11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
TITUS 2:11-14
Good morning. I want to start today’s thought with the premise that in life....everything breaks. Now some things break due to flaws inherent in their design. Whether referring to our cars, kitchen appliances, or computers; manufacturers understand that the goods they produce will not last forever and someday their goods will need replacing. Manufacturers continually walk a fine line between the desire to design reliable goods and the reality that the constant need to replace goods that keeps them in business.
Now when something finally does break we ask ourselves, “how am I going to fix this?” If it is a faulty transmission, then we look to a mechanic to fix the problem. If it is a malfunctioning dishwasher, then we rely on a repairman to find a solution. If it is a crashing computer, then we depend upon tech support to resolve the issue.
But this morning I want us to consider, what will our response be when broken things cannot be fixed? What are we to do when it becomes painfully clear to us that what has been lost cannot be replaced?
I hesitate to use foreshadowing terms like “when” in discussing moments of profound breaking. You see it is not a matter of “when” the breaks come, the breaks and cracks are already here. Yes, you and I must realize that we are already profoundly broken.
Unlike the inherent flaws of cars, appliances, and computers; our brokenness stems from defects completely alien to our design. From the very beginning, you and I were never designed to break down or fall apart. Instead, God created you and I with an inherent capacity for eternity so that we could enjoy the one manufactured product that never needed replacing...God’s love.
This point cannot be stressed enough. For we live in a world all too eager to blame God for its miserable state. However, we must always remember that God is not the source of the breaks and aches in our lives. Disease, Divorce, Death cannot be found in God’s design for Creation.
Consequently, the reason for our brokenness comes from something completely foreign to the nature of God. In time this foreign element finds its way into our hearts to become the destructive force we know as Sin.
Sin holds many connotations, but ultimately it references our refusals and failures to fulfill God’s intention for us. While some can seemingly treat it as an inconsequential flaw or shortcoming, sin travels to the core of our being where it can infect and control our feelings and our actions. Sin ruins destroys families, splits churches, undermines communities, and even threatens the planet on which we reside.
How does sin go about achieving brokenness in us and in the world around us? First, SINS LEADS TO ALIENATION. Despite God’s design for us to be his children, sin now designates us as enemies of God. Rather than seeking out God’s divine presence, sin now convinces us to flee out of fear that God will direct his hostility against us. In actuality, you and I serve as the ones exercising hostility towards God by our selfish rebellion.
Second, SIN ENTAILS CONDEMNATION. As the righteous Judge, the sin in our lives leaves God no other choice except to view us as guilty. While the merciful Judge has ordered a temporary stay of execution, there will come a time when all those who remain guilty will be banished from God’s presence forever.
Third, SIN BRINGS ENSLAVEMENT. Sin is like an enslaving army that take us captive.At its worst, sin has the ability to control our thoughts and bodies, and compel us to continue self-destructive lifestyles. Because of sin, we now predisposed toward evil.
Fourth, SIN LEAVES US DEPRAVED. Our innate resources are simply not enough to pull us out of the mire. Even our ability to reason can lead us astray because it too had fallen under sin’s power. There remains no part of our existence untouched by the power of sin.Therefore, the remedy to our dire predicament must come from outside us.
Thankfully Titus 2 declares that the grace of God has appeared to meet us in our spiritual poverty. Through Christ’s death, God radically intervened in our situation to rescue us from sin. Jesus represents the divine answer to our human need. As God’s provision, Christ’s death overcomes our sin in many aspects.
Each provision Christ made on our behalf deserves a series of sermons to adequately describe the drastic actions Christ undertook to meet our most desperate needs. For example, the sermon on reconciliation might start by acknowledging how sin alienated us from God, and in the process made us hostile towards the only One who can help us, hostile towards the only One who has never stopped loving us.
And yet the sermon on reconciliation would go to describe how the grace of God has appeared to become our reconciliation so that we can now enjoy a new relationship with God. God replaces enmity toward God with peace. Having made it possible to have a new relationship with God, the sermon on reconciliation would also explain how Jesus’ reconciling efforts made it feasible for us to have new relationships with each other.
If reconciliation wasn’t enough already, the sermon on expiation would leave all of us breathless. It could begin by conceding how sin leaves us to stand guilty before God. The sermon would then need to help its audience by defining expiation as the act of making atonement.
From there, the sermon on expiation might reference the Day of Atonement in ancient Israel as a time when the high priest entered the inner sanctum of the tabernacle to offer the appropriate sacrifice. There the sins of Israel were covered as the blood of animal dripped down to the floor below.
The sermon on expiation could expound how the grace of God appeared to act our High Priest who presented the atoning sacrifice for our sins. On the cross, however, there was no bull or goat to present. Instead, the High Priest himself was THE sacrifice.There our sins were covered as the blood of Christ dripped down to the earth.
Still there remains the sermon on substitution that should make all of us speechless. It would commence by confessing how sin makes us destitute and hopelessly unable to remedy our desperate predicament. The sermon on substitution would then describe how the grace of God appeared to accomplish for us what we were helpless to do for ourselves when Christ dies FOR US.
