7/14/2012

Seeing God Who is Holy (Isaiah 6:1-7)

Isa6

Isaiah 6:1-7; Key Verse: Isa 6:5

"...my eyes have seen the King, the Lord God Almighty."

When Isaiah saw God, his life would never be the same again. Let us examine who this God is whom Isaiah saw and what the result is of seeing God. Briefly, our God is holy, and when we see him, we will experience a revival in our soul that will last for an eternity.

Dryness and defeat. Many Christians have right ideas about God. They acknowledge God as Creator, Savior and Lord, as good, gracious and merciful, that God loves them, and that they are unworthy. They accept that God hates sin and they want to change, improve, grow and make a difference. But despite such wonderful/true knowledge about God, there is a sense of dryness, deadness and defeat in them, for their right knowledge of God does not translate into right living. What's the problem?

Self-centeredness. In commenting on Heaven and Hell, Tim Keller says that people who wind up in hell are those who begin the process in this life. He describes their problem as self-centeredness: "The more self-centered people get, the more miserable and the more in denial (that they are self-centered) they become. That is to say they blame everybody else for their problems. And that is part of what self-centeredness is – you are (1) wise in your own eyes, (2) you can’t take the blame for anything, (3) nothing is ever your fault." This is an apt description of unbelievers--stuck in self-centeredness, expressed as "blaming others and acquitting/excusing yourself." Such a description of hellish people often also describes some genuine Christians.

Seeing God. What is the problem? The solution? I suggest that the problem is a failure to catch a glimpse of God (cf. 2 Cor 3:18, 4:4-6). This results in vicious cycles of self-centeredness, which Martin Luther calls incurvatus in se, "curved inward on oneself." The solution is to see God for who He truly is. Isaiah 6 gives us a snapshot of who our God truly is.

God is calling you. Often when we study Isaiah 6, we emphasize the God who is calling you, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" (Isa 6:8) God is tugging at your heart and your guilt. The hope and prayer is that you will respond like Isaiah, "Here am I. Send me!" ... even if our true response might be, "Why me? Please, send somebody else!"

Who is this God? In Isa 6:1-3, instead of focusing on the God who is calling us (which He does), let us think about who this God is who is calling us. (This was inspired by a John Piper sermon, In The Throne Room: The God of Holiness and Hope (Isa 6:1-13), preached recently at the 2012 TGC Woman's conference, and originally in 1984: Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord of Hosts.)

May God bless you to see God for who He truly is as Isaiah did. When you do may God bless you to experience a revival in your soul. So who is the God whom Isaiah saw? There are at least 6 glimpses of God in Isa 6:1-3.

  1. God is alive.
  2. God is ruling.
  3. God is majestic.
  4. God is revered.
  5. God is holy.
  6. God is glorious.
1st, God is alive (Isa 6:1a). "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord..." (Isa 6:1a). King Uzziah reigned for 52 years (2 Chron 26:3). His death marked the end of a lengthy era of national prosperity. The king died but God is alive. God is alive when Nietzsche proclaimed that God is dead. God is alive before the creation of the world. 10 trillion years from now, when all of this present reality that we know is dead, God is alive. In 100 years, all of us will be no more. But God is alive.

2nd, God is ruling (Isa 6:1b). "I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne" (Isa 6:1b). The one who sits on the throne is the one who rules, the one who has the authority. If we were sitting comfortably, we would stand tall when we want to have some sense of authority. But God--comfortably seated--has complete authority. The throne is God's right to sit and rule the world. We do not give God authority over our lives. God has authority regardless of whether we give it to him or not, whether we like it or not. Virginia Stem Owens, an author, said, "Let us get this one thing straight. God can do anything he damn well pleases, including damn well. And if it pleases him to damn, then it is done." No matter how bad or worse the world seems to be getting, God is never ever frustrated, worried, anxious, uncertain, nervous, or like a chicken with its head cut off. Instead, God is ruling, seated on a high and exalted throne.

3rd, God is majestic (Isa 6:1c). "...and the train of his robe filled the temple" (Isa 6:1c). Wedding gowns with a long robe adds an elegance to an already gorgeous and lovely bride. That God's robe fills the entire heavenly temple means that he is a God of incomparable splendor. The fullness of God's splendor shows itself in countless ways. Sorry to non-cat lovers, but whenever I look at my cat, my heart is softened and made exquisitely tender by her beauty, elegance, and splendor. I say to her in my heart, "I can look at you and hang around you all day and every day all the days of my life." And that's just a cat!--a miniscule speck of all of God's marvellous creatures. There are thousands of fish 6-7 miles deep in the ocean with their own built-in lights--with their own lamps hanging from their head, or luminous noses, or beacons under their eyes--with no electric outlets or sockets, and which no one can see. Why are they there? Why not just a dozen or so efficient streamlined models? Because God is lavish and majestic in splendor. His creative fullness spills over in excessive beauty. If that's the way the created world is, how much more resplendent or majestic must be the God who thought it up and made it!

4th, God is revered (Isa 6:2). "
Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying" (Isa 6:2). No one knows what these strange 6-winged creatures are. They do not appear again in the Bible until Rev 4:8. According to Isa 6:4, when one of them speaks, the foundations of the temple shake. The point is that not even they can look upon the Lord nor do they feel worthy even to leave their feet exposed in his presence. Great and good as they are, untainted by human sin, yet they revere their Maker in great humility. An angel terrifies a man with his brilliance and power. But angels themselves hide in holy fear and reverence from the splendor of God. How much more will we shudder and quake in his presence who cannot even endure the splendor of his angels!

5th, God is holy (Isa 6:3a). "
And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty'" (Isa 6:3a). The seraphs were speaking to each other in antiphonal (sung, recited, or played alternately by 2 groups) praise. The primary thrust of the 3-fold repetition of God's holiness (trihagion) is to emphasize God's separateness from and independence of His fallen creation. Secondarily, it implies that God is 3 Persons.

 
The root meaning of ‘'holy'’ is to cut or to separate. A holy thing is cut off from or separated from something else for devotion. So, holiness consists of being not part of the common, the profane, the impure, but devoted unto God. The very god-ness of God means that he is separate from all that is not God (1 Sam 2:2). There is an infinite qualitative difference between Creator and creature. God is one of a kind. Sui generis (unique). In a class by himself. God is utterly holy. Holiness is His utterly unique, one of a kind, pure essence which therefore has infinite value. The more rare a diamond, the more valuable. Only one of its kind (Isa 40:25)? It's infinitely valuable! God is infinitely valuable.
 
The most important value in universe is not you (Hos 11:9), your family, 7 billion human beings and not billions upon billions of galaxies. We are as nothing as a drop in the bucket compared to the value of God (Isa 40:15,17). The main problem in the world is the failure to feel that God is holy. God has infinite worth; all other value has value only in proportion to its reflection of His value: this truth changes everything. There is no question anymore of whether we have any rights. We have none and we had none before we fell. Humans and angels don't have rights before their Maker. God has all rights. God defines rights. God is right and holy. His holiness is what he is as God which no one else is or ever will be. Call it his majesty, his divinity, his greatness, his value as the pearl of great price (Mt 13:46). In the end language runs out. God says, "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Pet 1:16; Lev 19:2, 20:7, 26). Is it sweet to you or does His holiness seem far away and irrelevant?

