He Saved Us, Not Because of Works

In one paragraph

On August 5, 2018, the pastor walked First B Jackson through Titus 2:11 through 3:11, arriving at communion. The message centered on the mercy and grace of God as the only ground for salvation, and on what that reality is supposed to produce in the people who have received it. Paul's letter to Titus has a logic that the chapter break can obscure. The command to "declare these things, exhort and...

Read together

1. Titus 2:11-14 Read as the run-up passage before the main text, covering grace bringing salvation, training in godliness, and Christ redeeming a people zealous for good works
2. Titus 2:15 Paul's command to Titus to declare, exhort, and rebuke with all authority and let no one disregard him
3. Titus 3:1 Remind believers to be submissive to rulers and authorities and ready for every good work
4. Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people
5. Titus 3:3 We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to passions, passing days in malice and envy, hated and hating
6. Titus 3:4-7 Main text: when the goodness and loving kindness of God appeared He saved us by mercy, washing, regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit, justified by grace as heirs of eternal life
7. Titus 3:8 This saying is trustworthy; insist on these things so believers devote themselves to good works profitable for all people
8. Titus 3:9-11 Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law; warn a divisive person once then twice then have nothing more to do with him
9. Ephesians 2:10 We are His workmanship created in Christ to walk in the good works He prepared
10. Luke 23:34 Jesus on the cross: Father forgive them for they know not what they do
11. Luke 23:42-43 The thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember him, and Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise, illustrating instant repentance and salvation

Talk about it

1. The pastor read from Titus 2 that Jesus gave himself to 'purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.' What is the difference between doing good works because you feel you have to earn something and doing them from that kind of belonging?
2. Paul lists things he says 'we ourselves were once': foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions, passing our days in malice and envy. Which of those is hardest for you to admit was true of you, and why does Paul bring it up in this particular passage?
3. The pastor drew a distinction between grace and mercy: grace is receiving something good you do not deserve, mercy is not receiving something bad you do deserve. How does holding both of those together change the way you think about your standing before God?
4. The sermon pointed out that the command to 'speak evil of no one' and 'show perfect courtesy toward all people' comes right after Paul reminds us we were once foolish and hated ourselves. How does remembering your own past make it harder or easier to extend that courtesy to difficult people?
5. The pastor said he struggles with the instruction to warn a divisive person once, then twice, and then have nothing more to do with him, because he wants to keep trying to win that person. Where do you find the line between persistence in love and the kind of separation Paul is describing here?