He Saved Us

Titus 3:4–7

Coming right after the bleak picture of verse 3, these verses land with tremendous force. "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us." That word "but" changes everything.

Paul is emphatic: salvation comes entirely from God, not from us. "Not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy." The source is God's mercy. The vehicle is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, poured out richly through Jesus Christ. The result is that we are justified, declared righteous before God, and made heirs of the eternal life he promised.

This is one of the clearest pictures in the New Testament of what theologians call regeneration: God giving us new spiritual life when we were spiritually dead. We were not people who cleaned ourselves up and became worthy of God. We were dead in our sins, and God made us alive. We didn't turn over a new leaf. We received a new life. The Holy Spirit is central here. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is the one who renews us from the inside out. You are not just forgiven. You are renewed, adopted, and an heir of eternal life.

Reflection:
Spend a few moments in gratitude. What specific aspect of your salvation — forgiveness, renewal, adoption, hope — do you most need to dwell on today?