Titus 3:4-7

Salvation is not an equation in which God supplies something and we supply something and the two added together equal salvation. God’s grace is not added to our works, nor our works added to God’s grace resulting in the forgiveness of sin. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).

Paul also told Titus that “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (2:11). Does this mean that all are saved? God forbid. Not all will access God’s grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). A casual reading of Paul’s words might cause us to form an equation: Grace + Faith = Salvation. But salvation is not an equation. Suppose that I discovered a spring of water that cures all who drank of it of whatever diseases they may have. First, to be healed, one would have to hear of the spring; two, believe in its powers; three, journey to the spring; and four, drink. We don’t add anything to the healing properties of the spring by taking these necessary steps. The water is totally sufficient. God’s grace is totally sufficient, but millions of people will die because they never access that grace by faith.

Paul went on to say that the grace of God which brings salvation teaches or trains us to “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:12-14).

Grace and faith that do not result in our zeal for good works is either a counterfeit grace or a dead faith.

CONNECTIONS

1. If the goodness and kindness of God as displayed in the cross will not move one to faith and good works, what will?

2. One day as I was experiencing the same kind of struggle as that which Paul describes in Romans 7, I penned the following. Perhaps you can relate to it.

Who am I?
Must I know what powers and possibilities lie within?
We are becomers.

Who am I?
Two forces—light and darkness struggle within.
We are becomers.

Who am I?
Face the darkness I become night.
We are becomers.

Who am I?
Face the Son, and I become light.
We are becomers.