That's what Romans 13 deals with. We are all by nature, as in every
one of us, rebels. We are rebels against authority. By nature we are prone to want
our way, to be just convinced that our way is the best way,
no matter what anybody else thinks. Our way is the best way. That
starts when we are babies. When infants, little children,
we rebel against our parents. And we want our own way. That's
our nature. We're born with it. And it takes
a lot of grace. It takes a lot of grace to be
an obedient child. It takes a lot of grace to be
a submissive wife. It takes a lot of grace. It takes a lot of grace to be
a cooperative servant or worker. It takes a lot of grace to be
a peaceful citizen and a good neighbor, especially if those
in authority are not up to our specifications.
It takes more grace when we believe that we're being abused. We believe that we are being
denied our rights, especially if those in authority
do not know our Lord, do not know his gospel. That kind of
encourages us to be rebellious. Turn over there and let's look
at this scripture, 1 Peter 2. Peter deals with the same thing. For this is thankworthy, if a
man for conscience toward God, a man or woman for conscience
toward God, endure grief and suffering wrongfully. What glory
is it when you be buffeted for your own faults? Take it patiently. But if when you do well, when
you do your best and you're not appreciated and you're sacrificed
and you're abused, you take it patiently, be a submissive servant,
a submissive wife, a submissive child, take it patiently, obedient
to authority, this is acceptable with God. This is acceptable
with God. For even here unto where you
call, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example. We should follow his steps. So
put them in mind to be subject to authority in the home, on
the job, in the city, wherever they are, to obey magistrates
and powers. And look at this line, to be
ready to every good work, to be ready and willing to do every
good work. Let our daily lives, this is
what he's saying, let our daily lives be characterized by faith,
faith in God, gentleness, goodness, kindness, and willingness, ready
and willing to every good work, willing to work, willing to help
others. What have you done today to help somebody else? To contribute
to somebody's well-being or benefit? To help them? To cooperate? You see, what Paul is saying
here is the grace of God is not limited to correct doctrine.
The grace of God is not limited to believing the five points
of Calvinism and good doctrine. The grace of God is not limited
to that. is not limited to religious affiliation, being a church member
or a church goer. But his grace reaches to and
influences and controls our whole lives, the whole person. If the grace of God is not demonstrated
in the whole person, then it's not effectual grace, it's not
saving grace. Let me show you what Paul says
in Colossians about that. The grace of God is not limited. Somebody says, well, I believe
the doctrine. Well, the devil does too, and
trembles. The grace of God is not limited
to a doctrine or to a religious affiliation. The grace of God
controls the whole of the life of those whom he redeems. Colossians
1 verse 10 and 12, 10 to 12. that you might walk worthy of
the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful, being fruitful
in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened
with all might according to his glorious power, unto patience,
longsuffering, joyfulness, giving thanks to God the Father, which
made us meek, qualified, sufficient to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints. All right, let's look at verse
2. Now, good minister, verse 1, put all of us in mind to be
subject to authority, to be ready to every good work, labors of
love and work of faith. And here are three things that
the minister, good minister, will remind the people Put them
in mind constantly of these three things. To speak evil of no man. This is the one method of maintaining
peace. Controlling our tongues. This
is the one essential method of maintaining peace in a home,
peace on the job, friendship with other people, is to guard
our words. Be careful how we speak. You
see, a person's name and reputation and character are tender topics
and ought to be handled with tender care. To speak evil of no man. Well,
that's the second thing he said. Now listen, to be no brawlers.
What is a brawler? Quarrelsome. Put that word in
your margin. Quarrelsome. Just quarrelsome. always arguing, always disagreeing. You know fighting and brawling,
when you see that word brawlers you think of a fist fight, you
think of fighting with fists and guns. Most brawling is done
with words. Most people are hurt more deeply
by words than they are with bows. Brawling with words is most often
their fence. Speak evil of no man. Don't be
a fighter, quarreling, arguing, always disagreeable, disagreeable,
negative. Church members, out of sorts,
quarrelsome. Married people, most of the contention
in the home is because one or the other is quarrelsome and
disagreeable. Parents and children, this ya-ya
at one another. Just don't have it. Just don't
have it. Don't put up with it. It's not
becoming the Christ. Just don't put up with it. Workmen
on the job, always disagreeing, arguing, quarreling, especially
over religion. Actually, this type of personality
is unbecoming to Christ, but it generally reveals an absence
of grace. Grace sweetens the pot. It sweetens
the pot. And he says here three things.