6th, God is glorious (Isa 6:3b). "
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isa 6:3b). Why didn’t they say, “Holy, Holy, Holy , the whole earth is full of your holiness?” The glory of God is the manifestation of his holiness. God’s holiness is His incomparable perfection, his intrinsic infinite worth. When that goes public, when that goes on display, it’s called in the Bible the glory of God. "God is glorious" means God's holiness has gone public. His glory is the open revelation of the secret of his holiness. Lev 10:3  says, "I will show myself holy among those who are near me, and before all the people I will be glorified." When God shows himself to be holy, what we see is glory.  The holiness of God is his concealed glory. The glory of God is his revealed holiness. What if we do not experience glory? It is because we shun holiness. Holiness and glory are inseparable. No will experiences glory who does not pursue holiness.
 
Isaiah's life after revival. This personal encounter with God transformed Isaiah from a "regular" believer to a "revived" believer. What is the evidence of his revival? 4 signs to assess whether or not revival is happening in one's heart:
  1. Sin. Isaiah has an acute awareness of his sin. Unrevived Christians treat their own sins lightly, while blasting others for their sin. But when Isaiah met God, he cried out, "Woe to me! I am ruined!" (Isa 6:5) Unrevived Christians say, "Yeah, I sinned. But I'm OK. But that guy's sin makes me sick!" No one senses their own sin without holiness and glory.
  2. Sanctification. When Isaiah felt the pangs of death his sins and guilt brought him, he experienced God's cleansing and forgiveness (Isa 6:6). One who treats sins lightly do not experience cleansing and forgiveness.
  3. Sent. He was ready to be sent by God to his people to share the message of God regardless of the cost and with no conditions. But it won't go well with him. His life would be hard. The response to his message would be hardness of heart leading to God's wrath and judgment upon his entire nation.
  4. Salvation. God would preserve a remnant through Isaiah's ministry. Though the nation is cut down, "the holy seed will be the stump in the land” (Isa 6:13).

Like Isaiah, others have met God anew and a revival began in them. Let me share 2 stories.

Chuck Colson: I gained a new understanding of God. In 1973, Chuck Colson heard the Gospel for the first time, even as the Watergate scandal was exploding. That night the then aide to former President Richard Nixon said,

"That night I was confronted with my own sin—not just Watergate's dirty tricks, but the sin deep within me, the hidden evil that lives in every human heart. It was painful and I could not escape. I cried out to God and found myself drawn irresistibly into his waiting arms. That was the night I gave my life to Jesus Christ and began the greatest adventure of my life." (Loving God, p. 247)

Colson was convicted for his role in the Watergate scandal in 1974. He became a committed Christian while the Watergate charges were still pending against him. His conversion led him to plead guilty to obstruction of justice while a judge was considering dismissing the case against him. He served 7 months of a 1 to 3 year prison sentence.

Years later, Colson underwent a period of spiritual dryness. A friend suggested to Colson that he watch a videocassette lecture series by R.C. Sproul on the holiness of God. Here's what Colson wrote:

"All I knew about Sproul was that he was a theologian, so I wasn't enthusiastic. After all, I reasoned, theology was for people who had time to study, locked in ivory towers far from the battlefield of human need. However, at my friend's urging I finally agreed to watch Sproul's series.

By the end of the sixth lecture I was on my knees, deep in prayer, in awe of God's absolute holiness. It was a life-changing experience as I gained a completely new understanding of the holy God I believe in and worship.

My spiritual drought ended, but this taste for the majesty of God only made me thirst for more of him." (Loving God, pp. 14–15)

Though Colson was a Christian, several years later something else wonderful happened. A theologian spoke on the holiness of God and Colson fell to his knees and "gained a completely new understanding of the holy God." From that point on he had what he calls a "taste for the majesty of God." Have you seen God's holiness to have an insatiable taste for his majesty?

Job: My eyes have seen you. Who was Job? "In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1). Job was a believer, a deeply devout and prayerful man. Surely he knew God as he ought. Surely he had a "taste for the majesty of God." But then came the excruciating pain and abject misery of his unrelenting afflictions of losing virtually everything--wealth, children, health--safe his life and his wife who said, "Curse God and die" (Job 2:9). As Job was groaning and lamenting endlessly, God spoke to him: Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 'Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me" (Job 40:7-8; 41:10-11).

In the end Job responds, like Colson, to a "completely new understanding of the Holy God." He says, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:3-6).

Seeing God = Revival. Have you seen God like Isaiah, Colson and Job? More Christians than you realize had life-changing encounters with God in the midst of a major storm, or when nothing seemed to be happening other than busyness and weariness. "The darkest time of night is right before the dawn." We meet God when we feel helpless. We meet God anew when we no longer treat our besetting sins lightly. We meet God when we are emptied of ourselves and depend on him entirely. Can such a revival happen to you? In our church? I would be hard pressed to continue if I did not believe that perseverance is the key to revival. A.J. Gordon wrote in The Holy Spirit in Missions (pp. 139, 140):

"It was 7 years before Carey baptized his first convert in India; it was 7 years before Judson won his first disciple in Burma; Morrison toiled 7 years before the first Chinaman was brought to Christ; Moffat declared that he waited 7 years to see the first evident moving of the Holy Spirit upon the Bechuanas of Africa; Henry Richards wrought 7 years on the Congo before the first convert was gained at Banza Manteka."

Perseverance, prayer and labor is a key to revival. But so is expectation and hope. And God has given me small signs of hope that the experience of Job, Colson and Isaiah can happen here at our church if we continue to seek hard after the holy God. The main small sign of revival in us may be our own inner sense of peace, joy and fulfillment in Jesus. Like Isaiah, Colson and Job many of you have seen the holy God and have experienced a revival in your soul. As a result, you are thirsting and seeking hard after God. Jer 29:13 says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me (seek hard after God) with all your heart." God is indeed ever alive, ruling, majestic, revered, holy, and glorious among us.

In conclusion, how is it possible for a sinful man to see the God who is holy and not perish? Isaiah 6 reveals a God who is majestic in glory. But Isaiah 53 speaks of the Messiah as a repulsive Servant who was afflicted and crushed, despised and rejected by men. There is overwhelming glory in Isaiah 6 and palpable bleakness in Isaiah 53. John understood this apparent dichotomy by quoting Isa 53:1 in Jn 12:38 to explain why sinners harden their hearts and reject the God who loves them. It is because we love praise from men more than praise from God (Jn 12:43). We love to look good in the eyes of men, rather than to see ourselves before the eyes of God. We like men to approve of us and to think well of us, rather than to consider how God thinks of us and how God sees us. We want to live off man's visible outward derived glory rather than to live before the invisible sublime glory of God.

Despite our sins, God would yet love us. Jesus the Son would become the Suffering Servant. God would heap our sins upon Him. On that bloody Cross, all my sins were tattooed deeply on every square inch of his broken bleeding body. The Being who is eternally holy would become like the most hideous monster on account of my sins. On the Cross, God would turn his face away from His Son, so that I, with my multitude of sins, can see the face of God and not be destroyed. God had to look away from His Son so that he can begin to look at me with favor. This is the eternal plan of God to save man from his sins.

