THINGS WORTH REMEMBERING
The Book of Titus #6
Pastor Brandon Cross
Woodland Church
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” (Titus 3:1-8, NKJV)
MAIN IDEA:
Because of God’s Amazing Grace we are called to remember that we are to demonstrate how Jesus has changed us INWARDLY by how we live our lives before all men OUTWARDLY.
“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT)
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NKJV)
AS BELIEVERS, WE ARE CALLED TO REMEMBER:
- To Live Obedient and Kind Lives
“Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.” (Titus 3:1-2, NLT)
CONTEXT:
Paul was instructing Titus how to navigate the culture in Crete as a believer and a leader. The Cretans were notoriously argumentative and impatient of all authority.
- Proactive Service: “Every good work” means you don’t just stop at obeying civil laws; you go the extra mile to be a blessing to your neighbors.
- A Heart of Humility: It is the lifestyle of a peaceable, calm citizen versus a bitter or rebellious
- Attitude of Gentleness: A good Christian is as careful with the words he/she speaks as with his/her actions.
QUESTIONS:
- How can we navigate this command to be submissive to authorities and maintain a good outward representation of the inward change, even when facing a contentious or hostile culture?
- What does it mean to live obedient and kind lives in our current culture or context?
APPLICATION:
God’s mandate to us is to turn away from wickedness and worldly desires and to live our lives with self-control, uprightness, and godliness.
AS BELIEVERS, WE ARE CALLED TO REMEMBER:
- Who We Used to Be
“Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.” (Titus 3:3, NLT)
“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3, NKJV)
CONTEXT:
Paul is setting the foundation of our Christian ethics in light of the grace we have received from God.
- Foolish and Deceived: Lacking spiritual understanding and refusing to acknowledge divine truth.
- Disobedient: Rebellious against divine and human authority.
- Self-gratification: “Enslaved to passions and pleasures;” Captivated by a lifestyle of self-gratification (hedonism).
- Malicious and Envious: Harboring ill will and resenting others’ prosperity.
- Hateful and Hating: Experiencing mutual animosity and strife in society.
QUESTIONS:
- Why is the Apostle Paul telling us to remember who we were before we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior?
- What is his purpose in telling us this?
APPLICATION:
By remembering how broken they once were, believers are encouraged to treat unbelievers and those in authority with gentleness, patience, and kindness.
AS BELIEVERS, WE ARE CALLED TO REMEMBER:
- Who We Are in Christ
“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” (Titus 3:4-8, NKJV)
CONTEXT:
Our sinfulness vs. God’s radical mercy.
The Apostle Paul is contrasting our sinfulness with God’s radical mercy, explaining that salvationis purely a free gift from God.
- RESCUED (verses 4-5a)
God’s Initiative: Salvation was not earned through good behavior, nor were we worth saving based on our own merit.
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36, NKJV)
Motive: The implication is a gentle, sweet grace. God’s God’s heart toward believers is loving, not harsh or condemning.
- REBIRTH – (verses 5b-7)
Washing and Renewal: The cleansing of past sins and a radical, internal transformation provided by the Spirit.
Justified by Grace: God declares the believer completely righteous, as if they had never sinned.
The Final Hope: We are guaranteed an eternal inheritance simply by trusting in God’s mercy.
- RESPONSE – (verse 8)
Devotion to Good Works: Paul tells Titus to “insist on these things” so that believers will “be careful to devote themselves to good works”
Faith as the Foundation: Because a believer’s heart has been changed by God, they are naturally inspired and empowered to do what is good and profitable for others.
QUESTION:
- What do you think Paul means that our good works are profitable to men/others?
APPLICATION:
God’s loving kindness initiated our rescue from sin so that we could extend that same grace to those who do not YET know Him. We need to remember what He has done for us so that we can show the same tenacity to extend grace to others.