Keep the Faith (From the Heavenly Perspective)

Keep the Faith: A Call to Never Surrender to Evil (Revelation 14)

Revelation 14:1-12 — 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

• "this calls for patient endurance" "keep": to gaurd from injury or loss
• The conern of fidelity. "Endurance and faithfulness"

Re 12:7-11 And there was war in heaven: but overcame the dragon

In a scene that was precedd by (Revelation 12) "the devil is come down unto you", "a persecuted women births a child and then flees to the wilderness" "where is suffers but indeed survives "floods (12:16) of attack by that dragon"

Rvelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

• Revelation 13 beasts rising up deceiving

• Revelation 14:1 "and I looked and lo a lamb stoo on the mount Sion!"

Re 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

• We are on the winnding side!
• There is only One Savior (what about Cyrus, Moses, Noah)
• God my Saviour (Luke 1:47), God Our Savior (1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:3; Titus 1:3; Titus 2:10; Titus 3:4; Jude 1:25), My Savior (2 Samuel 22:3)

Keep the Faith: Do Whatever it Takes (Titus)

• the APPEARING (coming, believing) of Salvation, the DUTY of Salvation,

• text: Titus 2:11-15; Titus 3:8

• not one time is "church" used but "faith" 5 times (at least once in every chapter)

  • The FAITH of God's Elect
  • the COMMMON FAITH (them that love us IN THE FAITH)
  • be SOUND IN FAITH

• the language of salvation: "godliness", "eternal life" "God our Savior (both Preserver and Giver of Life)" "grace"

A. It takes godly leading examples so that it be preserved to the God's glory.

• EXAMPLES (AGE): "presbyters/elders (age)"
• LEADERS (OFFICE): "episcopates/bishops/overseers (office)" "With all authority possible"

I. Before and After Salvation has Come (Evidence)

(Titles 2:11-15; 3:1-3; and Zachaeus Luke 19:1-10; and a negative example: Matthew 3:8

• Titus 2:11-15; 3:1-3 "we were ..."; Titus 3:4-8 "but after the kindless and love of God our Savior toward man appeared ..."

-v.11 that is its design -- to all men - hath shined out

Malachi 4:2 — But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Titus 2:15 ¶ These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Lu 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. [Zachaeus; Luke 19:1-10]

• Forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham

Mt 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Mt 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [a negative example of Zachaeus' positive example]

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Titus 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

• NOT Purloining "Neither giving away, privately selling, nor in any way wasting, the master's goods." "embezzling" "pilfering" Acts 5:2 Ananias and Saphire "kept back part of the price" <-- its what "servants do" "everybody does it" (Anciently sometimes the words "servant" and "thief" were used interchangeably.)
• showing all good fidelity moral conviction, faith, belief
• Adorning "bring credit to"

Titus 1:1-4 The truth which is after godliness

Works and Salvation (Titus, Behavior and Doctrine: )

Tit 3:1 ¶ Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

• Titus was to instruct his hearers, put them in mind
• a warning of politics and the Believer (temperance, our ultimate loyalties)
• Ministers must not only teach things good and useful, but shun and oppose the contrary
• Redeemed for a purpose.

Tit 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Tit 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

• "Put them in mind"

Tithus 3:10,11 — A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Tit 3:14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful (ASV)

Avoid Factious Men

• hairetizo; a schismatic:--heretic (the Greek word it)

• "to choose, have a distinctive opinion" "causing divisions in the church" "factious"

• someone who, through their teachings or behavior, disrupts the unity of the church

• Thus this man chooses for himself and takes a certain position on a given issue,

• there is no inherently evil meaning suggested, but simply a marked difference from a standard teaching. A "heresy" only becomes wrong when it substantially contradicts a clear doctrine of Scripture (theistic evolution, denial of the virgin birth).

• The early Christian community was particularly concerned with maintaining doctrinal purity and unity, and thus, individuals who promoted heretical views were seen as threats to the faith.

• moved from the foundation = shun, reject, refuse

• The things the heretic may "choose" (not just untrue, but Untrue and therefore divisive):

Tit 3:9 ¶ But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

• foolish questions

• genealogies

• contentions

• strivings about the law Titus 1:14

• The disposition of the heretic: v. 10 ( after two [Matthew 18] admonitions he refuses to accept true doctrine, leaving only option of rejection

ADMONISH Nouthesia can mean advise given concerning dangerous consequences of a happening or action. “to impart understanding,” “to set right,” “to lay on the heart.” The stress is on influencing not merely the intellect but the will and disposition. “training by word,” <--- (course) CORRECTION

• with a view to reclaiming him

• "Factious men and foolish errors are sometimes pushed into prominence by being controverted"

• KNOWING:

• he is suberted "utterly changed" "corrupted" "as a building removed from its foundation" "warped"

• he is sinning

• he has condemned himself

• Judgment

• the reason for the disposition of the apostle in KNOWING "what the man is"

Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

Luke 1:47 — And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

1 Timothy 1:1 — ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

2 Samuel 22:3 — The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Psalm 106:21 — They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

Ac 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Ac 13:23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

King Cyrus

Isaiah 43:3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Isaiah 45:15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

Isaiah 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

CALL UPON THE LORD

Matthew 1 ...he shall save his people from their sins

Ho 13:4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

A TITLE

Tit 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Tit 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

? Tit 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Two Images of God as Savior

Titus 3 Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

2Pe 1:1 ¶ Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 2:1 "neglect so great salvation"

Titus 2:11-13 The Appearing (The Shining Forth; The Light of God's Salvation)

I. Has Appeared!

Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

II. Will yet Appear!

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.