March 1st 2020
Trying To Give Up Sinning During The Lenten Season Would Seem Like A Good Idea.
Titus 3:1-2 (NIV)
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 towards all men.
We could use a Titus to remind us how to behave and to be good examples for other people to see and then they may praise us for doing good deeds. Some people have told me they believe that non-Christians watch Christians to see how they react to difficult situations! Could anyone ever catch you doing a good deed? There is a tough question that some people ask, “If you were taken to court charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence found to convict you?” Well, how do you plead? Marriages fail at about the same percentage, whether the couples are Christian or non-Christian. I do not know any percentage numbers, but I do know there are professing Christians who request abortion on demand, as do many non-Christians! Professing Christians have been tried and found guilty of murder, robbery, and infidelity to their spouse! Many priests have been found guilty of having sex with people of the same sex, and even of the opposite sex! Both of which are considered as sinful by God’s Word! At least that is how I read and interpret it!
Titus’ words in the selected verses are meant to point out how mankind should conduct themselves, once they have accepted salvation through grace supplied through Jesus death and resurrection! Next Titus wrote about how we were before we were born again through the blood shed by Jesus on that cross. 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. (Titus 3:3). We are told by Scripture that we are changed, when we accept salvation, and we are no longer as sinful as we were before finding and believing what Jesus taught as about how we should live and treat other members of mankind! Titus is using the past tense to describe how we were before we became saved. He writes, “We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” Notice he is using the past tense to describe how we were, which means, we should no longer be like that! We look around our world today, and we seem to see an increase in violence, everywhere! This violence seems to be increasing even within our churches, and sinful actions are now expected to be tolerated, and those sinning take pride in their actions.
Every major city has areas where killing some other human being is very commonplace and happens almost every day. The people who live in some of these areas refuse to divulge who the murderers are, because they do not believe that in “ratting out” someone, and they will instead choose to protect the killers. They cry that their supposed innocent loved one(s) were killed, but they refuse to tell on the murderer! Some of the gang members hold these murderers in high esteem, as they are good at evading the police! Of course, some of these people are afraid to tell on the perpetrators as it may put their life in imminent danger, so they keep quiet! Many of the people involved in such situations identify themselves as Christians.
Next Titus wrote about how Jesus overlooked the fact that mankind did not or could not change until they were willing to become followers of Jesus. Once they were willing to be humble enough to recognize that they needed Jesus to come into their lives to save them from their sinful nature, then Jesus would give them salvation to release their immortal soul to let Him come in and indwell them. They did not have to get better first; in fact, they could not really become righteous until Jesus first set them free from the clutches of Satan. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior 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, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7).
As you can see from the comments of Titus, our salvation is not earned by our own good actions, as Titus states that when, “our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Our salvation can only be obtained by accepting the gift of salvation through grace! As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, and us. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Christ died for all who would accept His gift of grace for salvation, and He died to gain it, while all of mankind were still sinner! Paul wrote about Jesus coming into this cursed and sinful world to offer salvation only through grace as a gift that defies description. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15). God gave His Son so that sinful mankind can be saved, and live with God for all eternity. There is only one catch, you must be humble enough to accept this gift of grace! Yes, I know I’m repeating myself, but how can you not repeat it and rejoice!
Joshua once told the chosen people what they must do while living on this earth to gain God’s attention. You must place yourself far below God, and hold Him in awe, or as Joshua puts it, in fear of the LORD. Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:14-15, AV). Joshua here is including all those who live in his house as following his lead in worship. In the then male dominated society, the head of the household dictated which God they would serve. Before Jesus came into this world mankind did not usually consider communication with God as a personal choice. Of course, God did speak to the prophets on a personal basis. Jesus now offers personal salvation, as salvation changes each person’s soul by replacing the sinful nature, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Have you decided which God or god you will serve? Have you accepted the greatest gift of all? Fat Tuesday offers each year a worldly and gluttonous option to start Lent by eating a lot, so you can give up something you like to eat during Lent. Ash Wednesday kicks off the Lenten Season! Have you decided to give up something during the Lenten Season? Trying to give up sinning would seem like a good idea.
