Titus 3:3-8 (Day 7)

3:3 - Paul never forgot the sinful condition from which he and his converts had been salvaged. Foolish, not sensible. Disobedient, instead of submissive. Deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures instead of self-disciplined and ready for every good work. Far from being peaceable, considerate and humble they were characterized by malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 

I made part of that verse pink because I'm going to try to quote it to myself when I would rather sleep than spend time in the Word before heading of to School. It's not that I can't spend time with God at any other point in the day - cause I'm hoping to enjoy and glorify Him all throughout the day - but without the transforming power of the Word of God I don't think I can live the way He wants me to that day. I think I'll miss the mark.

Secondly, I felt God wasn't pleased with the way I had been talking about someone (slander) so I called up the two people whom I had talked to and asked for forgiveness and tried to do it in a way that they might hold me accountable in the future. I feel like the "malice, envy, being hated and hating" part can really fall in line with girls of my peer group. It is so hard to not look at what they have and compare myself to it and become envious or hateful. I'm learning to depend on Jesus to help me be considerate and humble putting them above myself. Yes, even in my social work classes - peaceable. 

• 1 Cor 6:9-11:  ⁹ Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders ¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
• Eph 4:17-24: ¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. ²⁰ You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. ²¹ Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds;²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
• Col 3:5-7: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^[a] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Such is the brutish existence of a people apart from God. No matter how they appear to be.
 I liked these verses and wanted to show case them because I think they put things into perspective. The Orange is part of our responsibility: We have to, must, insist on being done with what's involved with sin, what God hates. And the Green shows how it's by Christ that that can all happen. We "put on the new self" when we are renewed in the knowledge of our Creator - aka enlightened by the Holy Spirit as we read the Word. 


3:4 - All of that changed when the kindness and love ("philanthropia" lit. "love for  man") of God our Savior appeared. The contrast is startling: in verse 3, man is the actor. In verses 4-7 man is merely the recipient, and God becomes the actor. What man could not do for himself, God initiated for him.


3:5 - God in His grace saves those who do not believe, not because of any righteousness in them but because of His mercy. 

• The three words "kindness" "love" and "mercy" all represent aspects of God's grace. 
• The Dual means through which He accomplished this salvation are 1) the rebirth spoken of as a washing from the filth of sin and 2) the renewal by the Holy Spirit - the Agent of Regeneration (cf 2 Cor 5:17). - a change in our attitudes and actions.
• No mention of the role of faith because Paul's focus was on what God had done, not human response.

3:6 - God poured out the Holy Spirit on the world generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. Jesus was the Mediator of the Spirit. The language intensionally conjures up images of the day of Pentecost.


3:7 - God's purpose in pouring out the Holy Spirit was so that, having been justified by His grace, believers might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. - The ministry of the Holy Spirit is intimately involved with bring to fruition God's gracious purposes to save. What God in His grace began, God in His grace will see to the end, through His Spirit. 


3:8 - Titus need to stress these things in order to promote godly behavior in his listeners. - Paul was deeply concerned that God's people devote themselves to doing what is good because these things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus was to promote good works for they go hand in hand with sound doctrine. 


     Dear Jesus, I ask that you change me through rebirth by washing a way the filth of sin and the patterns it has placed on my life and that You renew me by the Holy Spirit and the reading of Your Word - changing my heart, attitude, and actions. Help me to depend on You for help when the Holy Spirit convicts my heart. We can do this, we're a team :) God I want to thank You for Your plan. For Your gracious view toward us. Thank You for loving us and wanting us to be with You. Jesus, thank You for giving up everything to hold me :) And that I might share what You earned. Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father, STRESS these things in my heart and mind that I may devote myself to doing what is good which is excellent and profitable for everyone and that I may be a good steward of my Master's reputation. And help me to wake up once school starts. Amen.