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, – Titus 3:5
Mercy and grace are amazing things! Both are attributes of love. The Greek word most often used for mercy is eleos, which means pity or compassion. The word for grace is charis, meaning favor. According to Willington’s Guide to the Bible, “Mercy is the act of withholding deserved punishment, while grace is the act of endowing unmerited favor.” Because “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), in God’s perfect righteousness and justice, all have received a death sentence. However, God offers absolute forgiveness, the gift of mercy not deserved. But He doesn’t end there. In His compassion, He also extends generous love, favor, the promise of eternal life, and a relationship with Him. Bible commentator Philip Wijaya says, “Mercy takes us to the path of forgiveness, while grace leads us to reconciliation.”
In Paul’s letter to Titus, he makes it clear, as he has in other epistles, that the salvation Christians receive is not because of any efforts on their part, but is solely a compassionate, undeserved, favor-given gift of God. Salvation is not achieved but received. Any good works you may have done to try to achieve salvation are worthless. Yet, good works are what you are saved for! Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
British theologian Michael Green said, “Works have nothing to do with redemption, but works testify that redemption has been wrought in the heart. We work because we are sons of God. We do not work to try to gain Heaven—we work because we are on the way to Heaven.” C. H. Spurgeon said, “Our good works must flow from our union with Christ by virtue of our faith in Him.” It is God’s plan that you should abound in good works, not for your glory but for His (Matthew 5:16). An old poem says, “You are writing a Gospel, a chapter each day. By the deeds that you do, and the words that you say. Men read what you write, whether faithful or true. Just what is the Gospel according to you?”
Today’s Verse: Titus 3:5
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,
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Colossians 1:9-14
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
