Paul's vision for the Christian community in the culture context, a call to "do good" for the glory of God, and a celebration of God's saving kindness, mercy, and totally transforming power!

2. CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be
obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no
one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle
toward everyone.
What is Paul’s vision for the community of Christ in relationship to
the cultural setting in which it exists?
• Respectful toward secular rulers
• “Obedient” (not scoff-laws)
• Virtuous – looking for opportunities to do good and be a
blessing – “Doing Good” = shorthand for Christian virtues

3. CONTRAST TO THE PAST
• Foolish
• Disobedient
• Deceived
• Enslaved
Then the Kindness and love of God
“appeared” (same word we get “epiphany”
from) – changing everything!

4. SAVED BY MERCY!
Washing (“bathed”)
Regeneration (to be brought back to its perfected
state, returned to life)
Renewal (“a complete change for the better”)
Which of these words speak most deeply to you
today of God’s work in your life?

5. “DOING GOOD” (NOT RELIGIOUS CRANKS)
I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm
stand on these matters so that those who
have put their trust in God will concentrate on
the essentials that are good for everyone.
Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling
over genealogies and fine print in the law
code. That gets you nowhere. Warn a
quarrelsome person once or twice, but then
be done with him. It’s obvious that such a
person is out of line, rebellious against God.
By persisting in divisiveness he cuts himself
off.

6. “DOING GOOD” FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
1. A time you have “done good”
for God’s glory with others
2. A time when you have “done
good” for God’s glory by
yourself