Don't speak evil, just guard our tongue. That's the number
one method of maintaining peace. fellowship and friendship. Be
careful what you say. Be careful what you say. Not to be an arguer, quarrelsome. But what? Thirdly, be gentle.
Showing humility. Showing meekness unto others.
Kindness. Here's my scripture on that.
Turn to Ephesians 4. This is the one that the scripture
that it brings that to a head. In Ephesians 4 verse 31, let
all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor, that's quarrelsome,
arguing, disagreeing, evil speaking, not speaking evil of one another,
be put away from you with all malice And be kind, be gentle,
be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as
God for Christ's sake forgave you. That's the reason. All right,
go to verse 3 now, Titus 2. Somebody might say, the first
two verses here, put them in mind. He's submissive and gentle
and kind and loving and so forth. Somebody might say, well, Preacher,
I have no patience with foolishness. I have no patience with disobedient
children. I can't stand disobedient children.
I have no patience with workers that won't work. Lazy workers. I have no patience with religious
deceivers and hypocrites. I have no patience with hypocrites.
I have no patience with people who fallacy and hate others.
Well, look at verse 3. We ourselves also one time were
foolish. I have no patience with foolish
people. One time we were foolish, disobedient. Is there ever a time in your
life you were disobedient to your parents, or disobedient
to your boss, or disobedient to your teacher? Deceived. One time I was deceived. Totally, completely deceived.
Religion. I think back on the days when
I pastored that little church in Chattanooga, and I lied to
them every Sunday. I told them it was up to them
to save them. Get saved. Do what? Do something. So God
would give me eternal life. I didn't tell them salvation
is of the Lord. Didn't know it. I was deceived.
I had no patience with it. Religious people who are deceived,
you are. Saving divers lust and pleasure,
does that fit anybody? Living in malice and envy, jealousy,
hateful, hating one another, does that fit anybody? Nothing will subdue a man's pride,
moderate his impatience. Moderate his severity toward
others. Nothing will make him to be more
gentle and forgiving like remembering what he was when God found him. See, that works better than anything. Remember what you were. That's
what he says. We ourselves were just exactly
this way. And not only remembering what
we were, but we're thinking and remembering what we would be
except for his grace. what we would be. Somebody said this one time,
I read it today, the only reason a person is unforgiving and critical
and unkind toward others is that he entertains high opinions
of himself and forgets what manner of man he was. and still is,
except for the grace of God. The only reason a person is unforgiving,
critical, unkind toward others, is that he entertains a high
opinion of himself. I thank you God I'm not like
other men, I'm not like that public. High opinion. And forgets what manner of man
he was, and still is inside. Here's my scripture, and I want
to turn to this one. James. Everything that he teaches
here in Titus, the Lord teaches somewhere else. James chapter
1. James chapter 1 verse 23. Let's
don't be like this now. James 1 verse 22. James 1, 22, 23, and 24. But
be ye doers of the word, not hearers of it. Be a doer of the
word. These things we're talking about
here, let's do them. Not just a hearer. Deceiving your own self when
the word preached is not effectually applied to our hearts and produces fruit. and curbs rebellion, that
we're nothing but a hearer, we're not a doer. For if any man be
a hearer of the word and not a doer, now here, he's like a
man beholding his natural face in a glass. He beholds himself
and goes his way and straightway forgets what manner of man he
was, and still is. Hang out that. All right, that's
what we were. But the next verse is what we
are by his grace. Let's look at verse 4. But after that, and I'll put
the word when there, but when, when the kindness, when the kindness
and love of God, our Savior toward man appear. When did the kindness
and love of God toward men appear? When can you think of the first
time that the kindness and love of God appeared towards man,
towards sinful man? The first time I thought of was
Genesis 3, verse 15, in the garden, when Adam and Eve had fallen
and the Lord came and said, I'll put enmity between thee and the
woman, between thy seed and her seed, and he'll bruise your head. There'll be redemption. Another
time that the kindness, the love and kindness of God toward man
appeared is when Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Then
another time that the kindness and love and grace of God appeared
is over here in Exodus when God spoke to Moses. In Exodus 33, God said in Exodus 33, verse
19, Moses said, show me your glory,
and God in verse 19 said, I'll make all my goodness, my goodness,
pass before thee. I will proclaim the name of the
Lord before thee. I will be gracious. I will be
kind to whom I will be gracious. I'll show mercy, love on whom
