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Titus 2:11-15 – God's grace teaches us that our no’s and yes’s matter

Summerstrand 08:00 – Christmas – December 25, 2018

Entry

Vonkk 68: 1-3 Honor to God, Bring Him Honor! – sit

Votum and Blessing

Praise

Song 365:1-3 Hear the glad tidings of the King's son – stand

Song 350:1-3 Standing in the city of King David, in the humble stable – stand

Children’s time

Lumo Project (http://www.freebibleimages.org/photos/shepherds-angels/) – Luke 2:8-20

In the fields around Bethlehem

there were shepherds keeping watch over their sheep.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.

They were terrified. ‘Do not be afraid,’ the angel reassured them. ‘I have good news that will bring great joy to everyone.

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Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.

You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of angels appeared praising God and saying. ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests.’

When the angels had gone, the shepherds said to each another, ‘Let’s go into Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.’

They headed for Bethlehem

and found the stable where Mary and Joseph were staying

and the newborn baby the angels had spoken about.

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They told Mary and Joseph what the angels had announced to them

and worshipped the Saviour, the Messiah God had sent to the world.

When the shepherds had seen baby Jesus they went around telling others what they had been told by the angels. Everyone who heard the news was amazed.

Mary treasured the things the shepherds told her and often thought about them.

Worship

Vonkk 283: 1-3 Come bow in the stable before the heavenly Child – sit

Prayer

Scripture reading and preaching

I read five verses from chapter 1 and one verse from chapter 2 as background for the text for today, Titus 2:11-15 (I use the New English Translation Bible – NET).

Paul began his letter in chapter 1:

1:1 From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.1:3 But now in his own time he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior. 1:4 To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior! 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

Paul elaborates on what kind of believers these elders should be, in their families, as well as in the community, especially able to defend the gospel in teaching and life.

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Then Paul continues in chapter 2:

2:1 But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching.

He elaborates on what it means for older people, and for younger ones, for men, and for women, also for slaves. Old men must be self-controlled, honourable, and prudent, with the right view of faith, and in love, and living perseverance. Old women must be dedicated, not evil-doers, not addicted to much wine, people who teach what is good. Young women must love their husbands and children wisely – something that the young men are also asked to do – pure, caring in their households, friendly, acknowledging the authority of their own husbands – something the slaves are also asked towards their owners.

And then our text verse, giving the reason for these commands:

2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.2:12 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 2:13 as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.2:14 He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.2:15 So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke that carries full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you.

The grace of God appeared

This letter from Paul to Titus has, over the centuries, become a popular choice in churches for Christmas. The letter does not contain any references to shepherds or wise men, a young woman and a baby in a crib. But especially two verses captivate believers' attention on Christmas Day

Paul says in chapter 2 verse 11:

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.”

This "appearance" refers not only to Jesus' birth, but to His first coming in its entirety, and the impact it makes in this world. Paul says it is the grace (charis) of God that has appeared and which brings salvation to all people.

Paul repeats the idea in chapter 3 and puts it like this in verse 4:

“Then the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared.”

This is what this appearance entails, the goodness (chrēstotēs) and the love of people (philanthrōpia) of God our Saviour. His kindness, his goodness, and his philanthropy, because that is what the Greek word used for his "love for the people" is.

This is what his birth in Bethlehem entailed. This is what the whole life and ministry of the Lord Jesus entailed. So that we could become aware, like of a bright light, that God is good, that He is gracious, that He is kind, that He is merciful, that He loves people, that He is the first philanthropist.

But what we easily miss, is that Paul speaks very specifically that this grace and love of God brings salvation, that God has become our Saviour in Jesus. The appearance of God's grace, the appearance of God's love, has to do with redemption, with salvation.

Grace trains us

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Therefore, in chapter 2 verse 11, Paul links the appearance of God's grace to verse 12 which shows what the grace in our life wants to accomplish. Paul says God's grace:

“trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”

Grace teaches us to say no

The first thing that grace teaches us is to say no. To say no to godless ways (asbestos) and worldly desires (kosmikas epithumias).

What is godless ways? It is to live in God's world as if He does not exist. It is to live in God's world according to your own rules.

This is what God wants to accomplish through His grace in our lives. That we become so aware of his grace, of his goodness, of his love, that we acknowledge Him as God, and accept His will for life, even though it is radically different from the rules of society.

What are worldly desires? These are desires according to society's standards in which God's standards are changed or rejected. These are desires against which the second table of the law warns us, things that challenge authority (5th commandment), things that threaten life (6th commandment), things that threaten marriage (7th commandment), things that endanger others' security (8th commandment), things that threaten others' reputation (9th commandment), and things that endanger others' good (10th commandment).

As Paul says in verse 14, it is lawlessness in which God's law is forsaken, and society's idea of what is good and right is taught in place of God's law as the standard for man.

God's grace teaches us to say no to worldly desires, to worldly standards, to godless ways, where God becomes the elephant in the room. Everyone is well aware of Him, but pretends He does not exist.

But, that's not all.

Grace trains us to say yes

The second thing that grace teaches us is to say yes. To say yes to a self-controlled life, to a upright life, to a godly life.

