Lesson 14
The Foundation of Our Faith-The Books of I & II Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
Living the Life of a Christian
August 31, 2003

Focus Thought
To be a Christian is more than just profession. True Christianity also
involves walking according to the Spirit and living a life that is pleasing
to the Lord.

Scripture Reference
II Corinthians 5:17; 7:1
Ephesians 4:24
I Peter 5:10-13
Jude 1-4

Expositional Passage
Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man
despise thee.

Titus 3:1-6
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, shewing all
meekness unto all men.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived,
serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and
hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy 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.

Focus Verse
Titus 3:8
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to
maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

LESSON OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
I. LIVING BY THE GRACE OF GOD
 A. Grace Brought Salvation
 B. Grace Teaches Righteous Living
II. LIVING WITH THE BLESSED HOPE
      A. The Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ
      B. Constant Repetition of This Truth
III. LIVING FOR ANOTHER WORLD
      A. We Should Be Good Citizens
 B. We Should Be Good Christians
 C. We Should Remember
CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
      The life that a Christian lives is to be victorious and free from sin.
God desires to save mankind from his sin, not in his sin. In writing to the
church at Rome, the apostle Paul asked, "What shall we say then? Shall we
continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are
dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2).
      Many people call themselves Christians, but the title alone does not
make one a Christian. The Scriptures reveal that the disciples were first
called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26). They were given that title not so
much because of their verbal witness but because of the lifestyle that they
lived. True Christianity involves living a Christ-like life.
      Anyone can claim to be an astronaut but until one has gone through the
training and done the work of an astronaut, the claim is invalid. The same
holds true in regard to claims of Christianity. Only those individuals who
have experienced salvation in Christ Jesus and who follow Christ in their
lifestyles are really Christians. In the lesson today we will learn that
there is much more to being a Christian than the mere use of the title. True
Christianity is a lifestyle.

I. LIVING BY THE GRACE OF GOD
      "Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me!" The
words of the old hymn by John Newton have resounded from the lips of
Christians since this former slave-trader-turned-preacher wrote it more than
two hundred years ago. Truly there is no other word that can describe the
grace of God as well as "amazing."