  • Do you see the God who is holy, holy, holy?
  • Does his holiness and glory capture your soul?
  • Does his beauty and majesty compel you to seek Him more than man's glory?
  • Are you experiencing times of refreshing and a revival in your heart?
References:
  1. In The Throne Room: The God of Holiness and Hope (Isa 6:1-13). John Piper, 2012. (Sermon notes/transcript.)
  2. Revival Comes When We See God Anew. Report of Piper's sermon from the 2012 TGC Woman' conference.
  3. Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord of Hosts (Isa 6:1-8). John Piper, 1984.

Posted via email from benjamintoh's posterous

7/07/2012

Grace Before Obedience (Exodus 19:1-6)

Ex19

Exodus 19:1-6; Key Verse: Ex 19:4b-5a

"I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me..."

Mt 28:19, 1 Pet 2:9, and Ex 19:4-6 are significant signature verses that have driven UBF over the past half century, especially the phrase "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Ex 19:6). Ex 19:1-6 shows that--in the history of God's people and God's work in the Bible--grace always precedes and comes before obedience (to the Law) and mission. Today's sermon has 3 parts, which necessarily stresses the importance of the order. In his BST Commentary on The Message of Exodus: The Days of Our Pilgrimage, Alec Motyer, OT scholar, says that this order is crucial to our understanding of the Bible:
  1. The saving acts of the Lord.
  2. Our responsive obedience.
  3. The blessing that comes from obedience.
Nothing must upset this sequence. Stated differently, this biblical "spiritual order" is:
  1. Grace (Ex 19:1-4): How God saves us.
  2. Obedience (Ex 19:5): Our response to grace is obedience to the Law.
  3. Mission (Ex 19:6): The blessing and reward of obedience (and punishment for disobedience).
A Story of Deliverance: The theme of Exodus (mass departure) is that the people of God are saved to worship. It is a story of a people's redemption and deliverance so that they may worship God (Ex 3:12; Ac 7:7). The 3 major sections of Exodus are:
  1. Chap 1–18: God redeems Israel from bondage in Egypt.
  2. Chap 19–24: God gives Israel the law at Mt. Sinai. Ex 19-24 is known as "the Book of the Covenant" (Ex 24:7).
  3. Chap 25–40: God prepares Israel for his holy presence by providing instructions for the tabernacle and for the priesthood.
As God rescued Israel from bondage to slavery in Egypt, a Christian must know how they were delivered from bondage and enslavement to sin. If they are unsure about their deliverance from sin, it may be questionable whether or not they are a Christian who has truly met God, the One who saved us out of his mercy (Tit 3:5) and grace (Tit 2:11).

Importance of Exodus 19: Exodus 19 is regarded by some as (one of) the most important chapters in the Bible, because without a proper understanding Exodus 19, Exodus 20--which contains the 10 Commandments--will be poorly/inadequately understood. When Christians (and non-Christians) misunderstand the Bible and Christianity, it is often because they misunderstand the Law--how the Law functions in their own life. The importance of Exodus 19 is attested to in the NT: Hebrews 12:18-21 and 1 Peter 2:9 refers to it.

Misunderstanding the Law: Christians often misunderstand the Law. They think, "Unless I obey the Law, God will not bless me." Older Christians want younger Christians to strongly believe this, so that they will be "scared enough" to obey what the Bible says. Their motivation and intention is good. They want them to fear God. They want God to bless them. This is good. But is it true that God blesses me only when I obey the Law? To simply say, "Yes" would be biblically incomplete. Why? Because it blurs the gospel by overemphasizing obedience. (In What Jesus Demands from the World, John Piper says, "The obedience of good works is penultimate. The ultimate goal is that God be glorified.") A comprehensive answer requires clarification and explanation. Understanding Ex 19:1-6 in context is extremely important in understanding Jesus and the gospel.

This sermon is inspired from Ligon Duncan's sermon, "On Eagle's Wings" (Ex 19:1-6), and Tim Keller's sermon, "On the Mountain: The Terrifying and Beckoning God" (Ex 19:1-25), delivered at the 2012 TGC Woman's Conference. Do you understand why God is both terrifying yet beckoning at the same time? Keller's emphasis is that obeying God comes after grace. FYI, the 3 parts of Keller's sermon are:

  1. The history and order of grace (Ex 19:1-8).
  2. The terrifying and beckoning God (Ex 19:9-19).
  3. The "going down" of Moses (Ex 19:20-25).

May God bless you to see and understand the order of grace, obedience and mission.

I. Grace (Ex 19:1-4): How God Saves Us

1st, Desert Wilderness (Ex 19:1-2). "On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt —on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain" (Ex 19:1-2). About 7 weeks or 50 days after the Exodus they arrived at Sinai. They would spend 11 months here (Ex 19:1-Num 10:10). The Sinai narrative is central to the Pentateuch. It occupies 58 chapters (Ex. 19–Num. 10:10). There are 68 chapters preceding the Sinai narrative in the Pentateuch and 60 chapters following it. The events that occur at Sinai, therefore, occupy approximately the entire middle third of the Torah.

After 11 months at Sinai, they would wander in the wilderness for 38 years. Interestingly, these 11 months or ~1/38th of their time in the wilderness at Sinai would occupy major portions of 3 books, while comparatively little is told about the 38 years in the Pentateuch. Is God not stressing the importance of the Law and covenant at Sinai? This covenant is a covenant of grace. God remembered his covenant in Ex 2:24. God made it clear in Ex 6:2-4. This covenant announced by God to Moses is a continuation of the grace covenant God made with Abraham in Gen 12:2-3, confirmed in Gen 15:18-21, and reconfirmed in Gen 17:1-2.

 
Upon departure from Egypt, God's purpose was to bring them to the promised land--a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex 3:8, 13:5, 33:3). But instead God led them farther away from the promised land than from where they were, Egypt. God took them to a place that was worse (desert wilderness) than the place they were in (Egypt). Shouldn't God lead them closer to rather than farther away from the promised land? To a place that is better than the place they were in?

When we become Christians, God, often through his servants, says, "Trust me" (Prov 3:5; Jn 14:1). So we trust God, expecting our lives to improve. But often our lives become worse after we begin to trust God as Christians. We give Jesus our whole lives, and then things start falling apart. That may be how the Israelites felt during their 40 years of wilderness wondering before they entered the promised land. That may have been how Abraham felt after 10 years of following God (Gen 15:1-4), and how Job felt when he lost everything he had in this world (Job 1:21). Why does God do this?

Often this is the story of grace in our own lives. A good example is Joseph. He had beautiful dreams as a youth. He may have expected his life to flourish. But when Joseph was in Dothan (Gen 37:17ff), his brothers ruthlessly sold him into slavery. He cried out but to no avail. Another story in Dothan a few centuries later occurred when Elisha prayed to God when he and his servant were surrounded by enemy troops (2 Ki 6:13ff). God answered them immediately with chariots of fire (2 Ki 6:17). But when Joseph cried out (Gen 42:21), nothing happened. Why? Elisha's was a simple physical salvation that could be answered simply, while Joseph's was a complex salvation that needed a deeper wilderness salvation. If God showed up and saved Joseph, he wouldn't have learned anything. He needed a deeper salvation. Perhaps, many of us do as well.

