Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 28 November 2021
Real People, Real Plans, Real Grace
Scripture References: Titus 3:12-15, Acts 18:24-28, Acts 20:1-4, Ephesians 2:1-10
Gathering Growing Going
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CloseOne of the delightful features of Paul’s letters is the way they exhibit such personal details, painting a picture of God’s household which was dispersed but lived grace in their relationships. This close is like so many of Paul’s letters – personal details interspersed with reminders of key points from his letter. The names mentioned here are not unfamiliar (although Zenas and Artemas are not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament). Tychicus was a close friend of Paul, the deliverer of the letters to Ephesus and Colossae (and possibly the correspondence named Philemon). Apollos was a well-known Christian leader. Their place in God’s household, and their mission, allowed an opportunity to display the great grace of God in good deeds. Moreover, the way in which this command is restated should cast the mind of every reader of this letter (‘all of you’) back over the whole letter – the content of these good deeds (which is grace), the nature of that grace (God our Saviour), the things consistent with this nature (sound teaching in sound behaviour), the threat to that grace (false teachers), and those entrusted with leading God’s household (elders). In summary, this has been a letter about the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, from go to woe!
Scripture References: Titus 3:12-15, Acts 18:24-28, Acts 20:1-4, Ephesians 2:1-10
From Series: Service - Sunday Morning, Titus | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
Doctrine and Duty in the Home | Ralph Wood | Sunday, 12 August 2018 | Watch | Listen | |
How do you build a Church | Tim Baxter | Sunday, 5 August 2018 | Watch | Listen | |
Living for Jesus in a Hostile Society | Andrew McClenaghan | Sunday, 29 July 2018 | Watch | Listen |
There are a number of sayings that I love, but one that I really use – ‘Pink in the morning, sailor’s/shepherd’s warning; Pink at night, sailor’s/shepherd’s delight’. It was actually confirmed as a true saying for me the other day, as I listened to an interview with a meteorologist! Sayings like this that are memorable and true – well, they provide terrific summaries that help us navigate life. And it is no different for God’s mob. In fact, within even a matter of years of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection (and ascension), sayings were starting to be developed and used that summarised the essence of what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus, and part of God’s mob. Those sayings are no less significant today – and one of them, from a letter from a bloke called Paul to a young fella called Timothy, summarises what we are on about here at Narrabri Anglican Church: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners’.
You eventually have to make a decision about the Gospel – in fact, the Gospel demands a decision. The slow build of the first five boxes of ‘Learn the Gospel’ has brought us to this binary moment. On the one hand, you can persist in the attitude and action that says, ‘I am God and God is not’, and the consequence is facing the judgement of God – the judgement of death – on your own merits. On the other hand, you can turn to Jesus (‘repent’), trust in what He has done (His life, death and resurrection) and submit to His right rule, and receive restoration with God, forgiveness of sins, and a completely new life. You eventually have to make a decision about the Gospel.
The resurrection of Jesus was not just another miracle of God but the definitive victory over sin and death! Yes, His death on the cross paid our debt of sin but His resurrection showed Him to be righteous, without fault and blameless before God, and highlighted His identity as truly God. The God-man who could restore our relationship with God. As such, Jesus is the ruler and judge over all the world, and to whom all will give an account. Jesus’s resurrection is the guarantee that those who place their faith in Him have present forgiveness of sins and are justified before God. We can be sure of the living hope that, as Jesus rose, so we too will rise to resurrected life and enjoy eternity with our Lord and Saviour together!
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