Instruction and exhortations

Text Titus 3:12-15 Time 24/11/10 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church

I want us to look this week at the closing words of Paul's little letter to Titus, as found in Chapter 3 verses 12-15. Paul really has three things to say at the end – there are some final instructions, some final exhortation and some final greetings. Let's look at these then and consider the subjects they bring before us.

1. Final instructions to note reminding us of how roles change and the importance of helping

1. Remember that our roles sometimes change
First in verse 12 Paul writes As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. Artemas may be short for Artemidorus. We do not know anything about this man at all.

Tychicus gets a few mentions in Scripture – first in Acts 20:4 where we are told that when Paul went into Macedonia He was accompanied by seven men Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy ... and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. Ephesians and Colossians were written by Paul at the same time and it would seem Tychicus was involved in delivering those letters. In Colossians 4:7 Paul tells them that Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. Paul says of him He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. In Ephesians 6:21 he calls him the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord. Again he will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. Here Paul is planning to send either this trusted brother or Artemas to Crete to carry on Titus's work. In 2 Timothy 4:12 Paul says that he had sent him to Ephesus where Timothy was and this probably points to a decision to send Artemas to Crete.

Paul wants Titus to join him in Nicopolis. There was a Nicopolis in Macedonia but this Nicopolis is probably the one on the west coast of what is today Greece and that was then in Epirus.

You have seen those films where there is a large table top map laid out in the middle of the room and people are using croupier sticks to push around symbols of armies from one place to another. It is something of a film cliché and only vaguely related to reality. It helps us to see Paul in our minds' eye, however. Winter is coming in the early sixties of the first century. Paul (we learn from 2 Timothy 4:20) has left Erastus to take care of things in Corinth and Trophimus in Miletus just south of Ephesus because he is sick. He has decided to winter in Nicopolis and he wants his right hand men with him and so he wants to pull Titus out of Crete and Timothy out of Ephesus, replacing them with Artemas and Tychicus. Of course, even as an apostle Paul could not command these men to do what he wished. In 1 Corinthians 16:12 he says of Apollos I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

Now the point to take on board here is probably that things change. At this point Titus is working in Crete. We do not know how long he had been working there. Next he was to be relieved by Artemas or Tychicus so that he could be with Paul in Nicopolis. Our roles sometimes change. I lived my first 18 years in Cwmbran and I was committed to that place. Then I was in Aberystwyth for 3 years before coming to London where I have been ever since – first at LTS, then here (for the last 27 years). At what point it will be time to leave here I don't know. My father-in-law has just celebrated 45 years as pastor of Alfred Place! The important thing is to be a faithful servant in the Lord and to go wherever the lord leads.

2. Remember to do everything you can to help fellow believers

In verse 13 Paul says Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. Apollos we know is the powerful preacher from Alexandria who at first only knew John's baptism but was helped to understand things more clearly by Paul's friends Priscilla and Aquila. Beginning at Ephesus he went on to Corinth where he was very popular. Zenas (perhaps Zenodorus) we again know nothing about, including what sort of law he was an expert in Jewish or Roman. Presumably it was these two who brought the letter to Titus. Paul has no specific plans for them after this duty but he urges Titus to do all he can to help them and to see that they have everything they need.

We get these sort of statements in many places and it is a reminder to us that we need to do all we can to help our fellow believers especially those who are ministers of the Word. We must do all we can. For different ones this will mean different things, of course, but we must all play our part.

2. Final exhortations to note reminding us of devotion to what's good and productive living

In verse 14 Paul comes back to what is the great concern of this final part of the letter. So we say

1. Always devote yourself to what is good

Paul says Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good. It is the reference to the need to help these Christians that brings him back to this. Some people want to take this reference in a very narrow way – as if he is just saying he wants the people to follow an honest trade. No doubt this is included but there is surely more too. As believers we must be very careful how we live. Paul had seen how in Thessalonica some had got into the habit of sponging off others as they waited for the Lord's return. Even today there are people who lead a rather strange existence where they do not really put in an honest day's work but are ministers or missionaries or whatever with no really clear role in life. That is not to say that there isn't a place for full time Christian workers of different sorts – but the norm is to be doing some regular job of work and using that money to support the work of Christ, while using our free time in various forms of Christian service. Good deeds are emphasised again and again in Scripture – things like teaching and bringing up children, showing hospitality, what Paul calls washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble (1 Timothy 5:10). Other examples would be generosity and willingness to share, helping the poor in various ways, paying your taxes and submitting to authority. James speaks of looking after orphans and widows in their distress and keeping oneself from being polluted by the world.

You should aim to let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Live such good lives among the pagans says Peter that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

2. Do not live an unproductive life

Paul adds in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. Our lives must count for something. We cannot simply drift through life without any real aim. Rather we must constantly be seeking to be useful. Sylvanus Phelps was a Baptist minister in America in the nineteenth century. In 1862 he published his hymn “Saviour Thy dying love”.

Saviour, Thy dying love Thou gavest me.

Nor should I aught withhold, dear Lord, from Thee.