A. Grace Brought Salvation
      "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
 men" (Titus 2:11).
      Without doubt the grace of God is the most wonderful of all the topics
of the Bible. There was no mandate that God must extend His grace to
mankind. He simply did so because of His love for that which He had created
in His image! Mankind reeked with the stench of sin stains upon his soul,
and he did not and does not deserve the mercy of God; yet He has extended
mercy to us because of His grace. Oh, what a mighty God we serve!
      In the New Testament the primary Greek word for grace is charis, which
means, "graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or
concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence
upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):
KJV-acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality,
pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy)" (Strong's Concordance). Thayer defines charis
as, "1. properly, that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness,
charm, loveliness: grace of speech; 2. good-will, loving-kindness, favor:
Luke 2:52; 3. what is due to grace; a. the spiritual condition of one
governed by the power of divine grace; b. a token or proof of grace, II
Corinthians 1:15; 4. thanks I Corinthians 10:30" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).
      Another definition that many have assigned to grace is "unmerited
favor," which well describes the fact that humanity cannot deserve, earn, or
merit the approval of God. However, through the advent of Jesus Christ, God
bestowed His grace upon mankind. God did not search for one who was willing
to be a sacrifice for man's sins; no other was qualified. Rather, God robed
Himself in human flesh for the purpose of redeeming mankind. The Holy Spirit
caused a holy conception in a virgin named Mary and Jesus Christ was
born-both Son of God and Son of Man. This event known as the Incarnation was
God in man, divinity in humanity. Jesus Christ was born to live a perfect
and sinless life as man, and finally to give His life as a sacrifice for sin
to make salvation available to all mankind.
      John 3:16 records the famous words that reveal how God brought
salvation to all mankind: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life." So great and gracious is our God that He extends His
grace to all people, regardless of their past, race, color, or previous
religious preference.
      God revealed His lack of bias to the apostle Peter as he preached to
the Gentiles assembled at Cornelius's house: "Then Peter opened his mouth,
and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons" (Acts
10:34). The Holy Spirit spoke of this same lack of prejudice to John the
Revelator: "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely"
(Revelation 22:17).
      God does not desire for any of those created in His image to spend
eternity in a lake of fire. His will is for all mankind to be saved and to
spend eternity in His presence.
      Since the beginning of the church on the Day of Pentecost, there have
been some who have perverted and frustrated the grace of God. The church
always has had to deal with these; it is not new. The apostle Paul wrote to
the churches of Galatia to try to correct a wrong concept of law and grace.
There must be balance between legalism and license, which is liberty taken
to an extreme. Either one perverts the grace of God. From Jude 4 it is clear
that some perverted the grace of God in the early church.
      "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old
ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God
into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus
Christ" (Jude 4).
      "Lasciviousness" translates from the Greek word aselgeia, which is
"unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness,
outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). God's
grace is bountiful and available to all, but we must not pervert His grace
through unbridled lust or through any excess.
      It also is entirely possible to frustrate the grace of God and thus
make it of no effect. To frustrate God's grace is to prevent it from
accomplishing its purpose. For example, many of the people of Israel
frustrated God's grace. (See Matthew 23:37.)
      Many of the people of Israel had for hundreds of years refused to
listen to the Word of God as proclaimed by the prophets. God sent man after
man to preach to His people, trying to turn them to the way of
righteousness. However, they refused to listen, choosing rather to tread the
paths of iniquity, thus frustrating the grace of God. God will not cause
anyone to go to hell. Rather, the individual that chooses to ignore the Word
of God, to frustrate God's grace, will destine himself to be eternally lost.
      In his general epistle to the church, the apostle Peter wrote
concerning some of the positive aspects of the grace of God. (See I Peter
5:10-13.)
      Of all the apostles, perhaps Peter felt he was the greatest recipient
of the grace of God. Peter had been one of the members of the "inner circle"
of the twelve, but he, like the others, deserted Jesus in the Garden of
Gethsemane. Though he did follow Jesus to the trial, to Pilate's hall, and
to the home of Herod, the Scriptures state that he "followed him afar off."
      Although he had been boastful about his dedication to Jesus just a few
hours earlier, when it became necessary to demonstrate his dedication rather
than just speak of it, he became cowardly. How often this is true even
today! Many boast of being Christians, telling all who will listen; but when
it comes time to demonstrate Christianity through their appearance, their
attitude, and their association with others, their actions do not agree with
their words.
      The Christian life should be evident through a person's appearance and
example. After Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples
scattered. Peter warmed himself by the fire of the servants of the high
priest, trying to disappear inconspicuously into the crowd. He even tried to
emulate the language of those around him that night. He cursed, swore, and
denied knowing the Lord in a vain attempt to try to persuade those servants
around the fire that he was not a disciple of Jesus, but to no avail; they
knew he was a follower of Jesus. We must not be ashamed to associate with
Jesus and we must not try to blend in with the world around us.
      "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be
ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels"
(Mark 8:38).
      Regardless of frustration or anger that may well up within, a
Christian should never allow evil or corrupt communication to come from his
mouth. Speaking vile words is evidence of a heart that is not fully
submitted to the Master's cleansing power. Jesus said, "For out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34).
      In spite of the corruption in Peter's life at the time of his denial
of Christ, God extended His grace to him.
      "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the
word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt
deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly" (Luke 22:61-62).
      When Jesus looked at Peter, it was not a look of condemnation but a
look of compassion. So powerful was the grace of God evidenced in that look
that Peter went out and shed bitter tears of genuine repentance, taking full
advantage of God's grace. When he later wrote his first epistle, he spoke of
grace from the vantage point of one well acquainted with grace. It is no
wonder he referred to the grace of God as "the manifold grace of God" (I
Peter 4:10).

