ephesians 2:8 and 9.

Ephesians 2:8

Which now now believed wholeheartedly by the grace of

God. It's the things that have been

preached for Millennia. It's What's led to Millions and

more. Conversions for Christ's

disciples for the Lord. It's been producing salvation

for Sinners and growth in God's people for ever.

God's word has. Paul says, this is the purpose

of my Ministries for the sake of the faith of God's elect.

He also says it's for the sake of their knowledge of the truth.

The truth and view here is all of God's word, but verse 3 makes

it crystal clear that the gospel is certainly in view.

When you read the words manifested in his word, through

preaching that preaching there, that's in view.

As the idea of heralding, something it's to take something

out in the public and to shout it to where everyone can then

here It. The stand in an assembly and

say, Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.

Jesus Christ is the only way to a reconciled relationship with a

holy God. Paul's Ministry was about

helping others gain knowledge about the Gospel of Jesus Christ

came through his preaching. This knowledge, most of us under

have a working definition at least of of knowledge but here

it means something. It means coming to understand

something clearly and distinctly or to understand something

that's true or valid. It's knowing something and

ongoing knowledge of something growing in your knowledge of

something. The word is often associated

with the personal exposure to truth, as it's used here, and

exposure to truth that necessitates a reaction.

Either, a positive reaction belief or negative reaction

unbelief. In other words, Paul Ministry,

consists of presenting the truths of the Gospel, that there

is a God God. We know his name, who created

the heavens and the Earth and he rules over all of his creation

that this God is Holy and just and perfect.

And man rebelled against him and fell into sin in Genesis chapter

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

3, immediately after creation. As a result, man, is kicked out

of the garden. He separated from God, due to

sin. He now knows death, the world is

fractured, his relationship with God is broken.

Put God intervenes by Grace at first throughout Old Testament

history. But then finally he intervenes

once and for all by, sending his own son, Jesus Christ, born in

the image and likeness of man to dwell on Earth, but not just to

live here. Jesus Christ lived, a perfect

life, Jesus Christ died. On a cross as a sacrifice for

the sins of all who will believe in him.

Meaning that anyone who calls on the name of Jesus Christ, for

salvation will be saved. But message requires a response.

Doesn't it will you? Or will you not call on the

Lord, for your salvation from sin?

Will you? Or will you not align yourself

with God? Will you or will you not pledged

her allegiance to Jesus Christ? Will you, or will you not live

Faithfully for the Lord as people who say, you believe in

him? It requires a response you must

do something with it and whatever you do or whatever you

think about Jesus Christ. Will be the most important

decision or thought you have in life.

Determines your eternity and by your answer, you either become a

slave to God or you remain a slave to sin.

The knowledge of the truth isn't dead knowledge.

However it's not mental assent. I started Seminary this past

week and pray for me. Good Heavens.

Pray for me. It's going to be great and I'm

so grateful for the men that I'm getting to study under and

round, because they're committed.

It seems at least on the front end, they're committed to

knowledge, that doesn't just pop up, right?

But knowledge that builds up in love.

They made a statement this week that gave me great

encouragement. That we will not evaluate this

Seminary and her success by how many people graduate with an

m.div will evaluate it by By the Ministries that the men who go

out of the Seminary has, what does it, what are their

Ministries look like, what kind of men are they?

I was the Lord using them and their churches.

I like that because I think that's, that's the kind of

knowledge that the Bible talks about.

That's the kind of wisdom that God has in view.

It's a wisdom that's beneficial to those around you.

It's a knowledge that's good for your life and good for the lives

of people around me, it's Godly. Knowledge.

And so Paul doesn't have in mind, here's some sort of other

knowledge, he has knowledge that Accords with godliness.

He says it's a knowledge of the truth which Accords with

godliness and to Godliness. Here is the idea of piety.

It's a devout practice for God or it's right beliefs about God.

It's understanding God in such a way that you now live in light

of him. But you want to honor him with

your life. Romans 12 1 through 2.

Talks about the knowledge of the truth that transforms the life

of a believer about how you goes from being uninterested, in the

things of God, to fully committed, to God's truth and

God's ways that he is transformed by this truth.

Paul writes in Romans 12, he says, I appeal to you, therefore

Brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a

Living Sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your

spiritual worship, what is your spiritual worship its to give

all of your life? To God.

What is your spiritual worship? It's to become a slave to God.

To make him your master. And in verse 2, he says do not

be conformed. It's a command with authority,

do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the

renewal of your mind that by testing.

You may discern. What is the will of God, what is

good and acceptable and perfect. First, you present your life to

God as a Living Sacrifice. I'm not having to kill myself

because Christ died for me when I go under that water in baptism

and I come back out. I'm signifying myself with the

death and the resurrection of Christ.

I went in one way and I came out a new man.

When I take, hold of the cup and the bread that will as will do

in a little bit. What I'm saying is that I

believe that Christ died for my sins, what I'm saying is I

believe that Christ was raised again.

The his body was broken so that mine doesn't have to be so that

I can receive a New Covenant of Grace, a covenant which God

initiates with me and now I'm surrendering my life to him.

