What’s the single most important lesson God wants to teach us as Christians? Once you meet Jesus and know Jesus; what’s the first, foremost, and primary lesson He wants us to learn? It’s simple: He wants to teach us to love like Jesus.
The single most important reason God put you on this planet is not to make money, not to have a lot of fun and die, not to simply fill up the day of your life; God put you here for Him to teach you to learn how to love.
Jesus was asked one time, “What’s the greatest commandment? In other words, what’s the most important lesson in life?” Jesus responded in this way, God put you here to learn how to love God and love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself.
If we don’t learn how to love, we miss God’s plan for our life
Transitional Sentence: How does Jesus love?
I. He Loves People We May Not Like
vs. 1-2- “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing consideration for all men.”
Explanation:
In Titus 3, we are given some simple principles of how to love the people in our lives that need our love that we might overlook.
Verse 1 begins simply by saying: “Remind them…” The word “remind” is in present tense. This means that Paul is instructing Pastor Titus who is launching churches all up and down the shoreline of Crete to “keep on” reminding the believers there to not forget a vital calling on the lives of Christians. He is to remind them of “how to love.”
He begins by reminding us that God has placed authorities and governments in our world with a God-given assignment; that is to protect and promote peace and provide a better place in our communities for everyone to live together in harmony and love.
Yet often governments to the opposite they become inhabited by self-serving people whose agenda is to promote themselves and opposed to protect and provide for the people they represent.
Already in the Book of Titus we have learned that Cretans we have known for being liars. As a matter of fact, they felt that the greatest badge of honor was the ability to deceive someone and get the upper hand on them.
On the other hand, the Jewish community did not like their neighbors on the Island of Crete and consistently preached and urged separation from the local culture. They huddled together and ignored others around them in fear that they would be spiritually contaminated by them.
Rather than live among the people and demonstrate the love and care for others; they kept to themselves and did nothing at all for others. They did not mix with the locals.
Now, before you throw these people under the bus, understand somethings about Cretan life.
If you traveled back to the island of Crete, you might understand what living in Crete was like. The were under Roman rule and the citizenry there had gained a reputation as being dissatisfied, disgruntled people who were always plotting conflict.
The one thing that connected the secular Cretans and the Jewish Cretans was planning a revolt. To add to this Crete had become a haven of pirates who were known for a self-serving independent lifestyle that answered to no authority.
They hated the Roman government that was self-serving itself. Jesus knew this world all too well. At any time in Jesus’ day in Israel, as well as Titus’ day on the Island of Crete a citizen would feel the flat side of a Roman spear on his shoulder and know right away according to the law they had to carry the Roman soldiers backpack one mile.
In that day they had mile markers like us. Ours look like this; theirs look like that.
A Roman mile was considered a thousand steps and in protest they would often count every step loudly and in boisterous hatred; stomping as they went saying, “ 1, 2, 3, 4, 999, 1000.” Then they would drop their pack on the ground.
Jesus probably carried his fair share of backpacks Himself but in Matthew 5:41 Jesus said: “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.”
Illustration: I’m standing up on the inside
This reminds me of the little girl that was riding in the car one day in her child’s safety seat. She decided to stand up while the car was moving and her mom said, “Honey, sit down.” The little girl refused.
After several requests, followed by commands, she still refused to sit down so her mom reached back and sat her down and said, “Don’t get up again!”
To which the little girl said: “I might be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up in the inside.”
Application:
God as put people in authority in our life; some are good people and some are bad people. Some have an agenda that is motivated by love and other authority is motivated by self-serving power.
Yet, Paul and Jesus teach us to “be subject” to rulers and authorities and to be ready for every good deed. In other words, despite their motive, to take charge of your own. Our motive should be to be like Jesus. To “perform good deeds for all men”- whether their authoritative motives are good or bad.
This gets personal quick. It means to love people you might not even like. But also, to submit to the authorities in our life such as:
a) Parents
b) Teachers
c) Supervisors
d) Elders and church leaders
e) Town councils
f) The IRS
g) For Bubba—the Wildlife Commission that says you need a hunting and fishing license
h) The Police Officer that pulls us over
i) The County every time we pay our property taxes.
Paul goes from preaching to meddling. What he is calling for would have been completely countercultural. That’s why they needed to “keep on” being reminded.
Do any of your need one of these reminders? If so, let me remind you that these reminders are coming from Jesus so that we can learn to love like him. When loving our neighbors, start with those in authority and with people you might not like. Jesus did.
Transitional Sentence: How does Jesus love?
II. He Loves People And It’s Unfathomable and Often Uncomfortable
vs. 3-7-“For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures spending our life in malice, envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us…”
Explanation:
In life, people rarely reach to the depths of loving others the way Jesus has loved us.
