God wants to blow up any thought we have that our faith walk, however righteous, is enough to save us. He wants us to think: “It had nothing to do with me.” The apostle Paul puts it in play for us…
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.” Titus 3:4-5
God’s incredible gift of regenerative cleansing devours our lusts, malice, hate, and anger. His purpose is to renew the world and all of its souls so they will subordinate self and praise him. Three incredibly important points emerge in Paul’s teaching: 1) God is good; 2) God is loving; and 3) God is merciful.
GOODNESS: God loves to shower us with goodness. After all, he created the universe and presides over it with the wisdom and power to transform lives. He wants our life to be overflowing with that goodness.
LOVE: God loved the world so much that he came to us in human form to make our regeneration possible through the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit connecting us by faith to him.
MERCY: Our salvation and regenerative new birth would not be possible without God’s endless mercy. We did not deserve to be born again. He could have simply ignored us.
Like I said, it had nothing to do with us.
My approach is to ask God for help blowing up any notion I have that my walk with Christ is “enough.” To remind me of his reality that my regeneration ONLY comes from and through him.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
When was the last time you reflected on God’s goodness, love, and mercy?
“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.” Colossians 2:13
