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. Titus 3:4-5
Read Titus 3
What does justified mean? What is the twofold basis of our justification?
God washed and renewed us when he saved us. He saved us through “the washing of rebirth and renewal.” Rebirth comes from a Greek word that means to regenerate or make new. The meaning of renewal is similar to rebirth. To renew is to restore, revive, revitalize, recondition – to make new.
God justified us when He saved us. His grace has justified us. Justified is a legal term that declares a person is free from guilt. God justifies us not guilty when we acknowledge our guilt and accept Jesus as our savior. We must be careful with how we interpret the Word. There is a saying that once were are saved, it is just as if we had never sinned. By saying this, we deny the past. It is suitable for us to remember the past – that we were sinners, then God washed us and made us clean.
God saved us through the Holy Spirit. Re-creation is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings rebirth and renewal – the presence of God into our lives. In Genesis, the Spirit of God hovered over the darkness and enabled creation. Salvation, that same Spirit hovers over our darkness, and brings light, like, and order into us.
God did not save us to avoid punishment for our sins. Yes, through salvation, we escape the penalty of sin. This is not the only benefit of salvation. God did not save us for us only to receive good things. Through salvation, we received many blessings. He also blesses us so we can bless others.
Future: The best is yet to come (Titus 3: 7). Salvation is not just about the past and present. It is also about the future. Since God justified us, we have become heirs. We are heirs to the living God. We have access to His grace. He answers our prayers. He gives us the Holy Spirit. These are only a portion of our inheritance. When we die or when Jesus returns for us, we will get the entire inheritance.
Paul closes his letter to Titus with a few instructions. Paul says to avoid foolish arguments, the ones that are unprofitable and useless. Pauls warns about divisive people. Believers must devote themselves to doing what is good.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that we will take to the heart how to live for you and to do good. I pray that we will remember all that Paul taught Timothy and Titus. I pray that we will be good witnesses to your name, and others will see your love, mercy, and grace through us.
In Jesus Name
Amen
