Before and After Salvation

The message was brought by Rev. Eddie Foster on 3/17/24.

Titus 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. 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.

Here we have a mini autobiography by Paul.  Many of us can probably describe our lives the way he did:  what we were before and after salvation. Paul went to the best schools; he was well educated in the Jewish religion. He was taught to despise Christians and persecute them. You could call him a “fanatic” in his opposition to Jesus. Many non-Christians are more zealous in what they do than we are in respect to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul didn’t realize that his persecution actually promoted Christianity. When the Jews started dispersing because of it, they spread the gospel to the communities they moved to.  

When did Paul (Saul) get saved?  I believe it was on the Damascus Road. He was on his way to persecute more people. He was confronted by Jesus Christ that day. From that point on Paul was determined to do what Jesus wanted. Since Jesus came into his heart, a change happened.  What about you?

Before conversion:  Look back at verse 3.  What a lot!  He described the depravity of mankind. No one has ever been taught to sin.  It comes naturally.  Conversion:  Look at verses 4-6. Christ loves us. Aren’t you glad the Creator of the universe loves you?  Even in our depravity: God loved us while we were yet sinners and sent his Son to die for us.  Remember salvation is not earned.  Ephesians 2 tells us it is a gift of God.  We did nothing to save ourselves. We could never do enough good to be saved. The Bible says our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God. I bowed at an old fashioned altar and asked forgiveness; the blood of Jesus was applied to and washed away my sin. Salvation is an act of God’s mercy and grace. We were in need of mercy on our way to hell.  Without mercy we’d all get what we deserve and go to hell for eternity. Thank God for mercy.  Result of conversion: After salvation we were made heirs with Christ. We’ll walk on streets of gold one day. God owns all things, and if you’re saved you’re a child of the King!  After conversion: Look at verse 8.  Good works can’t bring about salvation. Outside of salvation, at the judgment those who think what they did will get them to heaven will hear “depart from me; I never knew you.”  Good works do, however, mark the life of a Christian.  I can’t give anyone a just judgment because all I see is the outside. God sees all the way inside to the heart. We aren’t to be judges, but we can be inspectors of the fruit a person bears. Matthew 25:35 tells us we demonstrate God’s love when we reach out to help others. Good works give an indication of salvation. People need to see outward actions when we say we’re a Christian. If the way we live doesn’t back up what we say, we are wasting our time. We are to have a pattern of good works after we’re saved. Can people tell you’re a Christian by the way you live? 

How do you experience change? Accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Let’s say you have a bad disease and only one medicine in the world can heal it. It’s very expensive, but your family gathers the money and purchases it. Now that they have it, does that heal you? No. You must take the medicine for it to work. If you have a ticket to Hawaii and pack your bags and go to the airport but don’t board the plane, will you get to Hawaii?  No.  You must personally get on the plane. It’s not enough to know you’re a sinner. It’s not enough to know Jesus will save.  It’s not enough to know that if you trust Jesus, you’ll be saved. What must you do?  You must personally receive Jesus as Savior in order to be saved:  repent of sin and ask him into your heart.  God loves you. Jesus died for you. The price for your sins has been paid in full.  All you have to do is take it.  Let Jesus come into your heart and make a change in you.