THE BIOGRAPHY OF THE BELIEVER |
|
I think that one of the tragedies of our generation is the lack of reading. One survey I came across stated that only 32% of the U.S. population has ever been in a bookstore, 42% of U.S. college graduates never read another book, 58% of the U.S. adult population never reads another book after high school, 70% of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years, and that 80% of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
Joseph Addison said, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
Someone has said, “If you drop gold and books, pick up the books first, then the gold.”
Tibbon, a Spanish Jewish Scholar said, “Make books your companions; let your bookshelves be your gardens: bask in their beauty, gather their fruit, pluck their roses, take their spices and myrrh.”
Reading is a love and habit that ought to be developed and maintained, especially biographies. I love biographies. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said:
Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our live sublime, And departing, leave behind us, Footprints on the sands of time.
It is not unusual to hear an important person, a national or international leader, refer to a biography that influenced them or inspired them. Lives have been changed by reading a biography. Andre Gide said, “To read a writer is for me not merely to get an ideal of what he says, but to go off with him and travel in his company.”
Through biographies I have met people – great people – that time and distance would have never allowed. My life has been greatly shaped by biographies. If I couldn’t get you to read biographies, there is at least one that you need to read and put to memory.
As we saw in our last study, Paul encouraged Titus in 3:1 to “Put in mind” those to whom he preached of certain things. As we saw, the words are a call to remember certain things, things which are addressed in verses 1-8. The words “put in mind” are in the present tense which indicates continuity and regularity. In short, there are some things we are never to forget.
One of the things we are never to forget and ever be mindful of is our salvation. In verses 4-7 we are commanded to remember our salvation. As Paul speaks of our salvation he speaks of the past, the present, and the future. Let’s call it our spiritual biography.
As we look at our spiritual biography we see that is it a story of:
1. A CHANGED LIFE
In verse 3 Paul instructs us to remember what we were, what we used to be, and how we lived before we were saved. Now in verse 4 he describes a marvelous change has occurred. Paul reminds us that salvation results in a changed life.
Behind this changed life, as seen in verse 4, we see:
A) The Love God Shows Sinners
Paul says, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,” (3:4). God’s love is defined in two words. First, there is the word “kindness.” The word speaks of a goodness and generosity of heart. The word speaks of the heart of God, the big heart of God. How big is God’s heart? The kindness of God’s heart is seen in His giving and the greatest expression of His giving is the giving of His Son.
We do not measure God’s love by how healthy we are. God’s love is not measured by a big house and two cars in the garage. It is measured by the Cross. There we see God’s love, the depth, height, breadth, and length of God’s love on display. There we see the kindness of God’s love.
Paul declared in Romans 2:4, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” The kindness of God’s love is also seen in how God patiently dealt with our hearts and how He worked to bring us to Himself. It was out of God’s goodness that we were brought to Him and saved.
The second expression of God’s love is the word “love” itself. The particular word that Paul uses in verse 4 is used twice in the Bible. It is the Greek word philantropia from which we get our English word philanthropy. It is a compound word composed of phileo (to have affection for) and anthropos (man/mankind). It speaks of a compassion that is shown, an eagerness to deliver someone from pain, trouble, or danger.
We were lost sinners headed for a devil’s hell. We were condemned and an awful eternity awaited us. However, God loved us and gave His Son that we might be delivered from the wrath to come. We deserved hell, but God in his love made a way that we might be saved.
We also see in this changed life:
B) The Life God Gives Sinners
Salvation gives us a new life. In verse 3 Paul describes what we used to be. Verse 4 implies that there has been a change.
A man was reading the obituaries in the newspaper and was surprised to find his name listed among the decedents. He threw the paper down and called the editor….”This is terrible. Your error is inexcusable. It will cause me no end of embarrassment.” The editor apologized over and over but nothing could calm the man. Finally he said, “Listen, in tomorrow’s paper I’ll put your name in the birth column and give you a fresh start.”
God gives us a fresh start. He gives us a new life. The biography of the believer begins with a discouraging picture, but before the chapter ends there has been a glorious change. Hallelujah! As Paul said in Ephesians 2:4-6, “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
What a change! What a life! What a God!
