Cultivating Christlike Behavior
By Dean Collins
One of the problems we have in the church might be that we have defined Christianity as more about a set of behaviors than submission to Jesus as Lord. And the bigger problem is that we in the church often choose the behaviors that define what a Christian looks like and behaves like rather narrowly, while ignoring many other teachings in Scripture.
A few things jumped out at me this morning as I read the last paragraph in Titus 2 and the first paragraph of Titus 3. Paul indicated that the grace of God has appeared. And it is clear from all of the New Testament Scriptures that it appeared in Jesus. It was the atoning sacrifice of Jesus that gives us access to God’s grace. We didn’t deserve it. We can’t earn it. It is a gift to us through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul said that when God’s grace appeared, it brought salvation for all people. (2:11)
Note some of the behaviors and attitudes that are to be visible in us because of the indwelling of God’s spirit. God’s grace:
trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions
trains us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives
And, according to Paul, these ways of living are to be lived in the present age. As the third chapter opens, Paul pushes in a little more by telling believers that they are to be submissive to rulers and authorities, which would have been clearly identified by the reader as the leaders of Rome. The church was called to renounce their old lives and values, which may have been allowed by Rome, yet remain respectful to those who had authority over them. Paul continued by saying how believers were to act, whether to Rome or to each other: “to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”
In order to make sure that believers understood how important it was to act with gentleness and respect, even for those we disagree with, Paul added: “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”
According to Paul, when we give in to worldly passions – which, by the way, are much more than just sexual passions; Paul indicates that worldly passions include malice, envy, and hatred, speaking evil of people, and quarreling – we might cross-reference Galatians 5 and other passages to validate how far-reaching worldly passions really are. The apostle is quite serious about our behavior. In verses 10 and 11, Paul instructed Titus to no longer fellowship with believers who continue to exhibit behaviors inconsistent with godliness: “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”
So how do we, as believers, refrain from the common practices of those who stir up division and engage in other things that do not align with the kingdom of God? If we go back to verse 11, we find our answer. The grace of God trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in us that allows us to reflect the image of God in all of our interactions with others.
When we find ourselves beginning to drift toward the attitudes and behaviors that reveal anger, hatred, and lack of respect for others, then we must repent and ask the Holy Spirit to correct us through the grace and mercy of God.
Father, we confess that too many times we drift toward the attitudes of the world. We fight, we argue, we align with others who do not reflect your love and your kingdom values. Forgive us and correct us that we might reflect the love of Christ in all we do. In Jesus' name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Titus 2:11-15, 3:1-11 ESV
Photo by Rasa Kasparaviciene on Unsplash
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