| CENTRAL THOUGHT |
The Christian must be a true reflection of Christ.
TEXT: TITUS 2:1-10
INTRODUCTION:
As soon as a person acknowledges his sinful condition, repents, and forsakes his sins and turns to Christ by receiving Him as Lord and personal Savior, from that moment be becomes born again. He has been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God. Such a person is a new creature in Christ. Therefore, he is expected to manifest the nature and attributes of Christ in all areas of life and in his daily living. All these qualities make him stand out distinctly wherever he finds himself.
In this study, we shall be looking at some of the godly qualities that God expects from His children.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
- To explain what “A New Creature” means;
- Highlight and discuss what makes a Christian man worthy of respect;
- Identify the qualities expected of a Christian woman;
- Identify and explain the qualities the older women should teach the younger women and how this should be done;
- Discuss how youth should behave and;
- Comment on the qualities of a Christian servant from the Scripture
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1A) WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY “A NEW CREATURE”?
When the unregenerate man repents from his sinful nature and gives his life to Christ, he becomes a new creature in Christ: old things are passed away and behold all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17). His life is now a reflection of the character of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In this new state he is made to sit together with Christ in heavenly places.
QUESTION 1B) IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN THE QUALITIES EXPECTED OF THE CHRISTIAN MAN (TITUS 2:2).
From the Scriptures, a Christian man is expected “to be temperate, serious minded, sensible, self-controlled, and sound in the faith, in the love, steadfastness, and patience of Christ” (Titus 2:2 Amplified). Therefore, God’s expectation is that the Christian man should conduct himself in everything according to the teachings of the word of God without any form of compromise. He must live an exemplary life that points people to Christ.
QUESTION 2) WHAT MAKES A CHIRSTIAN MAN WORTHY OF RESPECT?
A Christian man is worthy of respect when he conducts himself and all his affairs to please and glorify God. Honesty and integrity should be the base attributes of the Christian man. He shuns all vices and sins of immorality, while pursuing a life of holiness unto the Lord. He shows sincere love and care to all even when such people may not deserve it. The motivating factor for all he does is to please God in all areas of life and sphere of influence.
QUESTION 3) WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES OF A CHIRSTIAN WOMAN? (TITUS 2:3).
The virtues mentioned concerning the Christian man are also applicable to the woman. “Bid the older women similarly to the reverent and devout in their behavior as those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and noble” (Titus 2:3 Amplified). They must be submissive to their husbands and be good home builders. In like manner the women must live in holiness into the Lord, living as good examples for others to follow. They must be those who can lead and teach their children in the path of righteousness.
QUESTION 4). WHAT QUALITIES SHOULD THE OLDER WOMEN TEACH THE YOUNGER WOMEN AND HOW SHOULD THEY DO THIS? (TITUS 2:3-5; 1 PETER 3:1-6).
The older woman must “wisely train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplines) and to love their husbands and their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good natured (kind-hearted), adapting and subordinating themselves to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited) (Titus 2:4-5 Amplifies). They are to teach by example. Their chaste lifestyle should be so evident that even their unbelieving husbands may be won over not by discussion but by the godly lives of their wives.
QUESTION 5) WHAT ARE SOME OF THE QUALITIES EXPECTED OF A CHRISTIAN YOUTH? (TITUS 2:6,8; 1 TIM. 4:12; 1 JOHN 2:14).
A youth who is sound in faith must be self-restrained, behave prudently (taking life seriously). In all respects he must show himself to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity (having the strict regard for truth and purity of motive), with dignity and seriousness. Their instruction must be fit and wise and wholesome, vigorous, and irrefutable and above censure, so that the opponent may be put to shame, finding nothing discrediting or evil to say. He must not let any man despise his youth but should be an example of believers in speech, conduct, in love, faith, and purity.
QUESTION 6) WHAT ARE SOME OF THE QUALITIES OF A CHRISTIAN SERVANT?
(TITUS 2:9-10).
A Christian servant should be one who is obedient and submissive to his master, trustworthy, pleasing, and giving satisfaction in every way to the master. He must not talk back or contradict. A Christian servant must not steal by taking anything, however small the value. He must prove himself truly loyal and entirely reliable and faithful throughout. The primary motive behind all the Christian servant does is to so all in singleness of heart as unto Christ. “Not with eye service as men-pleasers: but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6).
It should be noted that all of us are servants to one form of authority or the other, at home, office, church, business place, society, etc.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
When a person becomes born again, he becomes a new creature in Christ. This marks the beginning of the new life in Christ. By this decision he is instantly translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear son Jesus Christ. In this new state the believer is referred to as a son of God, an heir to God. He must therefore continue to manifest the nature and attributes of Christ.
A Christian, therefore, must be in behavior as becometh holiness. The virtues of sobriety, gravity, temperance, soundness of faith, and patience must characterize our lives if we claim to be followers of Christ. May our lives bring honor and glory to God. Amen.
MEMORY VERSE:
2 COR. 5:17
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MON: Be in Christ to become a new Creature. 2 Cor. 5:17
TUE: A Christian man is expected to be … Titus 2:2
WED: A Christian woman is expected to be … Titus 2:3-5
THU: Older women teach younger women … Titus 2:3-5; 1 Pet. 3:1-6
FRI: Qualities of the Christian youth. Titus 2:6,8; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 John 2:14
SAT: Christian servant, some qualities. Titus 2:9-10