Paul says there do this. Do this until the Lord comes

again. What are we doing?

We're reminding ourselves that our Allegiance is to Jesus

Christ above all, that we are slaves to God.

There's no such thing as a Christian who doesn't seek God's

truth and strive to obey God's word, the Bible knows of No Such

Christians except that they are false Christians.

When you see Christians in the Bible, who claimed to know

truth, but do not practice the godliness that goes with, they

are immediately called false. They're not real. now, that's an

alarming statement because there are many people Our ourselves

included. Let us not look outside of

ourselves when we read a statement like that, let us not

immediately think of all those people over there.

That guy a few rows in front of me.

Let's not go there and our mind let us first go Lord.

May this verse not apply to my heart. 1st John 3:9, no one.

John 3:9

How many no one? Born of God makes a practice of

sinning for God's seed, abides in him and he cannot keep on

sinning because he has been born of God.

Romans 8, 8 4 9, those who are in the flesh, cannot please God

you however, writing to Christians, you are not in the

flesh. But in the spirit if in fact the

spirit of God dwells in you, anyone who does not have the

spirit of God. He one who does not have the

spirit of God. Does not belong to God.

So you cannot say with your mouth on Sunday morning that you

love the Lord and then say by your actions and your life.

Monday through Saturday whatever you want.

If you're a slave to God, he rules every area of your life,

not just Sunday morning. That's will see, throughout

Titus godliness is evidence of saving belief in the gospel.

It cannot be separated. It's, it's what gives the

believer salt. As Jesus says, that you are the

salt of the earth. You are the light of the world

godliness is what gives you salt godliness is, what gives you

lights and a spiritually tasteless, and dark world must

Adorn. The gospel with godliness.

Why what's what's the purpose of living?

Such a life? Paul says, in verse 2 and hope

of eternal life which God, who never lies promised before the

ages began, and at the proper time, he manifested in his words

with the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the

command of God, our savior. So sometimes we equate falsely

biblical. Hope with a fantasy like wishing

like. I hope I get a better job.

I hope my parents get me this toy for Christmas.

I hope I marry a Godly person. I hope I can pay off this debt.

That's more wishing than biblical.

Hope biblical hope is someone or something on which expectations

are centered. It's a foundation.

For life. Hope is really all that you

have. In Christ, we sang Two wonderful

songs this morning, that remind us of the hope that we have in

Christ. Paul's Ministry for the sake of

the faith of the elect and their knowledge of the truth, which

Accords with godliness was founded on hope he says, in Hope

of eternal life, for the sake of the faith of the elect.

For the sake of the truth. Their knowledge of the truth in

Hope of eternal life. So, How do we know that we have

hope? How do we know that we have an

expectant belief of eternal life?

But like, how can we know that we can even have such a hope is

what I'm asking. well, the answers us he says because God

promised But because God promised it.

God, who never lies promise to give eternal life to those.

Who believe in his son, John 3:16 for God.

John 3:16

So loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever leaked

whoever believes in him, should not perish but have eternal

life. So he promised this and it says

that he promised it before the world began.

The phrase is the same word for Eternal in the Greek.

The word Eternal there in eternal life and the phrase for

Um, before the world began is the same word and it means

eternity or Eternal. So the statement is literally

more like this in Hope of eternal life in the future which

God who never lies promise from eternity in the past.

But that from eternity past, we turn Atif future God is in

control of your salvation. From eternity past, we turn it

in future. Your hope of Salvation is sure

because God is the only place person who exists in eternity,

God determines. It, God has established it from

eternity past so that you might enjoy it.

And Eternity future. Amen?

When Satan attempts to afflict you then remember that God

promised it that, and that, because God promised it, it's my

greatest hope. It's my ex Tation.

I base my life on this. Hope I become slave of a slave

to God, because he will, I would dwell eternity with him in

heaven. And so, when Satan afflicts you,

when Satan comes to you to make, you doubt, the goodness of God,

when Satan comes to you with anxiety or fear or tempt you to

sin, remind him that he is the father of nothing but lies.

And that your father. Resides in heaven.

That your father is eternal that your father has given you, real

hope has made real life available for you.

That your father is unable to lie.

That your father has made a promise and all who believe in

it have hope all who believe in that house.

Hope that is sure, Paul says elsewhere that this hope is sure

that it's undefiled that it's kept in heaven, for you.

It's secure brothers and sisters.

You have no reason to be buffeted in this life because

you have hope in Christ, you have no reason to.

To fall on your face in Failure because you have hope in Christ.

This doesn't mean that we don't have despair.

This doesn't mean that we don't have depressive thoughts.

That doesn't mean that we're not Afflicted at times.

It's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that in your

Affliction, you go to Christ. And your Affliction, you don't

believe the lies of Satan but you proclaim the truths of God.

There's Hope in eternity past. It was manifested in eternity

past, it's kept in eternity future for you.

God has promised it and so he trust him.