John Newton said, "that we are so totally depraved, is a truth which no one ever truly learned by being only told it." Joseph would never have learned how sinful he was if he was just told, or simply delivered. Joseph had God's favor and dreams. But he was spoiled, selfish, insensitive, arrogant, self-centered, and sociopathic. No one, not even God, could have told him what was wrong with him and expect him to change. He needed a deeper salvation. He needed some "wilderness time." Again, John Newton, contemplating on Rom 8:28, wrote, "He has a sovereign right to do with us as He pleases; and if we consider what we are, surely we shall confess we have no reason to complain; and to those who seek Him, His sovereignty is exercised in a way of grace. All shall work together for good; everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds." Joseph "needed" to be brutally and heartlessly sold as a slave by his brothers, because God allowed it to happen for his good.

Do you need some wilderness time? If you don't think so, you probably do. If you say, "Lord, if you get me out of this situation, I will change." God's answer might be, "If you will truly change, then change, even if your situation remains exactly the same."

2nd, Grace (Ex 19:3-4). Grace is the starting point of our life with God. J.I. Packer says that grace is the keyword of Christianity. Thus, before God gives the 10 Commandments in Ex 20:2-17, he repeats in Ex 20:1 what God said in Ex 19:3-4. Why? God wants his people to know that a covenant relationship with God is based entirely on God's grace. It is a relationship that they did not earn or deserve. To understand grace, Ex 19:4 teaches us 3 things we need to know and understand:
  1. Divine judgment ("what I did to Egypt"). Judgment is never a pleasant subject. But no one can truly understand grace without understanding God's terrible judgment on the ungodly. God's people must always know that what God did to Egypt, God could have done to them. What is the difference between Egypt and Israel, between non-Christians and Christians? Are Christian's better than non-Christians? If not, why do some Christians act as though they are better than others?
  2. Divine deliverance ("how I carried you on eagles' wings"). Israel did not rally together as an army to deliver themselves. They did not work for, nor gain nor earn their deliverance. God carried them on eagles' wings (Dt 32:10-11).
  3. Divine drawing ("brought you to myself"). God did not wait for you and I to find him. God took the initiative to bring us--who are steeped in slavery to sin, self, selfishness and Satan--to Himself. I did not find God. God found me. I did not choose God. God choose me (Jn 15:16).
The 5 books of Moses are collectively known as the Law. The 10 Commandments are clearly spelled out twice (Ex 20:1-17; Dt 5:6-21). It is easy to think that since God placed such importance on the Law, we are saved by the Law, by keeping the Law, by obeying the Law. But by repeatedly emphasizing grace, both in the OT and the NT, Law is clearly not the way of salvation. The law is not the means of our salvation. It is the goal of our redemption. The law is not the cause of our deliverance. It is the goal of our deliverance.

II. Obedience (Ex 19:5): Our Response to Grace

Ex 19:5 seems to say, "If you obey me, then I will bless you. If you obey, then you will be my people." It surely sounds like God is conditionally saying, "Obey me and I will save you." But in context, God first said, "I saved you (Ex 19:4). Then obey me (Ex 19:5)." Either way there is obedience. The difference is whether obedience precedes or follows salvation.

This is the difference between Religion and the Gospel. Religion says, "I obey, therefore I'm saved." The Gospel says the opposite, "I'm saved, therefore I obey." This may seem inconsequential. But it makes all the difference in the world. Thinking Religion never brings a revival, and makes the Christian life heavy, burdensome and with a false sense of holiness and spirituality like that of the Pharisees. But knowing the Gospel brings a continuous revival in our soul all the days of our lives.

Still, we wonder if Moses is confused by making 2 seemingly opposite statements in Ex 19:4-5: "God saved you by grace" (Ex 19:4). "But unless you obey, God won't save you" (Ex 19:5). How do we explain the conditional "If/then" language in Ex 19:5? Before doing so, let us examine 4 wrong answers/options/ideas/functional sentiment that people, including Christians, have about salvation:

  1. We are saved by works. If my good outweighs my bad, I will be saved and blessed.
  2. We are saved by faith and works (obedience). This is clearly refuted by Ex 19:4, Eph 2:8-9.
  3. We are saved by faith/grace, and kept in salvation by our works/obedience.
  4. We are saved by faith, so we don't need works or obedience or the Law.

Basically, all 4 answers/ideas/opinions are wrong. #1 is perhaps the most common non-Christian idea. #2 and #3 is the inclination of "legalistic" Christians. #4 is the sentiment of "liberal" Christians. Other Christians flip flop between legalism and liberalism. We are "harsh" when we are legalistic and "lenient" when we are liberal.

I find this flip/flop in myself, swaying back and forth from being tough to gentle, and gentle to tough. I know that I should be both simultaneously by the work of the Spirit. Last Sun, Lynn, Angie's mom, said that my my sermon on Sun was "full of blood and guts". I was somewhat surprised and asked, "Why do you say that?" She said, "You tell it like it is." I pray for God's help that I may also be full of "blood and beauty," as well as "guts and gentleness."

To understand obedience as a Christian, it helps to understand 2 things:

  1. Every relationship has responsibilities. Every covenant relationship has its own responsibilities, which requires self-denial, submission and obedience to certain laws. Marriage may be the best human illustration and example.
  2. Responsibilities are always blessings, not burdens. The most miserable and unhappy Christians are those who try to have the least possible responsibilities, with maximum blessings and rewards. The failure of Christians through out history come from excuses and justification to not obey God's laws and commands. A sad excuse for disobedience says, "I am saved by grace, not by obedience to the Law." Such thoughts completely misunderstand the love and grace of Jesus.

To one who knows and has tasted the sweetness of God's grace, obedience is a responsibility that are simultaneously blessings, the greatest blessings. God's people do not become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation when they obey. They are already a kingdom of priests and a holy nation by God's grace alone. Their obedience is simply their happy life living in gratitude and in response to the grace of God.

III. Mission (Ex 19:6)

What is our mission as Christians? What is the purpose of our obedience? How do I live my life as a Christian? As a 2nd Gen? When we respond to his grace by our obedience, God promises to make us the following:

  1. "treasured possession" (Ex 19:5b) and 
  2. "kingdom of priests"
  3. "holy nation" (Ex 19:6).

* What is your treasure? By his grace alone, God has made us his treasure. Do we treasure God as he treasures us? Jesus wants Christians to know what our own treasure truly is. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Mt 6:21). A good way to assess the state of our own heart is to ask this question: What is my treasure? My dream? Is it my sense of self worth? My sense of my own accomplishment and achievement?

* Are you a priest? Those who are born in UBF or have been in UBF for some years know exactly what this means. A priest is a mediator who brings God to people, and who brings people to God. This is the "hardest job" in the world. Why? Because sinful people don't like and don't want to come to a holy God. Also, a holy God CANNOT come to sinful people without destroying them (Ex 33:20). God has chosen his people to do the most thankless job, which often offends/infuriates people, causes misunderstanding and promotes persecution.

* Are you living a holy life? Holiness is never an option among many in the Christian life. Why? God says, "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Pet 1:16; Lev 11:45, 19:2).

