Biddeford Church of Christ

Have you ever been asked that question?  It’s like the commercial from a while back with honest Abe (Abraham Lincoln).  His wife asked him, “Does this dress make me look fat?”  Some people have said, “I am just going to say what it is and let the chips fall where they may.”  Words.  They are so powerful that James would liken them to “bits in horses’ mouth” or “a very small rudder” on a large ship (James 3:3-4).  But the bit is not the concern, nor is the rudder, but rather, the person pulling on the bit or the pilot steering the rudder.  It is simple, James says, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10).  If there were ever a reason for us to utilize the tool of meditation, it would be to help us in the use of our tongues. 

For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Matthew 12:34            

I have often quoted that text, but have never taken the time actually to consider the fuller context. Let’s take a moment and analyze what is happening.  Jesus is actively involved in His earthly ministry, doing miracles, one of which was healing a “demon-possessed, blind and mute” man (Matthew 12:22).  People began to question, “Could this be the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:23).  Their question was asking if Jesus is to be their new ruler.  The Pharisees would have nothing to do with such a notion, so they attack with words, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons” (Matthew 12:24).  Ironically, they, through their accusations, were trying to expose Jesus as a fraud. But Jesus used their own words to reveal their inner motives.  Although there is much to consider, we move down to vv33-37.

The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom and his tongue talks of justice.

                                                                                                      Psalm 37:30            

Jesus, “knowing their thoughts” (v25), seeks to have them make up their minds.  Jesus reasons, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33).  If the “ruler of demons” is doing the work, that would mean the miracle is evil.  Wait!  Jesus cast a demon out of this man.  Satan would not cast out Satan (12:26).  Jesus was exposing the real problem and turned the table, saying, “Brood of vipers!  How can you, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (12:34).  This word “heart” is significant, for it speaks of the affective center of our being or as one person puts it, “our desire-decisions that establish who we are.”  Isn’t that what our words often do; that is, expose who we are?  We can present ourselves as one thing, but our words override it in a flash.

“For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.”

                                                                                                Matthew 12:37            

In the comfort of our salvation, it is all too easy to become complacent in our spiritual walk.  We can reveal this complacency through the words we choose, words that are more critical than uplifting, and words that are more worldly than godly.  Do your words blend better with the pattern of this world than with the ways of Christ?  Meditating on God’s word can help prevent such things from slowly taking place in our lives.  Think of it as exercising your heart to help keep it in good health.  When your hearts are good, so will your words be right.  So, what’s on your mind?

Dennis

“Better a broken promise than none at all” (Mark Twain).  Sadly, we live in a world where experiencing broken promises is not unusual.  The words “till death do us part” fly in the face of a divorce rate of nearly 60%.  The “when I get around to it” that never seems to, well, get around to it.  As one person rightly says, “It is easy to make promises – it is hard work to keep them.”  In such a world of broken promises, the attitude of many is simple, “There are no guarantees.”  Christians, on the other hand, proclaim that there is One who never breaks a promise.  Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).  Today, I wish to look at what he promises for all who are in Christ Jesus.            

Before considering the verse for today’s lesson, I want to reflect on Romans chapter eight, for it is jam-packed with promises.  God’s first promise in v1, “There is, therefore, NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus…”  is a fantastic promise that empowers the believer to walk in confidence.  Down in v11, God promises us that “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  That same Spirit “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (v16).  We serve the most excellent Promise Keeper!  And so, we come to our verse for today’s lesson.  

“And we know that all things work together for good to those

who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

NKJV, Romans 8:28            

This verse is widely quoted and for a good reason.  It is a verse that, at times, struggles to fall from the lips of those faced with adversity.  Let’s take a moment and break it down.  To trust a promise, we need to know something about the promise maker.  What you know plays a significant role in what you are willing to endure.  Here, the Greek word carries the idea that something is well known (Thayer’s).  It is used in John 3:2 as Nicodemus says to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”  It is knowledge based on experience.            

