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April 2, 2020 1:00 am
Titus was preaching on the island of Crete and pulled the bathroom and that word Savior some container was used of the gods. Zeus and Apollo. In fact, Caesar took that word so tear the lock to be referred to as the Savior of the world. So, in his opening statement process does listen I we might as well offend the Emperor.
He is in the Savior and leader are Zeus and Apollo, the only true Savior of mankind and the world is Jesus Christ is the true and living the message to not offend another temptation is to try to be clever, but coming up with something unique and new to share. However, being true to God's word means simply being true to what the text says the more faithful we are to the message of the Bible, the more we bring honor to God in our teaching and ministry. The apostle Paul was passionate about God's word and he talked about that in the book of Titus today on wisdom for the heart. Stephen Davey takes us to that book and looks at Paul's passion for ministry.
This is part two of a lesson we began yesterday called all or nothing. There's another passion in Paul's opening statement of Titus is also passionate about God's presence with verse two in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie promise long ages ago and noticed the progression in Paul's opening statement. Learning living all the while looking for the appearing of Christ, he is the hope the blessed hope, this is now the hope of eternal iPhone discrediting further chapter 2 in all deserve some commas for that. But for now we need to understand that the word hope, we use it differently than the Greeks. Paul had something entirely different in mind, we use the word hope for something we hope will happen in the future are something we hope won't happen in the future.
It's a it's a future reality that might be better translated so we catch it, anticipating would not happen were anticipating in this case of eternal life, which raises a question on my mind I thought we arty had eternal life by what we do. We Artie possess eternal life. These things are written to you. You might know that you have presidents eternal life.
For some, 513, the believer already possesses eternal life in Christ. Paul is referring to something else here, something future is referring here to Titus about that final consummation of eternal life in Christ gathers us to himself. This is the glorious moment believers eagerly anticipate. In fact, Paul said in Romans chapter 8 verse 23 we are groaning for the day of redemption. In fact, you understand the context of of what he saying because of who we are groaning to be redeemed because of our flesh were groaning to be immortalized in glorified groaning for that to happen, but we be so certain that our hopes will be dashed in the future. Do we really have this thing and I can probably so sure you and I must've been to each other. We we we believe in really can't imagine publicist settled you so sure he answers. Further, verse two, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised God promised and God. Paul reminds us, is the God who cannot lie that Woodley translated the cannot lie God. There are some things that are impossible for God to do. Did you know that it cannot lie the glory of Israel will not live for simmer 1520 is impossible to write her papers in chapter 6, verse 18 is impossible for God to lie to gets his nature to you understand this promise is not from Paul. What we really hope Paul keeps his promise.
This is a promise from the apostles. It isn't the promise from the church human beings and human institutions can make promises and break them is our nature to break a promise is not the nature of God to break a promise quite settled its permanent regimen. Franklin wrote this in a quote of our new constitution is now established and has an appearance that promises permanency, but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and what taxes that are author made this humorous analogy wrote promises are like babies.
They are easier to make than to deliver what God promises God delivers that what you notice before you leave this Paul has an interesting phrase here eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised when long ages ago. The tenses use refer back to an event way in the past. The promise was made long ages ago only says that phrase two times in all of his New Testament letters. You can translated before times eternal, or before the world began, or before time began.
Whatever but you get the idea. Go back as far as you possibly can in before then. This promise was made. You know Paul means he means that your eternal life and mine is one of the oldest promises recorded for us in the Bible.
And Paul is also telling us that the promise of eternal is not only old. It's a promise that was the first meeting you and me. It was first and foremost, then, because we weren't around before the creation of time of anything. It was then made between the members of the triune God.
They promised each other. Imagine the father promising God the son, that eternal life will be part of the plan of redemption, the spirit, promising God the father the son and the spirit of the father collaborating.
Let's make a promise to each other that eternal life will be part of the coming plan of creation and redemption.
We would think it got promise, having a lesson he did, but we miss the point and inherence it. It is wonderful God the father, promising to God the son, and son, the spirit may been working to keep the promise between themselves that we are the benefactors of their own integrity because of that we can trust it will take place.
You know, that also means it also means that the plan of redemption for sinners did not come into existence after the fall of man, but before man was even created before time began.
God made a promise to himself this way, the crucifixion of Christ was not some emergency plan or following the crucifixion. The train got at an emergency meeting dinner and emerged what to do now you keep a step ahead of these humans I mean there are pills were learning as we go getting smarter open for us would say you how you handled the Peter preached in acts chapter 2 that the crucifixion was the responsibility of fallen man. However, it was part of the plan of God before the ramp next to 23. You say you are frying my circuit board. I know I know mine's right forever. Got up here. Think of this, to discover that the promise of eternal life was made before time between the members of the got it fixed. Got all the more infinite, all the more mysterious all the more amazing all the more glorious we know it's the truth because it leads our hearts in the wanting to live more for him and lasts for ourselves. It puts our feed on the path toward the genuine item which is godliness based on true and it causes.net to long for the fulfillment of the ages and the consummation of the plan of God which brings us into his presence forever and are flawed and are failing flesh is is forever put away and we are clothed in immortality and perfected in holiness. Paul the apostle was given a personal tour of heavily when the latter tells all about it. Sigrid chapter 12. No wonder he comes and serves as a model slave of God for us all passionate about God's people about God's truth about God's glory is passionately longing for the presence of God.