In love my soul would bow, my heart fulfil its vow,

Some offering bring Thee now, something for Thee.

O’er the blest mercy seat, pleading for me,

My feeble faith looks up, Jesus, to Thee.

Help me the cross to bear, Thy wondrous love declare,

Some song to raise, or prayer, something for Thee.

Give me a faithful heart, likeness to Thee.

That each departing day henceforth may see

Some work of love begun, some deed of kindness done,

Some wanderer sought and won, something for Thee.

All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free,

In joy, in grief, through life, O Lord, for Thee!

And when Thy face I see, my ransomed soul shall be

Through all eternity, something for Thee.

When Phelps was 70 the man who write the tune Robert Lowry wrote to him “It is worth liv­ing 70 years even if no­thing comes of it but one such hymn as "Saviour! Thy dying love Thou gavest me; Nor should I aught withhold, Dear Lord, from Thee." Happy is the man who can produce one song which the world will keep on singing after the au­thor shall have passed away. May the tune­ful harp pre­serve its strings for ma­ny a long year yet, and the last note reach us on­ly when it is time for the sing­er to take his place in the hea­ven­ly choir.”

We are not hymn writers but if we can do just something for the Lord then we have done something worthwhile.

Speaking once to the pastors college Spurgeon said to them

"I have to say to you, go forward in actual work, for, after all, we shall be known by what we have done. Like the apostles, I hope our memorial will be our acts. There are good brethren in the world who are impractical. The grand doctrine of the second advent makes them stand with open mouths, peering into the skies, so that I am ready to say, “Ye men of Plymouth, why stand ye here gazing up into heaven?” The fact that Jesus Christ is to come is not a reason to stargazing, but for working in the power of the Holy Ghost. ... We must have done with day dreams, and get to work. I believe in eggs, but we must get chickens out of them. I do not mind how big your egg is; it may be an ostrich’s egg if you like, but if there is nothing in it, pray clear away the shells. ... We want facts — deeds done, souls saved. It is all very well to write essays, but what souls have you saved from going down to hell? ... To swing to and fro on a five-barred gate is not progress, yet some seem to think so. I see them in perpetual Elysium, humming over to themselves and their friends, “We are very comfortable.” God save us from living in comfort while sinners are sinking into hell. In travelling along the mountain roads in Switzerland you will continually see marks of the boring-rod; and in every minister’s life there should be traces of stern labour. Brethren, do something; do something; do something. While committees waste their time over resolutions, do something. While Societies and Unions are making constitutions, let us win souls. Too often we discuss, and discuss, and discuss, and Satan laughs in his sleeve. It is time we had done planning and sought something to plan. I pray you, be men of action all of you. Get to work and quit yourselves like men. Old Suwarrov’s idea of was is mine: Forward and strike! No theory! Attack! Form a column! Charge bayonets! Plunge into the centre of the enemy. Our one aim is to save sinners, and this we are not to talk about but to do in the power of God."

3. Final greetings to note reminding us of love in the faith and the grace of God

1. Never forget the love we share in the faith

Paul says Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. We get a clear impression in the New Testament of the great love they had for one another in Christ. It ought to continue today. Let's not forget how many loves us – some who we've never even met – because we have put our faith in Christ. We too ought to love every believer. I watched a video this week of a believer from North Korea now living in South Korea as she gave her testimony and pleaded for her native land. Inevitably my heart went out to her. That is how it should be.

2. Never forget the grace of God we all need

Grace be with you all. This is a typically Pauline ending. How we need God's grace every day. Remember those words

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!

Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander - Lord, I feel it! - prone to leave the God I love.

Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

Situations and people to avoid

Text Titus 3:9-11 Time 17/11/10 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church

We are in the final part of the Book of Titus and I want us to look this evening at 3:9-11. The opening verses of the chapter have been very positive. Paul is concerned that Titus should teach the people on Crete to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men as real Christians should. He wants those who have trusted in God to be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good as These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

All this implies a commitment to upholding the Law of God. The Law cannot save us but it is to be the Christian's rule of life once he has come to faith in Christ.

Now if anything is true of Paul it is that he is realistic and he realises that upholding the law is not always easy. Even among those committed to the idea there are problems and difficulties and so in these verses he goes on to warn against certain situations and certain people. That is what we want to consider tonight then

1. Situations to avoid – what not to do with regard to the law

1. Situations that Paul does not say we must avoid

Paul does not say, you notice, the Law doesn't matter so don't defend it or argue for it or promote it. Quite the opposite. Paul is very keen on obedience and doing good as we have seen. It can't save you but once you are saved then this is how to live. We must not press Paul's words then to say that there should never be a cross word about this, never a disagreement of any sort.

2. Situations that he does say we must avoid

His point is that we should avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law. Questions about the law are bound to arise, there will be disputes and controversies of one sort or another but avoid foolish controversies he says. Avoid arguments and quarrels – wrangling and strife, that sort of thing. The reference to genealogies is similar to what Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:4, 5 ... stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work - which is by faith. Many Jews had a great interest in genealogies because of the importance of Messiah. Once the Messiah has come that subject is not so important. False teachers also used to go on about these genealogies in unhelpful and distracting ways. I think Paul brings the subject in as an example of the convoluted wrangling one can sometimes face – like an endless genealogy, some go on at length explaining away the law or setting up rules of their own that they want to impose on others.