So, how many of us have witnessed or experience God, guiding someone through adversity or turmoil?  Knowledge of the Promise Maker enables us to reason “that all things work together.”  We do not experience a collection of random acts that serve no intended purpose.  This idea of “work together: carries the idea to put forth power together with and thereby assist.  Listen to v26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.”  Whatever struggles we face, where words seem void of their ability to express where we are, God promises to work with us in our journey.  As one person writes, “God who can see the end from the beginning assures us that the above statement is true.”  Faith rally’s us to stand with faith-driven confidence that speaks with conviction “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).           

We serve such a God, the only real Promise Keeper of the world.  By faith, we understand from Him that a promise is a promise.  He will work together with us and bring about what is in our best interest.  We, by faith, take such a posture as we lean on Him in all circumstances of life.  Then we can say with confidence, “… that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39).  Thank you, Lord, for providing us how we can live as “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).  Praise be to the one faithful Promise Keeper.

Dennis

It’s early in the morning, and you’re excited to go to work.  Why?  Today you’ll find out about the promotion that you worked so hard to get.  Or maybe you’re looking forward to that raise. Perhaps just looking for a job. Or you’re on your way to the doctors to get the test results.  The fact is, we all receive news each day that impact us in some way.  There are times when we are on the mountain tops, excited about the blessings we have received.  But there are times where it seems almost impossible not to lose heart.  I was going to do a lesson on Romans 8:28 this week.  “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  But that will have to wait till next Sunday.  During my daily Bible reading this week, another text caught my attention.

Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is

perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

                                                                                  2nd Corinthians 4:16            

Paul was serious about not losing heart and said it previously in (2nd Corinthians 4:1).  I like how the NCV translates the beginning of this verse, “So we do not give up.” The definition of those words opened my eyes to the depth of what Paul was saying.  The Greek word for “lose heart” or “give up” means to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted.  Have you ever been to such a place in your walk with the Lord?  Such a quest that at times seems almost impossible.  During his ministry, confronted with a variety of problems that impacted him greatly, Paul’s faced many challenges to his faith.  He had his “thorn in the flesh” (2nd Corinthians 12:7-10).  Paul spoke with the Ephesian Elders about the “many tears and trials which happened to me” (Acts 20:19).  He spoke of being “hard-pressed on every side…perplexed…. persecuted…struck down” (2nd Corinthians 4:8-9) in his service to the Lord.  The verse that grabs my attention is found in Acts 14:19, where some fellow Jews “stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.”  It would seem reasonable that one could lose heart, especially after looking at the life of Paul.  But, his physical reality, as unfortunate as it may have been, was not his only reality.

“For our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, is working

for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…”

                                                                                      2nd Corinthians 4:17            

Wait!  Light afflictions???  That is where our focus should be…right?  In this reality.  No, Paul appears to evaluate his physical reality through his future spiritual reality.  The NCV says, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  Adversity, when viewed through a Christ-centered spiritual reality, serves a purpose in the believer’s life.  “The disciple can thus endure suffering with the knowledge that” what awaits them is from more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  Everything one would encounter, regardless of the suffering that is involved, will all be worth it.  So, with this in mind, try to stay focused on your spiritual reality.

“…while we do not look at the things which are seen.  For the things which are

seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

                                                                                       2nd Corinthians 4:18            

This idea of not allowing the circumstances of this life to distract us from the big picture appears to be a frequent exhortation of Paul (cf. Romans 8:24-25).  Those things which are “seen” are the sufferings encounter in this physical reality we live in, and in Paul’s case and maybe ours at times, is the result of being a follower of Christ.  DON’T focus on these!  They are TEMPORARY! Instead, allow faith to draw your attention to your spiritual reality, which we will realize one day.  No more suffering!  No more pain!  It will all be glorious!  But for now, it is unseen.  Even so, it is every bit as real as what you are faced with now.  Lord, increase our faith to believe in Your spiritual reality that awaits us while we live in this physical reality that seeks to distract us.