I'll show mercy. Verse 6, chapter 34, look over
there. Verse 5, chapter 34, And the Lord descended in the cloud,
and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord,
the Lord God, merciful, gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness
and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity
and transgression and sin. But primarily what he's talking
about here in chapter 3 of Titus, verse 4, but when the kindness
and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, that's when our
Lord came to the earth, when he appeared in human flesh. Born
in Bethlehem. Born in Bethlehem. Hebrews 9,
verse 26, turn over there and look at it. The latter part of verse 26,
Hebrews 9. But now once in the end of the
world hath he appeared, in the last days hath he appeared to
put away sin with the sacrifice of himself. Here is love. God
loved us and gave his Son, he appeared. But when did the kindness
and love of God appear to you, to you personally? He says here,
but when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man
appeared, when did it appear to you? Paul knows. He said,
God who separated me from my mother's womb was pleased to
reveal his Son in me. That's when it appeared. And my text I want to turn to
to solidify that point is 1 Timothy chapter 1. 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 15. When the love and kindness
of God my Savior appeared to me was when I obtained mercy. I obtained mercy. 1 Timothy 1
verse 15. This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause
I obtain mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth
all longsuffering for a pattern to them which should thereafter
believe on him the life everlasting. What we have and what God has
done for us and in us is all of grace. It's not of works or
because of anything we've done. Listen to verse 5. It's not by
works. It's not by works of righteousness which we've done. Not by works
of righteousness which we've done. But the motive and reason
for our redemption is found not in us, but in God. Listen to
the next line. But according to his mercy, It's
according to his mercy he saved us, not according to our works,
not by works of righteousness we've done, but according to
his mercy. Mercy is undeserved. Undeserved
favor according to his mercy. He did what? He saved us. He
saved us. We're not on trial. We're not
on probation. We're not on parole. He saved
us. He, S-A-V-E-D, he saved us. He redeemed us. He put away our
sin. I'm his and he's mine. How did
he save us? Listen. According to his mercy,
he saved us by the washing of regeneration. And the renewing of the Holy
Ghost. Regeneration is to be born again. It's life begotten
by God. It's a supernatural, mysterious
act of God within a person, born of God. That's what it talks
about over here in John. Let's turn over there a minute.
First in John 1, born of God. When Adam died, we died. Lost spiritual life. Every baby
that has been born from Adam's first son has been born in sin,
born flesh. That which is born of the flesh
is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit
is Spirit. Here in John 1, verse 12, it
says, "...as many as received him, to him gave he the right
of privilege to become sons of God, even to them that believe
on his name, which were born." Not of blood, that is, not of
natural human genealogy like we were born the first time.
We were born the first time of blood, born of the flesh of a
human father, human mother, human blood. It's not of the will of the flesh.
It's not of the will of our flesh. It's not of the will of man.
It's not of the will of some other person. But this birth
is of God. born of God, a dead, lifeless
sinner, dead in trespasses and sin. This is the new birth. The
scripture says he is born of God, he is born from above, he
is born of the Spirit, without any outside influences. Life is regenerated, born of
God. Generally, always, there are
two things present, the Spirit and the Word. The Spirit, God,
and the Word. The Spirit and the water. Turn
to John 3. The water and the blood. John 3. All right. John 3, verse
3. Except a man is born again, he
can't see the kingdom of God, he can't understand it, he can't
even be identified with it, he can't even fathom it. Verse 5,
Verily I say unto you, except a man be born of water, the Word,
that has got to be the Word of God, and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh
is flesh, that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Now we're born of God. Life is
quick and divine life. The life of God, spiritual life,
is given by God. But if you give a man eyes, you've
got to give him light. If you give hearing, you've got
to have some word. So the word of God did not make
the decision or form the purpose, or do the act of giving life,
God did, born of God, you understand that? But through the Word, by
the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, of his own will
begatting us with the Word of Truth, that's the light. Christ
is the light, Christ is the Word, he that heareth my word and believeth
on him only hath everlasting life. So that's born of God.