By the grace of God, I have been a Christian for 32 years. My singular heart's desire is to share the gospel with anyone and everyone (Acts 20:24), along with the full counsel of God (Acts 20:17). My single sorrow is that I fail to do so for a multitude of reasons: laziness, selfishness, hidden idolatries, a lack of discipline, preparation, resolve or grace. But I know that the happiest life this side of heaven is to constantly and never cease to "declare the praises of him who called (me) out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Pet 2:9).

Some concluding questions to ponder:

  • Does the grace of God drive your obedience as a Christian?
  • Do you think obedience is optional since you are saved by grace alone?
  • How are you living out your obedience daily?
  • How are you living out your Christian life as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation?
  • Is the love, joy and peace of grace the language of your heart?
  • Does grace create and cause a continuous revival in your soul?

References:

  1. "On Eagle's Wings" (Ex 19:1-6). Ligon Duncan.
  2. "On the Mountain: The Terrifying and Beckoning God" (Ex 19:1-25). Tim Keller.
  3. ESV Study Bible.
  4. Forming a Kingdom of Priests (Ex 1 - Dt 34). 24 page PDF document.
  5. The Wilderness Wandering. The history recorded in the book of Numbers begins 12 to13 months after the exodus from Egypt (Num 1:1; 9:1; Ex 40:2). The Israelites had spent most of the year in the region of Mount Sinai, where they received the Law (Ex 19:1ff). Numbers records the history of Israel during the next 39 years (Num 33:38), prior to their entrance into the "promised land."

Posted via email from benjamintoh's posterous

7/01/2012

He Saved Us Because of His Mercy (Titus 3:1-15)

Tit3

Titus 3:1-15; Key Verse: Tit 3:5,8


"...he saved us ... because of his mercy ... stress these things, so that (we) may be careful to ... (do) what is good."

Because of his mercy, God saves us to do what is good. Do you comprehend the depth of God's mercy, so that your life overflows with doing what is good? A classical hymn (1958) says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days, all the days of my life." This is the happy testimony of every Christian who has ever tasted the mercy and grace of God.

Good works is a major theme or topic of the Pastoral Epistles, in particular Titus. Gordon Fee says (1, 2 Timothy, Titus, The New International Biblical Commentary, 1984), "The dominant theme in Titus ... is good works ... that is, exemplary Christian behavior, and that for the sake of outsiders" and "in contrast to the false teachers." It is "the recurring theme of the entire letter."

However, our good works or goodness always follows our realization of God's goodness, mercy and grace; our goodness is never the basis of God's goodness to us. (The BCD of teaching the Bible.)

In Tit 2:1-15, we learned that grace is the key that unlocks the Bible, that the grace of God is the key to our salvation. Tit 3:1-15 explains why our salvation is entirely due to God's mercy, and not to anything we have done. God's mercy is the basis, the impetus, the motivation, the foundation, and the driving force behind doing what is good. Let us think about the who, why and how of doing good as a Christian:

  1. Who we do good to (Tit 3:1-2): to authorities and all people.
  2. Why we do good (Tit 3:3-8): we are sinners saved only by God's mercy.
  3. How we do good (Tit 3:9-15): dealing with problem people and good people.
I. Who We Do Good To (Tit 3:1-2)
  1. Rulers and authorities. Christians should be subject and obedient to them as God's servant (Ac 17:11); "to be ready to do whatever is good." Yet we live to obey God rather than man (Ac 5:29). In our hearts we fear God, not man (Prov 29:25). Titus should remind them (Tit 3:1a) to live as good citizens. The Christian life needs constant reminders (1 Cor 15:1-2; 2 Pet 1:12-13; 1 Jn 2:21). The Bible stresses the importance of the reminding ministry.
  2. Everyone. We should be reminded often that our attitude and disposition toward all people should be that of Christ's attitude and disposition toward us. What should a Christian's behavior be in public life? In particular, Paul selects 4 Christian social attitudes which are to be universal in application:
  1. Slander no one
  2. Be peaceable
  3. Be considerate
  4. Always be gentle
II. Why We Do Good (Tit 3:3-8)

"Why" may be the most important question in the Bible? Why do we do what we do? Why should Christians be subject to ungodly rulers and authorities and be generous, gracious and good toward all people everywhere? If we do so simply because the Bible says so, it will likely not be sustainable. "The Bible says it, that settles it" may be a cute axiom. But some elaboration and explanation is needed, if not preferable and necessary.

Tit 3:3 begins with a conjunction "for" (ESV, NIV) which is translated in the 2011 NIV as "at one time." This key connecting word "for" is Paul's explanation why we Christians are to do good to all people. Paul's explanation and answer to the question "Why" has everything to do with the gospel of our salvation.

Tit 3:3-8 hinges upon the main verb in the key phrase: "he saved us" (Tit 3:5). John Stott states that this is perhaps the fullest statement of salvation in the N.T. Christianity is essentially a religion of salvation (Lk 19:10; 1 Jn 4:14).

Paul explains 6 components or ingredients of our salvation:

  1. Need (Tit 3:3). Why do we need salvation? As depraved and enslaved sinners, we can't save ourselves. Read each descriptive adjective, verb and noun, and deeply realize how no human being can ever deliver himself or herself.
  2. Origin (Tit 3:4). What is the origin of our salvation? It is entirely because the kindness and love of God our Savior has appeared in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. "Kindness," "love," "mercy" (Tit 3:5) and "grace" (Tit 3:7) are 4 tremendous words that reveal that salvation originated in the heart of God, who took the initiative and intervened on our behalf to save us at great cost to himself.
  3. Ground (Tit 3:5a). What does our salvation rest on? What are the grounds/basis of our salvation? It is entirely because of God's mercy expressed in the cross, and not because of any goodness or righteousness in us.
  4. Means (Tit 3:5b-7a). What are the means of our salvation? How does our salvation come to us? Key words: washing; rebirth (paliggenesia); renewal; Holy Spirit; Christ; justified; grace. Our salvation is clearly God's work and God's doing, through Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. Though we should not confuse justification (our new status) and regeneration (our new birth), yet the work of Christ in justification and the work of the Spirit in regeneration are simultaneous. The order of redemption/salvation (ordo salutis) proposed by John Murray, Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminister Theological Seminary, in Redemption Accomplished and Applied (1955) is (1 - 5 occurs simultaneously):
  1. Effectual Calling
  2. Regeneration (new birth)
  3. Faith and Repentance
  4. Justification (new status)
  5. Adoption
  6. Sanctification
  7. Perseverance
  8. Glorification
  • Goal (Tit 3:7b). What is the goal of our salvation? What does it lead to? Become heirs (Rom 8:17), having the hope of eternal life.
  • Evidence (Tit 3:8). What is the evidence/fruit of our salvation? How do we "prove" our salvation? Good works: We are always careful to devote ourselves to doing what is good. Works is not the root of our salvation but the fruit of our salvation.
  • Since I started an online West Loop UBF Cohort in June, 2012, about a dozen students from Philippines UBF have joined and posted their personal stories, primarily from Antipolo UBF, a church plant 2 years ago which is a 2 hour commute from Manila UBF, the main center. What causes my heart to be in awe is that almost every student testifies that the major spiritual influence in their life is Dr. John Talavera, who is a professor at Fatima college and the lead pastor at Antipolo. His life of doing good because of the mercy of God is evident from what some students wrote:

    An 18 y/o girl Charisee wrote:


    Major spiritual influence: Shepherd Dr. John Talavera. In my second year, first semester of college I was able to meet him. He was my professor in one of our subjects and he always invites us to attend Bible study. Once, I was about to enter the room but after I saw the arrangements of chairs in circle, I hesitated to come, thinking what am I going to do, being shy and everything. But God pushed me to go. Dr. John was our Bible teacher. I felt like he was another person speaking in front of me, different from my professor. He taught us about the Samaritan woman, about God's unconditional love for us! I was moved by Dr.John's words and so I continued to attend our weekly Bible study. Every time that I hear Dr. John testify, I really could feel the gospel sink in to me.