Dennis

Last week our lesson focused on the bondage that is most detrimental to mankind: sin.  It reminds once again that sin is a plight that all humanity faces (Romans 3:23) with severe consequences if not confronted (Romans 6:23).  As I took some time to determine what direction this week’s lesson would take, it seemed reasonable to consider our theme concerning meditation in light of the subject of sin.  So, I begin with a question that I asked myself that took me off-guard.  I will explain why it did in a moment, but here is the enigma.  When was the last time I repented?  Not the passing “I’m sorry” or the occasional “Oops” that surface when we know what we did, was wrong.  But more like the tax collector in Luke 18 who struggled to look up to heaven, beating his breast saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13).  For me, and maybe you can relate, my attitude about sin has changed over the years.  How can mediation help us in this area?            

To grasp this article’s intent, we need to look back for a moment and consider the meaning of meditation again. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines meditate as (1) to reflect upon; study; ponder (2) to plan or intend – to think deeply and continuously; reflect; muse. The Hebrew word translated “meditates” in Psalm 1:2, means to moan, growl, utter, speak, muse.  Muse simple means to contemplate something.  In Haggai 1:5, we read something that the prophet spoke to God’s people from the Lord, “Consider your ways!”  My goodness, what a thought-provoking thing.  If you were to look at the text surrounding these words, you would find the Lord challenging His people to consider their lives related to Him genuinely.  It’s as though He is asking, “Where am I in all that you do?”  Meditation is one of the tools that can help facilitate repentance, for it begins when one considers his or her ways.  It stirs the inner man to examine himself in light of God’s intent for us, creating moments of “godly sorrow” that “produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted” (2nd Corinthians 7:10).  It steers us away from the “sorrow of the world” that seeks not to change and only leads to death.  I know all too well the challenge behind this idea to “consider your ways.”  The fact remains, there can be no authentic change without repentance.            

Although similar, I want to consider another benefit that meditation can help facilitate in our lives, and that is our resolve to fight against sin.  The other day, I read of how someone saw a vice in their lives, that it “controlled them.”  Remember what we learned last week; we are all slaves to something (Romans 6:16).  Consider 2nd Corinthians 7:10 in the NCV, “The kind of sorrow God wants makes people change their hearts and lives.”  Godly sorrow shines a light on sin, exposing it for what it is, an offense to God’s holiness.  A changed heart (mind) results over time into a changed life…right?  Peter writes, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1st Peter 1:13).  Purposed in our transformation and confident in Christ’s redemptive work, we seek to “Be holy, for I am holy” (1st Peter 1:16).  When we meditate on His holiness and pursue that holiness, we become changed within.  The repulsiveness of sin becomes ever more apparent, and our desire to fight against grows ever more powerful.            

I am so thankful for God’s grace and His ever-present patience towards humankind…towards me.  May the deepening of that grace awareness develop within me a heart that is willing to consider my ways and repent when needed.  May that same awareness develop within me a desire to fight against those sinful tendencies.  I understand perfection is not attainable here, and I am overwhelmed by God’s grace that cleanses me of wicked behavior.  Still, may that grace never be an excuse to not fight against sin.  May the act of meditation help me in this endeavor.  Be at peace knowing you are loved by the only true God that dealt with our sin problem through Christ and equips us to in Christ to fight against it.  Thank you, Lord.

Dennis

I begin this article with this fact, and I am no historian.  That said, we need to look at our history, for it enables us to acknowledge accomplishments and reflect on the changes we have made and those we still must travel through today.  This weekend marks a holiday celebration called Independence Day where we reflect on a  moment in our country’s history that finds its roots in a document which states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  Although the founders wrote this document in 1776, slavery did not end until almost 100 years later (1863), initiated in part by President Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation.  I say this because these two events signify the freedom from oppression and bondage.

