He Saved Us [NOT] On The Basis of Deeds

In Titus 3, Paul reviews his message to the Ephesians & Romans in Titus...making clear we're saved by grace. Yet, don't we still struggle with this?


Doesn't faith constitute a deed?
Doesn't acceptance constitute a deed?


Before we can answer that, we need to understand the fullest amount of what Paul is saying in Titus 3:5-7

Titus 3:5-7 (King James Version)

 ⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
 ⁶Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
 ⁷That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

[Not by works of righteousness]


Certainly no one would say the evil deeds, even in the free will camp, could ever constitute a deserving or even prescriptive method for salvation, yet Paul sees the need to present to us that, if perhaps there were evil deeds, neuter deeds an righteous deeds, that not even righteous deeds that we have, or WILL do can possibly give us a posterity with Adonai.


[Which we have done]


Whether Self directed, inhibited, coerced or based on self determination...Paul makes clear that he's describing the personality of a person who believes the antithesis of this doctrine. They believe they are self-directed, in some way, earning the favor of God. Though, most modernists will disguise this in language.


[but]
(as if I were Paul) Not any of what I just said, in fact all of what I just said was wrong but I'm about to tell you the true, opposing viewpoint, from God.


What is about to proceed from Paul's mouth, Paul believes to be the exact truth, in contrast to the opposing viewpoint, which, if in small or great, that deeds, any deed, cannot and will never bring you into salvation with God.


[according to his mercy]
In accordance with, a contract with, set in order as a result of, built upon, decided due to...God's Mercy!


[he saved us]
Not because of what, who, how, or anything that can describe us, not even our faith, in accordance with his mercy, he saved us. Ofcourse, since this is not based on anything we can or will do, it can only be due to his mercy, and that, before we even knew him. This is truly a deedless regeneration...we lack nothing in being justified because it is not dependent upon us.


[by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit] 
Paul describes in utmost detail what is means, by way of process to be saved. It's the washing of the regeneration and the renewing that the Holy Spirit brings that is the true evidence of salvation. Not even righteous works?! Paul doesn't even mention works...the evidence is the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.


[that he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior]
God, not because of anything we could say or do, offer, pay back or work off, because of his MERCY, and out of the direction of his own wisdom, chose. Yes, chose, since it was he that shed the mercy on us, through his son Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Purposely through the shedding of blood to be a sacrificial lamb, a payment, once for all time, to those who believe. And what is the conclusion?


[that being justified by GRACE we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.]


The vehicle through which this is all accomplished is through Christ. Thus, the resulting conclusion is that we're justified. Automatically. Paul doesn't caveat this truth. He doesn't give you the subtext with an if then. He says to believers that God chose you, and he bestowed mercy, not because of you, but because of his mercy and exceeding loving kindness, not because of anything you did, or can do, or will do, but because he, in his wisdom decided this thing. Thus, through the process or regeneration, you come to know that Jesus Christ became for us a source of salvation to those who believe, resulting in justification.


So then faith is not a work that earns anything, and though righteous, it is not effective in the position of being prescriptive for salvation. Rather, it is the by product of the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. It is an evidence of the work that has already been completed for you, by Christ, at the cross. No, it is not a work.

Why You Must Believe In The Absolute Sovereignty of God To Be A Christian

It's not my intent here to be dogmatic, but by the nature of the title you can see that I'm going to take a strong stance.


In music, specifically blues there's this phenomenon called a 'call' and 'answer'. Usually it's two guitar virtuoso's trying to outdo one another to impress the crowd. Similarly there is a call and answer in God's methods.

The psalmist says that God's words are like honey on his tongue, and that he has learned to hate the wicked, and to learn God's laws, and that they are a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path. That's the answer.


God's words ARE like honey, because they are true, they are right and fixed by his own authority. He answered to no one, agrees with no one, compromises with no one, owes no one anything, nor can anyone counsel God. All good things come from Heaven. That's the call...and everyone he calls, answers.


So then, we must admit that God, by his own wisdom and authority, is in charge over everything. Including the most depraved part of us; our sin.


Why must we hold that view?; because to do anything else is to deny God his authority. Would you openly accuse God of not knowing something? Or would you even allow the thought to bear that there is something he's not in control over? You may appeal to mystery, and I accept that. But I do not accept that there is anything outside of God's control and to believe otherwise is to believe falsely about God. If you believe falsely about the most basic premise of his nature, how can down-level knowledge of his attributes be trusted in the way in which we live our lives? That's the question I ask myself. I say, you can't.

Rock of Ages