Titus – Part VIII

Remember Some Things

(1) REMEMBER TO SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY – v1

-the people of Crete were quarrelsome and difficult when it came to spiritual authority

-remind them – do not force them to do it, but ask them to do it willingly

-receive from the Lord the blessings of submitting to authorities

(2) SPEAK EVIL OF NO ONE – v2

evil – nothing negative in our speech…do no put down, tear apart, injure, damage or accuse

     a. we speak evil of someone when we gossip, tear down or try to damage them

     b. we speak evil of someone when we agree with someone who is speaking evil

-people will mix truth with their gossip to try to reel you into their evil ways

-Ex: Korah

     c. we speak evil when we are silent when someone is speaking evil

-be a voice

-Remember 2 things:

                        1. stop people from saying anything negative

                        2. stand against any evil speech – Eph 4:2 – have a forbearing spirit

(3) REMEMBER WHAT YOU WERE LIKE AND WHAT YOU ARE LIKE NOW – vs3-7

v3 – we ourselves were – this is what we were like before we were saved

foolish – unwise and ignorant of spiritual principles

disobedient – stubborn and obstinate

deceived – wandering away and being off course from the truth

serving lusts and pleasures – enslaved by evil and sinful desires

malicious – wanting to hurt others and glad when something bad happens to others

envious – jealous of what people have or who they are

hateful – no love toward a person/detesting them

-we lived according to the flesh

v4 – But – something happened…The Lord intervened – through the incarnation

a. when Jesus appeared – Kindness appeared

kindness – means a warm feeling and a generous action at all times

b. when Jesus appeared, love appeared

-this is the unconditional love of Jesus Christ toward humanity

v5 – salvation does not occur through works, but by God looking at man’s miserable condition and showing them compassion – this is MERCY…

-the Greek says here that the Lord is dominated by MERCY………

-the Lord does not look down at man in their sinful condition.  He jumps into their mess…

Salvation from the Lord Occurs because of 2 things:

     1. the washing of regeneration – v5

regeneration  – means a recovery/a revival

                    -the entire phrase means to take a bath

                    -it also means to become

-when you take a bath and get saved, you become something…

                               a. v7 – you are justified – totally innocent and the Lord looks at you just as if you were never saved

                               b. v7 – you are an heir – you receive your inheritance fully in Christ

     2. the renewing of the Holy Spirit – v5

-this is the Holy Spirit making us more like the Lord day after day after day…  This process never ends until we get to heaven

-the Lord gives us these blessings abundantly

-poured out – speaks of a gusher

v8 – this is a faithful saying and one you can depend upon

(4) REMEMBER – HAVE NO PART IN DIVISION – vs9-11

-The Lord deals with division and people deal with division..

v9 – do not be involved in useless discussions and controversies

v10 – this is a person who draws people to themselves through false views and statements.  They go person to person to share things they should not share…

-warn them twice and then have them leave the assembly unless they repent.

v11 – warped – it is a picture of a building that is very damaged that it is almost impossible to be repaired

     -sinning – division is sinning and rebellion against God – this person is guilty and already self-condemned.  The Lord has made this clear…