Paul identifies something spectacular that happens when we are transformed by a generous, loving and good God. Grace begets grace. Grace makes us gracious. God makes us gracious in the most difficult circumstances. God turns self-centered and self-absorbed hearts into hearts that are ready for every good work. God’s grace makes us peaceful, gentle and humble in the most painful circumstances (Titus 3:1-2).
Grace teaches us by the power of the Holy Spirit to 1) unpack who we are in Jesus Christ and 2) shed who we aren’t any longer. As grace unleashes who we are in Christ, we will begin to shed ungodliness and worldly lusts and liver soberly, righteously and godly in the present age.
Paul is presenting an alternative to the self-absorption of his day. Paul declares, “Young men, what you are looking for comes through the Spirit lead process of denying yourself, delaying gratification and pursuing true meaning in Jesus Christ.”
What Paul is about to declare in marriage is alienating to the world we live in. The younger women in Crete were living promiscuous lives and abandoning their husbands, children and homes and Paul has some very specific exhortations.
According to Paul in the Book of Titus, when you and I find ourselves in the fourth quarter of life, God calls us to live until we die. Our constant question needs to be: How can I be used by Almighty God to proclaim the wonders of His Son’s grace, to shine His glory, truth and grace in very dark places?
God wants us at the end of our lives – however many years He gives us – to apply our hearts to wisdom. He wants us to serve the younger generations by making disciples of all the nations, praying always, loving our spouses, mentoring our children and grandchildren, blessing our neighbors and seeking first the kingdom of God.
Here are Paul’s great words to Titus and the Cretan elders: don’t let someone who is impure tell you how to become pure! These false teachers aren’t pure, and because they aren’t pure they can’t produce anything pure from the asceticism and the commands of men. They can’t produce purity from the outside in. It needs to come from the inside out, not the outside in.
Most of us believe this: “False teaching exists out there but it really doesn’t affect us. It doesn’t really impact our kids either. We are the good guys! We are the church that teaches the Bible every week and has precise doctrinal statements. Somehow the arms of false teaching can’t reach us.”
As the world clamors for your giftedness, talents and expertise, God clamors for an opportunity to transform your character. He wants to heal, build trust and call out your new nature that He has placed in you through His death and resurrection.
As an elder team and as a church, we get our nourishment from the head of our body, Jesus Christ. Our greatest desire is for Jesus to be given opportunities to lead, nurture and shepherd His church.
