How many times have we
wondered why God would desire to save us? We might suppose that
anyone who has thought about it long enough would come to the
conclusion that God is getting the raw end of this deal with us.
However, this is the desire of God: that He would have a relationship
with us by way of His Son Jesus Christ, and that this relationship
would last eternally. Paul the apostle has been sharing the
importance of living in a manner that does not bring reproach to the
gospel of Jesus Christ with Titus who is the pastor of the church
located in the island of Crete. Now after establishing that we were
once like those who do not believe in Jesus, Paul affirms that it was
God who is rich in mercy who saved us, and today in Titus chapter
three and verse seven Paul adds:
That being justified by
his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal
life.
Paul
begins by writing, “That being justified by his grace.” The
best way to understand the idea of being “justified” is to break
the word down into parts: “Just if I'd” or rather “just as if
I'd never sinned”. In other words, the grace or “unmerited favor”
of God is so complete that it is as if believers in Him have never
sinned. This is not possible except by way of God's work, and there
is no one who may justify him or herself other than Jesus. We have
noted over the last couple verses that it was not by our works of
righteousness, but rather the work of God which He shed upon us
abundantly through Jesus Christ that we have this relationship with
God. We who know Jesus as our personal Savior realize that the work
of justification was completed wholly by Jesus, and our part is
simply to believe He did.
Paul adds, “we should
be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
This is the part of the verse that should amaze all who will take the
time to read it. Paul states to Titus that the reason He justified us
was to make us “heirs according to the hope of eternal
life.” In other words God was
doing this fantastic work of justification in everyone who will
believe in Jesus Christ so they will have the hope to live forever
with God. Salvation from our sins is one beautiful thing, but then to
have “the hope of eternal life”
added to it is all the greater.
However,
there is a key element within this verse that is vitally and
eternally important. That is in the word “we”. Paul's declaration
is for all who read these words to believe that Jesus died for their
sins in order for this justification to be applied. “We” includes
the group of believers, not unbelievers. The important role placed
upon each person is given by way of choice. No one has to believe,
but faith is offered to all. No one is forced to trust in Jesus as
their Savior, however those who do are promised justification and
hope of eternal life. Those who do not believe that Jesus died for
their sins are left to themselves and will find themselves without
hope of either one.
Next
time we will continue to read Paul's exhortation to Titus and notice
a review in his words, so read ahead, and we shall join together
then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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