The life of faith is a spiritual journey beginning at the moment of new birth (regeneration) through personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, and continuing onward and upward from spiritual infancy—through the stages of spiritual growth— into maturity and beyond. I refer to it as the journey “from the cross to the crown.”
  
The little book of Titus, one of Paul’s “pastoral epistles,” provides a short-course on the life of faith. As we explore the great and timeless truth contained in this epistle, we will refer again and again to the “life of faith” and the journey “from the cross to the crown,” and to the many promises and provisions supplied by God in His matchless grace for those who choose to live in the light of the cross.
This was the subject of the Spring 2011 Conference in Canberra, Australia.

Gene Cunningham - February 3, 2003

Titus #8

Titus #8

Testimony of Desert Storm veterans. History is "His story". National flaws of the Cretians (Tit 1:10-13). "Rebuke" or reprove" (Tit 1:13) means to "cut it off", but implies the work of the Spirit, and requires the establishment of spiritual authority. Components of our soul: volition, mentality, conscience, and emotion (Ecc 3:11, Rom 2:14-15, Rom 3:19-20) -- God exists, and we need Him -- we don't measure up. In a healthy soul, the conscience holds the principles of God's truth. Spiritual capacity for life is possible with the emotion in a healthy soul. However, uncontrolled emotion, makes for miserable ups and downs. The steps to a healthy soul ("sound in the faith" - Tit 1:13) are covered in 2Pe 1:5-7: excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly love, and agape love. The way to an unhealthy soul is listed in Eph 4:17-19: walking as the Gentiles, futility, darkening of the soul, hardness of heart, sensuality -- emotion is the dictator: apostasy, then sin unto death. Foundation of the house (a healthy soul) is Jesus Christ, and there are 5 floors. These reflect Jesus' approach to life -- what He'd think or how He'd respond to circumstances: (1) Grace Orientation; (2) Mastery of the Details of Life; (3) Relaxed Mental Attitude (1Co 15:10); (4) Love; (5) Happiness. Word of God needs to come in and "go out" in application. Holy Spirit's job is behind the building up of our soul (1Co 2:16). Synonyms for edification in the soul: "light", "glory", "fullness", "complete", and "work". "Jewish fables, and commandments of men" (Tit 1:14) are the basis of Gnosticism. God's Grace + Edification = Stability (Col 2:6-7): there is no place for guilt, human merit, nor human obligation. "Firmly rooted" refers to the cross. "established in the faith" is the stability. The danger is false information and adding to Christ's work (Joh 19:30) -- legalism, rationalism, empiricism -- which rob us of freedom in Him (Col 2:8-10).

Scripture References: Romans 2:14-15, John 19:30, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Colossians 2:6-7, Titus 1:13, Titus 1:14, Titus 1:10-13, Ephesians 4:17-19, Titus 1:13, Romans 3:19-20, Colossians 2:8-10

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From Series: "Titus - 2007"

The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus a student of his who became a pastor regarding faith knowledge and hope.

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