Grace Notes – Gracious Renewal
“But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee).”
Titus 3:4-7
Grace Perspective:
Renewal means restoring something that is broken and making it new. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God that was damaged by sin. In His goodness and kindness, God made a way for us to be renewed and cleansed from the stain of sin through Jesus Christ’s redeeming blood.
Our hope for eternal life with God is not based on what we should or would do but on what Christ has done. God doesn’t save us because we do good works, but because He is compassionate, merciful, and loving. The relationship broken by sin is restored because of His rich grace. In Christ, we are renewed, accepted, and loved completely.
God restores the broken places and renews us so we are free from the guilt of sin. By grace, we are saved, restored, and made new. In Christ Jesus, we have confidence that our renewed life makes us heirs of eternal life. This guarantee of our future inheritance fills us with hope, knowing that our brokenness is not the end of the story.
A Touch of Grace:
What is your relationship with Christ?
What does God want to renew in you?
Grace Application:
Do you ever feel broken? I do. Sin has a way of making me feel isolated, rejected, and downcast. This passage in Titus reminds me of God’s rich mercy, compassion, and unfailing love. Even though I am broken (sin does that), in Christ Jesus, I am renewed, and my relationship with God is restored. It’s comforting that this transformation doesn’t depend on my being good. Nope… there’s nothing in me that deserves grace… it’s all God’s doing. I deserve Hell, but in Christ Jesus, I am renewed, transformed, and restored.
Thank goodness this transformation doesn’t depend on my being good. Nope… there’s nothing in me that deserves grace… it’s all God’s doing. I deserve Hell, but in Christ Jesus, I am renewed, transformed, and restored.
We can come to God as we are. Broken, weak, and weary of doing good things to earn His love. The Lord doesn’t ask us to clean ourselves before seeking Him; that’s His job. Jesus offers us the only way to be cleansed from all our sins. The Holy Spirit renews and transforms us as if we had never sinned. In Christ Jesus, we are fully loved, cleansed, and graciously renewed to live eternally with Him. This profound love and acceptance in Christ makes us feel cherished and valued, despite our brokenness.
In His Grace,
Dawn
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, thankful that in Christ Jesus I am renewed. Thank You for cleansing me from all my sins and giving me a new life in Christ. Forgive me for when I stumble in sin, and help me quickly repent and turn back to You. Holy Spirit remind me that I am an heir with Christ because His gracious love has made me new.
**Today, as you read this, I pray you will know you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubt, please call out to God so that all doubt is erased. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**