It's God's purpose, it's God's will, it's God's work, it's God's
act. And the seed God uses is the
Word, and the agent God uses is the Holy Ghost. And those
who are regenerated and sanctified are washed and cleansed before
God. Their hearts are purified by
faith, their conscience is purged from sin by the blood of Christ.
They're born again. Let's read verse 5 again. Not
by works of righteousness which we've done, not any act of walking
or deciding or shaking hands or accepting or doing anything. It's according to his mercy that
he saved us. He saved us by the washing of
regeneration. Born again. By the renewing of
the Holy Ghost. What's that renewing? It's the
same as regeneration. It's a new life. Renewing of
the Holy Ghost. It's a new heart. It's not remodeling
the old heart. God doesn't remodel the old heart.
He doesn't renew the old life. It's a new life. It's a new heart.
It's newness of life. Through the power and influence
of the Holy Ghost. And the renewing of the Holy
Ghost. It's a miracle. When a baby is born, it's a baby
that's never lived before. There's a seed planted and life
given, and a development and a birth. Name the child. Never
anything before. When a child is born from a birth,
born of God, born in the seed of the Word, the regeneration
of God, the washing of regeneration, that is the washing, we're purified. We're regenerated, we're clean
before God. Our hearts are purified by faith,
and our conscience is purged from sin by the blood of Christ,
and we're new heavenly beings with the very nature of God,
with the very life of God. That's what I'm talking about.
That's the new birth. Not by works of righteousness,
which we've done, but according... Here's my scripture, turn to
2 Timothy 1. Second Timothy 1.9, here's a
solidifying verse. Verse 8 ended with a power of
God, according to the power of God, who had saved us, called
us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to
his own purpose and grace, given us in Christ before this world
began, but manifested by the appearing of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost
in power." Now look at verse 6. Washing of regeneration, renewing
of the Holy Ghost, that's the same thing. "...which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Savior." Abundantly! That's why I call
this message, Ronnie, Abundant Life. Now listen to this word. The kindness and love of God
is shed, poured out on us, richly, abundantly, sufficiently, through
Jesus Christ our Savior. Abundant life. What did Christ
say in John 10, verse 10? I am come that they might have
life, and have it more abundantly. more richly, abundantly. What does that mean? Alright,
listen. It's not merely life, which all natural men have. Not
merely life, which all men have. Human life. It's not just long
life. It's not just long life, promised
to those who obey God's law. It's not just spiritual life. which the angels have, who are
servants of God, which Adam had in the garden. Spiritual life.
This abundant life is divine life. Divine life. Now look at 2 Peter 1. 2 Peter
1 verse 4. 2 Peter 1 verse 4. Divine life. According as his divine power
hath given unto us all things that pertain to life, all things
that pertain to life and godliness, regeneration and renewing, through
the knowledge of him that hath called us to eat to glory, to
glory and virtue, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great
and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of
the divine nature. Having escaped totally the corruption
that is in this world through lust. That's the life we're talking
about. Divine life. I've come that they
might have life and have it more abundantly. This is what he prayed
in John 17. Church folks all around this
world have made their decisions, have joined the churches, have
accepted Jesus their personal Savior, and they're not partakers
of a divine life, having been born of God, born from above. Abundant life. Here it is, Christ
prayed in John 17, verse 21, that they all may be one, as
thou, Father, art in me, and I in you, that they may be one
in us. That's the divine nature. That
the world may believe that you sent me, and the glory which
you gave me I have given them. that they may be one as we are
one, I in them, thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one,
that the world may know that you sent me and you love them
exactly as you love me." That's abundant life. That's the gift of God. That's the gift of God, is through
Jesus Christ, our Savior. That being, verse 7, that being
justified by his grace. By his grace, justified. Justifications act of God. by
which he totally justifies a person and declares him without guilt.
Totally without guilt. Justified. If you're not justified,
you're not saved. Not justified, you're not saved.
