TITANS FOR TODAY : The Man of Virtue is our focus for FORGE this week. In a day where virtue is virtually unknown, a man energized by Grace stands out. Let’s talk about it this week at FORGE!
TITANS FOR TODAY
Series in Titus
Talk 3
THE MAN OF VIRTUE
Titus 2:11-3:7
INTRODUCTION:
Hey guys welcome to FORGE!
We are on Mission to Build Great Men as God Defines Greatness.
To turn guys into men and men into mentors. Really!
We started out with 1 site, but God gave us a vision for 3 sites and now we actually have 4 with the online viewers today.
We want to influence the entire Greater Orlando area to be a place where the Gospel energizes and transforms men into real men.
I’m so thankful for you guys joining us today! We’re in a series called TITANS FOR TODAY.
Here’s a picture of Cronus.
The Titans were the deities in Greek mythology that preceded the Olympians. They were the children of the primordial deities Uranus (heaven) and Gaea (earth). The Titans included Oceanus, Tethys, Hyperion, Theia, Coeus, Phoebe, Cronus, Rhea, Mnemosyne, Themis, Crius and Iapetus. Cronuswas the leader of the Titans, after he managed to overthrow his tyrant father Uranus from the throne. Cronus later learned of a prophecy that said his son would eventually overthrow him and did everything he could to prevent it. However, the prophecy came true and Zeus managed to dethrone him and end the age of the Titans, after the Titanomachy, the great war between Titans and Olympians.
The Titans are mythological…they didn’t exist, and they don’t exist, and they weren’t good and righteous. They were not virtuous.
But the idea of a TITAN…a god, a larger than life figure serves as an illustration of the IMPORTANCE and IMPACT OF MEN.
If you are married, you’re life, your character, your actions make a HUGE impact on your wife. Your actions are more impactful than another man’s actions in your neighborhood.
You are a Titan in a few people’s lives. You are a figure larger than life to your kids and grandkids and others whom you serve. You have a god-like impact on your kids and grandkids, and if you don’t believe me then why do people who are hurt by their dads often struggle all their lives with the pain their dads have caused.
Which begs the question that we can personalize: WHAT KIND OF MAN AM I? WHAT AM I BECOMING?
AS A HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER, LEADER IN MY CHURCH, WHAT KIND OF MAN AM I BECOMING AND DO I WANT TO BECOME.
ILL There’s a wall poster in the Texas Prison System someplace that says:
“WORRY NOT ABOUT THE HIGH COST OF BUILDING MEN. BUT BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HIGH COST OF FAILING TO DO SO.”
So today we look at how THE GOSPEL OF GRACE builds/energizes men…and here’s one of the main texts that teach it. After talking about THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY that we often see in the church and giving Older Women and Older Men the responsibilities to be mentors and trainers and disciplers of the next generation…Paul shows how GRACE BECOMES TRANSFORMATIVE…as we go, look for the virtues…at least 10 of them, that comes from Grace!
Titus 2:11-3:7 (NASB)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, [a]bringing salvation to all men,12 binstructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of [c]our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all [d]authority. Let no one disregard you.
Now let me stop there:
2:11-For the grace of God has appeared
- Christ has come!…The Gospel is Grace motivated and grace based. God is the One who came to us before we got interested in Him.
- Grace has appeared in Christ…John 1:14-”Full of Grace and truth.”
2:11 bringing salvation to all men,
- Not just men= Anthropos is the word here
- Not all saved= Not a statement about universalism
- In Context= All kinds of people=men, women, children, rich, poor, business owners and workers.
- Focus= There is only one Savior-not multiple ways to God
2:12- instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
- Grace is God’s power-it’s a transforming power. Grace is not merely an idea, ie, favor…it is favor with divine Power attached and in operation!
- God’s favor on us…unconditional acceptance in Christ teaches us…disciples us, trains us that this radical free gift of Salvation in Christ leads INEVITABLY AND SURELY TO A TRANSFORMED LIFE.
- Grace teaches us to say no to ungodly living and to say yes to Godly living.