Today, however, is not the day to discuss reconciliation, expiation, or substitution. Those sermons will have to wait for another day, or perhaps wait for someone else to preach them. Instead, this morning’s message invites us to consider another powerful provision supplied to us by the blood, sweat, and tears of Christ.
It is the provision that sustains my heart on its annual journey through the valley of October. It is the provision that gives strength to families still being broken apart by divorce and savage immigration policies. It is the provision that can rebuild communities decimated by mass shootings and mass hatred.
Without this provision, my burdensome grief would forever rule over my life. Absent this provision, your corrosive anger would always hold sway over your words and your actions. Apart from this provision, our ravenous selfishness would never loosen its grip on our hearts or our wallets.
For if there exists any hope of breaking free from sin’s suffocating grip on our lives and on our world, then I am convinced that such hope rests solely in the mighty provision of Christ’s redemption. Moreover, if the broken parts of our lives prove beyond our ability to fix, then Scripture speaks of a God willing and able to redeem them all.
At this point I can hear some say, “well Chris that’s all well and good, but how does God do it?” “If God’s redemption is as real as you say it is, then why does the world seem to be getting more dangerous?” Well I can’t promise today’s thought will provide a suitable answer to such valid questions.
However, I do believe a greater understanding of redemption can do much to correct the way we perceive ourselves. It also can enrich our relationship with God and with each other. Ultimately, a fuller comprehension of redemption enhances our awareness of the brokenness around us that God calls us to address.
Now any desire to examine redemption and all its dimensions is like a scientist wanting to map out the genetic code in a strand of DNA. In other words, it is going to take awhile. Consequently, I have chosen to discuss redemption as it RELATES to God’s character. More importantly, I intend to demonstrate the ways in which redemption REFLECTS God’s character.
Scripture makes plain the fact that all God does or gives is always in alignment with God’s character. God shows mercy because God is merciful, God gives love because God is love, and so on. And I believe the same holds true redemption and how it mirrors characteristics at the core of God’s nature.
According to Titus 2, we know of at least two of God’s traits made evident in the act of redemption. First, Titus 2 portrays God as LIBERATOR. Second, Titus 2 depicts God as CREATOR.
Now again if God’s actions coincides with God’s character, then we can rightly assume that redemption itself is LIBERATING. We can confidently surmise that redemption itself is CREATIVE.
When asked to clarify redemption, we naturally aim to incorporate themes of liberation and salvation into our explanation. We also see this tendency reflected both in Titus 2: and in Webster’s dictionary. Both of which support the notion that AS LIBERATOR. GOD REDEEMS US FROM SOMETHING
To the folks at Webster's, to redeem means to free from what distresses or harms; to free from captivity by payment of ransom; to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental; to release from blame or debt. Webster’s gets blatantly theological in part D of definition #2 when it refers to redeem as to free from the consequences of sin
With our redemption secured, the sin and heartache in our lives lose their power in three significant ways. First, SIN and HEARTACHE NO LONGER DEFINE US. Before redemption, our brokenness persuaded us to accept our miserable state saying,“this is who you are and this is how it always will be,” sin would say.
But through redemption, Christ set us free the authority sin and heartache so that now Christ defines our present by exiling our brokenness to our past and leaving it there. 2 Cor 5:17 speaks to this aspect of redemption when it says,”17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!”
Though sin and heartache represent a part of our story, Christ’s redemption ensures that they never tell the whole story. Certainly the broken parts of our stories describe where we have been, but they in no way define who we are. Yes the brokenness that comes with losing a brother has not lost its ability to describe the worst moment of my life, but through Christ’s redemption such brokenness no longer defines my life.
And the same holds true for your brokenness. Certainly addiction retains its capacity to describe the darkest moments of life, but Christ’s redemption liberates our lives from being ranked by addiction.
Surely disease enjoys its role in depicting the powerless moments of life, but Christ’s redemption frees our lives from being classified by our disease. Undoubtedly divorce fulfills its function in telling the emptiest moments of life, but Christ’s redemption recuses our lives from being categorized by divorce.
Second, OUR SIN AND HEARTACHE CANNOT CONFINE US. Before redemption, our brokenness coaxed us into submitting to boundaries established by the principalities and powers of this world. They would issue blanket statements like, “You don’t belong here...You are not invited…You are not welcomed here.”
However, Romans 8 make clear, “...21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the REDEMPTION of our bodies.”
Through the act of redemption, Christ liberates us from the decrees of fraternities and Pharisees so that now not only does Christ welcome us...not only does Christ invite us...Christ adopts us!!!
While sin and heartache can take us to places void of hope and compassion, Christ’s redemption pledges to not leave us in those places. Personally I can think of no more hopeless beginning to life than one who comes into this world as an orphan. And yet this was the reality that confronted both my nephew and my niece.
What are kids like George and Lesego suppose to do when you have no one to call Mom? Where are kids like George and Lesego suppose to go when you have no place to call home? But whatever boundaries that sought to confine George’s and Lesego’s future, Christ’s redemption demolished them all by providing them a Mom and a home.
