Expectations For Godly Living-Part 6

EXPECTATIONS For GODLY LIVING-VI—Titus 2:1-15

Attention:

In order for God’s people to properly elevate & honor God thru Jesus Christ, there are certain ‘aspects’ of faithful living that that they are EXPECTED to fulfill!

Need:

There is an ultimate ‘fulfillment & satisfaction’ that CAN come to your life!

BUT that ‘fulfillment & satisfaction’ can ONLY come to you thru YOUR participation in GOD’s Expectations for Godly Living!

Titus was exhorted by the apostle Paul, to expose God’s people to the expectations for godly living.

All God’s people are answerable to His expectations for godly living.

What are some expectations for godly living by God’s people?

What are some expectations for godly living?

Last week we found:

That those ‘expectations for godly living’, are lived-out thru APPROPRIATE...

1. DIRECTION(:1, 15)

2. MATURITY(:2-8)—

3. BOND-SERVICE / Employment(:9-10)

AND today we’ll find that:

4—Another expectation for godly living is...

APPROPRIATE MOTIVATION(:11-13)

Explanation:(:11-13)Rationale

2:11—“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,”

2:12—“teaching us that, denying ungodliness & worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, & godly in the present age,”

2:13—“looking for the blessed hope & glorious appearing of our great God & Savior Jesus Christ,”

?Why should ‘God’s people’ live the way God expects them to?...

2:11—“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,”

“For”—The previous expectations/arguments only hold sway, because of a past action of God’s, that He “graciously” provided, “for” your sake!

God’s “grace” is what “brings” “salvation” to & for “all men.”

“The grace of God” has been awe-inspiringly manifested(made plain/revealed/made visible) to us in the person of “Jesus Christ”!

God’s “gracious” “salvation”—Jesus of Nazareth, the Lord’s Christ—“has appeared to all men.” So His presence is a historical reality which cannot be argued against!...

Once God’s “salvation” in Christ, had been initially accomplished, it encompassed all people of all time & remains in force even until now, & into the future on earth!

**So, Everyone is answerable to YHWH God, whether they personally acknowledge Him or not!

*So it is up to You to decide whether He is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord!

2:12—“teaching us that, denying ungodliness & worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, & godly in the present age,”

“The grace of God that brings salvation” to “all men”(:11), is the ultimate instructor(“teaches”) of those who are receivers of that “grace.” BUT just because “teaching” is accepted & received, does not mean that we are undergoing some psychological ‘behavioral manipulation.’ Instead God’s “teaching” is a work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer!

“Deny”—To disregard your own interests, or to go contrary to your desire.

•God’s “grace” in Christ Jesus instructs us to cautiously & actively “live” out a continual “denial” of everything that originates from “ungodliness.” God-deniers are utterly consumed by the “worldly lusts” of “ungodliness”!

“Ungodliness”—A Lack of reverence & respect for God himself & all that is associated with God.

“Worldly lusts”—Are pervasive, ubiquitous, ever-present, global, universal, flesh-driven desires, that simultaneously serve self, while dismissing God along with His revelation of Himself.

•God’s Grace in Christ Jesus, instructs us to “Live” particularly & specifically, in defiance of that “ungodliness & worldly lust” that surround us. Such a defiance is a result of the economy established by “the grace” which has appeared(:11)....

Instead of living for self & the world, the “Grace” of Christ Jesus, granted to God’s people, instructs them:

• To “Live” Sensibly & be of sound mind(“soberly”)—as a person in whom complete & perfect soundness is attributed to God in all His ways.

•To “Live” “Righteously”(justifiably/rightly/properly)—as a person in whom God is truly justifiable & right in all His perfections.

•To “Live” “Godly”(dutifully/loyally/devoutly)—as a person in whom God is truly ‘Lord’ of your life.

...“in the present age,”

This “present age” is the ‘church “age.”

The ‘church “age” is the same “age” in which Paul wrote these words to Titus.

The ‘church “age” will continue until God wields His final judgment upon earth.

?What is keeping YOU from being Motivated toward living “godly in” this “present age”?

2:13—“looking for the blessed hope & glorious appearing of our great God & Savior Jesus Christ,”

The catalyst for a truly godly-Christian lifestyle, is our ‘super-natural’ world view/perspective/vision, granted to us by the sacrifice of Christ, & empowering us thru God’s Holy Spirit.

A person’s world view/perspective/vision determines their lifestyle!

Those who live within the bounds of God’s “grace” in “Christ”, will continuously look for the “appearing” of “Christ” in the full glory of His deity—Jesus is openly declared to be God, & Savior, & Christ(Messiah).....

The “grace” that is ours thru “our great God & Savior Jesus Christ.”, is seen by many as ‘incredible’, ‘unbelievable’, & therefore ‘unapproachable’ & ‘untouchable.’

•Whether this is a designation of Jesus’ deity, versus a separation of “our great God” from “Savior Jesus Christ”, has been debated by biblical scholars for centuries. However that it speaks to the Divinity of Christ, holds more credence...