Now it is important to understand the cause of this change. This change that has taken place in our life is more than a turning over of a new leaf. It is the story of:
2. A CONVERTED LIFE
Salvation is more than reformation. It is an act of transformation. It is a story of a converted life. Paul describes this conversion in verses 5-6: “5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
In Paul’s words we see:
A) The Way of Salvation
In a survey conducted a few years ago by the Barna Research Group, nearly 1/3 of all who call themselves born-again Christians stated that all good people will go to heaven, whether they have embraced Jesus Christ or not. While 88% in the Barna poll believe Jesus Christ was a real person, what they believe about him differs sharply from scriptural teaching. 42% (even 1/4th of the “born again” Christians) believe that while on earth Jesus sinned just like other people. 61% believe the devil is just a symbol of evil, not a living being. And 54% think that if people are good enough, they will earn a place in heaven regardless of their religious beliefs.
Many, if not most people, think that in order to get to heaven, they have to be a good person or do good things. It is reported that just prior to his death, Aristotle Onasis started giving away vast sums of money to various charities, trying to see if it wasn’t possible to earn a place in heaven.
Yet, Paul makes it very clear that salvation can never be earned or achieved by our own efforts. Even works of righteousness is insufficient. One can be a good moral person and still be lost. One can do all kinds of good deeds, even religious deeds, and still not make it to heaven.
Salvation is according to God’s mercy. Or to say it another way, one can only be saved by accepting the Lord Jesus, who was given through God’s mercy. As Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
We have to say with the hymnwriter, “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.”
In Paul’s words we also see:
B) The Work of Salvation
What happens when we get saved? Paul speaks of the “washing of regeneration.” A regenerating work takes place in our life. The word “regeneration” describes the change that takes place when one is saved. Salvation is not turning over a new leaf. It is receiving a new life. It is being born again or being born from above.
This regenerating work of salvation involved a “washing.” The word simply describes a cleansing that takes place when one is saved. The decay and filth of the old life is washed away. Every sin that has been committed is cleansed. The hymnwriter said:
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Occasionally we hear to someone guilty of crimes having their record expunged. I think of the actor Nick Nolte who was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in 2002. He was ordered to go through a drug rehab program and in 2006 his record was expunged. His 2002 arrest and charges are no longer a part of his record.
When God saved us He expunged our record. Our slate has been wiped clean. We have been washed as white as snow in the blood of the Lord Jesus.
Furthermore, Paul describes a renewing work that has taken place by the Holy Ghost. Paul is describing the new life that emerges from regeneration. By the power of the Holy Spirit produces a new life making us a totally new person.
In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul declares that our bodies, through this regenerating and renewing work, have become the earthly dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit changed us into a fit dwelling place for His residence.
Paul declares that this great work of salvation was poured out on us and in us abundantly through “Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Vs. 6). Paul uses the word “shed” which means to “pour out.” This great work of salvation has been poured out “abundantly.” The word means “richly.” Someone has given this acrostic of the word grace: Gods Riches At Christ’s Expense.” When Christ shed His blood, He was providing a salvation that could be shed abundantly on all who came to Him for salvation.
Lastly, we see that the biography of the believe is one of:
3. A CONFIDANT LIFE
Paul says in verse 7, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” The word “hope,” we saw earlier in 2:13. It is a word that speaks of our expectation. It speaks of something certain. There is assurance in these words.
First, there is:
A) The Assurance of Our Justification
We have been “justified.” The word speaks of being declared righteous on the basis of the merits of Jesus Christ. Because of His grace, in Christ, God sees us as righteous. In ourselves we have no righteousness of our own. Yet God does not see us as we are, but sees us through the Lord Jesus. In Him we have been declared righteous.
Our justification is not something we have to wonder about. We can be certain that we have been justified. With Fanny Crosby we can sing:
Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine.
Furthermore, there is:
B) The Assurance of Our Glorification
Paul tells us that we are “heirs.” One becomes a heir through the death of another. Through the death of the Lord Jesus we have become an inheritor. What have we inherited? We have inherited “eternal life.” The Lord Jesus not only got us in but He will get us there.
Paul said in Romans 8:16, “16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” As an heir, we are assured of a future glorification.
Let me describe it another way. Our salvation is an eternal salvation. We are assured of heaven as if we were already there. Will we make it to heaven? There is no doubt about it. It is our “hope.” It is our expectation. It is as certain as His promises.
What a biography! I am glad I can say it is my biography. |