Remember, Jesus gave up everything on this earth for you (us) on a Friday!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Titus 3:1-2 (NIV)
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 towards all men.
We could use a Titus to remind us how to behave and to be good examples for other people to see and then they may praise us for doing good deeds. Some people have told me they believe that non-Christians watch Christians to see how they react to difficult situations! Could anyone ever catch you doing a good deed? There is a tough question that some people ask, “If you were taken to court charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence found to convict you?” Well, how do you plead? Marriages fail at about the same percentage, whether the couples are Christian or non-Christian. I do not know any percentage numbers, but I do know there are professing Christians who request abortion on demand, as do many non-Christians! Professing Christians have been tried and found guilty of murder, robbery, and infidelity to their spouse! Many priests have been found guilty of having sex with people of the same sex, and even of the opposite sex! Both of which are considered as sinful by God’s Word! At least that is how I read and interpret it!
Titus’ words in the selected verses are meant to point out how mankind should conduct themselves, once they have accepted salvation through grace supplied through Jesus death and resurrection! Next Titus wrote about how we were before we were born again through the blood shed by Jesus on that cross. 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. (Titus 3:3). We are told by Scripture that we are changed, when we accept salvation, and we are no longer as sinful as we were before finding and believing what Jesus taught as about how we should live and treat other members of mankind! Titus is using the past tense to describe how we were before we became saved. He writes, “We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” Notice he is using the past tense to describe how we were, which means, we should no longer be like that! We look around our world today, and we seem to see an increase in violence, everywhere! This violence seems to be increasing even within our churches, and sinful actions are now expected to be tolerated, and those sinning take pride in their actions.
Every major city has areas where killing some other human being is very commonplace and happens almost every day. The people who live in some of these areas refuse to divulge who the murderers are, because they do not believe that in “ratting out” someone, and they will instead choose to protect the killers. They cry that their supposed innocent loved one(s) were killed, but they refuse to tell on the murderer! Some of the gang members hold these murderers in high esteem, as they are good at evading the police! Of course, some of these people are afraid to tell on the perpetrators as it may put their life in imminent danger, so they keep quiet! Many of the people involved in such situations identify themselves as Christians.
Next Titus wrote about how Jesus overlooked the fact that mankind did not or could not change until they were willing to become followers of Jesus. Once they were willing to be humble enough to recognize that they needed Jesus to come into their lives to save them from their sinful nature, then Jesus would give them salvation to release their immortal soul to let Him come in and indwell them. They did not have to get better first; in fact, they could not really become righteous until Jesus first set them free from the clutches of Satan. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior 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, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7).
As you can see from the comments of Titus, our salvation is not earned by our own good actions, as Titus states that when, “our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Our salvation can only be obtained by accepting the gift of salvation through grace! As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, and us. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Christ died for all who would accept His gift of grace for salvation, and He died to gain it, while all of mankind were still sinner! Paul wrote about Jesus coming into this cursed and sinful world to offer salvation only through grace as a gift that defies description. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15). God gave His Son so that sinful mankind can be saved, and live with God for all eternity. There is only one catch, you must be humble enough to accept this gift of grace! Yes, I know I’m repeating myself, but how can you not repeat it and rejoice!
Joshua once told the chosen people what they must do while living on this earth to gain God’s attention. You must place yourself far below God, and hold Him in awe, or as Joshua puts it, in fear of the LORD. Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:14-15, AV). Joshua here is including all those who live in his house as following his lead in worship. In the then male dominated society, the head of the household dictated which God they would serve. Before Jesus came into this world mankind did not usually consider communication with God as a personal choice. Of course, God did speak to the prophets on a personal basis. Jesus now offers personal salvation, as salvation changes each person’s soul by replacing the sinful nature, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Have you decided which God or god you will serve? Have you accepted the greatest gift of all? Fat Tuesday offers each year a worldly and gluttonous option to start Lent by eating a lot, so you can give up something you like to eat during Lent. Ash Wednesday kicks off the Lenten Season! Have you decided to give up something during the Lenten Season? Trying to give up sinning would seem like a good idea.
Remember, Jesus gave up everything on this earth for you (us) on a Friday!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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