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Titus 3:3–7
Jesus teaches us in John 3:16 (NKJV), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The Apostle Paul reflects upon a time when he lived in the sinful nature while yet believing that he was doing properly but was only unto the ways of man as he states in Titus 3:3, “3For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” Jesus revealed to Paul/Saul the truth of life and the wrongful ways of living that he had been living in the flesh during the three days of physical blindness that followed his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Paul has now realized and understands the work of Christ Jesus not only in his life but in the lives of everyone as he states in Titus 3:4-7, “4But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
This is a promise of salvation through Christ Jesus.
Jesus has taught us to be compassionate of others and to refrain from being condescending as we too used to live in the same ungodly ways. We have all fallen to temptation and found ourselves in need of forgiveness. We all know what it feels like to be overtaken by the sinful nature. But it is the knowing or being aware of it that leads to repentance and salvation in Christ Jesus as it is He who saves us and not ourselves.
Jesus teaches us how we can know the difference between who is saved and who is not saved as He declares in John 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Dear LORD,
For those who believe that You may not save them because they have been living a life that is full of sin, we bring to them the life of Paul, who once persecuted Christians as his job – his employment opportunity in life. And yet You called him to You and You saved even him, Paul/Saul, the “chief of sinners” as he declares in his own words (1 Timothy 1:15). Please help us to realize and understand that You can save us all from sin if we will believe in Him who You sent to be our Savior – Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.