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40 Days Through the New Testament: Knowing the Savior Who Steadies Our Uncertainty

Join us for this eight-week study — starting January 26 in the FREE First 5 mobile app.

Experience Jesus. Embrace Hope. Enter the new year with confidence.

Have you ever felt caught in the “in-between” — waiting for an answer, longing for hope, unsure of what’s next? We all know what it’s like to wrestle with unknowns and wonder if God will come through. God’s people knew this feeling too. For 400 years, they waited in quiet expectation for the fulfillment of His promise. And then, in the perfect moment, Jesus came — proof that God always keeps His word.

The New Testament is living evidence: God does what He says He will do.

That’s the heartbeat of 40 Days Through the New Testament. This study will help you start the year with renewed faith, fresh perspective, and steady hope in the Savior who never changes. And it’s yours as thanks for your special year-end gift to help others do the same!

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Today’s Teaching

The Fruit of Genuine Faith

Kelley Brown

Day: 5 | Plan: Celebration Week 2025

Start Here: Titus 1:15-16

Key Verse: Titus 1:15 (ESV) "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled."

Major Moment: Paul explained the contrast between the pure and the corrupt.

In some ways, it's easy to say we believe in God. Many people claim faith. Yet do our actions reveal a different reality? In Titus 1:16, Paul warned against those who "profess to know God, but they deny him by their works."Their hearts remain unchanged, and as a result, their actions do not align with their words of faith.

This is what Paul called a "defiled" heart: "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure ..." (Titus 1:15). His words emphasize the relationship between purity and perspective.

A heart surrendered to Christ sees life through the lens of His goodness, but anything short of full surrender to Him distorts our view of life, leading to disobedience and hypocrisy. The same truth is echoed in Paul's letter to the Romans: "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6).

If our hearts and minds are set on the things of this world, our works will reflect that. Purity is not just about avoiding sin; it's about intentionally pursuing righteousness. It's about choosing to fill our minds with God's Truth rather than lies, choosing obedience over convenience, and choosing to live with integrity even when no one is watching.

In other words, purity is both an inward condition and an outward expression. What is inside will eventually show on the outside. Jesus also warned about the behavior of false prophets revealing their true motives and beliefs, explaining, "You will recognize them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). Our works are evidence of our faith (or lack thereof), revealing whether we are truly walking with God or simply professing "belief" without transformation.

So how do we know we're real believers when we ourselves still struggle with sin? Is our salvation insecure?

No! But there's a difference between doubting our salvation and thoughtfully examining our lives. As we reflect on Titus 1:15-16, let's take an honest look at our hearts. Are we living in a way that aligns with the faith we profess? Do our daily choices, thoughts, and behaviors reflect a life surrendered to Christ? If there are areas where our faith and works don't match, let's invite God to refine us.

Instead of succumbing to shame or vowing to "do better" today, we can remember that true transformation doesn't come from trying harder; it comes from God's Spirit working within us (Romans 8:13; Jude 1:24). Without His help, even the best circumstances cannot produce righteousness in us. But when we faithfully trust God and consistently immerse ourselves in Scripture, allowing Truth to shape us, our perspective and desires begin to change.

Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." May we be people whose hearts and consciences are renewed by God's Truth, producing lives that honor Him.

Prayer: Lord, examine my heart, and renew my mind. Let my actions reflect the faith I profess, and help me pursue purity in both thought and deed. May my life bear fruit that honors You and testifies to Your transforming power. In Jesus' name, amen.

Editor's Note: Something a little different is happening in the app starting Saturday, January 3! We're kicking off a special, two-week teaching series called "Theology 101: How To Approach, Understand, and Apply Scripture to Everyday Life." In this weekend's audio teaching, Wendy Blight will introduce "Theology 101" and prepare us for the study that starts January 5.

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