R sbc
Date: August 6th , 2006
Sunday Morning
Series: Christ The Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Sermon # 90
Subject: “ That Which Changes Us”
Text: Titus 3-1-8
Intro: There is no question in my heart that we needed changing, that we were changed, and how that change has effected us. The change was necessitated by the fall in the garden by Adam and Eve. The change was necessitated by the condition that we all had in our hearts as the result of the fall.
The fall was not an injury, it was not a mistake, it was and remains the greatest tragedy in human history. It has wrote devastation on this planet, it has caused untold suffering, it has divided the human race, it has brought war, poverty, bondage, child molester, abortionist, homosexuals to the forefront. It has caused men of hatred to war and rage through out the world.
No wonder the Apostle Paul cried out with these verses: Romans 3-11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Also in our text: ver 3
But I have good news this morning, out of all this bad news there is a death that has brought life and light to immortality through the gospel of Christ. He has brought hope where there was no hope..
I... “ THAT WHICH CHANGES OUR NATURE”..VS 4-6
What a change it was!
(1.) The motivation of our change: vs 4 “ The kindness and love of God”
I Jn 3-1 ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
The word “manner” means what sort of love, what quality of love it is. This is not a strange truth to us, we know of it because we have experienced it. We love him because he first loved us.
A. Sovereign love: Ro 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
B. Giving love:
Ro 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
C. Supernatural love: John 17-23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
D. Supreme love& Sacrificial love: 1Jo 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
(2.) The change itself: “washing of regeneration”
a. A washing:
Not with water, but with the Holy Spirit of God and the precious blood of Christ. Regeneration is necessary because we need a new life and new heart. There are only four verses in the Bible that particular use the phrase the blood of Christ: 1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
You must be washed before the change can occur, only the Holy Spirit of God can apply the blood of Christ to our dead souls and bring life.
b. A renewing:
This word is found only one other time in the Bible Rom 12-2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. And it means to have a
complete and thorough change. Has that happened to you? If it hasn’t it must happen. May God be pleased to make it happen today.
(3.) The person in whom the change comes: “Jesus Christ” vs 6
The word “shed” means he poured it out us: “abundantly” means richly he has shed his love and grace and salvation on us. Think about it my brothers and sisters... We have Christ the LORD in our hearts by the work of the Holy Spirit of God.
He shed his blood: Matt 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
He shed his love: Ro 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
His name and this phrase found 189 times in the New Testament. They either speak of his birth life or death or resurrection. The name Christ the Lord is found twice: Lu 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The name Jesus is found 942 times in the NT with the vast majority of them speaking of our Lord. A lot of these are dealing with his personal work: Mt 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
II.. THAT WHICH CHANGES OUR STANDING OR POSITION: VS 7
Justification “ means one who has been declared not guilty”. The marvel of this is not us, but him, Christ is the basis of our justification. Justification is a declarative act. The ancient Job ask the question: Job 9:2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
Yes, through Christ. Justification does nothing to our character, that happens in regeneration and sanctification. It says we are, and we are. Justification is the legal act of our salvation. It renders us acceptable to God through Christ.
(1.) Justification is by grace: Ro 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
(2.) Justification is by faith: Ro 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Justification declares one not guilty even though he is. Can we understand that, no, but I believe it. Our guilt was put on Christ and he stood in our place and thereby the Father declares us not guilty.
Ro 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
(3.) Justification is a complete act of God:
Acts 13-38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
(4.) Justification is guaranteed by the resurrection: Ro 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Not it says our offenses not his, raised for our justification not his. We stood condemned to die, and he stepped up and took our shame and sin and our filth upon him. 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.