The Coolidge examiner., 1937-10-21

JUNIOR TOPIC-In His Likeness.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-A New Life in Christ.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Renewed Life Through Christ.
The pastoral epistles, Of which
Titus is one, were written by Paul to
his young brethren in the faith who
had been called to the ministry of
the gospel to instruct them concern
ing three important matters-O
Church order and organization, (2)
sound doctrine and 80 holy living.
The third chapter Of Titus, our
lesson for today, deals with the life
of believers in Christ in their rela-
ton to unbelievers. The great un-
derlying reason why Christians
should conduct themselves in meek
ness and humility toward others is
that except for Gods grace we who
bear the name of Christ would be,
and indeed were before our regen-
Grafton, just like the unbeliever.
We shall best study our lesson,
therefore, by considering first of all
v. which indicates the lost condi-
tion of man by nature, then follow
him through the miracle of redeem
ing grace, Wv. to 7, and finally see
him as living testimony in Wv. IL,
and 8 to IL.
/. LOSt-by Nature ". -.
1t is not pleasant picture that is
painted in the graphic words of this
verse, but. remember, it is Gods
picture of the unbeliever. He is said
to be foolish" is, irrational
and senseless in his course of liv-
ing. He is "disobedient' to the
law of God. He is deceived" lit
orally "out of the way" misled by
Satan. He thinks his pleasures and
lusts are serving him, but alas, he
is only slave in bondage to and
serving them. Such life can only
result in a mans becoming hateful
to his fellowmen. They in turn are
hateful to him, and so he hates
them. Thus the whole world be-
comes a hateful place where men
are living in malice and envy"
How we thank God that we need
not stop at this point Man is by
nature lost in sin-but he may be
III. Saved-by Grace (vv. 4-O.
How sweet are these three words
in the sinners ears Saved by
grace, not works, and made heirs
of eternal life.
l. mot by works" ". 81. Some
one has said that man is determined
by one means or another to claim
salvation by his good works. To do
so may flatter the flesh, but it
surely finds no support whatever in
Scripture We are to work for Christ
because we are saved, and after we
are saved. but no man can be
saved by works.
2. by his grace" ". y. God
shows his unspeakable kindness and
love toward man-saving him by
grace, through Jesus Christ. Grace
has well been defined as ''unmerit-
ed favor" We deserve but the just
condemnation of our sin, and God
in his mercy saves US, through faith
in his Son.
8. Made heirs" ". y. Saved
now? Yes, thank God! Satisfied?
Yes, praise his name! But there
is more yet to come. We who de-
served only Gods judgment are now
made heirs of an eternal hope. 'Tis
indeed no small thing to be child
of God.
Now-we are ready to approach
in the right spirit the admonition to
live out our salvation as a daily
testimony to others.
iii. Witnessing, by Holy Living
(vv. 1,2, BID.
The young preacher Titus is told
to put them in mind" to be
l. Subject to rulers ". ID. True
patriotism (and we did not spell
it "pay-triotism'D stands very close
to godIy living. National leaders
would do well to recognize that the
decay of our national life will follow
the decadence of spiritual life. A
man who is right with God will be
right with his fellowmen, and a no
BILE and useful citizen.
2. Meek and kind to all men ". p.
Meekness is not weakness. Gentle
ness is the attribute of strong men
and women. The brawler, the loud
talker is weakling. Truly great
men are always simple in their
wants, kind in their spirit, gentle
| toward others.
8. Maintaining good. avoiding evil
(vv. BID. 1t is the tendency of
man to divorce morals from reli-
gion, to profess faith which does
not touch his daily life. Let us af-
firm constantly and confident
ly" (as the r. v. has it, that those
who believe in God should ''be care
full to maintain good works s"-yes,
and at the same time to avoid"
that which is foolish" contentious,
''unproftable and vain"