Saving Grace: Families of Grace (Titus 2) March 3, 2013 – Sunday Morning Message Chris Altrock and Frank Bolling

FRANK BOLLING on Titus 2:11-14

 In December of 2011, the Federal Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission began the process of stopping the sales of a product called HCG  diet drops because of false marketing and incredible claims. Some of these claims include that a person can easily lose 1-2 pounds per day safely!  That HCG can reset your hypothalamus so that the weight loss is permanent!” and also that “HCG will melt fat permanently while maintaining muscle tone.” HCG does all this, it is claimed, without any exercise at all. That sounds pretty good to me. But there is one small, tiny, little catch to these miracle drops…you are only allowed to eat 500 calories a day for effective use. That is the equivalent of this is a cup of Starbucks coffee. What makes matters worse are the side effects that come along with the use of this product. Some of the common side effects include fatigue, headache, mood swings, depression, confusion, dizziness and stomach pain and some of the more extreme include gall stones, imbalance of electrolytes, and irregular heart beat. How many of you want to sign up for that?

 

Infomercials and advertisers are always bombarding us with questions like: Are you unhappy with the way you look? Well I have a product just for you! These lines have become all too familiar. Advertisers continue to convince us that the thing we need to get rid of all the unwanted problems in our lives is contained in what they are selling.  But unfortunately most of these products never live up to their billing. In fact, if you read the disclaimer that comes up briefly and lists all of the side effects that the product may cause, they sound worse than the initial problem you were trying to solve in the first place! Yet, we are constantly bombarded with the appearing of some great new miracle product which claims to get rid of a problem and never address the real issue at stake, teaching us how to live healthy, disciplined lives.

 

In Titus 2:11, Paul tells the churches at Crete about something amazing that has appeared in the world. It isn’t a product, but it does come with a great promise-a promise which benefits every person on the plant.  Paul says “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” This idea of something great appearing would not have been foreign to the people of Crete. It was deeply rooted in their thoughts about government, leaders, and religion. It was used to describe the arrival of kings, emperors, and gods who brought with them something that would benefit the people, whether it be peace, protection, or blessing. Listen to how the conquests of Augustus, one of the greatest Roman emperors,  were described which brought an end to the civil wars in Asia Minor and brought about the Pax Romana, which is the Great Roman Peace.

 

            “Since Providence, which has ordered all things and is deeply interested in our life, has set in most perfect order by giving us Augustus,  whom she filled with virtue that he might benefit humankind, sending him as a  savior , both for us and for our descendants, that he might end war and  arrange all things, and since he, Caesar, by his appearance (excelled  even our anticipations), surpassing all previous benefactors, and not even leaving  to posterity any hope of surpassing what he has done, and since the birthday of the  god Augustus was the beginning of the good tidings for the world that came by  reason of him.”

 

 

 

This type of language is just a small sample of describing the arrival of rulers and is representative of the thought that was deeply rooted in their beliefs, so Paul’s language is not new to them. But what Paul’s promising is new.  Unlike any benefit which might appear though someone like a Roman Caesar, Paul’s promising a benefit far greater through the appearance of God’s grace.   This grace doesn’t just solve some problem, like the presence of sin in our lives.  It actually has a “side effect” that is also to our benefit.  Listen to the way Paul describes the “side effect” of this grace that has appeared

 

He writes, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Put this verse on a slide)

 

This appearing of grace wasn’t just a remedy to do away with sin. No, the side effect of grace is that it teaches people and trains them how to live as they await the return of Christ. It teaches them to say no the worldly passions and desires that are all around and teaches them how live a godly and upright life that is pleasing to the Lord. It is not enough for grace to come into our lives and only do away with sin. Grace must also teach us how to live. This teaching can be a long hard process, but the goal of this education is that we become zealous for good works. When I was growing up, there was a school across town that we played in sports called Paideia. I was always curious how the school got its name because, between you and me, it sounded a little weird. I figured it had to be named after some benefactor who donated a lot of money to the school and got it named after him. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. The school got its name from the greek word for education, Paideia. I had this epiphany while preparing for this lesson and a question that bothered me for so long was finally answered.  Paul here in Titus uses the verb form of paideia, saying that this grace teaches us and trains us how to live exactly how school and education prepare us for life. When we are washed in the waters of baptism we don’t come out of the water a fully mature christian who from that point on lives a perfect life. That is not my experience and I am sure is not any of yours. Instead when we receive grace in baptism we are born into a new life and from that point on we enter into an education taught by grace. Just like children who start school at a young age to learn about math, science, history, english hoping as they get older to grow into mature and competent adults, we as christians enter into an education taught by grace so that we can become mature, competent Christians. But this education is not without a learning curve.

