Daily Meditations from John N N Ng'ang'a: Week of 24-30 Jan 2011...we are saved by grace but live in holiness .
Day 1
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
All who are saved are delivered out of their miserable enslaving condition by, not merit, nor strength of our own; but by the mercy and free grace of God, and merit of Christ, and operation of his Spirit.
Therefore we have no ground, in respect of ourselves, to condemn those who are yet unconverted, but rather to pity them, and cherish hope concerning them,
that they, though in themselves as unworthy and unmeet as we were, yet may obtain mercy, as we have…
The trinity is involved in this rescue operation….the Father begins, the Son manages, and the Holy Spirit works and perfects all.
God (namely, the Father) is a Saviour by Christ, through the Spirit. This is the message of John 3:16, God so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him might not perish, but have everlasting life.
Eph 1:3 tells us that God is the Father of Christ, and through him the Father of mercies. In fact all spiritual blessings are by Christ from him
When we know that we do not deserve salvation it helps us to go in repentance whenever we fall since we know he will act towards us by his mercy. But gain when we know what it is to him to save us, we shall be really sorry whenever we fail him. We shall therefore not live a life of sin.
Day 2
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
Here is the means of salvation— the shining out of this love and grace of God in the gospel, by the preaching of God’s word.
The appearing of love and grace has, through the Spirit, great virtue to soften and change and turn to God, and so is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes. Thus having asserted God to be the author, his free grace the spring, and the manifestation of this in the gospel the means of salvation, then the honour of all may be secured by him,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us; not for foreseen works of ours, but his own free grace and mercy alone. Works must be in the saved (where there is room for it), but not among the causes of his salvation;
Living righteously is the way to the kingdom, not the meriting price of it; for all we are saved by the principle of undeserved favour and mercy from first to last.
Election is of grace: we are chosen to be holy, not because it was antecedently seen that we should be so, Eph 1:4.It is the fruit, not the cause, of election: God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, 2 Thess 2:13.
So we did not choose Him but rather he chose us...no wonder the spirit gave such a deep conviction.
Day 3
Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit
It is the mercy of God that brings us forgiveness we find in salvation. It is actually his work within us that brings conviction of sin so that we repent. The Spirit of God brings the conviction. But this does not exclude the Father and the Son, who as part of the trinity are involved. But God also uses other means, like the word, by which the Spirit works; through his operation to have the saving effect.
In the economy of our salvation, the applying and effecting part is especially attributed to the Holy Spirit. We are said to be born of the Spirit, to be quickened and sanctified by the Spirit, to be led and guided, strengthened and helped, by the Spirit.
Through him we mortify sin, perform duty, walk in God's ways; all the acts and operations of the divine life in us, the works and fruits of righteousness without us, all are through this blessed and Holy Spirit, who is therefore called the Spirit of life, and of grace and holiness.
Earnestly therefore is he to be sought, and greatly to be heeded by us, that we quench not his holy motions, nor resist and oppose him in his workings. Grieve not therefore the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption, Eph 4:30. The Spirit seals by his renewing and sanctifying, his witnessing and assuring work; he distinguishes and marks out for salvation, and fits for it; it is his work: we could not turn to God by any strength of our own, any more than we can be justified by any righteousness of our own.
The evangelist can convince but only the Holy Spirit can convict and without conviction there is no new birth. In our work of evangelism we must therefore do it in prayer. Our efforts alone will not bear spiritual fruit.
Day 4
Titus 3:He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life
So we are justified by grace
Again this reminds us that salvation is free and undeserved gift and none of us can pride ourselves for having got it. It is God who saw our lostness and sent his son to rescue us rather than us who discovered our lostness and searched him out.
We therefore need to live in holiness as an act of thankfulness for what he did for us on the cross.
None of us would want to hurt a benefactor that has done well for us, similarly we should want to live in holiness to please him who died for us
The other motivation for righteous living is the fact that we are heirs of the holy heaven as we have hope of eternal life. Since where we are going is land of holiness, we would want to live in readiness and prepare ourselves by living holy lives here on earth.
Day 5
V8-This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
A Faithful saying is one of the noteworthy sayings of the Pastoral letters (1 Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11, note). It not only gives weighty emphasis to the doctrinal statement just uttered (vv. 4-7), but it also calls attention to the succinct, powerful restatement of the message of the whole epistle which follows. We learn better what is emphasized and that is what Paul does.
As we have seen before grace of God is producing faith and hence comes first; good works should follow: the root and then the fruit. 8 b, 9.
Day 6
Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Good and profitable of verse 8 contrasts with unprofitable and vain of verse 9, where the Apostle lists things that distract attention from the truth. These should be avoided, as should also those individuals who, having been admonished by the church, still perversely cling to them.
Wining a bible argument may give you satisfaction but it might be of no spiritual value to all involved
Paul tells us to avoid useless arguments.
For example heaven is not very clear as to its geographical location. Arguing as to where it is of no value. All we know is that heaven will be where Jesus is and it will be happy company with Him.
Once you are with someone you love the location is secondary.
How many other theological arguments are churches dividing over yet they are of no spiritual benefits?
Heretic is used either in the strict sense or of one causing division .These Divisive members of the church should be disciplined by the leadership because they will not only mislead the young believers but also keep off the non Christians. Admonition is a most important aspect of church discipline. The noun is used here, in 1 Cor 10:11, and in Eph 6:4; the verb in Acts 20:31; Rom 15:14; 1 Cor 4:14; Col 1:28; 3:16; 1 Thess 5:12, 14; 2 Thess 3:15.
The reason we discipline him is because he is beyond normal counseling…HE IS Subverted which connotes "permanently turned," "set on a wrong course." He is sinful implies willfully sinning, as in Heb 10:26. Condemned of himself. Such a one, who has received knowledge of the truth and stubbornly rejected it, is himself the witness that he has twice rejected an earnest explanation and appeal.
We should seek to be involved in profitable ministry rather than waste time and still claim to be serving God
Day 7
12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have verything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. 15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
In Conclusion, what is now being emphasized is Good Works. 3:12-15.
After a few personal notes, Paul gives the final reiteration of the main burden of his letter-that the believers should be careful to maintain good works.
The fact that we are saved by grace should not make us live unfruitful lives and still claim grace. If we are really saved the others will see by our lives. They will know us, the bible says, by our fruits
Pul then names a few people. Artemas is not mentioned elsewhere; Tychicus appears in Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2 Tim 4:12. Nicopolis is in Epirus. Titus is instructed to join the apostle there (2 Tim 4:10, note). 13. Zenas appears only here. Apollos was an Alexandrian; it is possible that the journey alluded to was to Alexandria by way of Crete.
He finishes his letter by condemning dependency. We should learn to provide for ourselves buy working with our hands, v14.This suggests that Christians should be in the lead in doing good works.
Grace in v15 is the characteristic conclusion of all Paul's epistles (see comment on 1 Tim 6:21).
We must do good works but realize we are kept by his grace not our efforts.