It's God that justifies. Who, Paul said, as he challenged
heaven, earth, and hell, who can lay anything, anything to
the charge of God's elect? Who can? It's God that justifies. If God didn't justify you, we
can lay something to your charge. Anybody can. But if God justifies
you, he says without guilt, then you're without guilt. Past, present,
and future. It's God that's being justified
already. Now we're going to, we're being
justified by his grace. We're made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life. We're heirs. We're still in this
world, but we're heirs. We may possess very little here,
but we possess all things in Christ. God calls those things
which are not as though they were. That was the faith of Abraham. I'll close the message now, verse
8. This is a faithful saying. Paul
uses this statement, this is a faithful saying, four or five
times in the scripture. Usually when he wants to make
a solemn truth or a strong statement, this is a faithful And these
things I will that you affirm constantly. These things I've
been preaching here this evening. He said, these things I want
you, Titus, to affirm constantly. Apply yourselves to works of
faith and labor of love and honorable occupation and doing good for
others. Affirm this constantly. That they which have believed
in God And everybody here in this congregation professes that,
believed in God. You might be very careful to
maintain good works. These things are good and profitable
unto men, but now here are some things you want to avoid. I want
to deal with this, give me five more minutes. But avoid these
things, avoid foolish questions. Secret things belong to God that
reveal things to us. foolish questions about things
that we don't know anything about. Foolish men spend times arguing
foolish questions. And genealogies, what's that? That's the lineage of tribes
and families and denominations and churches and great leaders. What may be interesting but is
not edifying. to be wrapped up in genealogies. Avoid foolish
questions in genealogies and contention. Avoid it. The law of God, now
somebody wrote this one down, the law of God does not produce
contention. Because believers love the law
of God. They love God, their love is
love. But legalists and ceremonialists Disturb the peace of the church
by controversies over the law. Controversies. Always controversies
over the law. Contingents over the law. Contingents
over holy days and ceremonies and food and drink and outward
form. Avoid these things. Avoid foolish
questions. Avoid genealogies. Avoid contingents
and striving about the law. They're unprofitable. There's
enough revealed for us in the scriptures to spend our time
studying and discussing and rejoicing and teaching. Now then, listen
to this next verse, verse 10. If a man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition,
reject it. have nothing further to do with
it. That's not talking about your unbelieving friends and
your lost loved ones, that's talking about a person in the
church, a religious person that prefers his own opinion over
the clear revelation of God's word. A heretic, this will give
you a good definition of a heretic. What is a heretic? Here's a good
definition. It's a person who prefers his own opinion over
the clearly revealed word of God. That's a heretic. And this person is a cause of
division among believers. Spends his time arguing over
foolish controversies and questions. Indulges in strife of words,
strife of words. Is this what you said? Is that
what you said? Questions about the law and traditions. Avoid
him. After you've warned him once,
warned him twice, and he still won't cooperate and fulfill the
Rule of kindness and subjection, submission. Reject him. And here's the reason, verse
11. Here's the reason why you leave him alone. Knowing that
he that is such is subverted. He's perverted. Anybody who defends
his opinion over the Word of God is subverted. He's got troubles. This man's got troubles. And
he sinneth being condemned of himself. And this is what John
Gill said about him. He said, A person, whether in
the home or the church or elsewhere, spends his time causing division,
spends his time arguing over foolish questions, indulges in
strife of words and questions about laws and traditions, whether
he will admit it or not, he is told by his own conscience. that he's a bad number. His own
conscience smites him. He won't admit it. Whether he
admits it or not, his own conscience tells him he's wrong. He's out
of step, he's out of communion, he's out of fellowship. His own
conscience tells him that. Whether he admits it or not.
So if he goes on sinning, he condemns himself, leave him alone. You can't help him. That's exactly
what that says. Verse 12, I'm going to send Artemis
unto thee, and Tychicus, and you be diligent to come to me
to die. Coppola, I have determined that
a winner. And bring Zenos the lawyer, and
Apollos on your journey, on their journey, and be sure that nothing
be wanting unto them. See that they want for nothing.
And let our people also learn to maintain good works. for necessary uses, that they
be not unfruitful. Let our people learn to apply
themselves to honest labor and employment with a view to the
glory of God, so they can provide for their families as necessary
uses, help others in need, and support the gospel. I pray that's
a blessing to you.