A New Life Is Possible
Titus 3:1-8
Today is New Year's Day. All over the world people are excited about a new year, a new beginning, a "clean slate" so to speak. Countless people have set certain "resolutions". A recent survey revealed that 35% hope to lose weight, 33% want to get fit, 31% plan to eat healthier, 14% want to spend more time with friends and family, 12% seek a better work-life balance. Of those who make a "new year's resolution" 80% will have given up in less than 3 months. I am not opposed to making resolutions, there is nothing wrong with attempting to improve certain areas of our lives.
We all have changes that we would like to make. But there are some who want more than to stop smoking or to shed a few pounds. There are many people who are searching for an entirely new life. The problem is that they are looking in the wrong places. My desire today is to show you that a new life is absolutely possible.
In our selected text the Apostle Paul recalls the glorious transformation that Jesus had brought about in his life. I would like to listen to his words recorded in Titus 3:1-8 and see that "A New Life Is Possible'.
We join Paul as he continues to instruct Titus as to what should be accomplished in the Church at Crete. In doing so Paul gives a great contrast between the "old man" and the "new man". Who better to describe the amazing transformation that Jesus can bring than Paul. His story is one of the greatest transformations in history. In the first few verses He calls on Titus to remind the people of Crete of what they had previously been taught. They too had been changed by the power of Christ. But it seems that they needed a reminder of certain responsibilities of this new life.
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
These remain important instructions for each and every born again Christian. The culture on the Isle of Crete was very hostile to the gospel. This area was corrupted and consumed by sin. But those who had been born again were expected to be different. Remember what we saw in 2:14 (Jesus) gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
This passage illustrates the change that comes through Christ. Perhaps you are searching for a change... maybe even a new life. That new life is possible, and it is possible because of God’s love, salvation, mercy, grace and because of God’s Son.
- Look with me to verses 3-4 as we see:
I. A New Life Is Possible Because Of God’s Love - v3 -4
Let's just admit... sometimes we can be “hard to love”. I am thankful for parents, children, and a spouse who possess unconditional love for me! Isn't it amazing how your family knows you better than anyone else and they love you in spite of yourself? Greater than that is the fact that God knows more about you than anyone. He knows your actions, He knows your thoughts, He knows what you have done, He knows what you are going to do and He loves you anyway. That my friend, is AMAZING!
In verse 3 Paul paints a picture of what we were before Christ. - v3 for we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. - This is a clear description of those who are without Christ.
a) “Foolish” – This means to be ignorant concerning the things of God
b) “Disobedient” – One who is rebellious toward God.
c) “Deceived” – Continually led deeper and deeper into sin by Satan.
d) “Serving divers lusts and pleasures” – One who is a slave to the desires of the flesh.
e) “Living in malice” – this refers to a lifestyle of evil.
f) “Envy” – Always grasping for more and desiring what others have.
g) “Hateful” – One who is mean-spirited and hard to get along with.
h) “Hating one another” – Walking without love for your fellow man.
I don’t know about you, but to me that describes someone who is hard to love! But notice what Paul says in verse 4 -“But after that …the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared…”
This means, in spite of who you are and what you have done God loves you! God knows us, yet He loved us enough to send His only begotten Son to make a way for us to one day be with Him!
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- A new life is possible because of God's love. Scripture also tells us that:
II. A New Life Is Possible Because Of God’s Salvation - v5b he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Salvation is “rescue from harm, destruction or danger”. That is what God did for us through the sacrifice of His Son! There was a great penalty due as a result of our sins. God sent Jesus to pay that sin debt in order to save us. We were destined for Hell and Jesus came and made a way of escape for us.
- Notice in verses 5 & 6 what Salvation through Christ did for us:
a) We were lost “He saved us”
b) We were defiled “He washed us”
c) We were dead “He made a way for regeneration”
d) We were empty - He filled us with His Spirit “ the renewing of the Holy Ghost”
Everything that we received in salvation came through God’s sacrifice of His Son. Notice verse 6 - “which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior”. If you are saved it is because of Jesus' sacrifice. If you have not been saved, I want you to know that Jesus went to the cross for you. He has made a way for you to have a new life and that new life starts with a new birth that brings salvation.
