The Loving Kindness of God

 Titus 3:1-8 ESV

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 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, 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. 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.”

The Scriptures teach us to be submissive to rulers and authorities, but this not open ended. It has limits and boundaries. We never have to submit to and obey any authority which requires us to sin and to disobey God. We never have to come under any church authority which is not under the authority of God but is of man. And we only obey as we would obey God.

[See the examples of Jesus and of his NT apostles and of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.]

Then we are to live godly and holy lives, surrendered to Jesus Christ, ready to do his will at all times and in all his ways. And we are to walk in obedience to our Lord and not in sin. For we were once (past tense) foolish, led astray, disobedient, and slaves to all kinds of sinful passions. We are not to be presently living that way. For Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness.

For by God-given and God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ we die with Christ to sin and we are raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. Jesus Christ is now owner-master of our lives and we are now his possession, created in Christ Jesus for good works which he prepared in advance that we should walk in them.

So this washing of regeneration and renewal of the Spirit involves us dying to our old ways of living in sin and of the flesh, by the Spirit, by God’s grace, in his power and strength, and not of our own doing, not of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of the will of God for our lives. So our wills will now conform to God’s will for our lives that we live holy lives and not in sin.

So, being justified by God’s grace doesn't mean nothing is required of us. And becoming heirs of eternal life with God does not automatically happen just because we make a confession of Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. We must walk in obedience to our Lord, and die daily to sin and to self, and live holy and godly lives, in the power of God. And sin must no longer be our practice.

So, even though we are not saved by our own fleshly works, our salvation is not absent of works, but they are the works of God which God prepared in advance that we should walk in them. We are to devote ourselves to the good works of God as God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. And we are to walk in obedience to his commands, and then we have the hope of eternal life with God.

[Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Titus 2:11-14; Eph 2:10]

My Heart’s Desire

Loved Ones, Oh, my heart’s desire

Is that you might come to Jesus.

Many appear zealous for God,

But they do not trust in Him.

They have not submitted to the One

Who saved them from their sins;

Not forsaken their sins,

Nor have they obeyed their King.

The word of the Lord is near you:

The word of faith we’re proclaiming:

That you must confess your faith

In Jesus as your Lord and King:

Believe in Him as your Lord,

And follow Him where’er He leads.

Share the gospel; be a witness,

And meet others’ needs.

Beautiful are the feet of those

Who bring the good news of Jesus:

Anyone who would come to Him

Must deny himself today;

Die to sin and self, and

Let the Spirit transform you in heart;

Put on your new self in Jesus,

Yielding to the cross.

An Original Work / June 29, 2013

Based off Rm. 10; Lu. 9:23-26;