And what is true for George and Lesego is true for us. For whether we feel imprisoned by depression, jailed by anxiety, or incarcerated by shame; Christ’s redemption has secured our release from all of the above.
Third, OUR SIN AND HEARTACHE CANNOT UNDERMINE US. Now I confess that this aspect of redemption does not always seem so obvious. For mass shootings show no signs of dissipating, nor does the quality of life for immigrants and refugees appear to be getting any better.
If anyone had reason to doubt the validity of redemption, then it was most certainly Paul. Who could fault Paul for questioning the merit of redemption after you’ve been beaten and arrested for the hundredth time? Who could blame Paul for doubting the reality of redemption when you spend most of your time in prison writing letters to churches fighting amongst each other?
I think we would all understand if Paul chose to conclude Romans 8 saying, “Give up, just quit, because in this life, you can't win. Yeah, you can try, but in the end you're just gonna lose, big time. Don't waste your time trying to make anything cool, or pure, or awesome, 'cause the world is just gonna call you a washed up loser and crush your soul. So do yourselves a favor and just GIVE UP!”
Instead, Paul chose conclude Romans 8 saying, “ 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In our questions and our doubts, Romans 8 asks to always remember two things. First, there is no part of Creation that goes untouched by Christ’s redemption. Second, there is no power or person that can prevent Christ’s redemption from achieving its goal.
If it wasn’t so, then both the Bible should have ended with Genesis 3. And yet God’s redemptive story goes on despite floods and famines in Genesis, and despite slavery and idolatry in Exodus. Not even wilderness in Deuteronomy, or murder and adultery in 2 Samuel could derail God’s redemptive trajectory. Beyond exile in Daniel, and amidst denial and betrayal in Matthew, God’s redemption presses forward. And as God’s redemption presses forward, so do we.
Now before coming into contact with Titus 2, I had not considered the possibility that there was more to redemption than just liberation. Again we see this likelihood depicted both in Titus 2 and in Webster’s dictionary.
First, lets read Titus 2:14 again, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify FOR himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Now take a look at the third definition, redeem: 3: to change FOR the better.
You see Christ’s redemption doesn’t stop at redeeming us FROM something. As Creator, CHRIST ALSO REDEEMS FOR SOMETHING. Now what precisely has Christ redeemed us for? Of the many reasons, this morning I want to stress three acts for which Christ redeemed us.
First, Christ redeemed us to show Mercy. I’m always surprised when I encounter people who regard mercy as harmful or irresponsible. Now even if I agreed that being disinterested was safer and being harsh was more prudent, I would still ask the question, what about being callousness and cruelty is redemptive? What about being indifferent and hostile makes me better?
In Luke 6:36, Christ implores his disciples saying, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” So when deciding how best to display mercy, Only mercy exercised regularly has the ability to make us better.
Second, Christ redeemed us to make Peace. I’m even more surprised when I listen to people who describe peace as idealistic or dangerous. Now even if I agreed with the pragmatic ideal that certain situations exist where violence is justified, I would still ask the question, what about violence is redemptive? What about violence makes me better?
In Romans 12, Paul pleads with his readers saying, “17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Only peace practiced constantly has the capacity to make us better.
Third, Christ redeemed us to dispense Love.I’m left speechless when I hear other people who refer to love as weak or immaterial. Now even if I agreed with the Gordon Gekko notion that greed is good, I would still ask the question, what about greed is redemptive? What about greed makes me better?
In 1 John 3, John makes it plain saying, “16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Only love demonstrated consistently has the capability of making us better.
Finally, I’d like to make one last observation about Christ’s redemption as Titus 2 presents it. If you’ll notice that no where in Titus 2 does God pledge to fix our brokenness. In fact I am not aware of any place in Scripture where God promises to fix our brokenness.
At first glance this realization can be troubling for someone with profound brokenness in their past. I don’t know about you, but all I wanted at that moment was for God to fix what been broken by a stupid car door. Redemption and how it worked was the farthest thing from my mind. I just wanted God to fix it. Well it’s nine years later and it isn’t fixed, but the redemption for George, Lesego , and myself continues.
After much contemplation I’m left to conclude that merely fixing our brokenness is not enough for God. It is as if God says to us, “ if you want something fixed, then call a plumber or an electrician. However, if you find yourself in need of redemption, then allow me!”
I suppose that the real question isn’t it, do I want to be fixed or do I want to be redeemed? Do we want our broken marriages to be fixed or do we want our broken marriages to be redeemed? Do we want our broken cities to be fixed or do we want our broken cities to be redeemed? Do we want our broken governments to be fixed or do we want our broken governments to be redeemed?
If redemption be our choice, then I pray we won't grow discouraged in our pursuit of it. Instead let us be encouraged by the fact that the grace of God has appeared to liberate us from being labeled, orphaned, and defeated. Let us rejoice in the truth that the grace of God has appeared so we might show mercy abundantly, make peace endlessly, and dispense love lavishly. And of course, let us be forever grateful that the grace of God has appeared to redeem what we can’t fix.
CJE