 | Have you ever felt the frustration rise as your brother or sister in the Lord, a co-worker, or even a family member asks your forgiveness for the umpteenth time for the same slip up? Have you had to hold your tongue as you think when will they ever learn or grow up? Yes, the temptation to become a world renowned cynic can get to be overwhelming, but today we learned that God is not like that with us, even though we give Him ample cause to be cynical. So let’s look at today’s text from Titus 3:1-8 and see the remedy for cynicism that the pastor revealed. |
As we see from the text, Paul is telling Titus to remind those he was teaching to live a certain way; not to slander, avoid fighting, be kind and exhibit gentleness.
This was not because he was trying to re-establish the law, but because we were once like the very ones we are tempted to judge and have a cynical attitude about. The Christianity we are called to live out is not based on external rules but on the new life Jesus has given us.
As we read in verse 3, we were also the foolish, the disobedient, the deceived, the slaves of our passions, the hateful and envious ones. God came to save us all. He poured out His spirit abundantly through Jesus for all mankind. It is only by His grace that we have been justified. There are those who have been enlightened (regenerated) by the Spirit of God so that we can receive what He did that for us. There are still those who have not been enlightened to this truth, and those who have been awakened to the good news but have been deceived into thinking that they had a hand in it or at least have to maintain it on their own. These are the ones we are to show mercy and kindness to, because He has been merciful to us.
God, above all others in creation, has a right to be cynical. Throughout recorded time, God has been subjected to our rebellion, our repentance and begging for favor and grace, and continued inability to fulfill the countless promises we have whispered or wailed out in the midst of our trials. Despite of all of our shortcomings, out pleading and bargaining, and our outright defiance, He still loves us unconditionally. He still showed us mercy by coming to earth in the form of man, living the perfect life we miserably failed at, and took our place of judgment of death. He then defeated death and made His righteousness available to us to freely receive. As Pastor Ellery put it, our greatest victory took place on the worst day in God’s history, the death of His Son.
So because of this mercy we were given, we have the ability through Him to show mercy and kindness to others, no matter how many times they break their promise to change for the better. Grace does not discount or play down sin, God has already dealt with it through His Son on the cross. The price Jesus paid for our sin allows us to experience the grace He has always shown to us. Now we can show His grace to those around us that so desperately need to see it.
This was not because he was trying to re-establish the law, but because we were once like the very ones we are tempted to judge and have a cynical attitude about. The Christianity we are called to live out is not based on external rules but on the new life Jesus has given us.
As we read in verse 3, we were also the foolish, the disobedient, the deceived, the slaves of our passions, the hateful and envious ones. God came to save us all. He poured out His spirit abundantly through Jesus for all mankind. It is only by His grace that we have been justified. There are those who have been enlightened (regenerated) by the Spirit of God so that we can receive what He did that for us. There are still those who have not been enlightened to this truth, and those who have been awakened to the good news but have been deceived into thinking that they had a hand in it or at least have to maintain it on their own. These are the ones we are to show mercy and kindness to, because He has been merciful to us.
God, above all others in creation, has a right to be cynical. Throughout recorded time, God has been subjected to our rebellion, our repentance and begging for favor and grace, and continued inability to fulfill the countless promises we have whispered or wailed out in the midst of our trials. Despite of all of our shortcomings, out pleading and bargaining, and our outright defiance, He still loves us unconditionally. He still showed us mercy by coming to earth in the form of man, living the perfect life we miserably failed at, and took our place of judgment of death. He then defeated death and made His righteousness available to us to freely receive. As Pastor Ellery put it, our greatest victory took place on the worst day in God’s history, the death of His Son.
So because of this mercy we were given, we have the ability through Him to show mercy and kindness to others, no matter how many times they break their promise to change for the better. Grace does not discount or play down sin, God has already dealt with it through His Son on the cross. The price Jesus paid for our sin allows us to experience the grace He has always shown to us. Now we can show His grace to those around us that so desperately need to see it.
John Clark
John Clark is a husband to Julie, a father of one son living in Valrico, Florida. He has an Associate Degree of Theology from Life Christian University, and serves at Life Center of Brandon where he is a teacher and writer.