“All have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory…”

                                                                                Romans 3:23

The word independence means the fact or state of being independent (Sorry Abe).  I believe the way our forefathers used the word in the Declaration of Independence is not subject to others’ control.  FREEDOM!  The freedoms that they fought for in the past we still fight today, but it cannot compare with the freedom that we find in Christ.  You see, ALL have been slaves to sin.  Nothing, not skin color, economic prosperity, poverty, or any other category of life, exempts someone from this reality.  Through the Old Law, God taught us that we are incapable of freeing ourselves from this bondage; that is, our independence would be dependent upon Him.  So that Old Law became “our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).   God demonstrates His righteousness through the giving of His Son, “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).  God made it possible for sinful man to proclaim freedom.

Freedom is not a constant.  Paul would encourage the saints in Galatia, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). The Judaizers were enticing the Galatians to depend on the Old Law instead of the completed work of Christ, and in doing so, they would forfeit their freedom in Christ.  The truth of the matter, we are all slaves to something.  We read, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves, slaves, to obey, you are that one’s slave whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).  For those who have come to understand this truth and have chosen to put their trust in Christ, we have this confidence, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).

I find it ironic to realize that the independence that is most important to humanity is that he is dependent upon God to find everlasting freedom.  No war can achieve it, and no protest will reveal it.  It is through the proclamation of the gospel of Christ.  It is in Him, and through Him only can mankind find the real freedom he needs most.  Although not intended to be used in this sort of subject matter, I think the words ring loud and clear, “Free at last!  Free at last!  Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Dennis

As I watch the world around me, I am reminded of last week’s lesson on self-control.  Sadly, in this case it is the lack of it that I am reminded of.  History shows us that this is not unusual with mankind, including God’s own people.  In Exodus 32, because they were impatient waiting for Moses return from the mountain, they asked, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us…” (v1).  Controlling, or as the Latin word brought out, the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, is not as easy as it sounds for any of us.  Our subject today is something that I believe is intended to go hand-n-hand with self-control.  Some may even suggest that it is the same as it.  It is this idea of self-discipline.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

                                                                                        2^nd Timothy 1:7, NIV           

There it is, right?  Well, your translation may use the word, but it is from the same Greek word translated self-control in Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) and soberly in Titus 2:12 (NKJV).  So, is there a difference?  Principally speaking, I believe there is and let me explain.  Remember the definition of self-control mentioned above.  One person explains it as the effort of “removing or managing things that make you ineffective.”  Paul exhorted the church in Ephesus saying, “You were taught to leave your old self — to stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self becomes worse, because people are fooled by the evil things they want to do” (Ephesians 4:22, NCV).  He would exhort the church in Colosse in a similar manner, “But now also put these things out of your life: anger, bad temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and using evil words when you talk” (Colossians 3:8, NCV).  All these things, and the list is longer for sure, are bits and pieces of our carnal man that need management to keep them from making us ineffective.  This is the role of self-control. 

But like anything else, there is more to it than simply getting rid of things.  As someone has told me before, “That is only half the battle.”  Here is the other half, and it is called self-discipline.  Self-control involves the keeping away or taking away while self-discipline is just the opposite, or as one person says, it is the “adding things to get better.”  Let’s go back to what Paul said to the churches in Ephesus and Colosse.  He exhorts them to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:23-24).  To the church in Colosse he writes, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on” (Colossians 3:12) these qualities that reveal who you really are in Christ.  If I understand it correctly, self-discipline is the intentional activity in a Christian’s life to promote the development of Christ likeness which will “help you to be useful and productive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2^nd Peter 1:8).  As I write these thoughts, I am once again reminded of this quote, “The new life is now theirs, yet they are to actualize it – not to gain it but because they already have it.”  We seek to have self-disciplined lives because we have life in Christ!

