The world we live in today has a negative influence on how we perceive of God and of God’s love. For the career individual promotion only comes with good performance, and much of human acceptance is contingent on what benefit others can derive from your good works. This is not so with God. God offers His unconditional acceptance to us before we have anything to offer to Him. He gives us Jesus, before we can give Him anything.

Paul concludes his letter to Titus by encouraging Titus to remind the believers to give themselves (devote) to good works for the sake of the gospel. And right in the middle of these reminders Paul gives a treasure of gospel truth as to where God’s love and forgiveness are sourced.

Titus 3:4-7

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
5 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, 6 whom he poured
out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become
heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Conclusion:
1. Good works, going to church, or baptism don’t save you – God’s freely given GRACE alone saves
2. Because He has saved us, we devote ourselves to “good works”

“Freely you have received, freely give.” – Matthew 10:8

“Because Jesus gave freely to me, I will _________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.”