    He also gave me my spiritual name, 'Faith,' which no words can explain how I felt when I received it. It gave me anxieties like: Am I worthy to be a bible teacher? Shepherdess? Am I growing spiritually? Am I really faithful to Him? And so on and so forth. But then again God used Dr. John to enlighten me. They were always there together with Shepherdess Hannah
    Talavera, for me and my co-Igniters, ready to give us the words of wisdom we need. Having my spiritual parents, brothers and sisters adds to the joyfulness in doing God's work. From that moment I was born anew ... God's plans were totally amazing!


    Jimmon, 19 y/o, who is the student leader at Antipolo UBF, wrote:

    It was in the first semester of the school year 2010-2011 in Antipolo when I met Shepherd Dr. John Talavera. He was my professor in Anatomy and Physiology. I was amazed about his personality and attitude. I wondered why this professor of mine, being a doctor, is speaking about God and about a noble heart that a student should have. Whenever he caught us noisy and tardy in his class, I remember that he always says to us, “God wants you to be noble,” and every time I heard that, I’m more encouraged to learn and to listen. I was a little surprised that, aside for being a doctor he is also a pastor. He invited us to attend group Bible Study every Wednesday and Friday. There I met his faithful wife, Shepherdess Hannah Talavera and also Missionary Susan San Marcos. God uses IGNITE Bible Student Society through the faith of these people, for us to know God personally. I also met Shepherd Dr. William Altobar and Shepherdess Sarah Altobar. During one of our fellowship, Dr. William encouraged me to attend Sunday Worship Service in the house Church of Shepherd Dr. John and Shepherdess Hannah in Antipolo. That’s the time I started to grow more in Faith. I met many brothers and sisters in Christ from UBF Valenzuela, UP Manila, Caloocan, and all the members UBF Philippines. Now God graciously gave me a beautiful woman of God as my co-worker, Shepherdess Jhoana. I’m now more determined to know Jesus Christ deeper after experiencing His overflowing love and grace. I am also struggling to overcome the great sins of mine. I believe Jesus can heal me.


    Another 19 y/o student, Pedro Luis Mayers, wrote:

    God is so gracious to me because he called me two times before but I rejected it because my heart was so hard. Before, I was seeking earthly things rather than God before, until the third time God called me. He used one man who gives his whole heart to God. He become a blessing to many especially for me. This man was “Dr. John Talavera (Shpd John). He helped me to know more about God and to be with God. I’ve realized that I am poor because I don’t have the most important thing in my life--God. God who is always there for me from the day that I was born, who provides all things for me, including my life. I’ve realized God’s love is the best love that I ever have, that I was created ‘’BY HIM and FOR HIM.’’ I’ve realized one day when I woke up that my heart was so thirsty for the word of God and I’m always seeking God. From now on I’m enjoying my journey with God.

    John Talavera is genuinely doing good because of the love of God and the grace of Jesus in his heart. He is simply living out God's kindness, love, and mercy that he himself personally experienced.

    To summarize again the 6 essential ingredients of salvation:

    1. its need is our sin, guilt and slavery;
    2. its source is God's gracious loving-kindness;
    3. its ground is not our merit but God's mercy in the cross;
    4. its means is the regenerating and renewing work of the Holy Spirit, signified in baptism;
    5. its goal is our final inheritance of eternal life; and
    6. its evidence is our diligent practice of good works.
    Notice 2 additional aspects regarding Christian salvation:
    1. 3 Persons. Christian salvation is trinitarian involving the Father (Tit 3:4), Son (Tit 3:6), and the Holy Spirit (Tit 3:5).
    2. 3 tenses. Our salvation has a past (Tit 3:4-5), present (Tit 3:8), and future (Tit 3:7) tense.
    1. Justification: The past tense of our salvation is justification and regeneration.
    2. Sanctification: The present is a new life of good works in the power of the Spirit.
    3. Glorification: The future is the inheritance of eternal life which will one day be ours.
    III. How We Do Good (Tit 3:9-15)
    1. Avoid foolish controversies (Tit 3:9). This is not a prohibition of all theological controversy.
    2. Warn divisive people (Tit 3:10-11).
    3. Oversee/steward God's church (Tit 3:12a).
    4. Free Titus to join Paul for mentoring (Tit 3:12b).
    5. Support/help God's people so that they have everything they need (Tit 3:13).
    6. Disciple God's people to be financially responsible and to live profitable lives (Tit 3:14).
    7. Promote true fellowship (Tit 3:15).
    Do you know and taste and experience the kindness, the love, and the mercy of God (Tit 3:4-5)?

    To be kind to us sinners, God had to be very unkind to His Son. To show us love, God had to withdraw his love from His Son. To extend to us mercy, God had to be merciless toward His own Son. How can we ever be unkind, unloving, and merciless toward our own children and loved ones? We would rather personally die than to hurt our children. God's love for His Son is pure and perfect, while our parental love for our children has selfish elements. Yet God did to His Son what we will never ever be able to do to our children. Why? So that He can extend to us kindness, love and mercy. When we taste God's kindness, love and mercy, our selfishness dissipates, and we want more than anything else to give of ourselves to "doing what is good" (Tit 3:8).

    Questions:

    1. What are 7 civic duties (toward authorities and all people) that Titus is exhorted to remind Christians (Tit 3:1-2)? Why should Christians be genuinely kind and generous toward all ungodly people (Tit 3:3-7; Rom 11:30; 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 2:2-3)?
    2. Notice the 10 descriptive elaboration of sinners (Tit 3:3). Were you once like that?
    3. Notice 6 components/ingredients to our salvation: need, origin, grounds, means, goal, result (Tit 3:3-8). Also, notice the 3 Persons of God and the 3 tenses of our salvation. How did God respond to sinners (Tit 3:4)? Why (Tit 3:5a; Eph 2:4; 1 Tim 1:13; 1 Pet 1:3, 2:10)? What is the process and result of our salvation (Tit 3:5b-7; Eze 36:25-32)? What part do we play in our salvation (Tit 3:3, 5a; 2 Tim 1:9; Eph 2:9)?
    4. What should Christians stress, insist and be confident of (Tit 3:8, 2:15)? What is the irrefutable evidence of a Christian's salvation (Tit 2:7,14, 3:1,8,14)? How is this profitable (Tit 3:8b)? [5 trustworthy sayings in the pastoral epistles: 1 Tim 1:15, 3:1, 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11.]
    5. What 2 ways should a leader deal with foolish controversies? (Tit 3:9-10) Why (Tit 3:11)?
    6. Why might Paul want Titus to come to him (Tit 3:12)? How should leaders help their people (Tit 3:13-14)? What does Paul's concluding remark teach about true fellowship (Tit 3:15)?
    References:
    1. Justified by Grace/Careful for Good Deeds (Tit 3:1-8), Ligon Duncan.
    2. Shun Foolish Controversies/Help Christians to be Fruitful (Tit 3:9-15), Duncan
    3. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus: Guard the Truth. (Bible Speaks Today.) John Stott. 2001.
    4. Blue Letter Bible.
    5. ESV Study Bible. Login: westloopchurch@gmail.com; Password: 12001200

    Posted via email from benjamintoh's posterous

    He Saved Us Because of His Mercy (Titus 3:1-15)

    Titus 3:1-15; Key Verse: Tit 3:5,8

    "...he saved us ... because of his mercy ... stress these things, so that (we) may be careful to ... (do) what is good."

