I’m Not Who I Once Was
How the Gospel Tranforms Lives
What is salvation? What does salvation look like in a person’s life? Is it a point in time, or is it a continuing event? Do you ever ponder these things? More importantly, what does the Bible say about questions concerning salvation? God’s Word should be the primary informer of our beliefs and convictions, especially concerning the salvation of our souls. Thankfully, the Bible gives us a clear picture of salvation in Paul’s letter to Titus, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (3:3-7, NIV).
Once Sinners
Notice how the passage begins, “At one time we too…” Here, the Apostle Paul provides a litany of traits that characterize those without Christ.
Foolish: spiritual ignorance, specifically of God; without spiritual understanding
Disobedient: A conscious rejection of God
Deceived: sadly and tragically believing and being convinced of a lie (2 Cor. 4:4)
Enslaved: held captive by all sorts of sinful passions and pleasures
Malicious: a life turned towards evil
Envious: a mental outworking and manifestation of dissatisfaction (a fixation)
Hated and Hating (I John 4:7-8)
Although not exhaustive, this list is illustrative of those who once were not following Christ or are not presently doing so. The question that demands an honest answer here is this: did this characterize your life at one time, or does this characterize your life now?
“God’s Word should be the primary informer of our beliefs and convictions, especially concerning the salvation of our souls.”
But The Savior
The “But” of Scripture, as Paul employs, is a glorious pivot. Notice that when the kindness and love of the Savior appeared: He saved us! Immediately, the Apostle gives us the why. Not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of God’s mercy. Here, mercy describes both the source and character of God’s acting in our salvation. Next is the how, described in a two-fold transaction.
Rebirth: a spiritual cleansing; the new birth; born again (see John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17)
Renewal: the resultant renovation accompanying the rebirth. It is the quality of new life after rebirth. Renewal is a commentary on regeneration. (see Titus 3:1-2, 8; Col. 3:1-17)
The agent by and through which this rebirth and renewal occurs is the Holy Spirit, generously poured out on us! What was true in the time of the early church when Titus was penned by Paul is true for every believer today. God does not restrain Himself in the giving of the Spirit but gives Him richly and abundantly to all who are saved.
Early church father John Chrysostom describes rebirth and renewal this way: “For as when a house is in a ruinous state no one places props under it, nor makes any addition to the old building, but pulls it down to its foundations and rebuilds it anew; so in our case, God has not repaired us but has made us anew.”
“God does not restrain Himself in the giving of the Spirit but gives Him richly and abundantly to all who are saved.”
Now Saints
As saved sinners, we are now justified by His grace. We have been made right with God and have obtained what we do not deserve. True justification can only be received as a result of God’s graciousness and the believer’s faith. As the hymn writer proclaims, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” Now we have an abundant inheritance. God initiates the process that is carried out through the work of Christ and the Spirit, and as a result, believers become heirs. Our inheritance will be enjoyed in the presence of God, in Christ, by the Holy Spirit, forever! This is our hope, our firm foundation. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
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