A reminder

Titus 3 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, ² to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. ³ For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ⁵ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. ⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰ Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, ¹¹ knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

¹² When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. ¹³ Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. ¹⁴ Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

¹⁵ All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Today’s text offers a great reminder to all of us who are believers. It says:  Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  Romans 12:18 says:  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.  There is a true saying, who said it first is unclear, but it should be the attitude of every believer regarding those who have not believed.  “There but for the grace of God, go I.”   In Matthew 7:1-2 Jesus says:  “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”   Hebrews 12:14 says:  Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

The text says: When the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.    Ephesians 2:8-10 says:   By grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.   It is not enough that we remember and acknowledge that it is only by God’s grace that we are saved and that we are no longer among the unredeemed. In response to God’s grace we need to walk in His grace. We need to walk in His grace, doing the good works He prepared beforehand. We need to show consideration for all men, recognizing that it is God’s desire that none would perish, that all would come to repentance. We are made heirs of the kingdom of heaven through Christ. As heirs of the kingdom, we are representatives of the kingdom, doing the will of the king.  The text continues:  But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. God does not condemn anyone, but those who reject and dispute with God, those who are divided against God are self-condemned. In John 3:16-21 Jesus says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.”  As believers we should not judge or condemn, but we should reject the darkness in men. We should practice the truth and not only come to the light, but also in Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says:  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  We should be the light and dispel the darkness.

The psalmist says:  Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.Serve the Lord with gladness;Come before Him with joyful singing.Know that the Lord Himself is God;It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.Enter His gates with thanksgivingAnd His courts with praise.Give thanks to Him, bless His name.For the Lord is good;His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations. Amen.  Grace be with you all.  Amen.