    Because of his mercy, God saves us to do what is good. Do you comprehend the depth of God's mercy, so that your life overflows with doing what is good? A classical hymn (1958) says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days, all the days of my life." This is the happy testimony of every Christian who has ever tasted the mercy and grace of God.

    Good works is a major theme or topic of the Pastoral Epistles, in particular Titus. Gordon Fee says (1, 2 Timothy, Titus, The New International Biblical Commentary, 1984), "The dominant theme in Titus ... is good works ... that is, exemplary Christian behavior, and that for the sake of outsiders" and "in contrast to the false teachers." It is "the recurring theme of the entire letter."

    However, our good works or goodness always follows our realization of God's goodness, mercy and grace; our goodness is never the basis of God's goodness to us. (The BCD of teaching the Bible.)

    In Tit 2:1-15, we learned that grace is the key that unlocks the Bible, that the grace of God is the key to our salvation. Tit 3:1-15 explains why our salvation is entirely due to God's mercy, and not to anything we have done. God's mercy is the basis, the impetus, the motivation, the foundation, and the driving force behind doing what is good. Let us think about the who, why and how of doing good as a Christian:
    1. Who we do good to (Tit 3:1-2): to authorities and all people.
    2. Why we do good (Tit 3:3-8): we are sinners saved only by God's mercy.
    3. How we do good (Tit 3:9-15): dealing with problem people and good people.
    I. Who We Do Good To (Tit 3:1-2)
    1. Rulers and authorities. Christians should be subject and obedient to them as God's servant (Ac 17:11); "to be ready to do whatever is good." Yet we live to obey God rather than man (Ac 5:29). In our hearts we fear God, not man (Prov 29:25). Titus should remind them (Tit 3:1a) to live as good citizens. The Christian life needs constant reminders (1 Cor 15:1-2; 2 Pet 1:12-13; 1 Jn 2:21). The Bible stresses the importance of the reminding ministry.
    2. Everyone. We should be reminded often that our attitude and disposition toward all people should be that of Christ's attitude and disposition toward us. What should a Christian's behavior be in public life? In particular, Paul selects 4 Christian social attitudes which are to be universal in application:
      1. Slander no one
      2. Be peaceable
      3. Be considerate
      4. Always be gentle
    II. Why We Do Good (Tit 3:3-8)

    "Why" may be the most important question in the Bible? Why do we do what we do? Why should Christians be subject to ungodly rulers and authorities and be generous, gracious and good toward all people everywhere? If we do so simply because the Bible says so, it will likely not be sustainable. "The Bible says it, that settles it" may be a cute axiom. But some elaboration and explanation is needed, if not preferable and necessary.

    Tit 3:3 begins with a conjunction "for" (ESV, NIV) which is translated in the 2011 NIV as "at one time." This key connecting word "for" is Paul's explanation why we Christians are to do good to all people. Paul's explanation and answer to the question "Why" has everything to do with the gospel of our salvation.

    Tit 3:3-8 hinges upon the main verb in the key phrase: "he saved us" (Tit 3:5). John Stott states that this is perhaps the fullest statement of salvation in the N.T. Christianity is essentially a religion of salvation (Lk 19:10; 1 Jn 4:14).

    Paul explains 6 components or ingredients of our salvation:
    1. Need (Tit 3:3). Why do we need salvation? As depraved and enslaved sinners, we can't save ourselves. Read each descriptive adjective, verb and noun, and deeply realize how no human being can ever deliver himself or herself.
    2. Origin (Tit 3:4). What is the origin of our salvation? It is entirely because the kindness and love of God our Savior has appeared in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. "Kindness," "love," "mercy" (Tit 3:5) and "grace" (Tit 3:7) are 4 tremendous words that reveal that salvation originated in the heart of God, who took the initiative and intervened on our behalf to save us at great cost to himself.
    3. Ground (Tit 3:5a). What does our salvation rest on? What are the grounds/basis of our salvation? It is entirely because of God's mercy expressed in the cross, and not because of any goodness or righteousness in us.
    4. Means (Tit 3:5b-7a). What are the means of our salvation? How does our salvation come to us? Key words: washing; rebirth (paliggenesia); renewal; Holy Spirit; Christ; justified; grace. Our salvation is clearly God's work and God's doing, through Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. Though we should not confuse justification (our new status) and regeneration (our new birth), yet the work of Christ in justification and the work of the Spirit in regeneration are simultaneous. The order of redemption/salvation (ordo salutis) proposed by John Murray, Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminister Theological Seminary, in Redemption Accomplished and Applied (1955) is (1 - 5 occurs simultaneously):
      1. Effectual Calling
      2. Regeneration (new birth)
      3. Faith and Repentance
      4. Justification (new status)
      5. Adoption
      6. Sanctification
      7. Perseverance
      8. Glorification
    5. Goal (Tit 3:7b). What is the goal of our salvation? What does it lead to? Become heirs (Rom 8:17), having the hope of eternal life.
    6. Evidence (Tit 3:8). What is the evidence/fruit of our salvation? How do we "prove" our salvation? Good works: We are always careful to devote ourselves to doing what is good. Works is not the root of our salvation but the fruit of our salvation.
    Since I started an online West Loop UBF Cohort in June, 2012, about a dozen students from Philippines UBF have joined and posted their personal stories, primarily from Antipolo UBF, a church plant 2 years ago which is a 2 hour commute from Manila UBF, the main center. What causes my heart to be in awe is that almost every student testifies that the major spiritual influence in their life is Dr. John Talavera, who is a professor at Fatima college and the lead pastor at Antipolo. His life of doing good because of the mercy of God is evident from what some students wrote:

    An 18 y/o girl Charisee wrote:

    Major spiritual influence: Shepherd Dr. John Talavera. In my second year, first semester of college I was able to meet him. He was my professor in one of our subjects and he always invites us to attend Bible study. Once, I was about to enter the room but after I saw the arrangements of chairs in circle, I hesitated to come, thinking what am I going to do, being shy and everything. But God pushed me to go. Dr. John was our Bible teacher. I felt like he was another person speaking in front of me, different from my professor. He taught us about the Samaritan woman, about God's unconditional love for us! I was moved by Dr.John's words and so I continued to attend our weekly Bible study. Every time that I hear Dr. John testify, I really could feel the gospel sink in to me.

