According to His Mercy (Titus 3:1-15)

Salvation is, was and will always be founded in the grace and mercy of God.  The works of humanity, helping the sick, feeding the poor, caring for our neighbors, are all good things in a general sense.  But true goodness, truth, hope, love, service and sacrifice are only found in God.  Those who would point to what are good works in a secular sense, may or may not claim a high moral or ethical standard or a standard based of the idea of treating others as they would like to be treated.  Humanitarians tend to look at the world as a place sustained by chance, destroyed by ignorance and in need of salvation through the actions of humanity.  Their battle cry is science will save us.  As they focus upon the creature and inflate the ability and value of human effort, they reject God and worship and serve the creature rather than the creator (Rom 1:20-25).

Paul instructs Titus in the reasons we are to preform good works, be obedient to the authorities, avoid speaking evil of others, live in peaceful compassion, in humility toward our neighbors.  The source of our humility is found in our own experiences of lust, deception, pleasure seeking, and hateful envious malice, from which we have been delivered through the super abundance of grace and mercy which God has given to us through Christ Jesus (Titus 3:5-7).

The great contrast to the nature of fallen man is the kindness, love, grace and mercy which is lavished upon those whom God calls his own.  It is through the lovingkindness of God our Saviour Christ Jesus that good works abound, even among the lost and those who reject his offer of salvation and hope.

Sermon Outline and Notes

1. Always Reminding
   (Deut 6:4-9; Rom 13; Acts 14:19ff; 2 Cor 11:23-33)

 

2. Abundant Grace
   (Joel 2:28ff; Eph 2:4-10; 2 Tim 1:9; Gal 2:16ff)

 

3. Fruitful and Fruitless Deeds
   (Titus 1-2; 1 Tim 1:4; 2 Tim 2:23; Matt 18)