Let's uphold the Law, says Paul, but let's not get caught up in foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law – endless disputes that do no good.

3. Examples of the sort of things that would come under this ban today

Obviously in Paul's day there were particular things that excited the popular imagination and that led to the sort of foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law that he has in mind. What about day? What sort of situations does he want us to avoid?

A number of examples come to mind

1 Think of something like what you can and can't do on a Sunday. The Law makes clear that the Lord's Day is to be special, one day is to be different to the other six. The Bible never goes into specifics on this. So we will probably all ant to avoid doing main shop or the laundry on a Sunday and we will take care over travelling and things like watching TV, playing sport or similar activities. However, it is likely that we will come to different conclusions on certain things. These issues must be thought through with care but they must not become sources of foolish controversy, endless wrangling and quarrels.

2 Something similar could be said about what you wear on a Sunday. There are a number of issue here. What about the hats question for women? Shouldn't women be made to wear hats? Some few churches will actually give you one if you don't have one. What about the men? Should they be encouraged to wear ties and suits? What about shoes? Are trainers acceptable? I was reading about a nineteenth century Baptist minister recently who caused a stir in his first church because he did not wear a white tie as was expected. Things have moved on now and it is the question of whether the minister should wear a tie at all. I don't want to suggest that these matters are unimportant but what we must avoid is wrangling over them.

3 The fifth commandment decrees honour and obedience to parents and implies that the parents should be worthy of such honour and obedience. What the Bible never spells out is some of the specifics. I think it is quite clear that the Bible countenances and encourages physical punishment where necessary but it doesn't tell you what to use and to what age or that other punishments are not allowed. The home schooling movement is a strong one but again it is not entirely clear that this has to be the way to bring children up. Countless other issues in the same category and must not be a source of wrangling.

4 Another example might be keeping or not keeping Christmas and Easter. Different Christians will take different views on this matter. Such differences must not lead to unseemly arguments.

5 Other examples would be things like TV (to have or not to have), divorce (when is it permissible if ever?), contraception, worldliness, forms of evangelism and Bible versions – all issues that have even split churches on occasions. It is not that the Bible does not have things to say on these important subjects, rather that there are sincerely held differences over some of the issues involved and they can easily lead to pointless and destructive arguments.

4. Why such situations must be avoided.

The reason why Paul is so concerned about this is because these (foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law) are unprofitable and useless or worthless. In verse 8 he says that doing good is excellent and profitable for everyone but these foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law most unprofitable and worthless. They do no good. We must therefore avoid them. Otherwise we will find ourselves getting sidetracked and going backwards in the things of God rather than making progress.

I think it is a problem that we have largely avoided in this church but we can very easily slip into it. It only takes one or two determined individuals and there have been times when precious time has been taken up with foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law. That brings us to the next point

2. People to avoid – how to deal with divisive people

Some people seem to think that everything the Bible has to say about church discipline is all found in Matthew 18 – some even narrow down further to certain verses in that chapter. In fact there is more to be said and this is one place for example. Here it is how to deal with a divisive person. Such people do exist. It is important to see the other point of view but this can be taken to extremes. I remember someone telling me about a man in their church like this. He eventually left the church and for some reason his membership was not ended. At that time they were trying to work through a new constitution to improve things. Everything came together well with few big disagreements. On the night of the church meeting where it was all going to be finalised this particular individual turned up unannounced and was the only one to vote against the proposals. The man who told me this story also told me that this man was once on jury service. Now, of course, what goes on among jurors is secret but it was interesting that the jury, despite the Judge's direction, was only able to return a majority decision – 12 to 1! Some people are just divisive. It is as if they cannot help it. So what do you do about divisive people? The procedure is made very clear here.

1. First warn them

Warn a divisive person once. Such people have to be warned. They think they are full of zeal for the Lord, most often, but they need to be shown that they are in fact simply being divisive. They are harming the cause of the gospel and Christian unity. Their supposed stand for the truth is just a pain and unhelpful. If you can get a brother or sister to see this then they have been won and it is a reason to rejoice.

2. If necessary warn them again

And then warn him a second time. It may be that having come around they revert or that they cannot really be brought to see that they are the ones in the wrong and so they need to be warned again. It's a little bit like a referee giving a verbal warning the first time and then showing the yellow card. Although I don't think this should be done in too legal a spirit. This is a rough guide.

3. If necessary after more than one warning then avoid that person

After that, have nothing to do with him. There is no pronouncement on whether this person is a Christian as such. The point is that he is doing damage to the cause of Christ and needs to be got out of the way quickly. Sometimes such people will leave of their own accord but sometimes not and they will have to be formally disciplined and put out. It is the only way, painful as it is.

