He Saved Us

Bible Reading Introduction

Short reading today.

We have covered so much in Titus.

So much help to live a committed life in a confused culture.

Titus 3:4–8 “4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy (read 3 words with me) he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

Sermon Introduction

Question: If you find yourself stranded on a deserted island with on portion of Scripture what passage are you taking? For me my favorite is always the last one that I studied.

It could stand alone isolated as a statement on theology and probably did.

Might have been early creed

Possibly a hymn.

It is called a faithful saying.

Context of ch 1 & 2

How to live together inside of the church

How to live out our faith in a pagan society

The only reason we are able to live different is that Jesus has saved us

Straight forward definition of preaching: Nehemiah 8:8 “8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

So much wonderful truth in these 100 words.

Let’s look at it again before we jump in..

Titus 3:4 “4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,”

Q: After what? Why kindness and love both mentioned? How did it appear?

Titus 3:5 “5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

Q: What are works of righteousness? How were we saved by mercy? What is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit?

Titus 3:6 “6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”

Q: How was this shed on us through Jesus?

Titus 3:7 “7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Q: What does it mean to be justified? What is the relevance of being made an heir? What is significance of being an heir according to the hope of eternal life?

Titus 3:8 “8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

Q: What exactly is the faithful saying? Why does it need constant affirming? Why do we need to be careful? What is the relation between all this and good works? How will it be profitable for all men?

He saved us by His kindness, by His love, by His mercy, by His regeneration, by His Spirit, by His Son and by His grace.

1. We desperately need saving.

Titus 3:4 “4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,”

Where were you before you were saved? In your sin.

Definition: Sin is any deviation from God’s revealed will.

Sin by opposing to His standard.

Sin by “falling short”. Attempting and failing.

NBT we always taught the definition of sin. “Sin is anything you say, do, or think that breaks God’ law”

Biblical conclusion concerning sin. (1)

Sin is universal.

Sin is pervasive. Sin scars every person and portion of life. (2)

Even Jesus who was sinless was effected by sin.

Crucified by sinful people. Acts 2:23

Took on Himself the sin of the world. John 1:29

Became sin for us. 2 Cor. 5:21

That is Jesus story and relation with sin but that was not ours.

Sin is a human problem.

Sin of first family that broke their relationship with their Creator.

Human sin prompted the sacrificial system which resulted in God’s judgment passing over until His judgment on sin culminated in Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross.

Paul called this in Romans 5:8 the demonstration of God’s love.

Sin is the human problem that Jesus answered at the cross.

Sinners cannot save themselves.

After Cain killed Abel we see mankind “call upon the name of the Lord.” Genesis 4:26

They called on God because they recognized their need.

We cannot save ourselves. If we could we would boast but it is a gift from God.

Description of the sin fro which we needed saving

Titus 3:3 “3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”

Foolish - ignorant, lacking understanding

Disobedient - Rebellious, lawless, resistant to God

Deceived - We were led astray

Serving different lusts and passions - enslaved to pleasure

Living in malice - wicked and envious toward others

Hateful and hating one another - egocentric, isolated, detesting anyone who got in the ways of the fulfillment of our pleasure

All of our diagnosis were the same.

Romans 1:18 “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

2. We are completely unable to be our own Savior

Who will rescue us? / So many stories follow the outline of presenting a problem as so big it is obvious that the person, whom the story is following cannot save themselves, then we must await for help to come.

No human has the desire.

No human has the plan.

No human has the power.

We get to those wonderful 3 words.

Titus 3:5 “5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

Who is He? Titus 3:6 “6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”

Twice in each of the three chapters: God our Savior and Christ is our Savior

Paul, human author, spent most of his life trying to save himself

He knew and felt his sinfulness.

He knew there was a God.

Paul knew better than most about “works of righteousness.”

He was extremely religious. Philippians 3:3–6 “3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

The best of the deeds that he had done were nothing but trash.

Paul will join us in a chorus someday. Revelation 7:10 “10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”

3. God saved His with kindness and love

God will never find in us anything which He ought to love.

But our God is kind..

We tell our kids to be kind for many reasons. Most important reason to be kind is because our God is kind.

Kindness: Goodness of heart toward others

Jesus command to us based on who God is. Luke 6:35 “35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

There will be many unthankful this week. God is kind. How? 1 Peter 3:20 “20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”

They will eat but not say thanks.

They will make their own rules and expect people to submit but will not obey the commands of God.

They will mock the things of God.

God will rain upon their fields and He will not strike them dead. He will be patient. He is kind.

God’s kindness and goodness has glorious purpose. Romans 2:4 “4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

Love

Several words are translated as love: Pity, compassion, eagerness to deliver from pain or distress because of strong affection. It has the idea of a strong affection.

Acts 28:2 “2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.”

The Old Testament celebrates His love shown to us in compassion. Lamentations 3:22 “22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”

How can you measure the greatness of God’s love.

The degree to which the person loved does not deserve to be loved.

The greatness of the price paid to love a person.

The greatness of the good that is done for the person when he is loved.

The level of desire that God has for the good of the one loved.

We saw a beautiful picture of God’s love at the story of the prodigal son. Luke 15:20 “20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Kindness and love appeared in Jesus

When did they appear?

We saw in Titus 2:11 “11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” speaks of the incarnation.

The full visible, personal manifestation of the grace of God, the kindness of God and the love of God came in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

He was compassion. He was pity. He was love. He was kindness. He was goodness in human form. He was the eternal God made visible.

