Titus 3:3-8 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient,
deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy,
hateful, and hating one another. {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 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.” WHAT HAS THE FATHER DONE TO SAVE?
God, the Father, loved His creature, man, with a love that can shake
the world. The verse that most of us know so well tells how great a love
God has bestowed toward man so that man might be saved, “For God so
loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,...” (John 3:16).
God hates sin! There comes that time in
our lives when we rebel against God and become accountable before
Him. Our sin causes God to turn His face from us, “But your iniquities
have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face
from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). At that time we
deserve eternal death, but God chooses to show His mercy toward us (verse
5 in our text above). Paul reminded, Ephesians 2:4 “But God, who is rich
in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us;” also: “And his mercy
is on them that fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50). God
has done His part! WHAT HAS THE SON DONE TO SAVE?
God, the Son, loved us with a love as great as the Father’s love,
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends” (John 15:13). Jesus said “...the Son of man is come to seek and
to save
that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). What greater love can one imagine
than for one to willingly give His life that I might live. Jesus has done
His part! WHAT HAS THE SPIRIT DONE TO SAVE? God, the Holy Spirit, had a
particular task to complete. Without God’s instructions, man is nothing.
Without God’s instructions,
man does not know his purpose or direction. The Holy Spirit is our
guide, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you
into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (John 16:13).
The Spirit was sent to convict the minds of men, “And when he is come,
he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
(John
16:8). This is done today through study of God’s word: “Study to
show thyself approved of God; a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). The Spirit has done
His
part! WHAT MUST MAN DO TO BE SAVED? 1. He must HEAR the gospel:
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14). Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 2. He must BELIEVE: “I said
therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye
believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).
3. He must CONFESS: “Whosoever therefore
shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father
which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
Rom 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 4. He must REPENT
and BE BAPTIZED: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38); also “And now why
tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling
on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16); and “The like figure whereunto
even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of
the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection
of
Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). 5. He must ADD the Christian graces
to his life: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue; and to virtue knowledge; {6} And to knowledge temperance; and to
temperance patience; and to patience godliness; {7} And to godliness brotherly
kindness; and
to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Peter 1:5-7). The Godhead has
done Their part—have you done yours?
—John D. Cotham
Shady Valley, TN