Doing What Is Good in the Eyes of God
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© July 16, 2017
What if the Apostle Paul were with us in the service this morning? If we were to ask him how Christians should live pleasing to God today, what do you think he would tell us?
The letter Paul wrote to Titus, near the end of his life, gives us an answer…
Titus 3:1–7
1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
3 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. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 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 Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:1-7
Remind those (who say they are Christians) to be:
· Gracious and Respectful to leadership: “subject to rulers and authorities,”
o Honoring Positions and Laws: “to be obedient,”
Exodus 20:12 (5th of 10 Commandments)
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
o Ready to help: “to be ready to do whatever is good,”
· Keep our words from that which tears down: 2 “to slander no one,”
· Seeking Peace: “to be peaceable and”
· “Considerate, and”
· Humble spirit: “to show true humility toward all men.”
3 At one time we too were…
· “Foolish,”
· “Disobedient,”
· “Deceived and”
· “Enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.”
We lived in
· “Malice” (“The intention or desire to do evil… synonyms: spite, malevolence, ill will, vindictiveness, vengefulness, revenge, malignity, evil intentions, animus, enmity, rancor, bitchiness, cattiness, maleficence”)
· “Envy,”
· “Being hated and”
· “Hating one another”
How are those Born Again into God’s Family Cleansed from sin, Redeemed and Saved?
· Are God’s Children “Redeemed” because of the good things they have done?
· Or, because of God’s Mercy?
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.
How Did God Save Us?
· Through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit
· God poured out the Holy Spirit on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior
Titus 3:5 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 Savior,
How are we as sinners Justified in the Presence of a Holy God?
· Justified by His Grace
· To become Heirs of the Hope of Eternal Life
Titus 3:7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
[Background (Go back to Titus 2:11)]
When did the Revelation of God’s Grace appear?
· When Christ The Messiah Came
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
· What does “God’s Grace” Teach us? (Titus 2:12-14)
Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
· God’s Grace Teaches us to say “No” to the World, the Flesh and the Devil
Titus 2:12a It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions…
· God’s Grace Teaches us to Live as those pleasing to God
Titus 2:12b to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…
· God’s Grace Teaches us to Live Godly and Look Forward with Anticipation while we wait, for Christ’s Glorious Appearing
Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…
What Empowers us to be Redeemed from sin, become God’s Children, and do good and positive things in this world?
· Christ’s Sacrifice Redeemed us from Wickedness
Titus 2:14a Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness…
· Christ’s Victory over sin and death gives us the power to be transformed, by the Holy Spirit, to be God’s Children (His very own)
Titus 2:14b to purify for Himself a people that are his very own…
· Christ’s Empowerment allows us to accomplish Good and Positive Things in this world.
Titus 2:14c and, eager to do what is good.
Will God give eternal rewards for good works and acts of faith on the earth… that are pleasing to Him?
2 John 8
8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
Matthew 10:42
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
Mark 10:28–30
28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
1 Corinthians 3:6–8
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
Hebrews 10:35–36
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Hebrews 11:24–26
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
Review of Titus 3:1-3
What We Were
3 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
What God’s Children Lives should look like Now, while we live in the World
Remind the people (who say they are Christians) to be…
· Gracious and Respectful: subject to rulers and authorities,
o Honoring laws: to be obedient,
o Ready to help: to be ready to do whatever is good,
· Without slanderous words: 2 to slander no one,
· Seeking Peace: to be peaceable and
· Considerate, and
· Humble spirit: to show true humility toward all men.
Final Questions:
Does God want us to do Good and Positive Things while we are alive in this world?
How Do those good things count in before God?
Do they count toward getting us to heaven?
Do they count toward spiritual and eternal rewards?
Does God empower His Children to do Good and Positive things on earth – for His Glory?
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.