He seen the father's house. He has tasted with his senses.
The things that John describes in Revelation.
Some of them and can't wait to get there in the presence of God permanently if I'd even says that the charge I really like to leave you and me with him, but I don't profitable vice with a different perspective to have.
This is his passion.
Finally, Paul is passionate about God's assignment verse two. Again, in the anticipation of eternal life. I'll paraphrase it which God cannot lie.
Promise.
Before time began to notice verse three he writes, but at the proper time manifested his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior. Paul is saying here is that God is revealed his word, his log us derivative. He uses here Paul often use log us to refer to the gospel itself. God has intersected human history with the log us progression of dialogue as revealed through Old Testament prophets, and then the patriarchs and then the apostles intersecting our human history. At one point. Then comes the living lot gas God is revealed to mankind the gospel.
The mystery now the ages is is clearly given to us through Christ and his church. Ephesians chapter 5 or 32 and the only source the only way to understand it.
The only way to even begin to know it. The one true message about God.
The only effective way of finding them. The only way of potentially pleasing him. The only hope of forever being with him is in this log us the manifestation of his word. Paul emphasizes here the proclamation you notice that WordPress in your translation in the proclamation with which I have been entrusted. I have this sacred trust to proclaim it to, literally translated to preach it charisma.
Verse three chews of the preacher, the Harold Shirley that the the authentic Bible teacher, that believer who will deliver the truth here in this text is writing to a preacher in the word specifically applies to that man who is this Caruso on this preacher, this Harold, who was merrily delivering the message he's received. It was used in Paul's day for the Harold arrived and he delivered the message that the king gave him to deliver for the town Council instructed him to deliver. Paul is passionate about this assignment and he's gonna relate the same kind of urgency to Timothy and Titus and so often talked about the fact he solemnly charges Timothy in second Timothy chapter 4 verse one in the presence of God to preach the word to preach this lot gas preach the word I can remember with fondness. The inspiration I felt was is interested in his big stone slab mounted out of the central yard of the seminarian on one side of it was carved of the words simply preach the word I tell you something in our world today are evangelical American world title preacher is virtually disappearing, and it's obvious why because it it has a sense of dogma to it. It has a sense of absolute is to it it it sounds black-and-white. People will say to you, perhaps, and excited to meet. Don't preach to me. Don't preach to the Lord is a derogatory word preacher means you you're really caught up in in some kind of absolute auto gimme that back I watched over the last 10 years this thing just cycle even faster spiral I should say way I listen to evangelical pastors who are now preferring to be known as speaker only and in their sermons as talks or even lectures, or even here's the new buzzword conversation, I read one interview recently by one pastor as nearly 20,000 be listening and every Sunday. Explain how in that area that 42 Sundays out of the year. He addresses human relationships human topics human issues and other topics.
He views as relevant and uses a verse or two to buttresses talks 10 Sundays out of the year. He leads his church and studying a passage of Scripture.
Imagine the novelty 10 weeks out of the year and he said he prefers to to be referred to as a communicator.
Paul wrote to Timothy something.
By the way, and this is sort of a shot across, about 20 you can hear more and more about the but but it it's sounding what would Paul wrote to Timothy more and more antiquated stranger and stranger. He said to Timothy in person, 87, I was appointed a preacher current son is the same word he uses for Titus as he prepares Titus to go into battle with false teachers that circled the word truth in verse one and then I just drawn a line from that word down all the way to verse 15 I've circled the word myth. This is the battle Titus get ready to deliver to preach the truth the preaching of the lot gas does battle with myths and speculations he's going to stand up to creative speakers who are teaching error in myth and speculation, and there can outnumber their get outnumber so Paul effectively tells Titus, you are a proclaimer of the message of the King urine expositor a herald of God's truth and in here's why it's important not to denigrate the title.teacher or communicator was really doing all those things. But here's the here's the important thing a teacher can teach his own stuff communicator can come up with his own content.
He can choose his own words a speaker can originate his own message communicator can communicate his own opinion and defined, but not in expositor, not a herald, not a preacher and expositor. I herald a preacher is simply repeating and explaining what is been previously delivered me say this way, the pastor or Bible teacher who openly uses the Bible topically or randomly to protect his own opinions to support whatever he wants to say about the human issues were the man centered on discussion or conversation or whatever, never expounding on a passage or a narrative or book of the Bible.
