What I Would Do Differently
Lesson 6: Titus 2:11-15 Jesus, Our Motivation 3.10.21
Lesson 6: Titus 2:11-15 Jesus, Our Motivation
This is why truth matters. Truth matters, knowing the Bible matters because sound doctrine, biblical truth impact the choices we make and how we live. “Proper behavior stems from proper theology.”21
Why does how we live matter? Because we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Let’s let the Bible interpret the Bible here.
Someone read 2 Corinthians 5:21. God takes our sins and forgives them by placing them on Jesus who pays the price we were cursed to pay. We should have died but instead we are given life and the righteousness of God. This same Jesus who died for us, makes us righteous, calls us to live as righteous, and promises to come back and end evil forever, that is what we are waiting for. Righteousness is referencing someone who is upright and moral, Jesus was perfectly moral and upright. So should we continue in our worldly, sinful ways or confess them as sin and ask God to help us put them to death? Someone read Romans 6:1-4. In our new lives, given to us when we come to Jesus and confess Him as savior and Lord, we are to live like Jesus lived.
We follow what the Bible teaches because it is the Word of God, it helps us know God, it helps us grow in love and obedience to Him, and it truly is what is best of us. The words of 11-14 are things that are true of all Christians. Verse 15 Paul turns his attention to Titus, the pastor of the church in Crete and says “declare these things; exhort [strongly point people to something] and rebuke [disproval of something] with all
authority. Let no one disregard you.”
Understanding these words requires us to know a bit of a deeper context about what was going on in Crete. We know many were being led astray by false teachers – which is why Paul’s wording is so strong, to encourage Titus to speak the truth. We also know, from Cretan culture there were issues with authority, especially authority that was calling for life change.22
Now, how do we take these instructions and apply them roughly 1,960 years later? We know what it says, we just talked about what it means, now let’s talk about how it impacts us. First, it gives us the why, or the motivation for why we should live for Jesus in ways that follow what the Bible teaches us. Second, it gives us a mirror in which to look and consider how our lives compare to what Paul is calling Christians to live like.
Just like being told to do something when there is seemingly no good reason to do it, if your only reason for doing the right thing is to stay out of trouble, you’ll
eventually not worry about doing the right thing. But when you understand the reason for something, even if you don’t love the thing, you’ll do it because you see the value of doing it. The Bible calls us to something so much greater and better than anything this world can offer us. It’s true of life now and in eternity. God’s way is better because God is better. God’s way not only brings Him glory, but is truly what is best for you.
Secondly, as you look at Titus 2, there are numerous characteristics or qualities that are pointed out as needing to be true of God’s people. This is not a list of “do this and you’ll get into heaven.” It is a list of characteristics that will become true of you as you seek after Jesus, who brings salvation for all people and whose Word trains us to
21 Mounce, Pastoral Epistles, 421.
reject the world and choose Him. When you see areas where you’re life doesn’t match, stop and pray and ask God to help you address these things and live more and more in line with what His Word teaches.
If you come to Jesus, if you confess Him as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit makes your heart new and begins to renew your mind. This means the Holy Spirit helps you believe and live it out. This renewing is an ongoing, life-long process. Your new life will desire God more than the world. You will experience conviction of sin and begin to understand that God’s way is actually, truly, not just churchy pastor answer, it truly is what is best for you now and for all of eternity. His way honor and glorifies Him and is for your good. The world’s way defiles all involved, is based on lies, and will ultimately end in misery. We’ll process this more in small groups.
Pray.
Lesson 7: Titus 3:1-11 Focused, Prepared, and Equipped