Things Christians Share

5 July 2020 AM – Titus 1:4-5 – Tit20 – Scott Childs

Introduction: I read a story about two brothers who were walking one day, and the younger one became tired, so he asked his older brother to carry him. The older boy scooped his brother up in his arms and began to carry him. As he walked, a neighbour chuckled and said, “Wow. He must be heavy.” The older boy replied, “He’s not heavy, he’s my brother!” ^{https://www.biblicalilluminations.com/illustrations/2006/02/bearing-burdens}

            That is the attitude we ought to have about our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to share with and help each other.

Transition: Today I want us to see how Paul and Titus shared several things that Christians share with each other or ought to share.

1. We Share a Relationship (v.4)

a.         Paul and Titus shared a relationship.

1)         These men shared the common faith in Christ.

a)         Last week, we looked in some detail at faith in Jesus Christ that saves a person from hell. Jesus died on a Roman cross, was buried and rose again to pay for every sinful act of the human race, past, present and future.

b)         Before you can benefit from His payment, you must believe that your sin condemns you to hell and that you cannot do anything to fix your problem.

c)         Then, saving faith is trusting what Christ did for you as the only and fully sufficient payment for your sins.

d)         God’s salvation is by faith because it is impossible to earn it in any way.

2)         Paul called their faith “the common faith”. All true Christians share the same faith or the common faith. Non-Christian religions do not share our common faith. Cults do not share our common faith. Many so-called “Christian” religions do not share our common faith.

a)         If a religion denies that Jesus is God; it has a different faith.

b)         A religion that adds any work (e.g., baptism, doing good, confession, prayers to Mary, witnessing, Saturday worship, or anything else) to salvation; it has a different faith.

c)         Here is a good test question to ask religious people. “If you died and God asked you, ‘Why should I let you into heaven?’ what would you say?” If their answer includes anything besides repentance and faith in Christ, they have a different faith. (Galatians 1:8) “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.“

3)         Paul also addressed Titus as his own son in the common faith. They were part of the same Christian family. Paul probably led Titus to faith in Christ.

b.         True Christians also share a relationship.

1)         If you have repented and trusted Christ as your Saviour, you share a common faith with others who have done the same. That is why true Christians are called the children of God, Sons of God, the Elect, and the brethren.

2)         If you are a genuine Christian, you are part of a new spiritual family. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

3)         If you have had a part in leading another person to salvation in Christ, in a sense he or she is your spiritual son or daughter. That is a great joy.

2.        We Share God’s Blessings (v.4)

Paul and Titus shared three blessings from God that all Christians share. I realise that “grace, mercy and peace” were part of a typical first century Christian greeting, but they were also genuine blessings shared by Christians.

a.         Grace

1)         Grace is divine enablement. It is unmerited help from God. In a sense, grace is God giving us things we do not deserve.

2)         The Bible identifies at least seven applications of God’s grace.

a)         Grace for Salvation, Eph 2:8-9; Titus 2:11

b)         Grace for Service, Heb 12:28

c)         Grace for Sanctification, Ac 20:32

d)         Grace for Suffering, 2Co 12:9

e)         Grace for Justification, Ro 3:24

f)          Grace for Preaching, Ro 12:3; 12:6

g)         Grace for Giving, 2Co 8:1, 6, 7

3)         John Newton in his hymn, Amazing Grace, captured the meaning of grace very well. “Amazing grace (how sweet the sound) that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed! Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come: ’tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

b.         Mercy

1)         Mercy is the kindness of God. It is His good will toward the miserable. One form of God’s mercy is His withholding punishment that we deserve. (Psalms 130:3) “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?“

2)         Paul Tripp wrote, “One of the stunning realities of the Christian life is that in a world where everything is in some state of decay, God’s mercies never grow old. They never run out. They never are ill timed. They never dry up. They never grow weak. They never get weary. They never fail to meet the need. They never disappoint. They never, ever fail, because they really are new every morning. Form-fitted for the challenges, disappointments, sufferings, temptations, and struggles with sin within and without are the mercies of our Lord.” ^{Paul David Tripp, New Morning, New Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotion, Crossway.}

3)         Praise God for His mercy. Without it, we would be in a mess.

c.          Peace

1)         Peace is calmness of heart or tranquillity. It is not necessarily the absence of conflict, but it is God’s comforting closeness during conflict.

2)         God promises to give us peace when we give him our burdens. (Philippians 4:6-7) “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.“

3.        We Ought to Share Burdens (v.5)

a.         Paul and Titus shared ministerial burdens

1)         Paul and Titus had ministered together on Crete and now Titus was alone. Still they shared the same burdens for the Lord’s work on Crete. Paul prayed and counselled while Titus worked to do the tasks before him. They were bearing one another’s burdens.

2)         Their burdens included setting in order the things that were not yet complete and choosing pastors for all the churches. These were no small tasks but they were necessary for the organisation of those local churches.

b.         Christians ought to share burdens

1)         The work of keeping our church organised and doing evangelistic outreach in the community is not just the work of your pastor. Share these burdens with me.

2)         Becoming a church member so that you can get more involved, is a great way to share the burdens of our church ministry.

3)         Praying faithfully for me, for the ministry of our church and for one another is a way you can share the burden. Helping each other, sharing Christ and inviting people to attend church are ways to share the burden.

4)         The apostle Paul wrote in (Galatians 6:2) “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.“

Conclusion: Paul and Titus shared a relationship, God’s blessings, and ministry burdens. If you share in the Christian relationship, then you also share God’s blessings and you ought to share one another’s burdens. What would God have you do to get more involved in sharing in the work of the Lord through our church?

            If you are not sure you are a true Christian, I would like to talk to you.

Song: His Way with Thee – 367