In the letter to Titus, Paul gives us a neat little recap. In chapter one, we are reminded that God promised and provided eternal life right from the beginning. And as promised, manifested Himself here on earth at the proper time...
(Titus 1:1-3) Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, 3 but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior
His work on the cross is what provides salvation (NOT our righteous work) in order that we can live through Him right now. As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we will want to do good deeds, and these are the things for which we will be judged and rewarded - at the time of His appearing (the rapture).
NOTE: in the PRESENT AGE (which is the age of the Gentiles / the Church Age) - we can look forward to the rapture. If the Church is to go through even part of the Tribulation, then we could not look forward to the rapture in this age, since all seven years of the Tribulation is part of the Jewish Age...
(Titus 2:11-14) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Today's takeaway: I'm not sure why, but it's been on my heart about how some church members are extra zealous about judging others - maybe thinking that this is going to help purify the church in some way - like if it is their mission to cleanse the church of all chaff. They might be sincere, but they would be sincerely wrong. The last two verses below would apply to these types of people, because this sort of self-righteousness is a sin and needs to be dealt with.
People who feel it is their gift and their right to judge people... I have seen this sort of thing get so out of hand before. They will use gossip and slander to malign someone, and then apply Matthew 18:15-20 in order to justify their attacks and cause divisions. Interestingly, the last verse below tells the church to apply the principles of Matthew 18 to the very people who do this.
Keeping everything in context, we must be careful how we approach people regarding their actions. First of all, we must make very sure that what they are doing is actually a sin. We must then, with a loving spirit, go to speak to them in private!!! Nowhere does it say we should talk to other people about it first. We know that gossiping and slander is a sin!
We must also ask ourselves several other questions before approaching someone else regarding their sin: have we prayed about it? is it our place to approach them? how would we want to be approached? is it to encourage and edify them? does it help to build up the church or tear it down?
Titus 2:14 says we should be zealous for good deeds! Then below we are told what that actually looks like...
(Titus 3:1-11) Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
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