February 25, 2025

KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD

Titus 3:4-8

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not 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, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Personal Challenge

Once again, a society that proclaims itself to be “Christian” is striving to force upon others its definition and expectations of what it means to be Christian. This is the very mindset that Jesus fought against when He challenged the “institution” of Judaism that had polluted the gifts to them from God. Paul makes it clear to Titus, and the rest of us, that God’s pouring out of His kindness, love, and mercy has no dependencies on our behaviors. He gives it through His Son, freely and graciously. We cannot earn it. We cannot legislate it. We cannot fully receive it when we do not follow through with doing His good works, which are based on loving our neighbor. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!