“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that
thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful
to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Titus
3:8
Paul here is telling young preacher Titus to be careful and
to maintain good works. I know there are multitudes of people who believe that
good works is a part of our salvation, but the scripture debunks that thinking.
Good works has nothing to with the accomplishment of our salvation but has multitudes
to do with our Christian living after we are saved. It never fails to cause me
to pause when I see how some Christians are acting, talking, or conducting
their life as a believer in Jesus Christ. It is like they forgot how they were
saved, so let remind them. “That in the ages to come he might shew the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus…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.” Ephesians 2:7 – 9 If you
go to chapter one you will also be reminded that God chose you to be His child
before the foundation of the world. Eph. 1:4 You also need to be reminded that
salvation is a gift and not earned. “For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans
6:23 Now I said all that to say this, God has given to all of us who are
saved the greatest gift known to mankind, “…wherein he hath made us accepted
in the beloved.” Eph. 1:6 That acceptance is Him accepting us (sinners) as
His own beloved children, what a privilege! So, if you are saved, really saved
by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ and by the power of the
Holy Spirit, then you know what an honor it is to be saved. With all this being
said, we need to understand our part, it is our part to “be careful to maintain
good works”. This is a downfall of a lot of Christians, they either have not
been taught how to maintain good works or don’t care. How sad if it is the latter,
how sad that God did so much to make you “accepted in the beloved” that in
return you cannot return to God a hint of the grace He has given to you. Some
people say that this passage is to preachers and pastors, folks, that is a very
lame excuse in laziness. We all as Christians owe God, we owe God everything,
even our life if it is required. Millions of believers have died very awful
deaths for the God they love. We are without excuse if we fail to maintain good
works for God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Any true believer in Jesus Christ
ought to ashamed by not attending church, the church is the pillar and ground
of truth. 1 Tim. 3:15 Albert Barnes wrote “This shows that Paul supposed that
the doctrines of the gospel were fitted to lead people to holy living;”
and he is exactly correct, the doctrines of the scripture ought to lead us to
holy living. But, if it does not then something must be wrong. Either God has
not truly saved you or you are not being “careful to maintain good works”
Christians that do not attend church is not walking in the light as He is in
the light, they are failing God and not maintaining good works. Paul also used
the word “careful” that word means - to exercise thought that is, be anxious –
to maintain good works. But there are so many who can’t even gather enough spiritual
strength to pick-up the word of God and read it. They can’t drag themselves out
of bed early enough to attend and be a part of the church. There is a reason
this is so important, Paul goes on to say, “These things are good and
profitable unto men.” That is to you, the church, and others around you. You
are not a good example of God’s saving grace if you are not a member and active
in a local church. If you are not “maintaining good works” you are failing God
and being an unfit witness of the salvation, that He has blessed you with. By “maintaining
good works” means you are working everyday to bring glory to God, God has a
reason in saving you from eternal hell and you need to figure it out and bless
the Lord in your life. Folks, none of us are perfect, and maintaining good
works is a daily struggle, but the fight is worth it. Read the word, learn the
doctrines, and live like you owe God something, because you do!
