Jesus IS King! How often I think of His suffering on earth, and yet forget how leaving Heaven alone, to come to earth, was an incredible sacrifice already! Praise God He did though!
STUDY
- What did Paul say we once were?
- Paraphrase verse 5.
- What will we become according to verse 7?
- What should we devote ourselves to? Why?
APPLICATION
- How has the Holy Spirit washed and renewed you in the past year?
- Paul says to be submissive of rulers and authorities. Can you say that this is true in your life? Why do you think Paul tells Titus to be submissive to them?
- We are supposed to devote ourselves to good works, not because it saves us, but because good works is produced when our hearts are following Jesus. Does your life show evidence of your devotion to Jesus through good works?
Jesus died on the cross for me- not because of anything I did. As Paul says in verse 5, "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness...". Even if the things I do are amazing and righteous, Jesus did not die for me because of my righteous acts. In fact, in Isaiah 64:6, it is said that, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags...". The terms filthy rags actually translates from it's original text to "menstrual cloths". How disgusting! Exactly. We are sinners, and even while displaying righteous acts, we sinners. But because of God's mercy, Jesus died for us, so that we might not die an eternal death, but might have eternal life. When we choose Jesus and accept the gift of forgiveness and eternal life, the Holy Spirit comes and washes us clean by "regeneration and renewal".
It is amazing to look back at my past and actually see how the Holy Spirit has cleansed and sanctified me. It is humbling. It is a process- one that doesn't end until my earthly death. Every day, the Holy Spirit is at work. Can you see the Holy Spirit at work in your life? Can you say, "I am being cleansed and renewed"? We are being cleansed to perfection, renewed to be more like Jesus, and one day, when we enter heaven to be with Jesus Himself, we will be without sin. How glorious is that! I love that in verse 7, it uses the term "heirs". When we submit our life to Jesus, and follow Him daily by repentance, obedience and faith, we become heirs of Him. Heirs! I love the term, because it relates to kings and royalty. Well friends, Jesus is KING! He sits on a throne, so magnificent- nothing like you have ever seen. He doesn't sit there twiddle His thumbs, but rather He RULES and REIGNS the entire universe! Please worship Him as the KING He is, rather than still seeing Him as the humble, peasant, homeless, poor man He was when He walked the earth. Jesus is your KING, whether you believe it or not, and if you trust in Him as your King, you are an heir! What wonderful news!
- Leanne
Topic: Chapter 3
Sacrifice
Date: 04/20/2012 | By: Sue