- Don’t ever let anyone say: “Ah ya gotta be careful about teaching grace too much…you know, you teach grace and people will think they can do whatever they want. They won’t work hard to be godly.”
- When you really teach grace, you teach a grace with muscle, not a grace that leads to immorality. Look at the virtues listed here:
- Ungodliness-core sin
- Worldly desire- encompasses everything else
- So: Sensibly, Righteously & Godly in themselves, to their family and other people, and to God!
Now look what else Grace teaches:
2: 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of [c]our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- Grace teaches us to look beyond this world to the world to come. Already and the Not Yet
- We are blessed now but when Jesus comes again, we will see all of the blessings that are ours in Him…that’s why our Blessed Hope is the Second Coming!
- Work of Christ is summarized here…powerfully!
- Redeem us from the penalty which comes “From every lawless deed”
- Purify…zealous for good deeds.
- So grace teaches and transforms us here as we look ahead to Christ’s coming!
Now catch what he says to Titus the pastor:
2: 15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all [d]authority. Let no one disregard you.
- Probably Paul wrote this because of the toxicity of the Creatan Christians and their tendency to do their own thing.
- Titus has the delegated authority of Paul and Paul has the delegated authority of Jesus.
- What Paul has been telling Titus to teach is what churches should be teaching. As long as Pastors stick within Gospel teaching, they have authority. When they move beyond Gospel Teaching and Gospel Grace Based Application, then they rightly lose their authority. This is why some churches are declining in America today-those churches are not teaching the Bible. Many pastor have simply lost their authority.
Ok…now catch this: Paul can’t stop…he goes on and addresses the Virtuous Christian man living in a world that opposes Christ and Christianity!
Titus 3:1-7
VIRTUOUS MEN IN THE WORLD
Now catch this…Paul now tells Titus how to teach his men to live in the world, but not to be of the world:
Read
3 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs [e]according to the hope of eternal life.
LIST OF VIRTUES:
- No to the world! Yes to God!
- Sensibly
- Righteously
- Godly
- Looking for Christ’s Second Coming
- Subject to Rulers/Obedient
- Ready for every good work
- To malign no one
- Uncontentious/Gentle
- Showing every consideration for all men
So how does this character get FORMED in us?
Sanctification..,.
- Remembering the Gospel Work of Christ– In other words…preaching the Gospel to ourselves every day: 3:4-7
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs [e]according to the hope of eternal life.
As we focus on Gospel realities ourselves, then we let grace go to work. We are renewed in our minds. Running Biblical truth over and over in your mind, renews your mind! Romans 12:1-2…renewing of your mind.
Worship transforms us- don’t miss church!
“GRACE PRODUCES GREATNESS IN MEN BECAUSE IT SUPERNATURALLY ENERGIZES RADICAL TRANSFORMATION!”
It’s about God’s grace in us!
ILL “Performance Christianity prefers role over real.” Tom Saunders
- Remembering What We Were 3:3
3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
Not being overly harsh on others as we remember what we were ourselves.
- Get Grace, Give Grace
- Self-Discipline
1 Timothy 4:7-8
7 But [a]have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I [a]discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
- Prayer
1 John 5:14-15
14 This is the confidence which we have [a]before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
Psalm 4:3
“But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him.”
- CHARACTER FRIENDSHIPS
Proverbs 27:17 “As Iron sharpens iron…”
I Corinthians 15:33 “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
My conviction:
IF A MAN WISHES TO BE GREAT HEMUST BE OFTEN IN THE PRESENCE OF GREATNESS.
TABLE DISCUSSION
FORGE ESSENTIALS
WRAP UP:
Asynchronis learning: Always learning, whenever, however. There is no Discipleship 101, 201, 301, 401…Just always learning from God, Sermons, His Word, the Spirit, Trials, difficulties, the Spirit within!
“Age does not make us necessarily wiser-ages makes us older.”
“The Church does more for the world when the church is least like the world.” G. Campbell Morgan
“In the eyes of average people average is always outstanding.”
John Mason
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