4. What is the problem with such people?

Paul adds in verse 11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Paul says that such a person is warped or twisted. There is something perverted about him. He is not thinking straight and no amount of argument will do any good until his thinking is straightened out. This is a rare state of affairs but it can be the case and we need to be firm in the face of it. Such an attitude is sinful – it misses the mark. When Paul says that such a person is self-condemned his argument is probably this – such a person is so sure that he is right and that everyone else is wrong that he ends up standing alone and separated from his brothers. That is in fact how it should be – not because he is right and everyone else is wrong as he may think but because he is wrong! His unwillingness to work with others is a testimony to his unworthiness of being counted among those others. What sobering thought. It stands as a warning to all of us not to fall into divisive and unhelpful ways of thinking.

Motivation to be good

Text Titus 3:4-8 Time 10/11/10 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
I was reading an article called Sales lessons from England's Dismal Failure at the World Cup. The writer's first point is that motivation is crucial. He says
"Of course you’ll already know that motivation is crucial to success, whether that’s in sport, in business and particularly in the sales arena. However it’s motivation on a consistent basis that’s vital to producing good results in sales over a period of time.
Consistent motivation is even more important when it comes to ‘new business’ activities. For example if you know you’ve got cold calling (or even follow up calls) to do, and you’re not feeling motivated, how likely is it you’ll do the calls you need? Not very likely!
Alternatively, you may do the ‘task’, but in reality you’re just ‘going through the motions’, and even through you’ve done your ‘activity’ it was never going to produce any kind of results for you.  Some people then even use that ‘result’ to justify saying ‘cold calling just doesn’t work for me’ or ‘I’m no good at that’ for example!
You saw the impact that lack of motivation had on the England team – make sure it’s not happening to you or your team right now!"

We began last week to look at Paul's argument for why the people in the churches in Crete ought to be good, what should motivate them. His chief argument is that these people have been changed – they are not what they were. We spent some time last week looking at verse 3 and considering how it used to be for the Christian.

We spoke of how At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. Having made that negative statement Paul goes on to speak of the great change that comes about in Christians in these terms. He speaks in verses 4-8 of how

when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Before he adds a little more he says that This is a trustworthy saying. This is one of the trustworthy sayings of the pastoral letters then (the two to Timothy and the one to Titus). There are five altogether – three in 1 Timothy, one in 2 Timothy and this one here in Titus. They were probably sayings that went round in the churches in those early days and that Paul takes up as appropriate to what he has to say at certain points.

He wants Titus to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. As he adds These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Perhaps the best way to get at what is in these verses is by asking a series of questions.

1. When did God save us?

Verse 4 begins But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us. Though by nature we are foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of desires and passions, malicious and envious and hateful - something has happened that has changed all that – as he puts it here, the kindness and love of God our Saviour has appeared. By God our Saviour here is meant particularly God the Father, although we most often use the term Saviour in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul talks of his kindness – the word only appears here in the New Testament and his love for man. These appeared, having been previously hidden, when we were converted. Of course, we can go back to foreknowledge and predestination and the incarnation, life death, burial, resurrection, ascension and session of Christ and the pouting out of the Spirit for all that lies behind that conversion through the work of the Spirit. They are all part of the appearing of the kindness and love of our Saviour God. In the old westerns there often used to be that moment when it looked as though it were up with the good people and then out of nowhere the cavalry would appear to save the day. It is something like that with the appearance of our Saviour. Or think of the sun rising to herald the dawn. Its appearance means the long night of suffering and misery is over and the day has arrived.

It is the undeserved kindness and love of god that has made the difference then. This is what has transformed the life of every believer. Here is reason for constant thanksgiving and a realisation that nothing can ever be the same again.

When did God save us? When his kindness and love appeared, even while we were lost in foolishness, disobedience, blindness, malice, envy and sin, and we were converted.

2. What caused God to save us?

Paul puts this negatively and positively.

1. Negatively. Not because of righteous things we had done. His burden here is that the people should do what is good. In that situation there is always the danger that we can give the impression that Christianity is all about pulling ourselves up by our own boot straps, that in some sense we save ourselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. No, it is not because of righteous things we do that God saves us. What good can we do anyway? By nature we are foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved, malicious, envy, hateful and hated. No, it is nothing in us that saves as the New Testament stresses time and time again.

2. Positively. Rather it is because of his mercy. He has mentioned God's kindness and love and now he refers to his mercy – his undeserved favour. Without God;s mercy what hope would there be for us? None at all. He has looked on us with pity and seen our misery and failure and he has been merciful in Jesus Christ. Again it is a reason for much thanksgiving and a reason for good deeds. Having known such mercy how grateful should we be. We can bets show that thankfulness by living for God's glory and doing his will, being wise in him and obedient, with our eyes opened through him and refusing to be ruled by our passions and desires.

Why caused God to save us? It was certainly not because of righteous things we had done but entirely because of his mercy.