B. Grace Teaches Righteous Living
      "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12).
      There are many people today who have a great misconception of the
grace of God. The grace of God is not a license to commit sin; it is the
power through God's forgiveness to rise above a life of sin. It is a
positive influence, which the apostle Paul indicated would teach us how to
live in this world (Titus 2:12).
      1. To Deny Ungodliness. The word "ungodliness," found in Titus 2:12,
comes from the Greek word asebeia, which means "lack of reverence toward
God, impiety, ungodliness" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). Too often today there
is little or no reverence for God or for the house of God. Respect for God
is the basis for godly living. If a person has no respect or reverence for
God, he is likely to fall into all sorts of evil. But the grace of God
teaches us to turn from lifestyles of ungodliness.
      2. To Deny Worldly Lust. "Worldly" translates from the Greek word
kosmikos, which means, "of or belonging to the world; 1. relating to the
universe; 2. earthly: Hebrews 9:1; 3. worldly, Titus 2:12" (Thayer's Greek
Lexicon). The word "lusts" comes from the Greek word epithumia, which means,
"desire, craving, longing: Luke 22:15" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).
      God has always expected His people to separate themselves from the
world system and its entanglements. Obviously, we are in the world, but
Jesus said that we are not "of the world" (John 15:19). (See also I John
2:15-17.)
      The Scriptures instruct the people of God to set their goals and
desires on things that are above, not on the temporal things of this world.
To have a strong desire for the things of God is to be in tune with the
Spirit of God. God's grace teaches us to lay up treasures in heaven and not
to desire the things of this world.
      Not only does the grace of God teach us to deny the negative
(ungodliness and worldly lusts), but it also teaches us to accentuate the
positive-to live righteously and holy in this present world. In writing to
Titus, the apostle Paul noted three areas in which the grace of God teaches
us in a positive manner.
      3. Soberly. One meaning of the word sober is "devoid of frivolity."
Consequently, some people have wrongly concluded that Christians are to be
somber, straight-faced, with no laughter or merriment in their lives. The
word soberly used in Titus 2:12, however, does not denote such an idea.
Rather, it translates from the Greek word sophronos, which means, "with
sound mind, soberly, temperately, discreetly" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).
Christians are indeed to be sound-minded in their daily lives and to be
discreet in their actions. We must always guard our witness and be conscious
of the effect our actions might have on others. God's grace teaches us to do
so.
      4. Righteously. The term "righteously" refers to being agreeable to
that which is right, to agree to the law of moral rightness. When the term
Christian is applied to a person, it obligates him to live righteously and
to uphold the moral righteousness of God's Word. Many have, as Jude wrote,
turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. They claim to be Christians,
but they have failed to uphold the moral righteousness that God expects of
His children. The person who truly accepts the grace of God will allow it to
teach him to follow after God in righteousness.
      5. Godly. The term godly can be defined as "godlike or supremely
 good." The premise that man cannot be supremely good or godlike because of
his sinful nature is basically true. However, the Bible is replete with
admonitions for the people of God to be holy as He is holy. (See Leviticus
19:2; 20:7; I Peter 1:15-16.) While it is obviously impossible for a person
to attain to the perfection of God, it should be the desire of every
Christian to achieve a Christ-like nature and to be as much like Jesus as
possible. The world in which we live has its attractions and its pull on the
spirit and nature of mankind. Within himself man cannot break free from the
pull of the world. It is only through the Spirit of God dwelling within that
it is possible to be set free from the magnetic attraction of worldly lusts.
      In order to live a holy life in this present world, one first must
have the desire to live pleasing to God and to follow His direction. A
person must become like a lump of moldable, usable clay in the hands of the
Master Potter.

II. LIVING WITH THE BLESSED HOPE
      One of the greatest aspects of living the Christian life is that there
is hope! Regardless of how bleak or dark the situation may appear, there is
always hope! The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "There hath no
temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I
Corinthians 10:13). The apostle did not promise that we could avoid
temptation; he only promised a way to escape. The key phrase is "that ye may
be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13). He gives us hope that we will be
able to hold up under the pressures of every temptation we may face.

