HOW TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
"How to Do the Right Thing" is based on letters
Paul sent to Titus and Philemon about A.D. 60.
Our comments are in brackets as are chapter
numbers and quotes are from the N.I.V. Bible.
(You can only really do the right thing when you
are a true believer of Jesus Christ. To become
one, tell Him something like this and mean it.
"Lord Jesus I have been going my own way and I
am sorry you had to die for me because of it.
Now I want your forgiveness and to truly live
your way from now on. Thanks for accepting
me.").
Your mission is to be God's servant. You may be
sent by Jesus Christ to build up the faith of
God's people. If so, help them to know the truth
that leads to living God's way. This faith and
knowledge is based on the certainty of eternal
life, which God promised before the beginning of
time. As you serve Him, may you know the
undeserved favour and peace of God the Father
and Jesus Christ our Saviour.
A meeting of believers (another name for meeting
is church - for further information see our book
- "How to Meet With God at Home"), ought to be
overseen by a male member. If God calls you to
do this, you must be blameless, married, have
believing obedient children, not be overbearing,
not quick tempered, not a drunkard, not violent,
not dishonest. You must be hospitable, self
controlled, upright, pure, disciplined and love
what's good. You must hold firmly to the truth
of the scriptures, encouraging others in the
truth and refuting those who oppose it.
All this is necessary, because there are many
mere talkers and deceivers spreading false
teaching among believers for the sake of
dishonest gain. Their minds and consciences are
corrupted, they claim to know God, but their
actions deny it. "They are detestable,
disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."
Rebuke them sharply.
(Titus Chapter 1)
God may use you to teach Bible truths to
believers. If so, teach older men to be
temperate, worthy of respect, self controlled
and sound in faith, love and endurance.
Teach older women to live pure lives, not to be
slanderers or drunkards but to teach what is
good "Then they can train the younger women to
love their husbands and children, to be self
controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be
kind, and to be subject to their husbands," so
that no one will disrespect the word of God.
Encourage young men to be self controlled and be
a good example to them. "In your teaching show
integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech
that can't be condemned."
Teach employees to serve their employers
faithfully, showing they can be fully trusted,
"so that in every way, they will make the
teaching about God our Saviour attractive."
The undeserved favour of God that offers rescue,
has appeared to everyone. It teaches you to say
"no" to impure living and worldly passions and
to live a self controlled, upright and pure
life. Do this as you wait for the glorious
return of your great God and Saviour Jesus
Christ. He gave Himself for you, to buy you back
from all wickedness and to purify you, so you
could be His very own person, eager to do what
is good.
If He calls you to teach, then teach these
things, encouraging and rebuking as necessary,
with all authority.
(Titus Chapter 2)
Be obedient to those in authority, ready to do
good, slandering no one, be peaceable and
considerate and show true humility to everyone.
Like everyone at one time, you were foolish,
disobedient, deceived, enslaved by passions and
pleasures, living in malice and envy. But when
the kindness and love of God your Saviour
appeared, He saved you, not because of the good
things you had done, but because of His
undeserved love and favour. He saved you through
the washing of rebirth, as you were born
spiritually and renewed by the Holy Spirit, whom
He poured out on you generously through Jesus
Christ your Saviour. Now you have been put right
with God by His undeserved love and favour, you
have the guarantee of eternal life.
You have trusted in God, so be careful to devote
yourself to doing good and encourage others to
do the same.
Avoid foolish, unprofitable and useless
controversies. Warn a divisive person twice,
then have nothing to do with him, he is warped,
sinful and self condemned.
Devote yourself to doing good, providing for
your daily necessities and living a productive
life. May God's undeserved love and favour be
with you.
(Titus Chapter 3)
The undeserved love, favour and peace of God
your Father and your Lord Jesus Christ be with
you.
May your faith in the Lord Jesus and love for
other believers grow. Be "active in sharing your
faith, so that you will have a full
understanding of every good thing" you have in
Christ. Aim to "refresh the hearts" of other
believers.
The undeserved favour of your Lord Jesus Christ
be with your spirit.
(Philemon)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM TITUS & PHILEMON:
1. As God's servant,He may call you to build up
the faith of God's people, to live God's way and
be certain of eternal life. To lead a meeting of
God's people (church) you have to measure up to
His standard. There are plenty of so called
Christian leaders whose lives contradict their
words.
2. Live a self controlled, upright and pure
life, as you wait for Christ's return. God has
saved you by His undeserved love and favour. He
has given you spiritual birth, renewal by the
Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ and the
guarantee of eternal life.
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