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Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes his own example a standard to be followed and imitated under grace. Phil. 4:9: Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 1 Cor. 4:16: Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 1 Cor. 11:1: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes his own example a standard to be followed and imitated under grace. 2 Thes. 3:7: For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. 2 Thes. 3:9: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
We need to be careful with the kind of example we re setting!
From knowing about Paul in God s Word, to follow his example of grace means we are to: Live by grace through faith in Christ Take the Word of Christ to the world and the regions beyond Evangelize the lost to Christ Strive to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery Establish local grace churches Train faithful men who will be able to teach others also Pray always, for all things Selflessly serve Christ and others Build up and encourage the Body of Christ
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14). Paul, as an example of grace, also shows us that God s grace is to drive us to know the Savior who saved us by His grace, and to motivate us to live for Him and serve Him in the strength and resurrection power that grace provides.
The mark is Christ, He is the goal, and the prize is Christ, and the high calling of God is Christ! The Church is to follow Paul s passion and example in this, in knowing, trusting, serving, and growing in our Savior, that we might be more and more like Him.
1 Thes. 2:7-11 Paul described his conduct among the Thessalonians: We were gentle among you being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you our own souls, because ye were dear unto us remember our labour and travail laboring night and day we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you.
Colossians 4:10: Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister s son to Barnabas (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him).
Paul calls Mark a fellow laborer in Philemon 24. At the end of his life, Paul tells Timothy to Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
We are to follow Paul as he followed Christ, both in practice and in doctrine. To Paul, Christ personally committed the revelation of the mystery, and the dispensation of the grace of God, God s truth for today under grace. We are to follow Paul s teachings of grace for today.
God s Word tells us our duty; godly examples show us that it is possible.
Likeminded means same souled. 1 Samuel 18:1 says, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. As Timothy was same-souled with Paul, this meant he had a servant s heart and cared for people.
Grace is kind and generous and it teaches us to give, to give of ourselves, of our resources, of our time, for the good of others, and to do it without thought, with it being second nature, for grace to be a way of life.
All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ s. In a world of self-seekers, Timothy stood out, Paul says. Timothy sought the things which were Jesus Christ s. He was unselfish, and was available for Christ and His use, and with Paul could say for to me to live is Christ.
Timothy shows us the importance of a good testimony. When Paul first enlisted him into the ministry it was said of Timothy that he was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium (Acts 16:2).
In Timothy we see an example in the importance of being faithful and trustworthy, being willing and available for Christ s use, of having a good testimony, being selfless, sincere, caring and devoted to Christ, and we see an example of grace to follow.
Think about each of these men: Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews (a Jew), Timothy was part Jew and part Gentile, and Titus was a full Gentile. Having trusted Christ as Savior, and being a member of the Church which is Christ s Body, all national, racial, cultural, social distinctions are removed, and we re all family in Him. We are all one with our Savior, and all one with one another.
2 Corinthians 8:23 describes Titus as Paul s partner and fellowhelper in the ministry. Grace teaches us to help, to be a helper. God in His grace helped us in our great need. And Titus as an example of grace, shows that we should be a helper to others.
Salvation is by grace through faith alone today. Titus was made a public example of this, he was a living illustration, an example of grace that a change had taken place in God s dealings with man, that though he wasn t circumcised, he was absolutely saved, saved by God s grace alone, by faith in Christ.
Titus example of grace teaches us to serve wherever, whenever, to whomever, with boldness, tenacity and fortitude for the cause of Christ, and the truth of grace for today.
Paul says to Titus, Set an example with the pattern of your life so that others can copy what you are. Be a sermon; don t just preach one. Instead of being exclusively verbal; offer your life as a visual as well.
Titus life and ministry was to impact and strike a blow and hit others, living his life in such a way that it would make an indelible impression on others for Christ.
Is God using my life to make an impact on others for Christ? Am I an example of grace?