because of the works themselves

"Ready for Good Deeds" {Titus3:1-7}
* 2 worlds -- must pay attention to both
- present here & now (city of man)
- invisible & eternal (city of God)
* Matt5:14-16: shine as lights via good deeds
* Remember to shine as lights (v1-2)
* Attitudes & actions toward governing authorities (v1)
- Be subject and obedient (same as be subject, clarifying)
- Except when law contradicts God's law (Acts4-5)
- Be ready for every good deed {Titus1:16, 2:7, 2:14, 3:1, 3:8, 3:14}
- "Lives lived for Christ foundational to evangelism"
* Attitudes & actions towards all non-Christians (v2)
- To slander no one
- To be peaceable {Rom12:18} and considerate (gentle, patient)
- To show true humility to all men
- "Those who are saved by grace need to look after those who still live in darkness"
* Reason for this lifestyle (v3-7)
* Our unsaved condition in past (v3)
- We were foolish, disobedient, deceived, & enslaved by sin
- We lived in malice, envy, & in hatred (hating others & being hated)
* God's work in our lives in present (v4-7)
- God saved us by His grace {Eph2:9-10}
- Salvation not by our righteous deeds (v5a)
- Washing of regeneration = sanctification {Eph5:26}
* Application
- "Must earn right to be heard before preaching the Gospel"
- Encourage one another to good deeds
- It takes authenticity & integrity to win a hearing
- Impossible to convince anyone of a truth you're not living