Christian Godliness Part 2
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesDate written: October 10, 1992
Scripture ref: Titus 2:11-12
SUBJECT: Salvation
TITLE: Christian Godliness
PROPOSITION: To show the state a man must be in to remain godly–have the right attitude toward God, and thereby approach God.
OBJECTIVE: To teach that the church is the only place in which we must remain to have the right attitude toward God.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Titus 2:11-12
2. About the Text:
1) This morning we discussed how to become godly.
2) Now we are to discuss how to remain godly. Remember the Greek word “eusebeia”. This means reverence, respect, piety towards God.
3) Our discussion will center on the proper state in which we must remain to properly show piety, or reverence to God. When we do this, we are acting godly.
4) Remember, God does not just accept any one. He only accepts the holy.
5) We become holy and thereby godly by hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized.
6) After we have been baptized we are added to the church.
a. We are baptized into Christ’s body. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body….” The church is the body of Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
b. Acts 2:46-47 says, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
7) We remain holy and thereby godly by faithfully serving God in the church. This is today’s lesson.
DISCUSSION: Showing piety, reverence toward God involves the proper state in which we must remain to be able to approach God in the church. If the church is to remain holy and godly, then we must…
I. Have the organization which God demands it have.
1. Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
2. Elders, Shepherds, Pastors, Overseers–all refer to the same office. 1 Timothy 3:1 talks about their qualifications. “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
3. Deacons–servants. 1 Tim. 3:8-13 ” Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
4. Preachers 2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
5. Members
1) James 1:27 ” Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
2) Visit the sick.
3) Be a servant to my fellow Christian
4) Study God’s word. 2 Timothy 2:15
5) Teach other men about Christ. Acts 8:4 “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
6) Romans 12:9-21 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
II. Have the Mission that God demands it have–Save Souls.
1. Converting sinners.
1) 1 Tim. 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Inasmuch as Christ came to save sinners, so also we as the church are concerned about saving sinners.
2) Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The great commission still applies to us today.
2. Exhorting the faithful.
1) Hebrews 3:13, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
2) Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
3) 2 Peter 1:12-13 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.”
3. Helping the needy.
1) Gal. 2:10 “Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.”
2) Gal. 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
3) But it is not enough to just give, we must help the poor by teaching them to become Christians. It is good to give a man a fish but tomorrow he will expect another, but if we teach him how to catch fish, he can help himself.
III. Have the worship which God demands us to have. John 4:24
1. Praying–talking to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
2. Studying–letting God talk to us. Acts 17:11, Psalm 1
3. Singing–with understanding, with heart, not with piano.
4. Lord’s supper–gives thanks, think. 1 Corinthians 11:20-28
5. Giving–1 Corinthians 16:1f; 2 Corinthians 8
CONCLUSION:
1. We do these things to remain in a state of holiness before God. They are God’s way of keeping us holy, and thereby keeping us godly.)
2. If your not a Christian this morning,
3. If you are a Christian but have ceased doing what you ought to be doing in the church, then you have said to God, “I do not want to be holy like you are holy.”
4. Invitation