A. The Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ
      It is important to realize that Titus 2:13 continues the idea of verse
twelve. Christians live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present
world because of their blessed hope of the return of Jesus Christ for His
bride.
      As our Savior, Jesus Christ gave Himself to be a sacrifice for our
sins. Under the Old Testament law, animal sacrifices were made to atone for
the sins of Israel, but the blood of animals could not purge mankind of his
sins. (See Hebrews 10:4.) The process only postponed the judgment of Israel'
s sins, rolling them forward one year at a time. But when Jesus laid down
His life for mankind and became the sacrifice for sins, His blood forever
washed away the sins of those who would receive His work of redemption.
      "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world" (I John 2:2).
      The word "propitiation" translates from the Greek word hilasmos, which
Thayer's Greek Lexicon defines as, "an appeasing, propitiating; the means of
appeasing, a propitiation." God's righteousness required that mankind be cle
ansed of his sins if he were going to have fellowship with God. His
righteousness demanded that blood must be shed in order for man's sins to be
remitted. (See Hebrews 9:22.) The only blood capable of appeasing that
demand was blood that was untainted by sin in any way. Since all of mankind
was tainted by a sinful nature, He robed Himself in flesh and shed His
sinless blood to compensate for the sins of all humanity.
      Some might ask, "Why would God make such a sacrifice for mankind?" The
answer is simply that He did it to redeem us unto Himself. (See II
Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:20.) Without the redemptive work of Calvary,
mankind would never have been able to enjoy a relationship or fellowship
with God. The sacrifice that Jesus made on Calvary opened the door for all
who would to enter into an eternal fellowship with Him.
      Along with redemption, Jesus shed His precious blood for man's
regeneration. (See Titus 3:5.) The word "regeneration" invokes the concept
of re-birth, renovation, or a total renewal, which is exactly what must
happen to one who comes to God in redemption.
      "Repent" means to turn around, so clearly when one repents of his sins
he must turn from those sins to a new life in Christ. The apostle Paul
wrote, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things
are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17).
Paul was not implying that the old way of life no longer has any effect upon
us if we continue in sin; rather, we are to turn from those things to a
completely new lifestyle in Jesus Christ. He stated that "all things become
new," not "some things become new." The change in a person's life must begin
in the heart and radiate to the external issues. The change that comes about
through one's turning from his old ways to the new is called regeneration.
      In his prophecy to the nation of Israel, Habakkuk stated, "The just
shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). "Just" refers to a righteous
individual, one whose heart is right with God and who is living his life
according to God's plan. The Hebrew word translated "faith" in Habakkuk 2:4
is emuwnah and it refers to "firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, or
steadiness" (Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon). The apostle Paul quoted
Habakkuk (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38) and used the Greek
word pistis, which has the same basic meaning as the word written by the Old
Testament prophet. A righteous individual will be steady, firm, and
steadfast in living for God.
      "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that
are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called"
(Jude 1).
      Another vital part of living the Christian life is sanctification. New
Unger's Dictionary defines sanctification as "separation from the secular
and sinful and setting apart for a sacred purpose." The apostle Peter and
the apostle Paul alluded to sanctification in referring to the people of God
as a peculiar people (I Peter 2:9; Titus 2:14). God's people are to be
different from the world-not merely different in the fact that they attend
church but different in every aspect. For the true people of God there must
be a separation, a line of demarcation, that divides them from the world.
Just as water and oil cannot mix, neither can the world or the things of the
world mix with the Spirit of God.

B. Constant Repetition of This Truth
      In giving the great commission to His disciples, Jesus told them to go
into the entire world and preach the gospel. Later, just prior to His
ascension from Mount Olives, He reiterated to the disciples the command to
be witnesses (Acts 1:8). The apostle Paul repeated that mandate to Titus in
stating, "These things speak, and exhort" (Titus 2:15). It has been said
that God never saved anyone just to warm the pew. Rather, He expects
everyone to reach out to his fellowman and propagate the gospel of Jesus
Christ.

III. LIVING FOR ANOTHER WORLD
      "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (I Peter 2:11).
      The apostle Peter understood that the followers of Jesus Christ are
not at home in this world but are merely "strangers and pilgrims" on their
way home. It has been stated that a fugitive is one running away from home,
a vagabond is one who has no home, a stranger is one who is away from home,
and a pilgrim is one who is on his way home. The Christian lives the
separated life in preparation for going home.

