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. 

Titus 3:4 – 7

A window into Paul’s heart and head!  He had just made the point that we, as unsaved people, lived ungodly lives.  Then, and only then, did we seek his forgiveness and salvation.

Paul uses the apt and visual expression, “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared…” It is not that we sought God but that He appeared to us.  This is a mystery. When he did appear to us, as he did to Saul, the persecutor of the church, he answered our prayers to be saved.  We had nothing to deserve this astounding blessing.  All our good works could purchase us nothing.  We were saved and given new life “because of his mercy.”  We were debtors to his mercy then and even now.

Paul goes on to explain all this. “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.”

We were washed and reborn from above.  It was already prepared, we just needed to make salvation ours through belief and obedience.  Paul insisted that we were renewed “by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.”  We were, and still are, recipients of these saving blessings because of what Jesus did, without any reference to what we may have tried to give.  What we have to give is our hearts, our faith, our all.

And then, “having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”  This statement is as shocking as it is precious to us.  We earned nothing, Jesus earned us!

All of us believers share this jaw-dropping truth, we are washed by the Blood of Jesus and renewed by the Holy Spirit.