Titus 3:4-6

Passage

But when a kindness and a love for mankind by God our savior was being shown, He saved us – not out of works, the ones in righteousness, but according to His mercy through a washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.  Of whom He abundantly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul reminds Titus of one very important understanding.  Our salvation is because of a kindness on God’s behalf.  We are saved because God has an inherent love for mankind.  He could have walked away from us and been righteous in doing so.  But God extended grace to us when we did not deserve it simply because He loves us.  It is so easy in our life to get wrapped up in fairness; but the reality is that if God was primarily concerned about being fair none of us would know salvation at all.  The only reason we can know salvation is because God gives us that which we do not deserve.

How grateful are you of your salvation?  Why is it important to be routinely reminded of this point?

Second Thought:

Paul is also quick to remind us that we are not saved out of our works of righteousness.  God does not love us because we do good things.  That is inherently backwards.  We do good things because God loves us.  Our righteousness is always a response to what God has already done for us.  We do not earn God’s love, we receive it and react.

Why is it easy to go through life as though we are earning our favor from God?  When we have this attitude, how does it fundamentally change the motivation for our actions?  What is the motivation for doing works as a response to God’s grace that you’ve already received?

Third Thought:

Paul also reminds Titus about the Holy Spirit.  We have received the Holy Spirit abundantly.  Through the Holy Spirit we can be renewed and regenerated.  God knows we will fall and stumble into sin.  God knows we will experience temptation.  So God sends us the Holy Spirit to help us recover, turn back to Him, repent, and continue in our journey with God.

How often do you sin?  How often do you think the Holy Spirit is at work in you drawing you to repent and encouraging your faith?  How can this give you a new appreciation for the Holy Spirit?

Passage for Tomorrow: Titus 3:7-8