Remember Your Lost State (Titus 3:3)

Titus 3:3

 

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

 

            When people say that they do not want to have anything to do with the church, so often the reason that they give is that they think that churches are all a bunch of hypocrites.  Why do they think this?  The world probably thinks we are hypocrites because we give them ample reason to think so.  And the way we give them reason to think so is forgetting who we once were.

 

            Paul, in calling the people to live as good citizens and gracious people, starts to tell us why we should do this.  The simple way to say it is this:  We are not better than the very ones we speak so nastily about.  We are sinners, just like them.

 

            Look at that list of things Paul says used to describe us before we were saved.  It’s not a pretty picture.   

 

·        Foolish – we didn’t’ understand the things we think the world should understand.

·        Disobedient – we didn’t obey God any better than those we condemn.

·        led astray – we were easily mislead, taken captive by evil.

·        slaves to various passions and pleasures – We were driven by our drives, our lusts, our hungers.

·        passing our days in malice and envy –Wanting to hurt others and take what they had.

·        hated by others and hating one another – We were hateful just like those we now look down on.

 

            When you look at that list, and God says it is true of us, what right do you have for putting others down?  Have you forgotten?  Have you forgotten that you were not a good person who God saved because you impressed him so much?  Have you forgotten that you didn’t used to follow the rules very well? 

 

            Remember who you were, Christians.  You were guilty of sin.  You were not better than the world, no matter what you think.  Sure, you might not have done all the particular things you find so distasteful about the world, but you were still a slave to sin and a child of the wrath of God.  Remember your lost state.

 

            And if you happen to be reading this and are not a believer, realize this:  No Christian is a better person than you.  But then, you are not a good person either.  God says we have all sinned against him.  None of us has the moral high ground.  We all need to be forgiven.  Thankfully, God has made provision for the forgiveness of anyone who will lay down their pride, admit their need, and come to Christ for mercy.