3. How did God save us?

The NIV endeavours to help us with the next part by reminding us that Paul is talking about how He saved us. Well how did he save us? It was, says Paul through two things. He also mentions a third thing a little later. It was firstly

1. Through the washing of rebirth

This is quite a saying. Paul really combines two thoughts to come up with a new one. On the one hand there is the idea of regeneration – being born again. But there is also the idea of washing being cleansed. The idea of new birth is taken up more in the second phrase so let's stick with the idea of cleansing first. We can think of the way we were in terms of dirt clinging to us, of being unclean. That's how we were. We had no right to come to God because of the sins that so clung to us like filth and dirt. I was listening today to an interview with a very low caste Dalit woman, an untouchable, in India. Because of her caste the only work she can get is taking away the waste from people's toilets. Because of her work people are very wary of touching her or coming into contact with her. If she goes to the market she is not allowed to touch the produce. If she wants something she has to point to it and they put it on the ground so that she can pick it up. What a wicked system the Hindu caste system is. But that is how we once were – unclean, like untouchables, like lepers banished from society. But we have been born again through God's mercy and so all our sins have been washed away. What a glorious thing that is. How thankful we should be.

2. And renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour. With that washing there was renewal as implied in the reference to regeneration. If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone the new has come. We have not only been washed clean but we have been renewed too. It is not just that we were dressed in filthy clothes and we were soiled all over. We were clothed in rags and our whole being was worn out and decrepit. However, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on us so generously because of the victory Christ won on the cross then the Holy Spirit renewed us and made us into new persons. We were transformed by his activity within. We were born of water and of the Spirit. Our hearts were not only sprinkled clean but we were given new hearts too. We were set apart to God or sanctified and made new or regenerated.

You notice what a Trinitarian statement this is. He (the Father) poured out on us the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

3. It was also through having been justified by his grace.

Almost in passing Paul goes on to remind the believers that they were not only washed and renewed - sanctified and regenerated – but also justified. It wasn't only that God made a change within but also, and this is the thing that Paul more often emphasises, there was legal change. There was a change in our standing before God so that where as by nature we are condemned, we have now been justified or made right with God. And what was the root of this justification – it was the grace of God. So with kindness and love and mercy we now mention grace – God's undeserved love. Without that there would be no salvation – no justification, no regeneration, no sanctification.

God's justifying grace should move us to a life of good deeds in his service.

So, how did God save us? By having mercy on us and washing us clean when we were reborn and renewing us by pouring out the Spirit generously on us through Jesus Christ our Saviour and by declaring us righteous in his sight by his grace.

4. To what end did he save us?

It is so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. We've mentioned regeneration and justification and sanctification. We mustn't forget adoption either. By doing what he did, God made us heirs sons and heirs, those who have the right to inherit good things from God. In particular he mentions here our now having the hope of eternal life. ITV have recently been showing a costume drama that has proved very successful. It is called Downton Abbey. In the final episode of this first series the wife of Lord Grantham becomes pregnant quite late in life. They have three grown up daughters but if this next child proved to be a boy then he would become the heir rather than the present heir, a distant male cousin. Without giving things away if you have not seen it, the drama makes very clear what a difference being an heir can make. A lot hangs on it. Now if you are Christian tonight then you are a son of God and an heir and you have an inheritance that cannot be taken from you. In Peter's words, it cannot spoil or fade. Paul speaks of it here as the hope of eternal life. That is what we hope to inherit because of the great change that God had brought about in our lives. This hope ought to so affect us that we not only look forward to heaven but our behaviour here on earth is also changed so that we live for his glory.

This is indeed a trustworthy saying, and worth remembering - no wonder Paul wanted Titus to stress these things. All good preachers ought to stress them.

Never forget that although you were once foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another in a word lost or totally depraved - all that has now changed. You have known the washing of rebirth, renewal by the Holy Spirit and justification and adoption. Because of God's kindness, love, mercy and grace you now have the hope of heaven. Never forget it.

5. How should we then live?

So there is a mini theology of salvation – a soteriology, if you like. However, it is not here simply to inform our minds. Do not forget what Paul is driving at here. Verse 8 – it is all to the end that those who have trusted in God all these blessings come by faith may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. The very fact of what we were and have now become by the love and mercy and grace of God ought to stir us up to a careful devotion to doing what is good. All these facts should combine to stir us up to holy living – the love and grace of God, the generous way he has poured out his Spirit, the fact we never saved ourselves, regeneration, justification, the whole plan of salvation. May it do so.

You saw the impact that lack of motivation had on the England team – let's make sure it’s not happening to us right now by keeping these things in mind.

The way we were

Text Titus 3:3 Time 03/11/10 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church

We have begun to look at Titus 3 where Paul begins by reminding Titus to Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. On of his arguments for such action is that these people have been converted and so should be willing and able to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

That leads him to reflect firstly on what they all were at one time before they were converted. He uses some six adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe how it used to be and I thought it would be good if this evening we meditated on each one and meditated on how it is with those who are still unconverted and how it once was with us who have had the kindness and love of God our Saviour appear... so that we are saved - not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy having known the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit an having been justified by God's grace, so becoming heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Perhaps we can think of it chiefly as the way we were.

