Title: Gospel Shaped Living Part 2

Text: Titus 2:9-10

FCF: We often struggle submitting and honoring our human authorities.

Prop: The gospel changes the behavior of those who have received it,

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Titus chapter 2. Last week, we began this topic of behavior that fits with the gospel. Paul, counter to the false teachers prevalent in Crete, wants Titus to exemplify and teach behavior that flows naturally from someone changed by the gospel of Christ. This translates into the Older generation coming alongside the younger generation and teaching and demonstrating godly character. Young women with their homes, and young men as teachers. Now Paul will turn to a third group in the household of faith. A group that no doubt comprised a significant percentage of the Cretan church. A group that had a bad reputation in the 1st Century Roman world.

And to top it all off today – as we discuss this group of people – we have to fight through out own contextual bias and modern baggage in order to understand what is truly being said. As as the cherry on top of that – once we finally do understand what is being said – we find the message to be quite intolerable by many who claim Christ. Perhaps even some in this room.

I am in Titus 2. I will begin reading from verse 1 through 10 to keep the scope of this passage united. I am reading from the NET which you can follow in the pew bible starting on page 1345.

Transition:

There is no doubt that like I Timothy 6, this passage is sure to be challenging for us to swallow. Especially in light of recent events. So let’s dive in and discover what God has for us.

I.) The gospel changes the behavior of those who have received it, so we must be subject to our human authorities. (9)

a. [Slide 2] 9 – Slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything,

i. In I Timothy, we commented extensively on slavery.

ii. Given the hot button issue that it is, and its relevance to our current culture, let me review what we learned a few months ago.

iii. First, we must realize that about 1/3 of the Roman population were slaves. Slavery was an integral part of their society.

iv. As such, slavery was not as narrow as it has been applied in American history. People came into slavery by many avenues. Some experiences were as bad, if not worse than the American experience. Other experiences were far better than your average Employer/Employee relationship today.

v. One thing is certain – slavery was part of the fabric of society.

vi. To openly advocate for its abolition would marginalize Christianity as a zealot cult, and a particularly anarchistic one to boot.

vii. But contrary to modern critics of the bible, there is certainly no unqualified support of slavery throughout the bible.

viii. A beautiful example of this tension in scripture is Paul’s letter to Philemon.

1. Onesimus, a slave who had run away from Philemon, had found Paul in Rome. Under Paul’s witness, Onesimus experienced conversion to Christ.

2. Paul’s letter to Philemon is primarily focused on gaining Philemon’s consent to keep Onesimus with him in Rome.

3. But Paul does not hold Onesimus ransom – for he is the one delivering Paul’s letter.

4. Paul also NEVER comes close to advocating for Onesimus’ freedom to be granted.

5. Rather, Paul is far more concerned with Philemon considering him a brother in Christ.

6. Ultimately, Paul desires that love would reign. And he demonstrates this to Philemon by not commanding Philemon to give him Onesimus. Although Paul does make several arguments, nigh unto arm twisting, to get him to do that.

7. Still – Paul’s desire is to have Philemon love Onesimus and forgive him.

ix. Since slavery was so broad, and could be legitimate and even preferred living in some situations, the bible never outright condemns its practice. It does however, deal with the more difficult and often overlooked issues related to slavery.

x. We as humans want the microwave answer to everything. We desire the quick fix. Certainly, the quickest way to destroy slavery would be to outlaw it, yes?

xi. But the gospel writers saw the reality. If slaves would truly obey and love their masters and masters would truly love be kind to their slaves – the abominable practices of slavery would fall away and all that would remain would be without cause of concern.

xii. So why advocate for slavery’s end, when you could address the root of the problem of slavery. Which is not the institution itself, but the hearts of men within that institution.

xiii. And as with any relationship, if only half of this equation is in Christ – that does not absolve that half from their holy obligations.

1. When 1 spouse is a believer and the other is not – what is Paul’s command to the believing spouse? Live a holy life before them – but do not divorce.

2. When a citizen is part of a nation where the leaders are godless – what is Paul and Peter’s command? To submit to their authority because it has been given by God. To honor their leaders. To pray for them.

3. When believing children are under the authority of their parents who are of mixed faith or both unregenerate, it does not abdicate the child’s responsibility to obey their parents.

4. And for masters and slaves alike, their obligations are to love and in the case of the slave, to submit and obey.

xiv. There is no command in scripture to resist authority.

xv. [Slide 3] There are only examples provided to us of God’s people disobeying. And in each case, there are two things that are common.

1. The command disobeyed is opposed to a direct command from God.

a. In Daniel we have two kinds of examples. One of a non direct command of God and two of Direct commands of God. I am highlighting the non-direct command primarily to show how it differentiated from a direct command.

i. [Slide 4] With the king’s meat, we have no direct command of God that the meat that was offered was a violation of the dietary laws. And in this case Daniel and the others have simply purposed in their heart not to eat the meat of the King. The text never tells us that is because it somehow violates God’s law. More likely it is one act to resist complete assimilation into Babylonian culture. But, in the end, they do not resolutely decide to disobey the command. Rather they barter with the authority and propose a test.

ii. [Slide 5] With the command to bow down and worship the image of Nebucadnezzar of Babylon, the three men Hananiah, Azariah, Mishiel refuse to obey the command. But Nebucadnezzar makes it plain that the charge against them is not that they simply did not pay homage to him as a king, but also that they did not worship his gods. They replied with a firm no – we will not do that, regardless of the consequences.

iii. [Slide 6] Later Darius of Medo-Persia listens to his satraps and issues a decree that all men should only pray to Darius and not to any other god. Daniel, so as not to appear to be following the decree but to continue his customary practice to pray with his windows open, did pray to God as he normally would. Thus, disobeying the command.

b. [Slide 7] In Acts 5 we see the Sanhedrin council giving Peter and the other apostles strict orders not to teach in the name of Jesus. They tried imprisoning them, from which an angel released them and they continued preaching. They were brought again before the Sanhedrin and Peter stated that they must obey God rather than people.

