"According to His Own Mercy"

“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 ESV)

In this verse from Paul’s letter to Titus, Paul clarifies three things that are often lost in the battle over denominational truths. It is these truths that, when twisted, lead many to hell. It is all about the root of works or the fruits of service to God.

“He saved us.” Christ saved us; it is not the other way around. It is often taught that our works are necessary for our salvation. This happens when works are placed at the root of salvation when, in fact, they are the fruits of salvation. Our faith is received by God's grace, and in our faith, we are gifted salvation by Christ. It is in James 2:18 that this is often confused. It happens because people confuse faith and salvation. Fruits, or works, are not the result of faith but of salvation. Some people say they believe in Christ, yet are not saved. It is in our salvation that we gain a desire to produce works.

We produce works because we have been gifted the righteousness of Christ. We have been washed by the blood of Christ and given regenerated hearts. We have been renewed by the Holy Spirit who lives within us.  These are the things Paul writes of in his letter to Titus. All of this is given to us by God's grace, everything, the grace to have faith, the faith to receive salvation, the righteousness to stand before God because of the imputed righteousness of Christ. All a gift from God.

It is because of these things that we have a desire to serve God. It is a desire to be pleasing to God. Come to think of it, our very own fruits, our works, works for God, comes from God. It is the reason we are saved, which many get wrong as well. We are saved by God, from God, for God. God is the reason behind all things.

Our ability to be called children of God is because of God’s mercy, “not because of works done by us in righteousness.” Ask yourself, why did God save me? If your answer contains the word “I,” perhaps you should test yourself in the faith. Remember, salvation is a divine gift, not something earned. It is only through God's choosing and opening our hearts that we are gifted a belief in the Son of God.

I think this is why Christ becomes such a treasure in our lives. He becomes a treasure as we realize that without God, we are nothing. When we recognize this and truly take it to heart. Christ fills our hearts entirely, pushing anything else away. He is what we come to desire above all things, and we remain in awe of the mercy Christ has given us. It is why the writer of Hebrews wrote, ^“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (4:16)

Are you missing something in your life? Are you carrying an empty heart? Is there a longing in your life that you are not sure about? Perhaps it is a longing for God's mercy of which you are not yet aware. Often, our sins weigh us down regardless of our beliefs. We are born with a sense of morality, a sense of right and wrong. Our sins become a weight which only Christ can rid.

I pray you will seek Christ. If you are questioning your faith or whether you are genuinely saved, look at what you believe saved you. If it is an "I" or "me" in the answer, I pray you will seek the truth found in Christ Jesus. The mercy of God is available to those who seek His call. Salvation does not come from within but from the finished work of the Son of God on the cross and His mercy.

Grace and Peace