Behavior and Belief

This is a wonderful review by Harold Penner (our daughter's father-in-law).

Enjoy!!

Titus, Behavior and Belief
Titus 3 by Mike Slayden
The Well, Sunday, August 2, 2009

The behavior of belief
Mike grew up among vacinated Christians who were motivated by guilt.

This morning Ella came into Mike's, just wanted to be with her father.  
To be with him. This is what our father wants.

Verse 1: Remind them. This is not new information. Seven things:
1. Government: Submit to authority and to our leaders, those set over  
us by God (not set over us by votes, or by the majority)
2. Obey the law. Don't buck the system.
3. Be ready for every good deed. (By their DEEDS you will know them).  
Faith without works is dead.
4. Malign no one. Temptation to slander others. Put aside anger,  
abusive speech
5. Be patient.
6. Be gentle. Don't force others.
7. Meekness and humility. Not arrogant and boastful. Live out The  
fruit of the spirit with everyone...joy, gentleness,

Now Paul lays a foundation for why should we be this way.
In the past we were blind and deceived.  Slaves to a life of self  
satisfaction. Total depravity. Natures set apart from God. His  
enemies. There is none righteous. Wrathful. A bleak picture before the  
cross. A wreaked, empty life.

Far too often we forget the grace of God in our lives. A good  
relationship with God begins with a right view of myself before the  
cross.

Verse 4: BUT His kindness, love and mercy. Riches of his kindness  
draws us to him. Love (pheleo). He likes us!

He saved us. God had the plan. He initiated everything for us. There  
is no boasting. He power washed us from the inside out. He gave us a  
new nature. He gives us a new inward life. He makes everything new  it  
is in every sense a fresh start. A new beginning

Secondly, Jesus renews us by the Holy Spirit. He gives Him to us 100%.  
He lives within us.

Verse 6: He richly blessed us with the Holy Spirit  We are declared  
righteous. Those who have believed. Influence the world around us by  
how we love. An aroma. Do my actions draw others to want to be like  
me? Our lives are meant to meet the needs of the people around us.

Further instructions. In verses 9-15: avoid foolish controversies. How  
to deal with divisive people. Leadership transitions etc.

Summary: Your life with God must look different. It is a transformed  
life because of what happened to you and today based on your belief  
(faith) it will pour out of you in your behavior.