<Titus - Lesson 7>

The Just Shall Live By Faith

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

Having established an order of conduct that each Christian should exhibit within a sound body of Christ (based on sound doctrine), Paul is now going to express that it requires more than just instruction to accomplish the task. There is the examination of scripture (heavenly revelation that God has given to guide us); and from this we harvest knowledge. When this knowledge is combined with approved examples; we additionally develop wisdom (application). Finally, when knowledge is added to practical application and then enhanced by an understanding of the privilege of this blessing and the high price that it cost to bring it about (motivation); we have all the tools necessary to overcome ourselves, this world, and bring about the needed changes. This is what would make Christians special!

Often it seems that Christians think that once they have obeyed the Gospel, that they are set. You know, just go to worship most of the time, try to be nice, and just live in the generalities of what the they think they know.

Here, we find out from our study of qualities of a sound church and what motivates them, that the bar is set much higher than that. It is the mediocrity that I mentioned earlier that cause churches to be lacking in the first place. Here, Paul is establishing that not only was mediocrity to be immediately replaced with motivated people of God, but they were to be exhorted (challenged to do their duty) and rebuked until they accomplished the needed changes.

We have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness ( II Peter 1:3 , which will resemble our text closely), yet, we often fail to use but a very little of these blessings. It is like buying a car with all the bells and whistles; then only turning the engine on and sitting in the drive way.

Christians are expected to develop into a productive people (each one of them) that are zealous for good works, motivated by the blessed hope of eternity as His people. It is time that we remember the words of Paul to the church at Ephesus , note:

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Titus 2:11-15 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 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. 15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”

Appeared to all men: There can be no doubt in understanding that the grace of God that brings salvation is speaking of the Savior. However, we must acknowledge that He has not physically appeared to all men. However, the Christ of salvation is the very source of the Gospel's message of redemption. The fact that He has appeared to all men through this venue; first denotes that it was not just for the Jews, and secondly shows that all have access to salvation.

Also note these scriptures: Acts 20:32 ; Romans 1:1-5; 16-17; Colossians 1:23

Teaching us: This denotes that something more than the favor of God is involved in the salvation of man, and that he is required to do something in order to obtain this salvation.

Much of this I have covered within the body of the introduction, however, there is a similar thought that Paul would express to Timothy in his second letter. Paul would explicitly stress the need for Christians to understand that the salvation in Christ has issues of compliance strictly included, note:

For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

From this we also learn that it is not enough to just learn. There must be application and practice of what we learn.

That: ‘ Denying', does not mean to question the existence of the things mentioned, but that we deny them the opportunity to affect our lives. There is not a great deal of difference between ungodliness and worldly lusts (the two are often intertwined); however, ungodliness is a little stronger term. The meaning is that it is evil because it is vicious and wicked. Where as, worldly lusts concerns chiefly things that are wrong because they conform to this world.

To live soberly, concerns the use of judgment and wisdom such as that which is from above.

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

Righteously, describes a life that is guided by the law of righteousness. This is that sound doctrine we looked at in detail within the body of the last lesson.

Looking For: At this point I want to use a statement that has stuck with me, “We are not citizens of earth trying to make it to heaven; Christians are citizens of heaven trying to make it through earth”. Note the words of Paul concerning this:

Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”

This thought is strictly given for the purpose of motivation and is carried forward in the next verse. Christians may have the blessed hope in this life, but they are looking for the fulfillment of it in the future.

Who gave Himself: This verse denotes the high price that was paid for us to be able to look towards our blessed hope. However, more importantly we learn just what the intent and purpose God intended to accomplish via this great sacrifice.

To redeem us, means to rescue us from bondage. The bondage that salvation rescues us from is that of the bondage of sin. This state or condition that every man suffers from was that for which Christ offered Himself as ransom. This cleansing of our sins takes place at the point when we obey the Gospel's message and requirements, note:

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins ; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

It is then one of the spiritual blessings in Christ that continues to offer up mediation or advocacy for our transgressions (a continuous mercy seat – propitiation), see: I John 1:5 - 2:2 .

Secondly, is that He intended through His death to create a special people. What would make these people special ?

1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

2 John 6 “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”

Exhort and Rebuke: Remember the formula we discussed in the beginning: knowledge + wisdom + motivation = His own special people, zealous for good works. It was Paul's hope, just as it is our Lord Jesus Christ's hope, just as it is God's hope that all men see this and comply (see: II Peter 3:9 ). However, for the sake of these brethren and the churches on Crete (as well as every church that may be lacking to this day), Paul would instruct Titus to exhort them (charge them to do their duty), and if they refuse to do their duty, rebuke them with the authority of the Gospel.

We must challenge ourselves everyday by this formula. Are we living as a special people? Are we thankful for salvation? Are we motivated to be zealous for good works? Do we even know what good works are expected of us? This is the difference between lacking and possessing qualities of a sound church by sound doctrine.