Gospel-Driven Godliness and Church Membership

Part 1

May 26, 2013

Text: Titus 2:1-10

Introduction/Review:

I.          Gospel-Driven Godliness and Paul's Apostleship (1:1-4)

II.         Gospel-Driven Godliness and Church Leadership (1:5-16)

III.       Gospel-Driven Godliness and Church Membership. 2:1-15

Lesson:

I.          Paul exhorts Titus to teach “the sound doctrine.”

II.         Paul exhorts Titus to teach “what accords with/is fitting with sound doctrine.”

Theology (i.e., the gospel) and ethics (i.e., godliness) must be distinguished but never separated. Ralph Erskine writes, “To preach duty without Christ is the way to make moralists,” (“Carnal Consultation Unfolded,” in The Works of Ralph Erskine, vol. 1, p. 621).

Reflection:

1. Whenever the emphasis of the church’s teaching begins to fall heavily on what we have to do—on our faith, love, steadfastness, self-control, submission, etc…—then the Gospel of the grace of God, the joyful news of what God has done for us in Christ, begins to be pushed into the background, if not to disappear.

2. Believers must not loose sight of the virtues they are called to exhibit, lest they fall into the error of license.

© John Fonville

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