- There are certain elements of salvation that make this new life possible. Notice that:
III. A New Life Is Possible Because Of God’s Mercy v5a Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us
Because of God’s mercy, we do not receive the punishment that we deserve. Each and every person here deserves nothing more than an eternity in HELL! Nothing we could ever do would be sufficient enough to change the fact that we are deserving of Hell. But those who are saved have been delivered from that punishment. We have been delivered from condemnation. The reason that this is possible is found in verse 5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us
If you have never been saved you are headed for an eternity in the Lake of Fire. If you are tying to get to Heaven based on the fact that you are a good person ...this verse proves that you will never qualify. You can’t get to Heaven on your own! But God is merciful and He has made a way for you through His Son. God's mercy is available to you today and that mercy makes a new life possible!
- Intertwined with God's mercy is His Grace. Consider:
IV. A New Life Is Possible Because Of God's Grace - v7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Whereas mercy is not receiving what we do deserve...grace is receiving something that we could never deserve. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. Our works will never be enough but His grace is more than sufficient. Because of God's grace we are justified. Through Justification God pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ. God doesn’t just pardon our sins, He initiates a personal relationship with us. He walks with us intimately... He cares for us immensely and He blesses us immeasurably!
If God had just delivered us from our sin debt and freed us from Hell that would have much been more than we could ever deserve. But He went MUCH, MUCH farther. We are now HIS Children. He is our Heavenly Father. Then to top it off, God has prepared us an eternal home. There is a mansion waiting for us in the promised land. Not only can you have a new life, you can gain a new home as well and it's all because of GRACE!
Everything we have seen so far... God's Love, God's Salvation, God's Grace, & God's Mercy were all made possible because of Jesus Christ. If you seek a new life today, it is imperative that you realize the source. Verse 6 shows us that:
V. A New Life Is Possible Because Of God’s Son - v6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
Jesus left the glories of Heaven, came to this earth, took on a robe of flesh and became the ultimate sacrifice for sins! Everything He did He did for us! His life was amazing and He gave that life for you and for me! God sent His Only Son to be born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life, taught with authority, healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, cast out demons, walked on water, calmed storms with the sound of His voice. He gave the blind their sight, made the deaf to hear, the mute to talk, and the lame to walk. He even raised the dead.
In due time He laid down His life. Paid the ultimate sacrifice, rose from the grave. Ascended to Heaven, sat down at the right hand of the Father. He has provided atonement for our sins and He is making intercession on our behalf.
He has forgiven our sins, saved our souls from Hell, changed our lives and provided eternal life. He has gone to prepare a place, He promised to come again to receive us one day. He has defeated sin, Satan, death, Hell and the Grave.
Soon He will split the eastern sky with a shout, with the voice of an Archangel and the sound of a trumpet. He will call His children home. We will rise up out of this world of sorrow we will meet Him in the air AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH HIM!
You have the opportunity to be with Him forever as well. But you don't have to wait until then for a new life. Jesus can change your life forever and He can do so right here... right now!
Jesus came and made a way for you to experience God’s love, mercy, grace and salvation. Some of you may be basing your eternal destiny on the fact that you are a good person. You may be trusting in your morals, good works, baptism or church membership to get you into Heaven. None of these things are sufficient enough to produce eternal life. The only hope that you have for a new life... and for eternal life, is to put your faith, hope and trust in Jesus and His finished work at Calvary.
Some of you may be trying to clean yourself up before turning to Him. Stop trying, you can't do it. But if you will surrender to Jesus, HE can bring an amazing transformation into your life.
London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. "Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."
Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God's, the old life is over. He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the opportunity to build. (source: Ian L. WilsonSermonillustrations.com)
Today marks the beginning of a new year. There is no better way to begin this new year than with a new life. Even greater than the opportunity for a new life, is the opportunity for ETERNAL LIFE. These things are possible because of God's love, salvation, mercy, grace and ultimately because of God's Son. Friends, I can assure you, "A New Life Is Possible!"