So, why is it so important to me to try and understand the difference between self-control and self-discipline?  In so many areas of my life, I agonize in trying to rid myself of unwanted behavior (self-control).  Yet, often times I do not work as hard in trying to replace it with something healthy (self-discipline).  Could this be the reason, at least in part, why we struggle with the old man so much?  Something to think about.  For I believe both self-control and self-discipline are intended to go hand-n-hand.  As one person writes, “In order to live a set apart life, we need self-control and self-discipline…Self-discipline is the habit and self-control the good choices we make to realize this plan in our lives.”  To the glory of God, let us live such lives.  Have a blessed day in Christ.

Dennis

A couple weeks ago I talked briefly about God’s grace and how it is a sort of teacher, which helps to equip us for good works (Titus 3:3-8).  Part of what is needed for good works to flourish is the decision to “live soberly” or as the NIV say, “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12).  Honestly, I am hesitant to speak on this subject of self-control, almost embarrassed, because I do not exhibit it in all areas of my life very consistently.  The words of the apostle Paul echo in my mind, “Yes, I know that nothing good lives in me — I mean nothing good lives in the part of me that is earthly and sinful. I want to do the things that are good, but I do not do them” (Romans 7:18, NCV).  So, it is here that I start; that is, at the point of where I know we all find commonality.  Where is that you ask?  At the place where dying to self is needed and where self-discipline is or can be developed.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness

faithfulness, goodness, self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

                                                                                         Galatians 5:22-23           

As the saying goes, “Some people have it.  Some people don’t.”  When it comes to our Christian walk, that idea is just a lie which Satan wants us to perpetuate in our minds.  Why?  Because it keeps us from reaching our full potential in Christ!  For those who are in Christ, we have been given to fruit of the Spirit which includes self-control.  Exactly what is self-control?  Well, the Latin for this word, continentia, means the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions.  And although we have all received it as a portion from the Spirit, it needs to be developed.  Titus was to teach the older men and older women on the island of Crete to be temperate, this is, self-controlled.  All Christians are urged to add to their faith…self-control (2^nd Peter 1:6).  For some, we may look around and see others that exhibit self-control so easily, while in your mind you say something like this, “That’s easier said than done.”  That very well could be true.  But we are not talking about whether something is easy or not; but rather, if something is possible.  As one person said, “Self-control is a discipline that God grows in us when we continually choose to die to our flesh and live in Him.”  Self-control is a Christian virtue that is a gift from God that is intended to be developed as we walk with Christ.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful…

                                                                                         1^st Corinthians 10:13           

Self-control is not a one man show, at least not in our walk with Christ.  God’s faithfulness to provide an “escape,” that will ensure that you are not “tempted beyond what you are able” is also part of how we fight against our sinful tendencies.  It might be that self-control enables us to see with greater clarity that way of escape while teaching us just how vulnerable we may be in a given situation.  Remember, God provides the escape and we make the choice on whether to access it or not.  Listen to 1^st Corinthians 9:25 in the NCV, “All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win crown.  That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed.”  If we are going to finish this race, we need to ask God to help us develop godly self-control.           

As I close this article, I will admit that it has been stimulated by a recent class (The Daniel Plan) that I am not a part of at this time.  It has caused me to think about a variety of things, one of which is my health.  While considering things, I realized how this all plays into our spiritual lives as well.  Resisting those things which can influence our spiritual development is not easy.  Saying no to TV, video games, and the list can go on so we can spend sufficient time in prayer, study (reading) and fellowship takes self-control.  Create within us Lord a desire to develop what You have given us to the glory of Your name and the growth of Your church.

Dennis

It may be oversimplifying it, but I found this quote by Richard Foster rather intriguing as he sought to give the reason for meditation.  He writes, “Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word.”  It is of value to put that thought in the context of the last couple of lessons focused on God’s amazing grace.  Grace does not negate obedience but rather places it in the right order of things.  I would be willing to say that God’s grace promotes and heightens one’s desire to be obedient.    Meditation is one of those tools meant to help the disciple accomplish such a goal.  So, I would like to briefly examine some of the objectives of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5 that reveal some Christian intentions and consider how meditation can help us in achieving them in our lives.

“Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love…”

                                                                                                 Ephesians 5:1-2            

When actors are offered a role in a movie that portrays a real historical person, what they do is invest enormous amounts of time looking into the person’s life: how they expressed themselves, how they walked, and the list goes on.  All this effort is to try to reveal to the audience a reality of what that person was like while subduing their natural tendencies.  Some memorable roles might be George C. Scott as General Patton, Russel Crowe as John Nash, Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher or Cuba Gooding Jr. as James Robert Kennedy in the movie Radio.  The point being, without much effort, the ability to mimic someone is impossible.  The intention of those verses that encourage us to “be diligent” (2nd Timothy 2:15) and give “all diligence” (2nd Peter 1:5) are not intended to have us try and earn something, but rather, to become more like someone.  This call to “walk in love” is defined for us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  The more we spend time learning about (i.e., meditating on) the character and life of Christ, the more effective we will be in imitating Him and thus show that love.

“Walk as children of light…”

                                                                                                     Ephesians 5:8           

 Listen to this statement of confidence given by Paul, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8).  I know I am redundant at this point, but it is worthy of repeating.  “The new life is now theirs, yet they are to actualize it – not to gain it but because they already have it.”  This effort to “walk as children of light” is sought after because we “are light in the Lord.”  When Paul exhorts the church in Ephesus to “Try to learn what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10, NCV), he is inviting them to respond to God’s grace found in Christ.  Such a response will take time and energy; that is, effort on our part.  Meditation is part of the learning process that helps to make what we learn part of who we are: in this case, children of light.

“See then that you walk circumspectly…”

                                                                                                Ephesians 5:15            

Finally, we can see a direct link between this idea of walking in a fashion that gives us insight into our surroundings and to our ability to “understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).  The more we understand His will, the better able we are to recognize Satan’s efforts to draw us back into darkness.  Meditation plays an essential role in equipping us to fight such battles.            

We are called, as God’s chosen to “walk in love,” “walk in the light,” and “walk circumspectly.”  Each helps us to pursue Christlikeness.  What does it mean to be Christlike?  I invite you to take some time and meditate on that very question.  You can find the answer in the pages of our bibles.

Dennis

As I said last week, I wanted to return to Titus and build on some of the things mentioned last week, found in Titus 3:1-8.  We considered this incredible idea of grace; that is, God loves us, sinful man, so much, that He planned “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4) to put His grand redemptive plan in place.  God yearns for this to be our reason for the change, for transformation.  That is what happens when grace impacts the believer, as we consider in last week’s lesson.  Today, we dive into it even further.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation to all men, teaching us that…”

                                                                                                                                    Titus 2:11-12a

            As is always the case, it is crucial to seek to understand the context, and this one is powerful.  Slaves who have come to accept Christ as Savior, those who have come to know the grace of God found only in Christ, are exhorted to “be obedient to their own masters” (Titus 2:9).  Their behavior is such “that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (Titus 2:10).   As one person put it, they “were giving it [The “it” is the gospel.] drawing power by making it attractive to those whom we are striving to win to Christ through the preaching of the gospel.”  In this case, it was the slave seeking to draw his master towards the gospel.  The question is, how does one achieve such a perspective in life?  The answer is simple and profound: God’s grace teaches us.  The word “teaches” here means to cause one to learn, at times, through the process of discipline.  When “grace” is the center of our reasoning, it sets the stage to learn about His ways.  Then we can implement His concepts in our lives.  His grace teaches us “not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants us to do” (NCV, Titus 2:12).  This is part of the “good works” we considered last week mentioned in chapter 3 and chapter 2 verse 6; which involves the desire to get rid of the old man and pursue the “new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).  Grace beckons us to seek Christlikeness, because of the unmerited favor shown towards sinful man.  This transformation of character, that is, the changing of the external because of what God through Christ has done to the internal man is what helps draw others towards Christ and the gospel.  People see something different.