1. Once we were foolish as many still are

Paul begins At one time we too were foolish. The word means something like unintelligent, thoughtless, mindless, unthinking. Paul has already spoken (in 1:15) about how their minds and consciences are corrupted. To be an unbeliever is to be like a silly sheep. The word is similar to the one used in Luke 24:50 when Jesus says to the disciples How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

As you know, when the Bible talks about being foolish it has in mind not just stupidity but more moral corruption. It is one of the themes of the Book of Proverbs. In the first nine chapters we read appeals like these.

1:22 How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

8:5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

9:6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.

In the Proverbs proper we have a portrait of the fool in his many guises.

In Romans 1 Paul speaks of the foolish hearts if unbelievers being darkened and that is the sort of thing that is in mind here.

There is a famous debate between the late Greg Bahnsen and an atheist Dr Gordon Stein. Dr Bahnsen who was a philosopher as well as a theologian runs rings around Stein who was not really on his specialist subject. At one point they discuss logic and Stein accepts that there are laws of logic that are universal. He also accepts that they are immaterial. They then come to discuss God and Stein asks Bahnsen if he thinks God is immaterial, which he does, of course. He then asks if he has an example of anything else immaterial. Of course, Bahnsen mentions the laws of logic! The basic argument is that the atheist cannot really account for morality while he refuses to believe in God. Not all unbelievers would claim to be atheists but similar logical flaws can be found in their thinking and morality.

There is something unthinking and foolish about the unbeliever. It surfaces at many points. They know they will die but will not prepare for death. They know there is God but make no real effort to seek after him. They live for self and for their own pleasure. What foolishness there is everywhere. And that's how we were and how we still would be if it were not for his kindness in saving us.

2. Once we were disobedient as many still are

The word disobedient has already come up in 1:16 where Paul describes unbelievers as those who claim to know God, but by their actions ... deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. More literally the word is again negative and means that they are not persuadable, not biddable. To be an unbeliever is to be like a stubborn mule that won't do what its master says. It starts when we are young and we refuse to obey our parents, it often betrays itself in a contempt for other authorities and ultimately it is a refusal to obey God. The unbeliever will not do nor can he do what God wants him to do.

Isn't this what the whole debate on homosexuality is all about? God says, no you can't and men want to disobey God – sometimes simply to disobey – and those who don't want to disobey in this way want to disobey in others.

There is something unwilling and disobedient about the unbeliever. It surfaces at many points. They know in general what God wants from them but on some things they refuse to do as he commands. They often know that obedience to God – not murdering, not committing adultery, not lying - is the best way forward and yet they refuse to do it nevertheless. They live regardless of God and his will. What disobedience there is everywhere. And that's how we were and how we still would be if it were not for his kindness in saving us.

3. Once we were deceived as many still are

By nature we are also deceived. The word used here is not a negative one but is the same word from which we get our word “planet”. Planets were thought of in ancient times as wandering stars. So here Paul is saying that unbelievers are wanderers, those who have gone astray, who are out of the right way, in error. Part of being an unbeliever is to be in error about the truth. It is to be like a lost sheep that has gone astray from God.

I had a cup of coffee today and the person serving me was smiling. I've noticed before that she is always smiling. I said why are you always smiling, because you are a Christian? No, she's Hindu. Because she would cry otherwise? No. Very happy and yet not converted. It happens. It is a delusion.

The Devil deceives sinners and sin deceives them. They are deceived by the lies of men and in the end deceive themselves with their lies and errors.

There is something self-deceiving and wayward about the unbeliever. It surfaces at many points. They do not realise that they are in gross error. They wander through life, ambling along all the while, drifting further from the truth like a ship or a wave on the sea. They live a life of error. What error there is everywhere. And that's how we were and how we still would be if it were not for his kindness in saving us.

4. Once we were enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures

Paul goes on and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. To be an unbeliever is to be a slave. It is state of being trapped by all kinds of passions and pleasures or longings and desires. God has given us certain appetites – for food and drink and friendship and sex and excitement and other such things. These appetites were never mean to rule over us but that is what happens to the unbeliever. He lives for his pleasures. He is by nature a hedonist, one who lives for pleasure. Self -indulgence is a key idea with him. Sloths sleep as much as 23 hour sin 24. Unbelievers can be similarly indulgent.

People can be surprisingly open about this – that they live for pleasure. I met someone in the summer who was about to go to work in Ghana in some help project, She was quite clear, however, that although it would hopefully help the Ghanaians, it was chiefly about her. The advertisers have cottoned on and are always saying “Go on, indulge yourself” “Enjoy life's pleasures”, etc. The richest woman in France is Liliane Bettencourt. She is the major shareholder in L'Oréal, the world's biggest cosmetic manufacturer. Some years ago L'Oréal's slogan was "Because I'm worth it". They softened it to "Because you're worth it" after concerns in France that the original appeared too money-oriented. It typifies the general attitude of the believer.