All of the divine Father's attributes that loved sinners were made visible in Jesus.

If you ever wonder whether God loves sinners, look at Jesus crying over them.

We have ben saved by His mercy through the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit

Great Trinitarian Passage

God, the Father, saved people according to His mercy through regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit poured out abundantely through Jesus Christ.

Mercy Defined

It's different than grace. Grace relates to guilt

Mercy relates to misery. Grace relates to the state of the sinner before God the judge.

Mercy relates to the condition of the sinner in his sin. Grace is a judicial concept that forgives the crime.

Mercy is a compassionate concept that helps the criminal recover. Mercy looks at misery, grace looks at guilt

Mercy is needed

Titus 3:5 “5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

He saved us by His mercy. Not only by His kindness, by His love but now we move to His mercy.

His kindness caused Him to feel strong affection.

His strong affection, compassion and pity caused Him to be merciful.

Washing of Regeneration

This word for regeneration is used twice in the New Testament, though we see the concept in other passages. (ie John 3:16)

Definition: Regeneration means to be born again, to receive new life. In the process cleanses that old dead life so that regeneration is called a washing

A promised rebirth of all creation. (follows story of the rich young ruler) Matthew 19:28 “28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Here for believers. Titus 3:5 “5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

How is this done?

God uses His Word. James 1:18 “18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

1 Peter 1:23 says that we are born again through the living and abiding Word of God.

It's the Word that gives life. The Word comes and washes and cleanses and brings new life.

Renewal of the Holy Ghost

The Holy Spirit is the one who renews us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Simon in the book of Acts

He tried to buy the Holy Spirit?

Peter said, "May your money perish with you."

There's nothing you can do to gain or earn the renewal work of the Holy Spirit.

That's something God pours out

Colossians 1:29 “29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his (Holy Spirit) working, which worketh in me mightily.”

By His Son

Titus 3:6 “6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”

God saved us by mercy. He saved us by the washing of regeneration. He saved us by the renewing of the Holy Spirit. He saved us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

We couldn't even have this list without this one, could we?

The person and work of Christ made it all possible that's why Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost preached that it was God’s plan that this holy child (Jesus) would die in our place.

Jesus satisfied the justice of God, the price was paid, death was conquered and it is through Jesus Christ our Savior that He saved us.

4. We are now heirs of eternal life according to the hope of eternal life.

On Wednesday morning I read. 1 Thessalonians 5:8–9 “8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Placed a note about how I would need that verse on the day I receive bad news. Later that day I rceived a phone call where i learned the story of Earl Sweat..

What is the goal of this? He saves us for what reason?

Titus 3:7 “7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

HE SAVED US

Instead of living in the fear of death HE SAVED US we live as heirs of eternal life and live in the hope of heaven.

HE SAVES US to change our eternal destiny.

HE SAVES US from the consequence of sin which is hell.

HE SAVES US from the place of eternal death that fills the heart with fear.

HE SAVES US to the place of eternal life that fills the heart with hope, namely heaven.

Such a recognition is that God has done it all and Paul's message here to Titus and to these Cretan Christians and all the rest of us is...look, you're living in a godless pagan culture, don't you sit in smug self-righteous condemnation on that culture, you be grateful that.. HE SAVES US saved you. Don't look at them as the enemy. They're the ones you're to reach in love. - John MacArthur

5. An understanding of this truth should produce gratitude that will be demonstrated in the way we live our lives.

Grace

HE SAVES US by His kindness, His love, His mercy, His regeneration, His renewal, His Spirit, His Son and summing it all up by His grace,

Titus 3:7 “7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Grace deals with our guilt.

Grace says you are pardoned, you are forgiven because of the sacrifice of Christ.

Grace takes the righteousness of God and imputes it to us, puts it to our account, declaring us righteous and just in God's eyes because Christ has made a satisfactory atonement for our sins.

We are not deserving...

We don't deserve to be forgiven.

We don't deserve to have our sin removed.

We don't deserve to be imputed the righteousness of God. We don't deserve that.

We don't deserve to be just before God. We don't deserve to come into His presence. We don't deserve heaven.

That is why it is called grace!

“The theology of Christianity is based on grace; the ethics of Christianity are based on gratitude.” (Briscoe)

Gratitude

Titus 3:8 “8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

When salvation is viewed as redemption purchased at a cost, the redemption is enjoyed with grateful remembrance of the cost.

Paul’s testimony for this Thanksgiving 1 Timothy 1:12–13 “12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

Enjoy this week in many ways more than Christmas. Many times at Christmas we consider what we will get or give. But this is a great week to reflect on what we have been given.

Let’s read Titus 3:5 again. You have 3 words to say. Titus 3:5 “5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

Time of Response

To the believer today you can say “HE HAS SAVED US”

Pray that you allowed God’s Word to stir you heart and to be reminded of all that you have been saved from and all that you are saved to.

A great expression of gratitude is found in lowly service to others. Find a place, time, and a person this week to express the love of God.

As believers will pray to those in here that have not received forgiveness of sin let me tell you...

We were there. We were ignorant of God’s law. Those of us who knew it were rebellious

But God is kind. God is loving. God extends grace and mercy to you today. You need to reach out and receive this gift.

Footnotes:

(1) Christian Theology, Adam hardwood (p.351)

(2) “Sin in the Former and Latter Prophets and the Writings”, Paul R. House (p.81)