Joining Titus for a study in GOOD #5
There’s a defining moment in the whole of history where everything changes. God’s relationship with human beings is changed forever. It’s a pivotal point. Nothing will ever be the same again. At the moment Jesus gives his last breath, his body hanging limp there on the cross, the curtain of the temple is torn in two from top to bottom. It is finished. Jesus has done what he came to earth to do. The significance of what Jesus has done is explained beautifully in the Book of Hebrews.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22
For the first time, human beings can enter into direct relationship with the one true God. When the curtain is torn in two, the way is opened up for each one of us to approach God, to enter into a right relationship with Him. This is the new and living way that Jesus promised. This is the new and living way that Paul is teaching about as he travels all over the known world. This new and living way is the way God always intended life on earth to be.
Each one of us has the opportunity to experience our own defining moment. It may be a single point in time or happen more gradually over a period of time. But when we come to realise the truth of this miraculous event, we too can turn around and enter into this new and living way for ourselves. That’s what repentance means – turn around.
There’s a before and after: how we lived before we entered into this truth and how we live now. That’s what Paul is expressing here in this extract of his letter to Titus. At one time we were this, now this is the new and living way…
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. Titus 3:1-11
As Christians, we don’t do GOOD things because we have to to earn our salvation. Jesus has already dealt with all that on our behalf. This is what makes the Christian faith unique – that we cannot earn our salvation but that it is a free gift arising out of God’s mercy and grace.
And life as a Christian is not about earning a series of stars by performing a series of GOOD deeds. This new and living way is about a complete change of heart and attitude 24/7: always respectful, always obedient, always ready to do whatever is GOOD, always careful with our words, always peaceable and considerate, always gentle toward everyone. Always.
We are not what we were. We’re better than that. We’ve been changed from the inside out. There’s no excuse. We’ve been shown a new and living way. So walk in it. There is no place in our lives for foolishness, disobedience, addiction to all kinds of passions and pleasures, malice, envy and hate. Now it is all about receiving and expressing the kindness and love of God our Saviour. And when the opportunity to do GOOD things comes our way, we embrace it with open arms as the opportunity that it is, without any sense of duty and obligation. We do what is GOOD because that is the best way to live, God’s perfect way, the way He always intended human beings to live. That’s how He created the world to work.
So let’s not waste any more time arguing. We will not always agree on everything but we can learn to disagree well. Let’s instead put all of our energies into working together for GOOD.