And says that he then at the proper time knowing this, he, he

began it from eternity past but at the proper time, that means

in his own most advantageous time, he manifested, it means he

clearly reveals it. How does he reveal it says in

his word? God's word is the communication

by God, but, typically, even so the gospel is in view here and

that he says, it's manifested by his word through the preaching,

which is the problem Proclamation by Harold.

As I mentioned earlier, it's especially a message of God,

concerning salvation. Romans 10:13 through 15 reminds

Romans 10:13–15

us of. This says, for everyone who

calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Amen, that's hope that's, that's hope.

That's gospel. Hope that everyone who calls on

the name of the Lord will be saved.

How then will they call on him? Paul says, in verse 14 and whom

they have not believed and how are they to believe in him of

whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without

someone preaching? Someone Holding and how are they

to preach? Unless they are sent as it is

written? How beautiful are the feet of

those? Who preach?

The good news all says. This is what Paul was called to

by God. So this is the ministry given to

me for the sake, of the faith of God's elect for their knowledge

of the truth, which Accords with godliness in Hope of eternal

life. That's the proclamation of the

good news. He was to proclaim the good news

of Salvation in Christ Jesus so that all who call on the name of

Jesus, May obtain the hope of eternal life.

He says I've been entrusted that word entrusted That's the phrase

of a slave. That's the phrase of a deputy.

All right, I've got, I've got a message from the King.

I've got a message from my master.

I've got a message from the sheriff.

Good news. Paul says, I've been entrusted

with it. I'm a slave to God here.

I stand. I can do no other as Luther said

in the Reformation. The gospel received by Faith and

Hope of eternal life forms godliness in your life.

Remember there's no such thing as a Christian who claims to

believe God but will not follow him.

Martin Luther said this, he says it is just as impossible to

separate faith and works as it is to separate light and heat

from fire. You see, we mustn't try to live

a life in faith separate from godliness that's foolishness.

We are deceiving ourselves. We'll be like the people we read

about in Titus in the coming weeks at the appearance of

godliness. But denying its power Belief in

the gospel, is a belief that requires death.

Jesus says, if any of you wants to follow me, he must deny

yourself. Take up your cross and follow

me. He says, if you'll try to save

your own life, you'll lose it, but anyone who loses his life,

for my sake will find life. It's God's economy is different

than our economy. Selfishness is promoted in our

economy. But selflessness is where

godliness? Rest in the economy of God, it's

where you find life. Christ says Belief in the

gospel. Is a belief that requires death

because belief in the gospel requires belief, in the death of

Christ and the resurrection of Christ.

Somebody already died on your behalf.

The belief in the gospel then is a call to come and die.

It's a call to receive new life in Christ.

The Gospel is a guarantee of eternal life.

It's the hope of our Salvation, it's where our faith rest is In

Christ Alone. The brothers and sisters, boys,

and girls. I urge you, then believe in

Jesus. Believe in God, the Father.

Believe in God, the Holy Spirit find life through Christ Jesus.

Today. Believe in such a way that your

affections are transformed believe in such a way that your

desires are made new. Believe in such a way that your

sinful desires die. And your desires for Holiness.

Rise. Turn to God in your sin.

None of this means, none of this talk about a holy God means that

you were to turn away from God in your sin.

It means that you have already turned away from God and your

sin and that the only way to find life now is to turn to God

in your sin to repent of those sins to own those sins, to

confess our sins, to repent of them.

And to believe in Jesus Christ, that is where you will find

Salvation. Go to him, do not hide from him,

run to him. I think it was the the Puritan

Thomas Watson who said be is quick to repent as you would be

to receive Grace from God. He's quick to repent, as you

would have God, be quick to show you Grace and don't hide from

him. The gospel is a guarantee of

eternal life. He's the only one who can make

you whole. He's the only one who can grant

you true life, urge, you today to live your Christian Life as a

slave to God. Live your Christian Life as one

who has received a new life by grace through faith in Jesus,

live your Christian Life as one who is growing in God's truth,

your understanding of it, your knowledge of it, you're you're

working of at your ability to speak it.

Live your life as a Christian as one who has the hope of eternal

life because you've settled yourself on the promise of God

and the gospel received by Faith and Hope of eternal life forms

godliness in your life. Then would you pray with me now?

Heavenly Father. We love you.

We thank you for your word. Thank you, Lord.

That you've been with us now and pray.

Lord, that you would transform our hearts.

Help us now to believe your words to follow your commands.

Help us to be quick to repent. Swear we have not followed your

commands when we have gone our own way, we become our own.

God deciding what's right? Or what's wrong for us?

Help us Lord to live in light of your truth.

Help us Lord to have lives built on faith in Christ lives.

That have hope of eternal life. As our foundation, helped us

have lives which were growing and Truth, which Accords with

godliness. Supposed to be Godly men and

women, Godly boys and girls were growing in our understanding of

Jesus growing in our faith in him.

Who are growing in our godliness, ability, desire, or

drive to live, as God has commanded us to live.

Lord, we love you, praise you for your word today, Christ's

name. I pray.

Amen. Lord, we love you, praise you

for your word today, Christ's name.

I pray. Amen.