Today you should read: Titus 3
Titus 3 reveals one of the clearest pictures of what God does in the doctrine of salvation.
First, we see our desperate need for salvation in the first place. Titus 3:4-5a says
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness,
A lot of people don’t believe that they need to be saved from their sins or try to get saved by the wrong things. Those who don’t believe that they need salvation usually don’t believe in sin or that their sin is bad enough for God to punish. As long as we’re not committing mass genocide, we should be good. Others who recognized that they need to be saved from their sins usually try to obtain it in the wrong ways. Some try through religion, through good works and others believe everyone is going to get saved and it’s just one big religion and god anyways. However, just like this verse says, we can’t be saved by our own righteousness but only through His righteousness and that’s when His grace, goodness and loving kindness appears to us through the proclamation of the Gospel. He saves us. We can’t save ourselves.
So what happens when God does save us through the believing power of Jesus? Titus 5b-7 explains.
but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
First God regenerates us, (v. 5b) which is when God gives us a new heart and new life in Jesus. Your old sinful self becomes a new creation in Christ. As C.S. Lewis once said “Christians are not just nice people, they are: or are supposed to be new people.”
Second, God justifies us (v. 7) which is when Jesus took our place in the wrath and punishment of God. Where at one time we were guilty of sinning before a Holy God, He now sees Jesus’ righteousness instead of our unrighteousness.
Third, He sanctifies us (v.5b renewal of the Holy Spirit) which is the continual process of us being set apart from the world for God’s purpose and will through the Holy Spirit He has given us when first accepting Christ. This is also how we will persevere as Christians and shows us that God is not done with us when first just saving us but is continuing to make us more like Him.
Lastly, we are glorified (v. 7b become heirs) which is the promise that we will be everything God intended us to be before sin came into the world and into our lives. We will have a glorified body like Jesus’ resurrected body that will be immune to sin, disease, and decay. It will be glorious, powerful and spiritual.
Now all of these big words and this theology doesn’t really matter unless you live it out like v. 8 says.
8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people
Regeneration doesn’t matter unless you’re living out your new life in Christ in front of others. Justification doesn’t matter unless you continue to trust in how God looks at you and forgives you unlike the world. Sanctification doesn’t matter unless you are making every effort along with God’s grace, to grow to be more like Him and glorification doesn’t matter unless you’re living a life that’s looking forward to a time and place with no sin or suffering. Devote your self to the good works that God has give you in salvation instead of just reading about it in theology books.
Posted by: Erik Koliser
JumpstartCPC.com 