Verse 3 is like a mirror helping us see ourselves in the way God has seen us before His grace was applied to our account. What did God see before Jesus’ forgiveness and grace was given freely to us?
a) We were fools- (3:3) “For we also were foolish ourselves”- This word does not mean that we were lacking intelligence; the word means we were intellectually biased against any talk of God. We rejected the fact that we were accountable to God for anything.
b) We were disobedient- (3:3) “For we also once were …disobedient.” – This word means we were “rebels, and belligerent.” William Irwin Thompson described it this way: “We were like a fly crawling across the ceiling of the Sistine chapel blissfully unaware of the magnificent shapes and colors of the designs that surrounded us.” In other words, handiwork never caused us to consider the artist who created everything around us.
We washed every reference to God off the walls of our lives.
c) We were blind- (3:3)- “For we were deceived”- The word means: “duped and misled.”
We were blindfolded by the enemy from reality. Matthew 15:14 gives the picture
Saying: “And if the blind man guides the blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
d) We were bound- “For we were enslaved to various lusts and pleasures.” The word “lusts” means strong desires and appetites. The word “pleasures” is the Greek word hedone from which we get our word “hedonism.” The word “various” means: Multicolored. It’s like this. If you go to Sherman Williams and ask for “blue paint” they will tell you that they have 1700 color palettes of blue.
e) We were bitter- “For we were spending our life in malice and envy”- The words “malice and envy” is a serious set of words that means: “to make someone suffer.” It is a refusal to extend grace and hold back the type of love Jesus has given us.
If you understand the type of forgiveness God offers, it will make you uncomfortable. We are more comfortable with God’s judgment than we are His grace.
Illustration: Max Lucado: Could Jeffery Dahmer go to heaven?
Years ago, God challenged me with this as I read an article by Max Lucado called “Grace and Jeffery Dahmer.” I must admit, it shook my world. In the article he asked: “Did Jeffrey Dhamer go to heaven?” When I read the answer, I realized how deep God’s grace will go.
If you know the story it will mess with you. Jeffrey was a serial killer who murdered seventeen young boys between 1978 and 1991.
He rightfully identified him as a monster. Ultimately his sentenced was 941 years in prison.
Yet, while in prison though it is said that he became extremely remorseful, convicted of his sin, and ultimately came to Jesus asking for grace and forgiveness.
Later he was beaten to death by a fellow inmate on November 28, 1994. In the article he simply said: “Think in these things: Could Jeffrey Dahmer be forgiven and go to heaven?”
The article made me ask: “How deep does the grace of God go?”
Application:
What is hard for us to do is to is to reconcile these types of scenarios. The truth is that we all want God’s grace; but often, don’t want others to receive it.
I believe Paul struggled with grace for Himself. He received it on the Road to Damascus where he was on his way to imprison Christians. He was present at the stoning of Stephen. He was breathing out murderous threats against believers when Jesus showed up and said: “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?”
From the depths of His sin, He looked up to the Savior.
Understanding this he says vs. 4: “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared…”
Paul loved this word. The word is “epiphany”. Literally it means: Jesus showed up and showed us His love.
Paul discovered that while knew He did not deserve the grace of God; He received it. Paul knew He was a murderer who received God’s mercy.”
When Jesus shows up, what do we experience?
a) A Rich Redeemer- (vs. 4-5) – Kindness- Philanthropia- The word for “kindness” is the
word “philanthropia” from which we get our word “philanthropy.” God’s grace is like
a blank check from heaven. Jesus has an endless supply of forgiveness that was purchased by His own blood. He made the purchase because of His love.
b) A Complete Cleaning- (vs. 5- Washing)- The word “washing” reminds us of how dirty we were. We needed a cleaning so deep that it literally renewed us. It provided a brand-new beginning. It’s so deep that it’s not only “like being” brand new; you are brand-new
c) A Cancelled Debt - (vs. 7- Justified- The word “justified” means: Just like you never sinned. He takes your sins and casts them as far as the east than the west and puts up a no fishing sign.
For those that receive this grace; its unfathomable and in some way its uncomfortable because it’s so much more than anyone deserves.
It’s unfathomable to receive and it almost incomprehensible to offer to others. Yet, that’s what God has put us on earth for; to receive His love and to offer it to others. It’s a beautiful and difficult exchange at the same time.
Transition: What kind of love does Jesus offer?
III. Love For Those Who Choose It
Vs. 9-15- “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning knowing that such a man is perverted and sinning, being self-condemned.”
Explanation:
As Paul concludes this book, He make it clear that not everyone will receive the love of Jesus. ‘
Those that reject it love debate, deny, and seek to distract people from the core message of the gospel itself.