A. We Should Be Good Citizens
      Jesus declared that which marks a person: "Wherefore by their fruits
ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). One vital component of displaying the
fruit of the Spirit as a Christian is being a good citizen of the community.
      "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates, to be ready to every good work" (Titus 3:1).
      A Christian is subject to the laws of the land and he should abide by
them or he will pay the civic penalty for not doing so. Only when the laws
of man violate or contradict the laws of God is a Christian justified in
transgressing man's law. Even in such a circumstance one's attitude and
spirit should remain Christ-like.

B. We Should Be Good Christians
      "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all
meekness unto all men" (Titus 3:2).
      Being a Christian is not merely taking on a title but it is adopting a
totally new lifestyle. This new lifestyle encompasses a change in heart,
attitude, mindset, dress, the company one keeps, and places one frequents.
Receiving the Holy Ghost should cause a person to be a good neighbor. One
who argues should cease to argue and begin to display a spirit of meekness.
Moreover, one should be a Christian twenty-four hours a day, seven days a
week.
      Holiness is a major aspect of being a Christian. The writer of the
Hebrew epistle stated we would not be able to see God without holiness
(Hebrews 12:14). However, holiness is more than one's outward appearance.
      "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God" (II Corinthians 7:1).
      "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).
      True holiness begins with a change of heart. Once the heart is
transformed by the Holy Spirit, holiness begins to affect an individual's
outward appearance and attitudes. True holiness causes the allurements of
this world to become distasteful to a person. The places he frequented as a
sinner no longer appeal to him.
      "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things
are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17).

C. We Should Remember
      Another aspect of being a Christian is remembrance. The apostle Peter
wrote, "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I
stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance" (II Peter 3:1). It is
important that the Christian always bear in mind at least three things.
      1. From Where We Came. Remembering where we came from is necessary in
order to have compassion for others. It was for this reason that the apostle
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "And such were some of you" (I Corinthians
6:11). We must never forget what God has done for us.
      2. How We Received Salvation. We should always remember that it is by
the grace of God and the love of Jesus Christ that we are saved and not by
our own works of righteousness. We do not live the Christian lifestyle as a
means to merit salvation but because He has saved us from sin.
      3. Where We Are Going. Finally, we should contemplate our ultimate
destination-heaven. Christians should appreciate their eternal home and lay
up treasures there. After all, wherever one's treasures are his heart will
be also (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34). When we focus on the ultimate goal and
not on the distractions of this world the race becomes far easier to run.

CONCLUSION
      Being a true Christian requires much more than merely adding one's
name to a church membership roll and taking on the title of Christian.
Christianity is a twenty-four-hour-per-day lifestyle. Someone once stated,
"Fences fence out far more than they fence in." This statement is true with
the Christian lifestyle. While it may seem that the Christian lifestyle
limits one's activities and options in life, it actually protects us from
many of the temptations of this world. Disciplines help a Christian to
adhere to a godly, Christ-like lifestyle. When a person thinks of Jesus
Christ, he thinks of His absolute holiness, purity, impeccable ethics, love,
and meekness coupled with the strength of unbending convictions. Such
attributes also should be the character of a Christian.
      Some people today want to use the wonderful grace and mercy of God as
cloaks to hide their licentious, sinful lifestyle. To do so perverts and
frustrates the grace of God. He gave His grace to us to offer a way out of
sin and into fellowship with Him. It is His manifold grace, a realization of
where He brought us from, and an awareness of our future destination that
sustain us in our Christian walk.

REFLECTIONS
. Discuss the meaning of God's grace and its application to our lives today.
. How does the grace of God become perverted and frustrated? Discuss.
. Discuss the difference between mere outward holiness and true Christian
living.
. What is the blessed hope that Christians have, and how does it affect our
lives? Discuss.
. Discuss some things that a Christian should always remember.


To get out of a hard situation,
try a soft answer.
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger.
YBIC, Thomas And YSIC, Linda.
twilliamson2@...
pofm@...