There is something self-seeking and self-indulgent about the unbeliever. It surfaces at many points. They live for pleasure. They often think only of indulging this appetite or that. They live, as far as they can. a life of ease and of luxury. It comes out in different ways but what self-indulgence there is everywhere. And that's how we were and how we still would be if it were not for his kindness in saving us.

5. Once we lived in malice and envy, as many still do

Paul also says We lived in malice and envy. Again it doesn't always come out in the same way but there is an evil and an ill will that is characteristic of every one who is outside of Christ. There is a nastiness about the unbeliever that sometimes surprises us. Sometimes they can harbour evil schemes and strong envy for years and years. Like ferocious wild animals they can be quite unkind and malicious.

It starts off in childhood. Children can be very cruel to one another. In America they have found that suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4400 deaths per year. For every suicide among young people, there are at least 100 suicide attempts. Over 14% of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 % have attempted it. Victims of bullying between 2 and 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University. A study in Britain found that at least half of suicides among young people are related to bullying. Girls 10-14 are at highest risk, according to studies. As many as 30 % of American students are either bullies or victims and 160,000 kids stay home from school every day because of bullying.

There is something malicious and ill-willed about the unbeliever. It surfaces at many points. Wives kill husbands and husbands wives. Neighbours fight and refuse to speak. How nasty people can be. What unpleasantness there is everywhere. And that's how we were and how we still would be if it were not for his kindness in saving us.

6. Once we hated and were hated by others, as many still are

The final phrase being hated and hating one another gives perhaps the wrong impression in that two different words are used. However, the first word does mean being hateful and the second to hate. Again it is not difficult to think of examples of this.

They say elephants never forget but no animal would ever bear a grudge like a man.

This is from the Liverpool Echo

A NIGHTMARE neighbour who made life in a Liverpool tower block a misery was finally evicted.

Billy Niven, dubbed "Mr Nasty", is in prison for terrorising others living close to his Old Swan home and breaching an ASBO he was handed last year.

And today, at Liverpool County Court, he was told he will not be allowed to return home on his release in mid-November and is banned from even entering the block for a year.

In August Judge Graham Platts suspended an application for Liverpool Mutual Homes to take possession of the Baden House flat, in Baden Road, giving Niven one last chance after he promised to change his ways.

But the judge conceded his earlier optimism was "misplaced" after the court heard it took just two weeks for the 48-year-old to return to his old ways.

In just one day he abused a housing association employee, threatened fellow residents and intimidated workmen, telling them "I’m the boss of this site".

Niven was jailed for four months in September for two breaches of his ASBO. During that hearing the court heard he had subjected residents to five years of misery, arming himself with weapons, leaving dog dirt and threatening letters in the lifts and issuing violent threats.

Yesterday, his solicitor Michael Krebs told the court prison had had "a profound effect on him" and in a letter said he wanted to apologise, promising to change his ways.

But Judge Platts said: "I don’t think I have heard any genuine signs of apology or remorse from him and I suspect the letter is written in an attempt to retain his home rather than any genuine admission of remorse on his behalf."

LMH chief executive Steve Coffey said today : "We are delighted the court took these steps to evict and exclude him from the area because he has been ruining tenants’ lives for a long time with his anti social behaviour.

"The courage our tenants have shown in taking a stand against him is commendable and we hope others see this case and have the confidence to report anti-social behaviour to us so we can act."

There is something hateful and hating about the unbeliever. It surfaces at many points. They can be so nasty, so vindictive. It comes out in different ways but what hatred there is everywhere in the rat race. And that's how we were and how we still would be if it were not for his kindness in saving us.

Give thanks for deliverance and pray for others to be saved despite themselves.

Have the right attitude to those in authority and all

Text Titus 3:1, 2 Time 13/10/10 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church

At the beginning of Titus 3 Paul tells Titus that there are a number of things that he wants him to teach to everybody. We have had the specialised teaching for older men and young men, older women and younger. Now he is told what to teach more generally.

There are appear to be some six commandments altogether but they can be grouped into two main parts. First Paul is concerned about the attitude of the Christians in Crete towards those in authority and then, more generally, towards all sorts of people. So once again this is very practical. As Matthew Henry says “Forgetfulness of duty is a common frailty; there is need therefore of reminding and quickening them thereto”.
We live in very different times, of course, to the first century Christians on Crete who Paul has in mind here. They were under Roman rule, living when Nero was still in power in Rome. We live in twenty first century London in a democracy. They related to a fairly limited number of others, chiefly by means of face to face contacts and letters. We today have contact with a potentially much larger circle of people and communicate by means of telephones, emails and many other modern devices quite apart from what they knew in the first century. Nevertheless, the principles remain the same. What God wanted for them, he wants for us too and we do well to consider carefully what Paul has to say to Titus here and see how that should affect the way we live today.

1. Remember how to relate to rulers and authorities

Here Paul says one general thing and then two things that appear to grow out of that general statement.

1. In general Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities

Jesus had said Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. That teaching goes back to the Old Testament where the people are told, for example,

Deuteronomy 17:12 The man who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

Jeremiah 27:17 Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live.