2. [Slide 8] In each of these examples we also see another thread of similarity. Although they did not obey the command of the authority, they still submitted to the punishment of the authority for violating their laws. Even though they were unjust laws.

a. In Daniel, the men submitted to honor the outcome of the food trial. They submitted to the furnace. They submitted to the lion’s den. Even though they had no guarantee of the outcome.

b. In Acts the apostles submitted to imprisonment and would have submitted to execution had it not been for Gamaliel’s sound advice to the Sanhedrin council.

xvi. The point is this. In so far as it depends upon us, we must be at peace with all men. At times, we must disobey the command of an authority because it is opposed to a direct (not indirect) but a direct command of God. In this though, we still in some sense continue to submit. Because although we do not obey the law, edict, command or decree – we still submit ourselves willingly to the punishment for the law, and trust the Lord for its outcome.

xvii. Why am I spending so much time on this? My friends, very soon we will no doubt be pressed on many sides. The Deacons and I have already felt the push against us. How far do we go to accommodate the commands of our godless authorities? What law is too far? What are the commands of God and what are simply our preferences or traditions? Can we creatively obey some laws so we obey God and man? These are all questions we must begin asking – and we must be sure to find our answers from scripture without abusing it to say what we want it to.

xviii. [Slide 9] Slaves were notorious in Roman culture for being lazy thieves who often opposed their masters. Many ancient writers and play writers poke fun at the good-for-nothingness of slaves in this time. Meaning that slaves would have already been predisposed to kick against their master’s authority.

xix. And then a slave comes to Christ! What does that change? What does that do?

xx. Slaves would have had a lot of scriptural support to conclude that they must cast off their slavery. Indeed, their freedom in Christ demands that they do just this! Christ alone is King yes?

xxi. Especially if my master is a tyrant! I must resist him and in resisting him I am obeying God yes?

xxii. No. Paul tells slaves to be submissive to their masters. In some things? No, in everything!

xxiii. This would have been culturally counter to a slave’s normal lifestyle. To the extent that it would have pointed to something radically different in the slave. Indeed, every single aspect of church and home life Paul has given in this chapter so far – would be radically different than their culture in Crete.

xxiv. And Paul isn’t done.

b. [Slide 10] To do what is wanted and not talk back,

i. Not only must they obey their masters and do what they desire – but they must do so without talking back.

ii. The word used here means to speak against or to answer again. This is without grumbling, without complaint, without argument and without insult.

c. We would do well to remind ourselves again of the core of the entire section. What is Paul insisting for Titus to do? He is insisting that Titus speak about the behavior that is consistent with the gospel. Behavior that flows from the gospel. And what is clear, is that we are all rebels by nature. But through the gospel, we become obedient. We become zealous for love and good works. We become zealous for peace. In so far as it depends on us, we pursue it, without compromising God’s commands.

d. So for the slave – they must submit to their God appointed authority and they must do all their masters desire without complaint.

e. Paul will give the why for this in a moment along with another command but let us first review what we’ve seen in this verse.

f. [Slide 11] Passage Truth: Paul again is emphasizing that Titus must communicate behavior that is fitting of sound doctrine. That lives who have truly received the gospel, do assuredly and progressively change to be conformed to Christ.

g. Passage Application: So, Titus must teach slaves to not be like normal slaves but to submit to their masters and obey them to the extent that they would be pleased with the obedience. Not with complaint, but in love for Christ.

h. [Slide 12] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out from this, we have noted that all of scripture testifies to the truth of God’s life-changing power in the gospel. This Wednesday, one of our deacons had actually assembled a list of passages of scripture that convey this exact truth. And they are MANY! And by his own admission, he knows, that it is not exhaustive.

i. Broader Biblical Application: So for us at CBC, we must be people who generally are submitted to every human authority. They are appointed by God for His purposes. Whether they do evil or good – they are there because He has put them there. And whether we disagree with their leadership, rules, edicts, laws, or decrees is completely irrelevant. We submit to their authority and obey to their satisfaction – without complaint. The only exception, is when they have commanded us to violate an explicit command of God. Even then, we submit to their authority to punish us for violating their despicable law.

Transition:

[Slide 13(blank)] So certainly, in regard to slaves and masters, the gospel flows outward in a slave’s behavior that is submissive and obedient to their masters. But it is not only submission that flows from the gospel…

II.) The gospel changes the behavior of those who have received it, so we must love and honor our human authorities. (10)

a. [Slide 14] 10 – not pilfering,

i. Why would a slave steal from his master?

ii. Jealousy, spite, to purchase their freedom, or simply as a way to get even.

iii. The multi-natured motive of theft leaves us to conclude that generally speaking Paul insists on genuine Christian love and honor flowing from a slave to his master. This is realized not only in submission, but even in care for his master’s possessions without considering them or taking them for his own.

iv. In other passages about slave and master relations, especially in I Timothy 6, we see this dyad of love and honor come into play. Not stealing from their masters certainly is an example of these broader principles.

b. [Slide 15] But showing all good faith,

i. This is a difficult construction in the Greek.

ii. Many translations take the adjective “good” and put it in an attributive sense for the noun faith. Meaning, good faith.

iii. This would give us another quality of a slave, in that he was trustworthy. This could certainly fit in the context and would even be a valid behavior for those slaves who are redeemed.

iv. However, adjectives can sometimes be used to complement an object. Let me give you an example

1. [Slide 16] Justin made the chili awful.