Turn with me to Titus chapter 3. Titus chapter 3. We are looking at verse 8 today. And verse eight says, this is a faithful saying, and these things I will, that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

We just had a Bible study that was titled, Maintain Good Works, Part One. And it very heavily set up what we're about to say now. The title of this message is, Maintain Good Works, Part Two. If you were not able to hear the Bible study, I would encourage you to listen to it. It's the foundation of what we're about to look at now.

But to just summarize it, it's this, there is none that doeth good, no, not one. There is none good but God.

Now, Paul told Titus, this is the declaration. This is what you are to constantly affirm to God's people. Verse eight, he said, this is a faithful saying, in these things I will that thou affirm constantly. I want you to affirm them constantly. That they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Now let me give you the key to the whole message right now. And then we'll spell everything out and prove it. Verse eight says, this is a faithful saying and these things, these multiple things, not just one thing, but multiple things. This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly comma. There's a comma after the word constantly and it's not, I guess maybe the alternative would be a colon. I don't know, but. What he's saying here, what this means is these things that Paul wants Titus to affirm constantly are not what he is about to say, but what he just got finished saying. And Paul wants Titus to affirm constantly the things that he just got finished saying.

Verse 8 goes on to say, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. And Paul wants Titus to constantly affirm what he just got finished saying in the verses before verse 8. Verse 8 goes on to say, these things. are good and profitable to men." These things that he just got finished declaring that he wants Titus to preach every time he stands in a pulpit. He said, these things are good and profitable unto men.

Now, what things is Paul talking about? Look at verse 3. Titus 3, verse 3. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers' lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, Not by good works that we did, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us. by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying. This right here is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly. You tell them who Christ is and what Christ did constantly. You tell them who man is constantly. Verse eight, this is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly. that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Verse nine says, but avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable in vain. He said, I'm not talking about the law. I'm talking about Christ. Y'all want to go home? I guess I could have just put that in the Bible study. I'm not talking about the law. I'm talking about Christ. You tell them about Christ. But he said, Titus, I want you to tell them about Christ so they will be careful to maintain good works.

What are still good works? He still mentions good works. We're looking at the subject of good works because he still mentioned good works. And based on our Bible study, this is why we looked at everything we did and we saw the same thing here and here and here. Because of that Bible study, I want to, I want us to see three truths from God. I want to declare three truths. from God concerning what Paul is calling good works. And by the end of this, I hope the Lord will give us a correct view of it.

All right, here's our first truth. I'm going right in. Here's the first truth. Number one, we are not saved by our good works. That's number one. Good works are not profitable to us in that way. It's not what we do to be saved. Look at verse five, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us. It's not what we do that saves us. We don't do good works to be saved.

Turn over just a few pages to second Timothy chapter one. 2nd Timothy 1 verse 8 says, Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. We are not saved by our works.

Turn over to Galatians chapter two. Verse 16 Galatians 2 verse 16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Verse 21 says, I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Not one work from man has ever saved anybody. Anybody.

Turn over to Romans 3. Verse 19, it says, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. For by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. That's Christ. Being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there's no difference. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption. That's a payment. the payment of the cross, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, a bloody victim, a covering, an atonement, through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness.

We're going to talk about good works. We're going to talk about his good works. His righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God to declare, I say at this time, his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of him, which believeth in Jesus. Where's boasting then it's excluded by what law of works? No, by the law of faith. Therefore watch verse 28. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith. without the deeds of the law.

God's people were justified by the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. God's people were saved in the will and purpose of God before the foundation of the world. God's people were saved by Christ living a perfect life for his people and giving that life of good works to his people and taking their life of evil works upon himself and dying in those evil works. That's how God's people were saved. That's how God's people were saved.

Our good works are not the cause of our salvation. which is wonderful news because based on our Bible study, we can't produce any. That's wonderful news because we can't produce any good works. All right, that's the first truth concerning good works.

