We’re talking about putting visibility into what we believe. The world needs to see Jesus through those he has touched, through you and me. Salvation cannot be hidden. A candle under a basket will set it on fire. It can’t help but let the light out. Salvation is meant to be seen.
Titus 3:(4) “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior 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 Savior; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Verse 5 clearly tells us that it’s not “of righteousness which we have done.” HIS righteousness is shown by the way we maintain our good works. We are not to be a Christian in name only. Paul details the private working of salvation. It is personal faith, but verse 3 says we are to affirm it constantly. “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.” How can we show this personal matter? Verse 8 says affirm it constantly. “These things are good and profitable unto men.”
All Christians have something in common; we have believed God. We were believers in the past tense for salvation, but we continue in the faith. We have to believe what we believe. We affirm how we got saved. The good works are the practical means to affirm it constantly. We can’t divide salvation. It is not plus good works. Too many are misled in this area. There are no deeds necessary for salvation. It is by grace. We don’t do things for the Lord to be saved but because we are. The Lord keeps and we maintain. Verse 8 says “be careful to maintain good works.” In other words be thoughtful about it; constantly affirm it.
The way we live is because of what we are. The term “good works” means we do good and righteous things. We may fail, but we get up, ask forgiveness and go on. We affirm our belief that God saved us. Souls can be won by seeing the working of our salvation. It works for us; they see it. They may be thinking “maybe it will work for me.”
In verse 3 we see where the transformation comes into play. It says “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” Verse 4 picks right up with “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared…” It first took the kindness and love of God to bring our salvation. God moved toward us and showed us how much we need him. How do we transform this into practice so others can see it? The first thing is the surrender to the Lord. Then we are to pass the love and kindness onto others.
What is kind? When God was kind he gave us divine attention even though we didn’t deserve it. A smile shows kindness. It’s a daily practice to surrender ourselves to kindness. No wonder Paul said we have to affirm it constantly. This is tough to put into practice. Remembering what we believe helps us do so. It helps us be kind. Don’t think about how you can get back at someone. Show the miracle of kindness that God showed. Set the pattern.
Verse 5 says it’s according to his mercy. He was attracted to us because of his mercy. We were converted because of his goodness. How can we show the righteousness of God’s mercy? Don’t be self-righteous. Don’t do things in order to be bragged on. Who deserves the credit? Do we? No. God does. We should truly appreciate God’s righteousness and mercy. We show it by our obedience. This is righteousness of God practiced in us. God gets the credit. People see obedience. When they say “if he can, I can” it is working.
We’ve been changed to a child of God. We’ve been made alive, quickened, and reborn. We’ve been born again by the “by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” What changes? Our countenance, vocabulary, desires, and attitude change. Do not cut salvation down to religion. Don’t be known as religious; be known as saved.
Verse 7 gives us the last aspect of salvation. We have been given hope. We’re heirs of eternal life. We now experience eternal life in the soul but not the body. Won’t it be wonderful when eternal life is complete! We can affirm this too. This body aches. We suffer. Paul said “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” We know pain now. We know tears. Psalm 30:5 says “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Paul also says in First Corinthians 15:19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” We don’t have to be miserable because WE HAVE HOPE. Verse 7 says “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” It is our joy, our hope, our trust, and our peace. If we didn’t see hope in the Lord, we would not have turned to him.
Affirm it all constantly. Be careful to maintain good works. Show Jesus to the world.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 