God's Generosity

God’s Generosity
Titus 3:3-7


I. Our Past. (Vs. 3)
We ourselves WERE:
A. Foolish- without understanding- one who refuses to believe in God- one who refuses to Fear God- one who refuses to Obey God.
The Most foolish life possible is life without God. It is a Life of darkness & disappointment; selfishness & sin; guilt & grief; sorrow with no hope; storms with no peace; life without God’s Grace now and without God’s Glory in eternity.
The Bible declares the foolishness of the life without God:
- The way of peace they know not (Is 59:8)
- They know not the way of the Lord (Jer.5:4)
- They know not to do right (Amos 3:10)
- They understand not God’s counsel (Micah 4:12)
- They are ignorant of God’s righteousness (Rom. 10:3)
- Eph 4- their understanding is darkened; alienated from God thru ignorance; suffer blindness of heart.
What a pitiful condition for the Lost- Foolish!


B. Disobedient- living in rebellion to God and his Word- rejecting his Son- refusing his Way- disobeying his will.
“Serving divers lusts” Slaves to many different lusts, desires, pleasures- In bondage to these evil desires.
Living in Malice (hostility)- Envy (jealousy)- Hatred (anger, rage)
We were Foolish, Disobedient, and ...
C. Deceived- Led astray by our own lusts- led astray by Satan’s schemes-
The Bible warns us about a way that seems right to a man but is really the way of death- deceived! Oh, the tragedy of thinking all is well when it is not; Thinking I am OK when I am not; Thinking I can enter heaven when I am destined for Hell.
What a Terrible and Tragic Past!


II. Our Privilege.
Here is where we meet the Generosity of God. (Vs. 4,5)
- The Kindness of God our Savior Appeared.
- The Love of God appeared- “love here is not agape but philanthropia- used only twice in Bible; once in regard to the “kindness” showed to Paul when he and his companions had been shipwrecked; and Here “love”- means generous benevolence- abundant loving kindness) The Generous Kindness and Generous Love of God appeared; Oh! The Generosity of God!
Just in these three verses (4-6) Paul writes about His Generous Kindness- His Generous Love- His Generous Mercy (vs. 5)- His Generous Outpouring of the Holy Ghost.
By the Generosity of God we are blessed with:
- Regeneration- being born again- experiencing a new birth- becoming a new creature- new creation
- Renewing of the Holy Ghost- renewed a right spirit in us- renewed our mind- renewed our inward man- Made NEW in Christ Jesus.
Paul reminds us that these blessings came, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy and by the Holy Ghost (which he shed on us abundantly) According to his Mercy- HE Saved US!”


III. Our Position. (Notice vs. 7)
A. Justified by his grace we are cleared of all charges that were placed against us- Cleansed of all sin- made holy.
The old hymn talks about The Old Account that Has been Settled; “And My record’s Clear today for he washed my sins away”


B. Adopted- “made heirs”
We were Drawn by his Spirit and Accepted in Jesus Christ; we were Adopted into the Family of God; we were made Sons and Daughters of God and heirs with Jesus Christ.
Rom. 8: 14-18 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint–heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.


C. Glorified
We now have the great Hope of Eternal Life; The promise that we will Live forever in the presence of God. Remember, if our only hope was in this life we would be Miserable! But, Thank God for his Generosity! By his generosity we have inherited abundant life now and eternal life beyond this earth.
Thank God for his Generous Kindness; his Generous Love; His Generous Mercy and His Generous Outpouring of the Holy Ghost!