As I was studying today (BTW, I'm on a short study/seeking God trip to Baton Rouge), a passage popped out at me that I had never really noticed before. Not many people (except theologians and people reading through the Bible in a year) spend a lot of time in the book of Titus. I can say with assurance that I have not studied it in a long time (maybe since seminary and that was a long time ago). I was just listening to the Spirit when He said to turn to Titus. I said, O.....K...... (with a little hesitancy I might add).
Titus 3:4-7 (NASB95) says, "4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
That's a lot of stuff!!! Look at this... He poured out His Spirit on us through Jesus. Man oh man! That's life!
Some people still think it is about what you do. If you keep some rules and come to church every Sunday (or at least some Sunday's) you are really OK with God. He will just wink at your sins and let you into heaven when this life is over. That's living in death. You will never get anywhere with God this way. Do you see v5, this can't be true. No deeds, rules, laws, or doing anything is gonna impress God.
He came to make us heirs of a Kingdom. The Kingdom of God. We so many times live like paupers when we are heirs of the King! Are you going to spend your life trying (futilely, I might add) to impress God. Wouldn't you rather just live in what He has already done for you!
