Connect Titus 3:5 with Ephesians 2:8-9 on salvation and grace. Grace That Saves, Not Our Own Effort • Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” • Ephesians 2:8-9 echoes, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” • Both passages drive home two non-negotiables: – Salvation flows from God’s mercy and grace alone. – Human effort contributes nothing that can earn or secure it. Why Works Can Never Measure Up • Isaiah 64:6 describes our finest deeds as “filthy rags.” Even the best fall short of God’s perfect standard (Romans 3:23). • Ephesians 2:9 underlines the reason: if salvation could be earned, boasting would be inevitable. God closes that door so the glory remains His. • Galatians 2:21 warns, “If righteousness comes through the Law, Christ died for nothing.” Works-based hope nullifies the cross. God’s Mercy in Action • “According to His mercy” (Titus 3:5) points to God’s active compassion, not passive feeling. • Romans 5:8 showcases that mercy: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” • Mercy delivers us from the penalty we deserve; grace goes further, granting the gift we could never deserve. Faith: The Receiving Hand • Ephesians 2:8 frames faith as the channel, never the cause. • John 1:12 confirms: “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” • Even faith itself is God’s gift—preventing any hint of self-congratulation. The Washing of New Birth • Titus 3:5 speaks of “the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” – “Washing” points to cleansing from sin’s stain (1 John 1:7). – “New birth” recalls Jesus’ words to Nicodemus: “You must be born again” (John 3:3-7). – “Renewal” signals an ongoing, Spirit-driven transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Living in the Flow of Grace • Grace that saves also sanctifies (Titus 2:11-12). We live out what God has already done within. • Philippians 2:12-13 balances the picture: we “work out” our salvation because God “works in” us. • Good works now become evidence of salvation, never the entry ticket (James 2:17-18). Key Takeaways to Remember • Salvation originates in God’s mercy, not our merit. • Grace is a gift received through faith, itself enabled by God. • Regeneration and renewal are Spirit-wrought realities, ensuring lasting change. • Good works follow salvation as fruit, never as the root. |
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