 

When I was a Sophomore in college I had a semester that I really want to forget. But because of the gracious actions of a teacher, I will never forget it. It was a rough semester for me academically. I am sure none of you ever had one of those semesters. I was lazy and it finally caught up with me. I turned some papers in late that I should not have received any credit for at all. I remember the walk to my teachers office for a meeting about my grades. As my teacher handed me my graded papers, I could see the red ink dripping off the page. I was terrified because I thought I was going to fail the class. I knew I was in trouble as I began to read the comments and see the points that had been taken off. 40 pts off for being late. There is a 60, already failing. 10 pts counted off for other errors. Now I have a fifty. But a fifty was not the final grade. There was one more line but it wasn’t taking points away but to my surprise adding 20 with a little paragraph written out to the side. It started with the words grace points, quickly followed by don’t do this again. What I deserved was a failing grade and to fail the class but because of the grace of the teacher I didn’t. It took care of the problem but it also taught me a lesson. The grace that Paul is talking about doesn’t just take away the problem, but it teaches us and trains us how to live.

 

This grace is saving us for something, a people who are Christ’s possession as verse 14 says. Some writer’s suggest that this word doesn’t just mean property or something that belongs to Christ. But rather this word means his rich possession and describes the people of God as the people which constitute the crown jewel of God. This gives the idea that his possession is special and should be on display for all to see. One of the largest and most visited attractions when people go to England is a stop to see the tower of London.  Beautifully displayed in the tower are the crown jewels of the monarchy.There are crowns, scepters, swords which are made with the purest gold and silver and adorned with the finest jewels which glisten and shine as the light bounces off of them.  These are beautiful articles which draw our attention to the majesty and beauty of the royal family. They are precious to family and they have put them on display for the world to see. God wants to do the same thing with his precious possession. People who are being taught by grace and are zealous for good works. When we are going through an education of grace, The effect  of our education is that we are living lives that point people to God and Bring him glory and honor.

 

The grace that has appeared has saved us and redeem us from our sins, but it has also saved us for good works, which are the crown jewel of God. When we are zealous for good works we become a witness to the transforming education of the grace of God and bring him glory.

 

Chris Altrock

The grace of God has appeared.  That grace brings salvation to all, including you and me.  By that grace God saves us from our ungodliness.  By that grace God trains us for good works.  And those good works draw people’s attention to God’s beauty and glory.  It’s just like Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount.  When we do good works, others see them and end up giving glory to our Father who is in heaven.

 

Last week we explored Titus 3.  We heard how God calls us to do good works in the world.  But in the rest of Titus 2, we’ll hear how God calls us to do good works much closer to home.

 

In the rest of Titus 2, Paul is going to write to five groups of Christians: older men (v. 2), older women (v. 3-4), young women (v. 4-5), young men (v. 6-8), and slaves (v. 9-10).  These are the five kinds of people you’d find in a typical household in Paul’s day.[1]  We wouldn’t necessarily find all five of these kinds of people in a household in Cordova.  But in the world in Paul’s day you’d find these in a typical home: older males and females, younger males and females, and servants.  This text is what is known as a “household code.”  A household code contains instructions to the various people that make up a family.

 

Some of you may watch the TV series “Downton Abbey.”  The series is set in the fictional Downton Abbey, a Yorkshire country house.  The series follows the lives of the Crawley family in the early 1900’s.  There are older men, older women, younger men, younger women, and servants all living under one roof.  While the households to which Paul writes would not be as big as Downton Abbey, they would have held a similar collection of people.

 

Here’s what Paul writes to older men in the family: “² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.” (Titus 2:2 ESV)

 

Here’s what Paul writes to older women in the family: “³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,” (Titus 2:3 ESV)
Here’s what Paul writes to younger women in the family: “⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:4-5 ESV)
Here’s what Paul writes to younger men in the family: “⁶ Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8 ESV)
And here’s what Paul writes to servants in the family: “⁹ Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” (Titus 2:9-10 ESV)
Scholars tell us that the negative behaviors Paul urges these family members to avoid are behaviors which non Christian families on Crete were struggling with.[2]  That is, families in Crete struggled with slander, undignified behavior, drunkenness, a lack of self-control, a lack of integrity, and being argumentative.

 

And Paul writes to the Christians urging them to do at home what they were saved to do–the good work of having healthy families.  He urges the Christians to have families that are a direct contrast to families in the culture: self-controlled, sober, loving, affirming, supportive, faithful, nurturing, and kind.

 

But Paul doesn’t just give us the “what”–the need for strong households.  He gives us the why.  As Paul writes to these families, he stops three times and uses the word “that.”   He uses this word to indicate what will happen when Christians focus on building up their families:

• “⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:4-5 ESV)
• “⁶ Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8 ESV)
• “⁹ Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” (Titus 2:9-10 ESV)

 

There were people on the island of Crete who viewed the Christian teaching about God and Jesus as nonsense.  And Paul believed their minds could be changed if Christians could demonstrate what a difference Christ had made in their families.

