The Central Moment

Our civic responsibility to pay taxes, to respect authorities and, in a free society, to vote -- they are all embedded in the ethics of a Jesus-transformed life. We do not worship countries or deify government leaders, but we practice good citizenship as an outflow of a Jesus-changed heart.

“Good works” is the theme of Paul’s letter to Titus. Good works do not earn us salvation but they are the follow-through to it. A ‘saved’ life becomes a ‘productive’ life as we engage our world in real ways and influence the people around us.

Is Christian unity even possible given the social rifts and politicized passions that have seeped into the church? What do we need to stop doing and what do we need to start doing? Is there any hope for a divided church?

To be ‘saved’ by God is to encounter all three persons of the Trinity in a life-transforming transaction of spiritual renewal. Nowhere is it described better than here in Titus 3, leaving us with nothing less than eternal hope itself!

Theology and ethics are always tied together in the New Testament. “ The grace of God ” inevitably leads to people who are “ eager to do what is good .” And at the end of it all is our “ blessed hope .”

Respect for authority has become a lost value in the western world. We respect accomplishment, talent, beauty and charisma, but are cynical of authority. How is a follower of Jesus to understand this -- both at work and in the public arena?

Whether you are young or old, male or female -- God calls you to self-control, integrity and faith. This is the fruit of the transforming power of Jesus. It is also a witness to a watching world of the truth of the gospel itself.

In a culture of excessive tolerance, “love me but don’t judge me” becomes a convenient escape from facing the toxic issues in our lives. People who will love us enough to tell us the truth are our friends, not our enemies.

Our disillusionment over the lives of some leaders should never make us cynical about the possibilities of a genuinely transformed life in Jesus. Thank God for Spirit-filled people who do live consistent lives!

We no longer belong to ourselves as Christians. We are each called to be servants of Jesus with certain specific ministry callings. All of this is in light of his soon return and the hope of eternal life.

Our God is a provider! He is generous to the core and knows how to take care of us. What do you need from him? Trust him to supply your needs in all of the ways that he sees fit.

To be alone in our suffering--to feel that no one cares--only deepens our pain and heightens our despair. Yet God’s promise to us is that he does care and will be there!

We can trust the Lord to direct us in two ways: the wisdom that he imparts to us and his sovereignty over what we cannot control. His promise is to lead us!

If we are ‘in Christ’, other people do not define us, our successes and failures do not define us, and even what we think about ourselves does not define us. Instead, we are children of our Heavenly Father.

We do not stand on what we feel, or on the opinions that we might have, or even on our past experiences. We stand on the promises of God. That is the foundation to life in Christ and in the power of his Spirit.

Here at the end of our study of Zechariah we encounter the living reality of NEW. The old order will have been swept away, the marginalized and oppressed will have been lifted up and Jesus will be King!

In the end we will all be accountable to our Creator. That is bad news for us because we have all sinned and fallen short of him. But that same Jesus who will judge the world came first to be our refuge from judgment.

In an age of moral relativism, religious pluralism, and aggressive secularism it is easy to lose sight of Jesus’ ultimate triumph. But take courage and have hope -- we haven’t seen the end of the story yet!

Jesus is coming again! Everything changes because of this -- our priorities, our allegiances, our identities and our mission. We live in that hope, and it makes all the difference.

What image of God do you have? Many live with a sense that God has a club to hit them whenever they step out of line. But God struck his own Son instead!

“There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb.” It’s a song that’s been sung by millions over the years, but what does it mean? Zechariah gives us the liberating explanation. Christ’s shed blood became a fountain of life!

The piercing of Jesus at the Cross for our sins was foreseen by the prophet Zechariah 400 years before it happened. His death was not an accident, but a deliberate act of God’s love. And we are the beneficiaries!

The ultimate confrontation is coming! The anti-Christ against the true Christ; darkness against light; idolatry against holiness; injustice against righteousness. And who will win? Zechariah got it right--and we need to listen!

The second half of Zechariah is quoted often by the gospel writers when describing the last week of Jesus’ life. The Cross of Christ is more than an unfortunate religious martyrdom. It has been God’s plan from the beginning to restore us to himself.

There are three characteristics of God’s resorting work in Jesus -- freedom from disqualifying guilt, joy in the Lord, and divine strength by the power of the Spirit. God’s word to Israel pictures all of this!