Titus 3:1-7 GOOD WORKS There is a need for effective leadership among God's people wherever they are found in the world. No matter where I live, I am responsible for being the right person myself as a believer among the public. I am also responsible for teaching the right things to other believers, both in relation to our obligation to the government and to the citizens of the society in which we all live and work. I am also responsible to live the right way and to maintain good works in public and to maintain good works in private. Willing subjection to authority is not an inborn characteristic or attitude of human beings. By our old nature, we want things to be the way we want them, for our use, so that we can be independent and able to do our own will. "Up with man!"; "No fear!""My way or the highway!" are slogans that resonate with the natural man.
But now we have new motives for living a godly life. When God saved us by His grace, we came into His kingdom by the new birth, and He gave us a new nature consistent with the new creation He has made of us. Now we live a new life with a new allegiance to Jesus, our new Lord. His kindness and love to us when He saved us were freely given, not because we had any right to them, but by His mercy, He has preserved us. Now our life has changed from sinfulness to death to sin, and when He gave us new life, He cleansed us from sin and, by the new birth, made us alive in Christ by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. Christ has saved us by righteously meeting the demands of sin and paying the price of our redemption by His blood when He gave His life on the cross. The Father has forgiven us because of what our Lord Jesus did on our behalf, and the Holy Spirit has given us this new life and sealed us as children of God.
However, we still live in the same old world, under the same old systems of government, and live in the same old body that has the same old needs to survive. Therefore, it is necessary that I submit to the laws of the place where I live as long as they do not conflict with my higher responsibility to the kingdom of God, of which I now am a citizen. So, whether a Christian believes they should have as little as possible to do with government, or thinks the governments on earth are only concerned with physical life, not spiritual life, or thinks that the laws of the land and the laws of God should work together for the good of society, we must act responsibly to the laws of the place where we live. Our behavior and attitude toward government and society are clearly stated. "The powers that be are ordained of God."
Not only are we to obey the laws because we are not above the law, but we should conduct our lives daily as good citizens, not as rebels and anarchists. Characteristics from past life of agitating against the laws and authority of the land are not right for one who is a stranger and a pilgrim passing through this world to our heavenly home. On the other hand, it is not right for us to disregard the laws of God and embrace laws that contradict God's standards of morality and righteousness. If obedience to civil laws means disobedience to God, we are to obey God. We are to obey the laws and act under them when we can do good for the benefit of others. We are not to speak against those who represent authority, but rather we should conduct ourselves in public in a peaceful way and show consideration for the welfare of other people.
Demonstrations, insubordination, and public protests are not to be engaged in by those who are servants of Christ. We are not to be known as lawless people. Headship involves obedience to designated authority in government, in the assembly, and in home life. Our words are not to bring injury, nor are we to disregard the position of others. A quarrelsome person does not characterize what it means to be a Christian. We are to demonstrate the dignity of humility by honesty, gratitude, thankfulness, showing respect to others, and being respectable ourselves. To condemn others for that which they cannot help because of their sinful nature is not what we are called to do. By being different ourselves, we can perhaps influence others to see what life is meant to be in God's estimation.
There are unmistakable changes when one in servant-training becomes a representative of the kingdom of God. Instead of foolishness, be sensible. Instead of challenging and disobeying laws, be intelligent by doing what is right. Instead of giving in to every advertising gimmick that offers pleasure, be content with what you have. Instead of insisting on your own way for self-gratification, be grateful for the grace given us to enjoy our freedom in Christ. Instead of coveting and grasping for what others have, share what you have with others. Instead of being controlled by our human passion, show the kindness and love of God our Savior that was shown to us when we did "not deserve the least of His mercies."
A gentle person demonstrates meekness by controlling the power we possess under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God has delivered us by His grace when we were foolish and disobedient to God. Even when we were deceived and serving lusts in ourselves, and bearing malice and envy toward other people with a deep hatred, God pitied us and demonstrated His love to us by showing mercy and saving us. Our present salvation comes from the Father, the source of salvation; through the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the basis of salvation; brought to pass through the new birth brought about by the Holy Spirit, who is the means of salvation. The result of salvation is justified by His grace, heirs of God with the hope (assurance) of eternal life.
The motivation to serve the Lord faithfully and be subject to the laws of the land is to consider what God has done for us. Our new life comes from God when He brought us into this new life in which "Old things have passed away, behold, all things are become new." The Holy Spirit placed us (immersed, baptized) into the body of Christ at Pentecost, and now we are justified by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the One who originated justification (clearing of all guilt) through Christ's blood shed for s. That means of being justified is by faith in Him, who made it happen for us by grace. Now we are justified by His grace - all of this is so we can enjoy and live in the goodness of eternal life now in spite of all that might be going on now around us or will happen in the future.