Out of such teachings come Paul's teaching here and in Romans and elsewhere.

Romans 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.

1 Timothy 2:2 urges prayer for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Peter is similar (1 Peter 2:13-15)

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

An attitude of subjection should mark all our dealings with those in authority at what ever level – from the parking attendant in the street to the Queen herself and all stops between.

Apparently, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd is touring The Wall once again, 20 years on. One American writer (John Ore) writes


I first saw the theatrical release of The Wall in the common room of my freshman dorm, sometime in the fall of 1988. I was passably familiar with the work of Pink Floyd, mostly via the ubiquity of “Another Brick in the Wall, Part II” and its demand that teachers leave those kids alone. As a punk rock kid of the 1980s, I was intimately familiar with its theme of rebellion and anti-authority; as a freshman at Berkeley, I was also incredibly stoned when I saw it.


Obviously, time has moved on but there is still a general feeling that rock music and other art forms should be encouraging some sort of rebellion. Such an attitude is inimical to the Christian approach.

Here is a question regarding our attitude first then. Am I ready and willing to show suibmission to all sorts of authority?

2. Specifically to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good

1 to be obedient

More specifically Paul call for obedience to those in authority. There can be little doubt that Paul feared that with their new found freedom in Christ believers may be tempted to treat the authorities with contempt and fail to obey them. For many reasons that is the last thing that Paul wants. Rather obedience to those in authority is a thing to prize.

More practically then. Am I obedient to the powers that be?

2 to be ready to do whatever is good

Paul does not stop with obedience. Rather he says there should be a readiness to do whatever is good. This may relate directly to our attitude to those in authority or may be more general, probably the former without discounting the latter. It is a common theme with Paul

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Timothy 2:21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

2 Timothy 3:16, 17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Here we go a notch up again. Am I willing not only to obey but also to do whatever is good?

2. Understand how to relate to all sorts of people

With these instructions Paul adds three more that appear to relate more clearly to how we relate to all sorts of people, regardless of whether they are in authority over us or not.

As Christians we are

1. to slander no one

In many places in Scripture we are warned against slandering others. It is one of the sins of the tongue and one that we must take great care to avoid. It is so easy, especially when we are trying to talk up the gospel and cry down what is false to fall into. We must not. Speak only the truth and speak only what commends others.

2. to be peaceable and considerate

Again, you can see how Paul is very much aware of the danger that the newly converted and others may begin to go around causing trouble. How easy it is for young Christians to go around upsetting people and being discourteous towards them. I know that when I was first converted that was one of my dangers. Rather, as Paul puts it elsewhere, we should seek to be at peace with all men, as far as it lies in us. We must be considerate towards all who we meet. Think of them. Surely that is basic to Christianity if we properly understand it. Remember the golden rule – do to others as you would have them do to you.

3. and to show true humility toward all men

Here finally, is a call to meekness before all. Peter says the same thing in 1 Peter 3:15, 16

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Perhaps I can finish with these words about John Wilson a Sheffield businessman (in the Evangelical Magazine of 1849). The writer speaks of his unfeigned humility.

This in him was a beautiful grace; and as the apostle says, he was " clothed with humility." He wore it. It was his attraction. It made him lovely, and he was loved for it. It made him a lovely Christian, and thus he recommended Christianity. In a part of the funeral sermon, preached on occasion of his death in Queen-street Chapel, Sheffield, the following testimony was borne:

"I shall never," said the preacher, "forget my first interview with him, some years ago. Often and long I had heard heard him spoken of; but never till then had I seen, in a person of his station, so interesting a proof of the amiableness of religion. It won me more than ever to the love of the religion of Jesus. I saw its adaptation to the rich, equally with the poor. I saw, and I believed ; and as often as I remember the circumstance, I see and believe it over again."

The notion of his wealth and rank in society never created one vain feeling; while his piety, graced with genuine humility, was his higher and more lasting adornment. His humility was what, in its measure, prepared him for heaven, and what he took with him to heaven. It is what he wears there. No " spirit made perfect," we are ready to think, will ever wear it more thoroughly. The posture of the seraphim will be his. There is a blessedness attendant on such humility on earth, while it is "crowned with glory " in the paradise of God.

His affection towards others entered largely into the elements of his Christian character.

For this affection he was pre-eminent from the first of his Christian career. It was the habitual feeling of his heart. He could not have lived at variance with any one. His mind was formed for peace. Dissension would have troubled him more than most things. He must either have heaven upon earth by being " at peace with all men," or he must be taken to heaven away from earth.

Such was the temperature of his mind, the calmness in which he delighted to repose. Religion to him was everything. It was infinitely above " thousands of gold and silver;" while, next to its principles, he looked at its precepts, which he studied to embody in a life of unvarying peacefulness and Christian love. From his hope in Christ as a Saviour sprung his affection for Christ, and for the poorest member of the church; until every one saw that his religion was a religion of love,—of love to God and to men,—a religion that directed his earlier steps, that soothed him in the decline of life, and yielded him joy when his " heart and his flesh " began to " fail." ....