Here's number two, second truth. Good works are not the evidence of our salvation. Good works in our flesh is not what proves that we're saved. Turn with me to Matthew 7. Matthew chapter 7. Verse 21, it says, not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father, which is in heaven. What did the father say to do? What did the father say to do? On the Mount of Transfiguration, he said, this is my beloved son, hear him. Why don't we build some altars, some altars of honor? Why don't we do this? Why don't we do that? And they hit the dust. And a voice came out and said, this is my beloved son. Hear him. Hear him. Philippians 2 says, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. That's what God the Father said to do. Bow, confess, hear. That's what the Father said to do.

Verse 21, not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, we have prophesied in thy name. That means preached in your name. Preaching in Christ's name would be what many would believe is a good work. Right? Well, he's a preacher. You know, he just, he preaches Jesus and many would see that to be a good work. Verse 22, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? Casting out devils in the name of Jesus Christ would be what many would see as being a good work. Have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works, many good works. We've done many good works. Verse 23, and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity, sin. Us doing what many would see as being good works is not the evidence of salvation. It's not the evidence of being saved. They did what men naturally believe are good works and they weren't saved. All right, turn with me to Luke 18. We just looked at this Wednesday night, and we need to look at it again now to prove this point, but Luke 18, verse nine, it says, our Lord spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.

Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a publican. And the Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I possess. What he's saying is, by man's standards, I maintain good works.

Verse 13, and the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. What he was saying was, Lord, forgive me in your blood, because in my flesh, all that I am is an extortioner, an adulterer, a thief, a maintainer of evil works.

Verse 14, our Lord said, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Good works are not the evidence of being saved. Good works are not the cause of salvation. Good works are not the evidence of salvation. And here's our third truth. It is not what men call good works that brings God's favor to us.

Some might say, I understand that our works are not the cause of our salvation. And I understand that our works are not the evidence of our salvation. But if we want God to be happy with us and pleased with how we're living our life, we're going to have to maintain good works. Thank God that is not so. Thank God.

Now listen, you know, if anyone wasn't in the Bible study, I started it by saying I love God's law. All right. But thank God for our sake, Thank God that is not so, and here's the reason why. We can't produce any. It's not that we don't desire to produce good works. It's not that we are against. Are we against? Is God's law sin? God forbid. We just read all that. So I'm saying these two messages are one message, okay? But thank God that is not true because we can't produce good works.

Turn with me to Galatians 3. Verse 10 says, For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueeth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. That means if every dot of the I is not dotted and cross of the T is not crossed, God is not pleased. God will not show favor to it.

Verse 11, but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident, for the just shall live by Christ. Faith, that's what faith means, that's what faith does, that's what faith points us to. And the law is not of Christ, not of faith, but the man that doeth them shall live in them.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. For it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

God is not happy with us and he is not pleased with our life because of our good works. God is happy and pleased with us because of Christ. That is the reason why. That is the only reason why.

Verse 24 says, the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. The law says get to Christ. This is how the Apostle Paul said he lived his life. Go with me to Romans 7. Romans 7 verse 14, Paul said, we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not. I don't know why I do it. For what I would, that do I not. What I want to do. What do you want to do, Paul? I want to maintain good works. But he said, you know what? I don't do it. But he said, what I hate, all of my evil works. That's what I do.

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it's good. I condemn myself in this process. Now then it's no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. This is not what I want. Or I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing, for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Now maintain good works. You're going to maintain your good works, right? Paul said, the will is present with me, but how to do it? I can't, I've yet to figure that out in this flesh.

Verse 19, for the good that I would, I don't. But the evil, which I would not, I do. Now if I do that, I would not. It's no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I'm in bondage to sin. I can't wait to get rid of this sin. I find then a law that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man, but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" He said, here's the only hope I have. Verse 25, I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. All the glory goes to Jesus Christ, my Lord.

And in the conclusion to all of this, let me rally your minds and hearts and attention to this because here's the culmination of it all. This is what it is to maintain good works. This is what it is. The word maintain means to take a stand for it means to stand in Christ's works. If we're going to maintain good works. Well, there's none good. But God, if we're going to maintain good works and take a stand for good works, we're going to have to maintain Christ's works. We're going to have to maintain that those are the only good works that any sinful child of God could ever possess in the flesh, in life on this earth.

