When we look at the grace between the old and new testament, we do see a difference in the relationship between God and his people. In the Old Testament, we see God giving grace to those who are his people. But in the New Testament, we see God bestow his grace to those who might never of had a relationship with him before. That broken people, terrible sinners, not deserving, are still being offered God’s grace. Today we are going to look at the part of grace that is instructing and teaching us. For when we sin, it is God’s grace that brings us back to God’s purposes, principles, and right standing.
As Paul writes his letters, he is writing mostly to young pastors. Titus was a pastor of a small church is modern Turkey. We can get the feeling that Titus might be under some pressure, either social or political, to moderate his teaching of Jesus. We can see Paul coming against this in .
Paul here is emphasizing that it is the grace of God, provided by Jesus, is salvation of all people. He isn’t here saying that everyone is saved automatically, but that the offer of salvation is available to everyone.
But this grace is teaching us to say “NO” to certain ideals and things of this world. While this is stated in the negative, it isn’t to be seen as a negative thing. Sometimes to move in the right direction we have to see where we have been in the past. And that means knowing where we have failed. Here the specific is ungodliness and worldly passions. Basically we have to say know to those things of fitting into this world. Peer pressure will tell us, “Everyone is doing it.” But it is God’s grace that will instruct us and strengthen us in those moments to move us to God’s will.
These are dynamic principles provided by Paul. He never gives a NO without giving a YES to something else. So when we say NO to ungodliness and worldly passions, we are to then say YES to self-control, upright, and being godly. Self-control being able to make the right decisions. Upright being able to stand in right actions. And being godly meaning to living in God’s will for your life.
Paul isn’t say to “seize the day” or some in the moment living. But we are to take the eternal hope given in Jesus and live that through the right-now moments of life. Because Jesus died to redeem us from the sinful natures we all have. Many times we don’t have a as hard of time on what to say NO to, but to know when to say NO.
We sometimes confuse temptation and sin. Temptation is not something that God does, but is something that is spawned from our own sin. Temptation is unique to each person (though we can see a larger theme of temptation in society.) Many times temptation is a perversion of something that God has made for good. But there is a moment when temptation can then changes into sin. It is something that happens in our mind. We make a decision to give into the temptation. Temptation moves into desire, then into sin, then into death. But it is God’s grace that fortifies and trains our soul to reject temptation in its tracks.
Just as Joshua said, “for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” It isn’t easy. The world will come at us hard. We are all are being trained by grace and God will be faithful in us as we hold faith in Him.
1:1 Paul, a servant of God and 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, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 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;
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. (ESV)
1:1 Paul, a servant of God and 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, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 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;
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. (ESV)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, (ESV)
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, (ESV)
13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV)
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (ESV)