1. Last week we studied passages that relate to "the suffering of Christ." a. (Matthew 16:21) Jesus foretold His suffering to His disciples. b. (Luke 24:44-46) Jesus showed His disciples that His suffering had been foretold in the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. c. On both occasions Jesus tied in His resurrection with His suffering. d. (Luke 24:47) Jesus showed how His suffering and resurrection were necessary so "repentance and remission of sins" could be preached. 2. In Romans 6:3-4 the Bible explains how we experience a likeness of the Lord's suffering and resurrection to be saved from our sins. 3. In our lesson we are concentrating on the point made in vs.4b -- when we are raised from baptism, we are to "walk in newness of life." 4. In Titus 2 we are given some general guidelines and some specific guidelines that will help us to walk this way.
Discussion:
I. SOME GENERAL GUIDELINES THAT RELATE TO WALKING IN NEWNESS OF LIFE (Titus 2:11-14) A. To know how to walk in newness of life, we must go to the right source. B. We learn from vs.11-12 that God's grace teaches us how to live. 1. A misunderstanding about God's grace is cleared up in Romans 6:1-2, 14-15. 2. God's grace teaches us: a. to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts b. to live soberly, righteously, and godly. C. According to vs.13-14, we are to be looking for the Lord's return. 1. We are reminded of the Lord's suffering in vs.14a -- He "gave Himself for us." 2. We are reminded in vs.14b of the blessings that Jesus provides because of His suffering [in other words, we are able to walk in newness of life].
II. SOME SPECIFIC GUIDELINES THAT RELATE TO WALKING IN NEWNESS OF LIFE (Titus 2:1-6)
A. (vs.2) The aged men are to be: 1. sober: free from excess 2. grave: honorable, worthy of respect, dignified 3. temperate: self-controlled 4. sound (incorrupt) in "faith," "love," and "patience." B. (vs.3) The aged women are: 1. to be in behavior as becometh holiness: reverent 2. not to be false accusers: slanderers 3. not to be given to much wine: free of addiction 4. to be teachers of good things: teachers of what is right. C. (vs.4-5) The aged women are to teach the young women: 1. to be sober: self-controlled 2. to love their husbands: to be suitable helpers and companions 3. to love their children: to care for children and be a companion to them 4. to be discreet: temperate, controlling the desires and impulses 5. to be chaste: pure, modest 6. to be keepers at home: taking care of household affairs 7. to be good: upright, virtuous 8. to be obedient to their own husbands: in subjection 9. to follow these guidelines so God's Word will not be blasphemed. D. (vs.6) Young men are to be sober-minded: having the passions and impulses under control.
Conclusion:
1. Walking in newness of life is a privilege and responsibility for those who have been baptized into the Lord's death and raised with Him. 2. Thankfully, we have these guidelines [and many others] to show us how to walk in newness of life. 3. An appropriate request for us to make is found in Psalm 143:8.