Paul said in 1 Timothy 1.15, he said, I'm the chief center of this earth. I'm the chief. You believe a man would, a man who saw himself as maintaining good works. I mean, really saw himself as one who maintained good works. You think a man would say that about himself? I'm the greatest sinner that's ever walked this earth. No. No, he's saying there are no good works in me. But thank God the good works have come through someone else.

Turn over to Philippians 2. We'll end this with this confirmation, this realization. Philippians 2, verse 13, it says, For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and do of his good pleasure. God is the one doing the work. God is the one who will do the work. God is the only one who can do the work, and he will do the work in his people. He will cause all of his people to believe on Christ. That's a good work. That's a good work. They came to our Lord one time and they said, what must we do that we might work the works of God? He said, this is the work of God that you believe on him whom the father sent. Believing on Christ, that's a good work. Casting your all on the Lord Jesus Christ. That's a good work. Trusting only in Him. Him alone. Him alone. Christ alone. Grace alone. Right? Those are good works.

Loving Christ. Why would anybody love Christ? He loved them first. Loving His people. Those are good works. Do God's people love Christ? Yes. Would they if God didn't perform a work in them? No. Would they love each other? Do they love each other? Yes. Would they if God didn't perform a work in them? No. Serving others, being given to hospitality, those are all good works. Striving for peace and contentment and meekness and temperance and patience and unity, those are all good works. But we're not doing them. God is doing them in his people, for his people, and he gets all the credit and all the glory.

To maintain good works, to take a stand for good works, is to take a stand for Christ's works alone. And the reason why I've taken so much time to stress this point this morning, okay, I believe we could all say, boy, you blew that up a little bigger than it needed to be. Well, not really. The reason why I've taken so much time to stress this point is because, and this is the truth, every soul, every man, woman, boy, or girl, who believes in his or her heart that he or she is capable of producing good works in the sight of God. Works in the flesh that when God looks at it, God would be pleased with it. Every man, woman, boy, or girl who is looking to his or her own good works in the flesh, and this is strong language, but this is scriptural language, this is Matthew 5 language, will go to hell. There's only one hope of eternal life. We're gonna have to look to Christ and Christ alone. We're gonna have to look to Christ alone.

Every man, woman, boy, or girl who tries to mix, okay, I got that. Now let's kind of take a little bit of this and start to apply this to that. And let's intertwine these two, okay? You know, it's not that which is flesh is flesh and that which is spirit is spirit. Let's go ahead and make that which is flesh is spirit and that which is spirit is flesh.

Every man, woman, boy or girl who tries to mix his or her works with Christ's works will go to hell. It's this serious. It is this serious. It's going to have to be Christ's work alone in our minds, in our hearts, in our resolve, in our speech, in our message, in our faith. It has to be Christ's work alone. It has to be grace alone without works in the beginning, the middle, or the end.

The works of Christ freely given to and freely performed in God's people alone. We must maintain that it is his good work start to finish or there is no good work at all. Anything produced by man will turn out to be unprofitable. That's going to be found to be no, but I did this unprofitable. That was unprofitable.

For every soul who God gives the ability to maintain that, okay? Every soul who, you know, Paul told Titus, you preach Christ, that they may maintain good works, looking to Him, trusting in Him, hoping in Him, hearing Him, following Him, believing on Him. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us. Those are good works.

You don't preach man. That'll turn the minds of people to themselves and say, you know what? We need to start doing a little something with this. Those are evil works. Those are wicked works.

And for every soul who God gives this ability to just maintain that by works of righteousness, which we did, but according to his mercy, he saved us. He washed us. He regenerated us. Okay, every soul who God gives that ability to, here's a closing word of encouragement for you.

Honestly, here's a closing word of encouragement for you. Look at Philippians 1, turn one page, Philippians 1 verse 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. He will do it. He gets the credit for it. He gets the glory for it. Amen.