That same grace teaches us to turn from our old ways, and now “teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God” (Titus 2:12).  Those old ways of life are “torn up by the roots” by God’s grace.  We seek to live wisely, or as my NKJV says, soberly; that is, with self-restraint.  It spurs the believer to live a “right way” or “righteously” towards those around us.  Okay, think of the slave for a minute—the challenge of how he was to interact with his master.  Things have changed now that he is in Christ, and there is no doubt his master would notice.  This grace also causes the believer to change how he or she engages with God. There would be a newfound reverence towards God because of His grace.  The truth of the matter is simple: life would not be the same once someone comes to know His grace.  I wonder what the master would think as they come in contact with a slave transformed by God’s grace.

Treating their master with respect is a lot to ask of those who found themselves held captive in slavery.  There had to be something that enabled them to look beyond their present situation.  They were “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:13-14).  The grace that brought them hope is the same grace that caused them to hope. John C said a couple of weeks ago, not a hope that is wishful thinking, but rather, a hope that causes them to anticipate their Savior’s return.  A hope that generates within them a desire to pursue good works.  Such a change is not without its impact.  Why?  Because grace changes the believer. 

Dennis

I am so thankful for John Carter’s thoughts last Sunday as we prepared to partake of the emblems that draw our attention back to the fantastic gift of redemption exhibited on that cross some time ago.  If you remember, he focused on two words of significance in the text he read (Titus 3:4-7): the word “might” and the word “hope,” both found in v7.  The emphasis on these words sought to bring out the absolute confidence we as Christians should have when it comes to eternal life (v7).  I have spent a lot of time thinking (i.e., meditating) on this idea this past week.  It has blended well with our morning bible reading, which now finds us in Romans.  In Romans 5:1, we read, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”  God so desperately wants us to grasp the magnitude of His grace, the unfathomable depths of His love (Ephesians 3:14-19).  Why is this so important?  Let’s go back to Titus chapter 3 and consider some verses that surround the beautiful idea of grace.

“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities,

to obey, to be ready for every good work…”

                                                                                                                       Titus 3:1

            Paul says to the church in Ephesus, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  So often, when we speak of eternal life, we look beyond this life, this physical world in which we live.  But the gospel of Christ is as much about now as it is about our future!  God has created us through the work of Christ to do good works now, in this world.  There was an “old man” mentioned in Titus 3:3, which was apart of the sinful world around him, something all of us were once every bit part of it.  But now, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  As new creations, part of the Christian journey here, those good works, involves the “putting off” of the old man and “putting on” the “new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).  Let’s remember a quote from last week’s lesson that I think is crucial here.  It said, “The new life is now theirs, yet they are to actualize it-not in order to gain it but because they already have it”; that is, “Become what you are!”  The “good works” we are called to do are not to make us what we are.  Instead, we should see “good works” as what happens when sinful man collides with unimaginable grace, producing within man a new heart that wants “to learn what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10, NCV).

“This is a faithful saying and these things I want you to affirm constantly,

That those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good

works.  These things are good and profitable to men.”

                                                                                                                                    Titus 3:8

            Paul’s exhortation to Titus was to “affirm constantly,” that is, assert confidently regularly.  Assert what?  Our tendency may be to direct our attention to the transformation that needs to be taking place in the life of the Christian; but although necessary, that would put the cart before the horse. Change begins, find its strength, its reason, in the amazing grace afforded us through Christ Jesus.  When confidence is first placed there and left there, transformation becomes more natural, although not necessarily easy.  May we all be influenced by His grace in such a way that we pursue good works, not to earn somehow what we don’t have yet, but because in Christ, we have all we need.  Be blessed and live confidently in Christ.

Dennis