(Thesis:  The purpose of this presentation is to motivate alien sinners to obey the gospel of Christ, and to stir brethren to continue to faithfully live the Christian life.)

Introduction:

I.                   WE ARE TAUGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT HOW TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (Titus 2:11-14).

A.    There are some things that we are to deny ourselves.

1.      We are to cease to walk according to the ways of the world.

a.       Ungodliness (which is rebellion against God).

b.      We are to resist lust (which is uncontrolled physical desire.)

B.    In a positive way we are to live in harmony with the Will of the Lord.

1.      The Christian life is not simply that which we give up, but also by how we live.

a.       To live soberly is to discipline ourselves.

1 Cor. 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:  lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”  

b.      To live righteously is to carry out my responsibilities to my fellow man in all areas of life.

c.       In living a godly life is to carry out my responsibilities unto God.

II.                CHRISTIANITY IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE IN THIS PRESENT WORLD.

Titus 2:12, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

A.    We can live the Christian life!

1.      It is not too demanding, but what we can live as a faithful Christian.

2.      The Lord will enable us to overcome weakness and temptations that would hinder us in remaining as a faithful child of God.

                    1 Cor. 10:12-13, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

B.    We must be motivated to live the Christian life.

III.             MOST CHRISTIANS KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING, BUT OFTEN LACK THE MOTIVATION TO DO SO.

A.    Different things motivate different people to carry out a given responsibility.

1.      Take for example:  to perform the responsibilities of a secular job.  Some carry out their responsibilities of a secular job because of duty; while others enjoy being employed in carrying out their particular livelihood.   Some even look upon their occupation as being a means of creativity.

1 Tim. 5:8, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

2.      Why do people go to school?  Many children attend a school of formal education simply because their parents insist that they do so, and the laws of the land require them to receive a secular education.  However, many young people receive a higher education in order to better prepare for the future. 

3.      What motivates children to obey their parents, their teachers in school, school officials, etc.  Their motivations include:  rewards, threats, a sense of responsibility, etc.

B.    There may be different levels of motivation needed for us to carry out our various responsibilities in life.

1.      Not only is this true in the secular realm, but is also true in the spiritual realm.

Discussion:

I.                   THE GRACE OF GOD IS CERTAINLY AN INCENTIVE TO OBEY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND TO FAITHFULLY LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

A.    The grace of God is His unmerited favor bestowed upon those who obey His Will.

1.      We cannot save ourselves separate and apart from the gospel of Christ.

Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

            Acts 2:40, “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”  

Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”

Matt. 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate  for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

B.    Most people are prone to respond to those who extend a favor unto them.

1.      We must never take God’s grace for granted!

2 Cor. 6:1-2, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee:  behold, now is the accepted time:  behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

II.                THE “SALVATION” IMPLICATION.

A.    It is important that we realize the value that God places upon you and me.

Matt. 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Rom. 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

1.      All of us want to feel that we are needed and wanted.

2 Pet. 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

1 Tim. 2:4, [It is God] “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

(Read First Peter 1:3-9 and place emphasis on the anticipated salvation of our souls.)

III.             JESUS DIED FOR YOU!  HE DIED FOR ME!

A.    We naturally appreciate people who do things for us.

Gal. 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ:  nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Heb. 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

1.      The Son of God died a vicarious death in that He suffered and died for us.  Jesus suffered and died in our place.

B.    Jesus gave Himself so that we could be redeemed from iniquity and to purify us spiritually by His shed blood.

Titus 2:13-14, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

IV.              ANTICIPATING THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.  (“…LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE, AND THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.” (Titus 2:13).

Heb. 9:27-28, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

Phil. 3:20-21, “For our conversation [manner of life] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” 

V.                 THE REALITY OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY.

2 Thess. 1:7-9, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power:”

2 Cor. 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

Matt. 25:41, 46, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

Matt. 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:  but the righteous into life eternal.”

VI.              A REASON FOR HAVING HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN.

A.    There are two essential elements for a person to have reason for a hope of eternal life in Heaven.

1.      There must be both a desire and an expectation in order to have a scriptural hope of an eternal home in Heaven. 

                  2 Tim. 4:6-8, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:  and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 

                 Rom. 8:24-25, “For we are saved by hope:  but hope that is seen is not hope:  for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

                 Heb. 6:19, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

                 1 John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

VII.           WE SHOULD BE MOTIVATED BY A DESIRE TO INFLUENCE OTHERS TO OBEY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND TO FAITHFULLY LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Matt. 5:13-16, “Ye are the salt of the earth:  but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

VIII.        WHEN FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS (INCLUDING LOVED ONES) DEPART THIS LIFE, IT IS AN INCENTIVE TO LIVE AS FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS SO THAT WE MAY BE REUNITED WITH THEM.

Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

Conclusion:

I.                   WE SHOULD CERTAINLY BE MOTIVATED TO PREPARE OUR LIVES FOR A HOME IN HEAVEN.

2 Cor. 4:16-18, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:  for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Col. 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

--Dub Mowery