"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone." (Titus 3:3-9)
Romans 3:10 makes it pretty clear that, “There is no one righteous, not even one;" we ALL need the righteousness of Jesus Christ if we are to obtain entry to eternal life in Heaven.
Deep down we each know this to be true. None of us can earn salvation, and can none of us deserve it. We make foolish decisions; we break rules, tell lies we deceive. We live covetous lives, wallowing in anger, both being angry and receiving anger from others.
Then we see in verse 4 that beautiful word, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
How we need the intervention of that word, "But"! Three simple letters, but with such profound depth for humanity. We were so utterly lost, and then that word. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, in the Form of Jesus Christ, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
There follow at least three other words that are so valuable to us and reveal some of God's character traits: kindness, love, and mercy.
There are other passages which shine forth that blessed word, "But". We should of course look at Ephesians 2:1-10 and one of my favourites, Romans 3:25.
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:1-10)
"But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished" (Romans 3:21-15)
For brevity's sake, let me finish with one further thought for us to reflect on:
Having been justified by Jesus' grace, because of His kindness, love and mercy, and having become heirs, having the hope of eternal life, what are we now to do?
Christianity is a practical and action-packed life of adventure, requiring you to do things, not to sit around just expecting God to do everything because He is sovereign. He certainly is that, BUT...He wants and expects YOU, "to be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good." "To do good works."
He wants to use you as His means. So, just take the initiative and do good things. As long as it is generally aligned with what God has revealed in the Bible, then you can be confident that is what you are to do and that He will be with you and will help you. You do not need any Billboards or special signs or visions, just follow Jesus, read the Bible and do good.
Romans 3:10 makes it pretty clear that, “There is no one righteous, not even one;" we ALL need the righteousness of Jesus Christ if we are to obtain entry to eternal life in Heaven.
Deep down we each know this to be true. None of us can earn salvation, and can none of us deserve it. We make foolish decisions; we break rules, tell lies we deceive. We live covetous lives, wallowing in anger, both being angry and receiving anger from others.
Then we see in verse 4 that beautiful word, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
How we need the intervention of that word, "But"! Three simple letters, but with such profound depth for humanity. We were so utterly lost, and then that word. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, in the Form of Jesus Christ, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
There follow at least three other words that are so valuable to us and reveal some of God's character traits: kindness, love, and mercy.
There are other passages which shine forth that blessed word, "But". We should of course look at Ephesians 2:1-10 and one of my favourites, Romans 3:25.
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:1-10)
"But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished" (Romans 3:21-15)
For brevity's sake, let me finish with one further thought for us to reflect on:
Having been justified by Jesus' grace, because of His kindness, love and mercy, and having become heirs, having the hope of eternal life, what are we now to do?
Christianity is a practical and action-packed life of adventure, requiring you to do things, not to sit around just expecting God to do everything because He is sovereign. He certainly is that, BUT...He wants and expects YOU, "to be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good." "To do good works."
He wants to use you as His means. So, just take the initiative and do good things. As long as it is generally aligned with what God has revealed in the Bible, then you can be confident that is what you are to do and that He will be with you and will help you. You do not need any Billboards or special signs or visions, just follow Jesus, read the Bible and do good.
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