Tag: Titus 3:3-7
Washed and renewed!
Scripture reading for September 27th: Titus 3, Psalm 43, Proverbs 7
Titus 3: 3-7 “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, let astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, Whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
We who are followers of Christ have a ‘past life’ that we are not proud of. We were born in sin and until we were ‘born again,’ we lived like the world in the passions of our flesh. But when Jesus Christ laid hold of us and we repented of our sins, we were saved out of the old life and washed from our sins through faith in Jesus’ blood applied on the altar of heaven for us. We received the gift of the Holy Spirit, Whose job it is to form in us the image of Jesus Christ and renew our minds to think the thoughts of God and humbly walk by faith. We are ‘justified’, made right with God, and adopted into His forever family. We are full of exceeding joy as we now have Light and Truth living in us. We respond in worship and embrace Jesus, the Living Word in worship and adoration! He is our Wisdom and Insight now and forever!
Psalm 43:3-4 “Send out Your Light and Your Truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding Joy, and I will praise You with the lyre, O God, my God!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Light and Truth in Your Son! Thank You for washing me from my sins and adopting me into Your family, renewing my mind and giving me true wisdom and insight through Your Holy Word. You are my ‘exceeding Joy’ and my delight! I trust You to keep me each day from the seduction of this world and my flesh. Use me to proclaim Your goodness and mercy to those still lost.
Proverbs 7:4-5 “Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.”
Saved by miraculous mercy!
Scripture reading for June 28th: Titus 3
Key Scriptures: Titus 3:3-7 “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. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, Whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
All believers have a past life. Paul described it in this passage and it is not very complementary. Paul says we were foolish, slaves, full of malice and envy and specializing in hatred and headed for God’s wrath and judgment. This was all that was possible in our sinful condition that we inherited from birth. But God through His Son, Jesus Christ, showed us His own goodness and kindness, leading us to repentance and faith. Through faith, not works, we gained mercy and were washed and renewed and filled with the Holy Spirit. God Himself, through Christ’s sacrifice, justifies all who believe and adopts them into His eternal family giving them an everlasting inheritance: the sure hope of eternal life! What a miraculous turn-around in our life and destiny because of God’s mercy in Christ! In response, we offer ourselves to God for His use in good works through faith.
Titus 3:14 “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your great mercy and willingness to sacrifice Your own body on my behalf. Thank You for pouring on me and all who believe the Holy Spirit and revealing the hope of eternal life. In response to your great love, I give myself to You to be used as You will to accomplish Your great plan of salvation in all who will believe! To You be all glory, now and forever!
Romans 2:4-5 “Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”
Heirs of Eternal Life!
Scripture reading for July 13th: 1st Kings 15, 2nd Chronicles 13-14, Titus 3
Key Scriptures: Titus 3:3-7 “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. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, Whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
We all have a tainted history–sinners enslaved by our flesh and involved in acts of sin and rebellion against God. Jesus Christ was presented to us through the preaching of the Gospel and by grace we were able to see His goodness and kindness and respond through repentance and faith. This was all an act of mercy on Christ’s behalf, justifying us who were guilty and making us heirs with Him of eternal life! Amazing grace brought saving faith.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace, goodness and kindness towards me, a rebellious sinner. I invite the Holy Spirit to continue Your regeneration of my heart, preparing me for eternal life. Jesus is Lord!
2nd Chronicles 13:12 “Behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you, O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of you fathers, for you cannot succeed.”
Regenerated and renewed!
Scripture reading for October 10th: Titus 3, Psalm 53, Proverbs 18
Key Scriptures: Titus 3:3-7 “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. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
All of us humans have a common history. We were foolish and in slavery to our fleshly passions before hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But when the good news of Jesus Christ was preached to us and we repented and believed on Him, He saved us by a gift of His grace. He washed us with His own blood, and regenerated us through new birth. He renewed our life when we received the gift of the Holy Spirit, marking us as heirs of the gift of eternal life, the nature of God Himself.
Faith Confession: I used to walk according to my fleshly passions, but I heard the good news of Jesus Christ. I repented of my sins and passions and received regeneration and renewal through the Holy Spirit. I am an heir of eternal life! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 53:3 “They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
Psalm 53:6 “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”