He merely presents his point of view on life on the news on human relationships or whatever and then uses a verse or two up to sort of buttress that listen if all he does is use the Bible to reinforce what he wants to say and what he thinks is the danger his church without realizing it is actually being conformed to the mind of the pastor and not the mind of God. That's how you can have in in in recent months the church of thousands of people follow their pastor who is an apostate into accepting universalism that everybody's gonna go to heaven after all. And there's no really need to worry about how the gospel is redefined. If you read his writings. The cross of Christ is redefined and rewritten. Listen listen Titus listen all of you.
Timothy's for those of you women are teaching women in Bible studies listen, we are not original. If you come up with something and you think you know that's really and I never heard it before keeps studying. This was once for all delivered juices. God has delivered his logons. We simply read it, we simply translated, we outline it rather feebly. We explained that we illustrated.
We we impose it with verdicts a W toes or who fought Modernism in the early 1900s very unpopular man he once wrote in his reading the best of toes or the inventive world word was bitten putting together. He said he's the priest himself off every platform and out of every pulpit you've never read a W toes or he's worth reading when he said these words to preachers he once preached and he said we are not diplomats. We are prophets delivering thus saith the Lord, and our message is not a compromise. It is an ultimatum. That's why the word preacher is losing favor today we take you back in history for just a moment before I leave the subject. I wanted to hammer it as well as I could in the 1930s, the most popular pastor in America was on the cover of Time magazine. He refused to ever using the public. Words like sin, hell, damnation, salvation.
His name was Harry Emerson Fosdick. He preached by the way, to pack church.
The church was built by John D Rockefeller just for him after he was kicked out of the Presbyterian Church for heresy.
That'll tell you something, build a church that overlooks the Hudson River packed out his primary message with was that the church needed to relate to the audience.
The message of the church. He said needed to be positive and he wouldn't he would even talk about the needs of the people being central interview with Time magazine I read it at Harper's but that interview took place in 1928 he said. Listen to what he said who seriously supposes that one in 100 of the congregation cares what Moses or Paul meant in those verses the preacher should not end but begin with thinking about the audiences vital needs that's been changed in our generation felt and then let the whole sermon be organized around a constructive endeavor to meet those needs would also say that interview preachers who pick out texts from the Bible and then proceed to give their historic settings, their meaning in the context their place in the theology of the writer are grossly misusing the Bible. Nobody said who speaks to the public assumes that people are interested in the meanings of words delivered 2000 years ago. You gotta be kidding after them and everything got a church he did glazing on the mainline denominational disasters of the mid-20th century announcer the 21st century always so many others that follow this kind of thinking.
This is nothing more than this man's thinking, repackage loss of health and credibility in the church today is I believe to be directly laid at the feet of pastors who will not be preachers.
The refused to be Harold delivering and expounding on the words of God is a really any option for God's messengers is or any other message owing to those with full rights of the universe.
Three.
He says in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according that their last part of verse, but at the proper time manifested his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the suggestion of God: sorry, there's not another message.
It isn't up for a vote.
There are no alternatives in fact these numbers if you if you remove the cross, you have no forgiveness if you if you if you neuter the nature of an eternal mission God you take away the power of his promise we the slaves of God are preaching what he commands us. Titus would you notice the commandment is from God our Savior. Did you notice that Denver verse four Christ Jesus our Savior, equality, and deity. Wonderful statement, our Savior, one point Titus was preaching on the island of Crete and Paul throughout the Roman Empire.
That word Savior so Taylor was used of the gods. Zeus and Apollo.
They were mankind's Savior. In fact, Caesar took that word so tear. He loved to be referred to as the Savior of the world.
Justice enjoyed it.
He he he loved to be called the so tear the Savior of humankind. So, in his opening statement pulses ties listen, we might as well offend the Emperor and all the religious people in the Empire of our attic.
He isn't the Savior, and neither are Zeus and Apollo, the only true Savior of mankind and the world is Jesus Christ who is the true and living, preach the word Titus. Don't hold back its own Martin Luther, the reformer was given the credit for bringing about the great Reformation and on one occasion he asked the corrected somebody complementing later in his life. Looking back, he said these wonderful words, I simply preach the word of God and the word of God did everything else.
So are we slaves of God are we passionate for the faith of God's people are we passionate for God's truth. Are we passionate forgot or we passionately longing for God's presence. Are we passionate about God's assignment with every that is free from, may we be with that challenge. We conclude not only this lesson but this short series from the opening verses of the book of Titus. This is wisdom for the heart with Stephen Devi in today's lesson from the series called slave traits is entitled all or nothing, you'll find the series posted on our website. Wisdom online.org. You also find it on the wisdom for the heart If you'd like to dive deeper into your study of the book of Titus Stephen has a book in his wisdom commentary series called Titus.
This book makes a great resource for personal or small group study we can give you information if you call us today at 866-4850 48664824253 beginning next Monday, working to bring you a series of lessons designed to help you prepare your heart for the celebration of Easter tomorrow will take a break from our normal Bible teaching so that Stephen can answer some questions that have come in from listeners sure and join us for all of that here on wisdom for the heart