What is a self-controlled life? It is a life of restraint, as the Greek word (sōphronōs) is also translated in the rest of the chapter (verse 2). It is to deliberately say no to your own selfishness and to put others' interests first. Intentionally not seeking your own interest, but that of others. To do nothing that could endanger your own life or the lives of others.

What is a upright life? It is a life that always begins to ask what God wants. What is right for God (dikaiōs). What would meet his approval. Not what society approves of. What God approves of. And we have the privilege of having 66 books in the Bible that spell out to us what is acceptable to God, what He approves of, what is right for Him.

What is a godly life? The Greek word (eusebōs) can also be translated with pious or religious. It is to live in the present world in such a way that everybody can see that God's will prevails in your life. It's always to make sure it's clear in everything you do, that your loyalty to God is greater than your loyalty to community values.

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Why is this so important?

There are two reasons.

Jesus will appear again

The first reason is that we not only live from the joy of the first Christmas day. We also live from the joy that will come to us at the last Christmas day, the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To say no to the godless ways and worldly desires, and to say yes to a self-controlled, upright and godly life, is essential to receive the Lord Jesus with his second coming. Without sanctification no man will see God (Hebrews 12:14).

Paul says in verse 13, we say no, and we say yes:

“as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”

Notice how Paul speaks of the "happy hope" – the "blessed hope" – the appearance of the glory of Jesus Christ, our great God and our Saviour. As the believers in the OT looked out for the first appearance of the Messiah, we look forward to the second appearance of the Messiah, the day in which the whole world will see his glory, and in which everyone will have to acknowledge Him.

And it is because of this Jesus that we can do nothing but say no to the godless ways and worldly desires, for it was the purpose of his first coming.

Jesus gave Himself to cleanse us from lawlessness

So, secondly, we say no to the godless ways and worldly desires, and yes to a self-controlled, upright, and godly life, because Jesus gave Himself for it. As Paul says in verse 14:

“He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.”

Jesus' purpose with the salvation He brings us is to free us from lawlessness and to cleanse us as His people, people who are eager to do good.

Notice how this purpose coincides exactly with the things that God's grace trains us to do. To say no to godless ways and worldly desires, and to say yes to a self-controlled, upright and godly life.

Lawlessness (anomias) is the same as godless ways, to live in God's world as if He did not have the right to spell out how this life should work. Sin is to transgress God's law, so John says in one of his letters (1 John 3:4).

Purification (catharizō) is the process God uses to save us from worldly desires. Another word for this is sanctification, to kill the sin that is still in our bodies through the work of the Holy Spirit in us (Rom 8).

To be eager to do good can likewise be connected to a upright and self-controlled life, a life of dedication to God's will, as He speaks to us in His Word.

Proclaim these things

That is why Paul encourages Titus to preach these things. As he says in verse 15:

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“So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke that carries full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you.”

This is why Paul left Titus in Crete, so that he could serve the congregations in Crete and tackle the general lawlessness that still prevailed in the community and effected the church.

Titus had to appoint elders who were blameless, who honoured marriage, and led their families spiritually. He had to help them maintain a healthy faith and a healthy teaching, in order to ensure that the congregation grew in sanctification despite the community's impact on them. Because, there were many challenges, people who refuted these words. The elders therefore had to be able to not only personally hold onto the truth, but also to refute the opponents' arguments with healthy teaching.

Titus had to encourage the elders and the boys, the women and the men, including the slaves, to adapt their behaviour to the grace that the Lord showed them. To allow the grace to let them say no to the wrong godless things, and yes to the upright and good things. To be eager to do good.

We live between two appearances of Jesus

Why?

For, we live between the two appearances of the Lord Jesus. And our behaviour in this world matters. Our no’s and yes’s matter. In fact, our no’s and yes’s are exactly what our message in this world entails.

As the grace of God teaches us what to say no to, and what to say yes to, so does our behaviour become the voice of God in this world. Our lives are letters from Christ read by this world, as Paul says elsewhere (2 Cor. 3:3).

So, we do not have to make all kinds of adjustments to the message of Christ, so that it can be accepted by this world. In fact, we should not make any adjustments to it. Otherwise, we bring and live a false gospel, a gospel in which no one is redeemed from their godless ways and worldly desires.

All you have to do, is make sure that you allow the grace of God to teach you how to live, and to give yourself to do good. Then your life becomes transparent and the grace of God will also appear to all who come into contact with you.

It will have an effect on rulers and authorities, says Paul in chapter 3, especially where we are "ready for any good work" (Titus 3:1). Where we are friendly and hospitable.

He says at the end of the letter, chapter 3 verse 8:

“This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.”

And in verse 14:

“Here is another way that our people can learn to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.”

He closes with the theme of the letter, verse 15:

“Grace be with you all!”

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Merry Christmas to you.

PrayerThanksofferingAt the doors for our mercy ministriesFinal SongSong 358:1-3 Welcome, oh quiet night of peace, under the southern cross – standSong 348:1-3 Silent night, holy night – standBlessingResponseSong 348:2 (last 2 lines) Rejoice the Savior is there! Rejoice the Savior is there!

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