The gospel: past-present-future
Introduction
The book of Titus is a pastoral letter written by the Apostle Paul to his fellow worker and friend, Titus. In this letter Paul teaches him how to establish and oversee churches on the island of Crete. He emphasises the importance of having sound doctrine and godly leadership. He also stresses that the behaviour of believers should clearly reflect the truth of the gospel. Although not the most well-known of Paul’s epistles, the letter to Titus is one of the great summaries of Christian truth. It only takes about seven minutes to read it through. Why not do this today?
What has God has done in the past?
Read Titus 2:11-14
- Why do you think Paul starts this message about the gospel with the phrase ‘the grace of God’? (v 11)
- How did the grace of God appear? See John 1:29.
- What was God’s intention in offering salvation to us? (v 14)
1 Peter 1:18-20 says: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”
What does God call us to do in the present?
Re-read Titus 2:11-14
- What are we to say ‘no’ to in this present time? (v 12a)
- How are we to show our lives are being transformed by Christ? (v 12b)
- Think about what this might look like for you. Are there things in your life that you need to bring before God, asking for forgiveness and his power so you can change? (See also the promise found in Titus 3:5-6.)
Galatians 2:20 reminds us: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
What does God promise for the future?
Read Titus 3:4-7
- Go back to Titus 2:13. What is the blessed hope that we are waiting for?
- What further promise for the future do you see in Titus 3:7?
- What does it look like to live waiting for these promises to be fulfilled?
1 John 3:2-3 says: “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
Let’s pray the Scriptures
- Give thanks that our salvation does not depend on anything we do, but on the grace of God alone. Give thanks for the life, death and resurrection of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
- Pray for God to help us live upright and self-controlled lives. May we learn to say ‘no’ to things such as anger, gossip, greed or anything else we know to be wrong. Pray we will turn to God for forgiveness when we fail.
- Pray that we live in hopeful expectation of the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Let’s praise God with songs of salvation!
Salvation’s Song (Townend); Christ Our Hope in Life and Death (Getty et al); There is One Gospel (CityAlight);
Grace Awaiting Me (Emu).