September 20, 2023 INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIVING
Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-5 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purity for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”
“But 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,”
Thank God that he does not leave us on our own to figure out how to live life. In God’s word, we find instructions on how to live life in such a way that we and others are blessed and He is honored. God’s grace has appeared to all men; Titus 3:4 tells us that God loves mankind. The book of Titus is a book of instructions, and it is quite detail in scope. Paul reminds us that we are not saved by good deeds, but he also emphasizes that we are called to be about good deeds because we belong to Him. Following is just a partial list from Titus of some of the good deeds we are to be about and some instructions we are to carry out; do not gossip, encourage others, love your spouse and your children, be sensible, pure and kind, be an example of good deeds, have sound speech, be beyond reproach, be under authority, show good faith, deny ungodliness and worldly desires, live righteously and godly, look for the appearing of Christ, be ready for every good deed, shun foolish controversies and strife, reject a belligerent man, meet pressing needs, hold fast to the word of God-and many other instructions for life are found throughout the New Testament. The point is that God’s word is not just a good book to read, and it is not just a historical book; the word of God is given to us that we might discover life as God designed. His word is not a list of do’s and dont’s, and His word is not to condemn us but to guide us. Outside of God’s word, there is no other book that reveals who God is nor who we are in Him. Some believe that life is all about fulfilling personal desires; the problem with that is that it simply does not work; the sense of pleasure that comes when a selfish desire is met, it short lived. God’s word deals with our hearts; God works in such a way that life flows out of our new hearts; we no longer have to search for what satisfies. Even though we live on this earth for the time being, we have been made a part of the kingdom of God and now we have the opportunity to live according to the ways of His kingdom-even in a fallen world. Let us not live according to our own understanding, but live according to the ways of God.
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is the good and acceptable and perfect.”
Blessings, Buddy
Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-5 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purity for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”
“But 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,”
Thank God that he does not leave us on our own to figure out how to live life. In God’s word, we find instructions on how to live life in such a way that we and others are blessed and He is honored. God’s grace has appeared to all men; Titus 3:4 tells us that God loves mankind. The book of Titus is a book of instructions, and it is quite detail in scope. Paul reminds us that we are not saved by good deeds, but he also emphasizes that we are called to be about good deeds because we belong to Him. Following is just a partial list from Titus of some of the good deeds we are to be about and some instructions we are to carry out; do not gossip, encourage others, love your spouse and your children, be sensible, pure and kind, be an example of good deeds, have sound speech, be beyond reproach, be under authority, show good faith, deny ungodliness and worldly desires, live righteously and godly, look for the appearing of Christ, be ready for every good deed, shun foolish controversies and strife, reject a belligerent man, meet pressing needs, hold fast to the word of God-and many other instructions for life are found throughout the New Testament. The point is that God’s word is not just a good book to read, and it is not just a historical book; the word of God is given to us that we might discover life as God designed. His word is not a list of do’s and dont’s, and His word is not to condemn us but to guide us. Outside of God’s word, there is no other book that reveals who God is nor who we are in Him. Some believe that life is all about fulfilling personal desires; the problem with that is that it simply does not work; the sense of pleasure that comes when a selfish desire is met, it short lived. God’s word deals with our hearts; God works in such a way that life flows out of our new hearts; we no longer have to search for what satisfies. Even though we live on this earth for the time being, we have been made a part of the kingdom of God and now we have the opportunity to live according to the ways of His kingdom-even in a fallen world. Let us not live according to our own understanding, but live according to the ways of God.
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is the good and acceptable and perfect.”
Blessings, Buddy
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