    He also gave me my spiritual name, 'Faith,' which no words can explain how I felt when I received it. It gave me anxieties like: Am I worthy to be a bible teacher? Shepherdess? Am I growing spiritually? Am I really faithful to Him? And so on and so forth. But then again God used Dr. John to enlighten me. They were always there together with Shepherdess Hannah
    Talavera, for me and my co-Igniters, ready to give us the words of wisdom we need. Having my spiritual parents, brothers and sisters adds to the joyfulness in doing God's work. From that moment I was born anew ... God's plans were totally amazing!

    Jimmon, 19 y/o, who is the student leader at Antipolo UBF, wrote:

    It was in the first semester of the school year 2010-2011 in Antipolo when I met Shepherd Dr. John Talavera. He was my professor in Anatomy and Physiology. I was amazed about his personality and attitude. I wondered why this professor of mine, being a doctor, is speaking about God and about a noble heart that a student should have. Whenever he caught us noisy and tardy in his class, I remember that he always says to us, "God wants you to be noble," and every time I heard that, I'm more encouraged to learn and to listen. I was a little surprised that, aside for being a doctor he is also a pastor. He invited us to attend group Bible Study every Wednesday and Friday. There I met his faithful wife, Shepherdess Hannah Talavera and also Missionary Susan San Marcos. God uses IGNITE Bible Student Society through the faith of these people, for us to know God personally. I also met Shepherd Dr. William Altobar and Shepherdess Sarah Altobar. During one of our fellowship, Dr. William encouraged me to attend Sunday Worship Service in the house Church of Shepherd Dr. John and Shepherdess Hannah in Antipolo. That's the time I started to grow more in Faith. I met many brothers and sisters in Christ from UBF Valenzuela, UP Manila, Caloocan, and all the members UBF Philippines. Now God graciously gave me a beautiful woman of God as my co-worker, Shepherdess Jhoana. I'm now more determined to know Jesus Christ deeper after experiencing His overflowing love and grace. I am also struggling to overcome the great sins of mine. I believe Jesus can heal me.

    Another 19 y/o student, Pedro Luis Mayers, wrote:

    God is so gracious to me because he called me two times before but I rejected it because my heart was so hard. Before, I was seeking earthly things rather than God before, until the third time God called me. He used one man who gives his whole heart to God. He become a blessing to many especially for me. This man was "Dr. John Talavera (Shpd John). He helped me to know more about God and to be with God. I've realized that I am poor because I don't have the most important thing in my life--God. God who is always there for me from the day that I was born, who provides all things for me, including my life. I've realized God's love is the best love that I ever have, that I was created ''BY HIM and FOR HIM.'' I've realized one day when I woke up that my heart was so thirsty for the word of God and I'm always seeking God. From now on I'm enjoying my journey with God.

    John Talavera is genuinely doing good because of the love of God and the grace of Jesus in his heart. He is simply living out God's kindness, love, and mercy that he himself personally experienced.

    To summarize again the 6 essential ingredients of salvation:
    1. its need is our sin, guilt and slavery;
    2. its source is God's gracious loving-kindness;
    3. its ground is not our merit but God's mercy in the cross;
    4. its means is the regenerating and renewing work of the Holy Spirit, signified in baptism;
    5. its goal is our final inheritance of eternal life; and
    6. its evidence is our diligent practice of good works.
    Notice 2 additional aspects regarding Christian salvation:
    1. 3 Persons. Christian salvation is trinitarian involving the Father (Tit 3:4), Son (Tit 3:6), and the Holy Spirit (Tit 3:5).
    2. 3 tenses. Our salvation has a past (Tit 3:4-5), present (Tit 3:8), and future (Tit 3:7) tense.
      1. Justification: The past tense of our salvation is justification and regeneration.
      2. Sanctification: The present is a new life of good works in the power of the Spirit.
      3. Glorification: The future is the inheritance of eternal life which will one day be ours.
    III. How We Do Good (Tit 3:9-15)
    1. Avoid foolish controversies (Tit 3:9). This is not a prohibition of all theological controversy.
    2. Warn divisive people (Tit 3:10-11).
    3. Oversee/steward God's church (Tit 3:12a).
    4. Free Titus to join Paul for mentoring (Tit 3:12b).
    5. Support/help God's people so that they have everything they need (Tit 3:13).
    6. Disciple God's people to be financially responsible and to live profitable lives (Tit 3:14).
    7. Promote true fellowship (Tit 3:15).
    Do you know and taste and experience the kindness, the love, and the mercy of God (Tit 3:4-5)?

    To be kind to us sinners, God had to be very unkind to His Son. To show us love, God had to withdraw his love from His Son. To extend to us mercy, God had to be merciless toward His own Son. How can we ever be unkind, unloving, and merciless toward our own children and loved ones? We would rather personally die than to hurt our children. God's love for His Son is pure and perfect, while our parental love for our children has selfish elements. Yet God did to His Son what we will never ever be able to do to our children. Why? So that He can extend to us kindness, love and mercy. When we taste God's kindness, love and mercy, our selfishness dissipates, and we want more than anything else to give of ourselves to "doing what is good" (Tit 3:8).

    Questions:
    1. What are 7 civic duties (toward authorities and all people) that Titus is exhorted to remind Christians (Tit 3:1-2)? Why should Christians be genuinely kind and generous toward all ungodly people (Tit 3:3-7; Rom 11:30; 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 2:2-3)?
    2. Notice the 10 descriptive elaboration of sinners (Tit 3:3). Were you once like that?
    3. Notice 6 components/ingredients to our salvation: need, origin, grounds, means, goal, result (Tit 3:3-8). Also, notice the 3 Persons of God and the 3 tenses of our salvation. How did God respond to sinners (Tit 3:4)? Why (Tit 3:5a; Eph 2:4; 1 Tim 1:13; 1 Pet 1:3, 2:10)? What is the process and result of our salvation (Tit 3:5b-7; Eze 36:25-32)? What part do we play in our salvation (Tit 3:3, 5a; 2 Tim 1:9; Eph 2:9)?
    4. What should Christians stress, insist and be confident of (Tit 3:8, 2:15)? What is the irrefutable evidence of a Christian's salvation (Tit 2:7,14, 3:1,8,14)? How is this profitable (Tit 3:8b)? [5 trustworthy sayings in the pastoral epistles: 1 Tim 1:15, 3:1, 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11.]
    5. What 2 ways should a leader deal with foolish controversies? (Tit 3:9-10) Why (Tit 3:11)?
    6. Why might Paul want Titus to come to him (Tit 3:12)? How should leaders help their people (Tit 3:13-14)? What does Paul's concluding remark teach about true fellowship (Tit 3:15)?
    References:
    1. Justified by Grace/Careful for Good Deeds (Tit 3:1-8), Ligon Duncan.
    2. Shun Foolish Controversies/Help Christians to be Fruitful (Tit 3:9-15), Duncan
    3. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus: Guard the Truth. (Bible Speaks Today.) John Stott. 2001.
    4. Blue Letter Bible.
    5. ESV Study Bible. Login: westloopchurch@gmail.com; Password: 12001200