Titus 3:1-11

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 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, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned."

The Gospel

     Most of you will look at this note and smile, some of you will be convicted, and a small amount will frown because of their sinful nature and hardened hearts. I pray the majority who read this will be convicted and surrender their wills to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel.

I will start with the fact that:  The Bible is the Word of God.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;” 2 Timothy 3:16.

 

“For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21.

The Bible is completely inerrant and nothing is able to add on to it.

     Another fact is:  God is perfect.

“And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5.

 

“For I proclaim the name of the LORD; Ascribe greatness to our God! ‘The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.’” Deuteronomy 32:3-4.

     He is all-powerful, He is the Light; He is holy and without sin (1 John 3:5); He loves and He is just. All of these just touch on the surface of who He is. We are sinners.

     “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

We have sinned, disobeyed and rebelled against God’s Holy law, and therefore we deserve death.

 

     “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

We cannot be right with God if He is perfect and we are sinners.

 

“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;” Psalm 45:7.

He can’t stand wickedness, and that’s human nature. We are born wicked. We’re unable to even work for our salvation.

“They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.” Psalm 14:3.

Sin comes out of everything we do. We’re unable to be righteous by our own ways. But before we lose all hope, we are given one awesome, loving, just, fantastic, gracious offer.

 

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16.

 

“Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." Titus 2:14.

The Father sent His Son! The only way for the Father to act just and save our lives was through the blood of Christ. The Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to pay our penalty and forgive us.

     In order to receive eternal life, though, we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our only Savior and the Son of God. God wants to draw us near to Him, but you must surrender yourself to Him. It’s now a matter of your choice between eternal blissful life or excruciating death. Do not turn away from a loving Creator to your own proud, sinful ideas because you’re not God.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10.