 

There were people on the island of Crete who said evil things against Christians and the Christian faith.  But Paul believed their minds could be changed if Christians could demonstrate what a difference Christ had made in their households.

 

There were people on the island of Crete who thought the Christian faith was ugly.  But Paul believed their minds could be changed if Christians could demonstrate what a difference Christ had made in their families.

 

Notice the last “that”:  so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” (Titus 2:9-10 ESV)  What’s Paul saying there?  He’s saying this: People will see the beauty of our Father through the beauty of our families.  Strong, healthy, compassionate, kind and nurturing families are like jewelry.  They adorn God.  The word “adorn” is the source of our contemporary word “cosmetics.”  Sometimes we think of cosmetics as something that hides ugliness and creates a beauty that is only skin deep.  What Paul has in mind is something that highlights a beauty that already exists.  Something that draws our attention to a beauty already present.  Paul is saying that people will see the beauty of our Father through the beauty of our families.  It’s similar to what Frank pointed out about that word “possession” in v. 14.  God saves us so that we might become his prized possession, a kind of crown jewel that draws the attention of others to the beauty of God.  Now, Paul shows how this works through strong Christian families.  Our families, when they are healthy, act like crown jewels.  They act like adornments.  They draw people’s attention to the beauty of God.

 

And Paul knows that people on the island of Crete will stand up and take notice when they begin to see the ways in which the Christian faith makes good husbands great, likeable wives loveable, descent children delightful.  People on the island of Crete who’ve long thought nothing of Christianity will stand up and take notice when they begin to see how the Christian faith makes marriages last longer, helps family members resolve conflict faster, and makes family relationships deeper.  People will see the beauty of our Father through the beauty of our families.

 

The same is true today.  When you go out of your way to encourage a brother or a sister in your family because of Christ, people see the beauty of God through that beautiful act.  When you stay with your spouse through an extended health crisis because of Christ, people see the beauty of God through that beautiful act.  When, for Jesus, you turn down a promotion at work because it will make you an absentee father or mother, people see the beauty of God through that beautiful act.

 

Many of you know I grew up in a non Christian household.  You may not know I grew up in a household torn by a bitter divorce.  Thus, when I became a teenager and a high school friend started inviting me to attend church services with him, one of the most appealing things to me about the Christian faith were the families in that little church in Cloudcroft, NM.  There was Wilma and Wesley Lane who, as far as I could tell, had been married since Gen. 1.  What a loving and nurturing family they had.  There was Don and Judy Warren and their daughters Leah and Michal (it didn’t hurt Christianity’s case that these daughters were both beautiful).  What a loving a nurturing family.  One of the things that made Christianity beautiful to me was the beauty of those families.

 

There are several couples at Highland meeting on Tuesday nights in a class called United.  Through those sessions and through “homework” throughout the week, these couples are strengthening their marriages.  And Paul is saying that through those beautiful marriages, people in Memphis are going to catch a glimpse of the beauty of the Almighty.

 

There’s a Highland family who passes a basket around at the dinner table.  The basket doesn’t have rolls.  It’s for everyone to put their cell phone or mobile device in.  It guarantees a few uninterrupted minutes of family talk time.  Not only is that family getting stronger.  But people around them will begin seeing more of the beauty of the Father through the beauty of that family.

 

What Paul’s saying is that there are few witnesses greater than the witness of a strong family.  There are few things that persuade others of the wisdom of Christ than seeing how Christ produces strong families.  Thus, it is imperative for us at Highland to cultivate strong families.  It is imperative for us to nurture our marriages, cultivate our relationships with our children and grandchildren, and pursue kindness with our siblings.  Because these families become a witness to the world around us of the beauty of God.

 

What are some other ways we might do this?  I asked two Highlanders for some counsel.  Dr. Ed Gray directs the Counseling program at Harding School of Theology.  Bill Ivey and his wife Cathy direct Highland’s Marriage Ministry.  Their list is on the back of the Link today.  Circle one that you can start tomorrow:

1. Eat dinner together at the table with no TV.
2. Play together. (This is the best gauge of how a family is doing.)
3. “Interview one another” about what has happened in each other’s day.
4. Go on dates with your spouse. Talk with one another like you did when you were dating, learning more about one another and having fun.
5. Have a family night and let each family member take a turn in planning what the family will eat and do.
6. Do one special “mystery” act of service for one family member this week.
7. Respect your spouse by using the “Stop, Look, Listen” method of communication.  Stop what you are doing, look him/her in the eyes, and listen to what he/she has to say.
8. Make non-sexual physical contact every day.
9. Share words of encouragement, compliment and worth every day.