In Crete, one of the things that these people did was to try to stir up questions and controversies.
Therefore, in verse 9 Paul says: “Avoid foolish controversies…”
A few years ago, I had an atheist who wanted to have lunch with me. He prided himself in his ability to debate. I agreed to have lunch with him with one ground rule; we would not talk about God. I would not share the gospel with him, I would simply seek "to get to know him."
I know that sounds strange to you and it did to him as well. I told him I would like to get to know Him as a person. To share a conversation, a meal, and show value. He was a former Pastors son, I am too. I told him I would like to know what it was like for to be a “PK” (Preacher’s kid) because we had that in common.
I told him that in my opinion we were both men that God made, and I would like to hear his story. He had a story about how his life led him to reject God; mine was just the opposite. We both had a testimony with two different results.
He politely declined. I politely accepted the refusal.
Application:
Paul seems to agree with this. The reality is, I can’t save anyone; only God can. I can’t draw anyone to Jesus, although I pray the Holy Spirit does with the Bible I teach.
There were many distractions in Crete that people wanted to argue about:
a) They wanted to argue a theories and legends- There were over 1000 Jewish legends of them. People do that today. They make up legends about how the world was created saying it is 4.5 billion years old; when the Bible timeline tells us it is about 6000 years old. All I would like to say is: “I’ll trust the one who was there; God.
b) They wanted to argue genealogies- This was an argument about favoritism. They wanted to argue who God really loved. Jews rejected Gentiles saying that they were not part of God’s chosen people. Therefore, they rejected the gospel. The rejected John 3:16.
c) They wanted to argue the Old Testament Law- This was the favorite ploy of the Pharisees with Jesus. They rejected Him because He came to fulfill it and was Lord of it; they refused His teachings and although He proved He was the Messiah.
Paul called these arguments powerless, fruitless, and useless.
In the end, He calls us to set our sights on Jesus. To love Him and to lead like Him with the love God has provided for us knowing that everyone must make their own decision about Him.
In his final words he speaks of four godly men that displayed Jesus’ love for him personally.
1. Artemas- A man born to an idolatrous Gentile home and was named after the Greek god of fertility. But accepted Christ and became an assistant to Paul in the early church.
2. Tychicus- He delivered Paul’s letter to the Colossian church (Acts 20) He was obviously one of Paul’s closest companions. (His name means fortunate)
3. Zenas- He was a Gentile convert who was a lawyer, he is only mentioned here.
4. Apollos- He was a gifted orator. He was so well known that Paul was seen in authority as a Paul himself. They were partners and dear servants of the Lord together, especially in the church of Corinth.
He promises to send Artemas and Tychicus to assist in the churches. Then he asks them to send Zenas and Apollos to him. Why? We all have needs. Paul did. You do. We all do.
With this said, “Paul seems to be saying; we’ve been made for each other. We need each other. The world is changed by our connection to one another. Simply said: “They will know we are Christians by our love.”
No wonder God left us here on earth and created the church. We literally are His body, and we share the gospel the best, in this atmosphere of love.
Conclusion: Robert Chapman/Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon pastored a small church his whole ministry and was always mesmerized by the Christian witness of a man named Robert Chapman.
Spurgeon said that Chapman was the saintliest man in England. The reason? He said Chapman had learned how to love like Jesus.
Yet not everyone in England liked Chapman. A local grocer hated Chapman and when Chapman would do open air preaching the grocer would come by and spit on him and every time Chapman saw the grocer, he would verbally abuse Chapman, cursing him and speaking evil of him to everyone.
Chapman never retaliated.
The day came when some of Chapman’s wealthy relatives came to visited and insisted on buying his groceries and providing elaborate meals for him while they were visiting,
Being single and having little money he agreed on one condition; they would have to purchase their groceries from that man that insulted him for years.
His relatives knew nothing of the drama and were surprised that he wanted the groceries to be purchased at a place across town, but they complied, and they went and purchased more groceries than could be carried and the grocer agreed to deliver because it was such an extensive order.
When they gave him the address he was stunned and when the grocer delivered the groceries Chapman answered the door, and the grocer broke down in tears. That afternoon Chapman led the grocer to the Lord.
Invitation:
Today, are you willing to learn to love like Jesus. Let me warn you, it takes a lot of humility. It takes a bravery. It will bend you; but it won’t break you. But, in the end, you will bear the image and marks of Jesus more than ever in your life.
It’s a choice.
Where do we start? We start with surrendering our hearts and lives to Jesus for His control and His hands to shape and mold them the way He wants to mold them.
It starts with Jesus’ love. It starts with His grace. He will take it from there.
