So Great Salvation

Titus 3:4-7

Introduction:

Titus 3:4-7 is one of the most concise, yet comprehensive explanations of the doctrine of salvation. Verses 4-7 powerfully describe every aspect of salvation from beginning to end and leaves no question that the only way that you and I can be forgiven from our sins is because of God’s great mercy. Not only is there nothing that we can do to earn salvation, but we do not even deserve salvation. This morning, I want to spend some focused time in these verses examining what they teach us about the doctrine of salvation.
The reason for this is three-fold:

1. To show that salvation and forgiveness of sins is available to everyone because of God’s great mercy. If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and forgiveness of sins, it is my prayer that today you will understand what salvation is and why you need it and trust Christ today.
2. To remind those of us that are saved of what God did for us when He saved us. If you have trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, it is my prayer that today you will reflect upon God’s great mercy that He showed you when He saved your soul and allow the truths of salvation to fill you with joy and awe again as it did when you first were saved.
3. To explain some of the great truths about the doctrine of salvation. Salvation brings such an incredible, transformational change and the Bible uses many specific terms to describe what happens to a person at the moment of salvation. Each term is important and explains something specific about salvation, and a proper understanding of those terms is essential to correctly understanding salvation as the Bible teaches it. As we read this passage, it could be a little bit confusing, because there are a number of explanatory phrases used in-between the main points. So, to help us as we look at this passage today, I want you to see the flow of thought in these verses: First, verse 4 tells us that "the kindness and love of God towards man appeared." Next, verse 5 tells us that "He saved us." Finally, verse 7 tells us that "He made us heirs."

It is those three thoughts that we are going to focus on in this message today: 1. God Sought Us 2. God Saves Us 3. God Secures Us

The main truth from this passage is this: You must recognize that you can do nothing to earn or deserve salvation, and trust in the mercy and love of God that has provided salvation for you.

I. God Sought Us — verse 4

…the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared…

Love is not primarily an emotion, it is a choice that is displayed by action.

• A love that is not displayed is not love at all — it is just words.
• The supreme display of love is doing what is best for someone else, even at great personal cost.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

God’s love towards mankind appeared when He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, into this world to die for our sins.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rom. 5:7-8 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s is lovingly seeking you today

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 15:1-7 ¶ Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

By his death on the cross in your place, Jesus is showing that He is seeking you — He died for you!

II. God Saves Us — vs 5-7a

…He saved us…

The Basis of Salvation

• Salvation from sin is NOT earned by anything good that we could do because our very nature is corrupted by sin.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done…

Rom. 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Jer. 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

• The Bible tells us that even the “good things” that we try to do are corrupted by sin

Is. 64:6 ¶ But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…

Ps 14:3, 53:3; Rom 3:12 There is none that does good, no, not one…

• Salvation from sin is only possible because of God’s mercy …but according to His mercy He saved us…

God's justice demands that the deserved punishment be administered, but His mercy provides a righteous way by which the punishment is averted. The penalty for your sin and mine is death — eternal separation from God

Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death… Ezekiel 18:20 — The soul that sinneth, it shall die…

God is both just and merciful, therefore God in His justice poured out His wrath and judgment on Jesus Christ when He hung on the cross, paying the penalty for your sins and mine.

Romans 5:8 — But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God showed mercy to you and me by making a way so that we would not have to die to pay for our sins. Jesus’ death on the cross satisfied the penalty that was owed because of your sin. Jesus’ death on the cross is the only payment for sin that God will accept.

The Nature of Salvation

• Salvation gives you a new birth

…by the washing of regeneration…

This is not referring to baptism. Baptism does nothing to remove your sins and make you right with God. Rather, it is a public testimony that you have already trusted in Christ for salvation. This verse is using a word picture that describes what happens at salvation — the cleansing from sin that is a result of being born again into God’s family. The word regeneration means new birth.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 1 Pet. 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 John 5:1 ¶ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…

• Salvation makes you a new creation

…and renewing of the Holy Ghost…

Salvation is such a complete change that you are made new in every way — you serve a new master, you have a new purpose, you have new desires, you have a new destination, etc.

2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 ¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

III. God Secures Us — vs 6-7

…which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Holy Spirit is a seal that cannot be broken — vs 6

…which (referring to the Holy Ghost from vs 6) He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour…

• The Holy Spirit permanently indwells the believer at the moment of salvation.

Rom. 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Gal. 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

• The indwelling Holy Spirit is God’s seal on a believer that guarantees that a Christian will receive eternal life

Eph. 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Eph. 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

• God seals a believer with the Holy Spirit to show us that we are His protected possession and give us assurance of the security that we have in Him — nothing has the power or the authority to remove that seal. Only God Himself would have the authority and ability to remove that seal, but He has clearly stated in His Word that He will not do that.

John 6:37 … him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Justification is a ruling that cannot be overturned

…being justified by His grace…

The word Justified means "to be declared righteous on the basis of what Jesus Christ has done for us". It is a legal ruling that God, the supreme judge of all the universe, issues — not based on what we have done (see vs 5), but because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross on our behalf. Paul uses this very argument in Romans 8, showing that because believers are justified by God, then there are no more charges/accusations that can be brought against someone who has put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. It is permanently settled.

Rom. 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Adoption is an act that cannot be undone …we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The phrase made heirs refers to adoption. Adoption in the Roman empire during Bible times was different from what we think of adoption today. Today, adoption is primarily about providing a loving, nurturing home and family to a child who does not have one. However, adoption in the Roman Empire was not about being placed into a family, but specifically about guaranteeing that a family would pass on all of its privileges, inheritance, and status to an heir.
For example, fathers could “adopt” a younger sibling and make him the heir instead of the firstborn. Throughout the history of the Roman Empire several Roman Emperors came to power, not because they were the heirs by blood, but because they were adopted by the current Emperor. One of the most famous was Caesar Augustus (the emperor who ruled when Christ was born). He was a man simply known as Octavian, but Julius Caesar adopted him and made him the heir to the throne. The act of adoption superseded Ceasar’s own bloodline. Thus, in the Roman world, there could be no higher claim than to have been adopted.

Gal. 4:4-7 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

A Christian’s standing as an adopted child of God guarantees that a Christian, as an heir of God, will receive the inheritance that God has promised to those who put their faith and trust in Him for salvation.

1 Pet. 1:3-5 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Conclusion:

Love is not primarily an emotion, it is a choice that is displayed in action. God displayed His love to us by sending Jesus to die for us and by seeking us when we were lost.
Salvation from sin is only possible through Jesus Christ — not by anything that we can do or have done. Only God can save a person from their sin.

• Has there been a time in your life when you have realized that you are a sinner and that you need a Saviour?
• Have you realized that you cannot earn salvation in any way — it is only possible through Jesus Christ and what He did in your place on the cross of Calvary?
• Have you trusted in Jesus Christ ALONE for salvation and forgiveness of sins?

Once a person puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, God seals you with the Holy Spirit, justifies you, and adopts you as as heir. These truths about salvation reveal that a Christian is completely secure in their standing before God — nothing can break the seal of the Holy Spirit, nothing can overrule God’s decree of justification, and no one can remove you from your adopted position.

Are you resting in the security of your salvation — a security that is based on what God has done, not on what you can do? Do you realize that, just as your good works are not the basis for receiving salvation, your good works are also not the basis for keeping your salvation?

The main truth from this passage is this: You must recognize that you can do nothing to earn or deserve salvation, and trust in the mercy and love of God that has provided salvation for you.