I believe I’m a pretty good person, and always have been. I’ve not killed anyone, or pillaged any villages. But the Scriptures reveal a different perspective:

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another (Titus 3:3).

In reality, this describes my natural state, and apart from the goodness of God in this state I remain. Miraculously, an alternative exists:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy (Titus 3:4&5).

This passage continues on to describe the washing by the Holy Spirit one receives through the grace of Jesus Christ our Savior. Few other places in Scripture describe in such clarity the work of God on our behalf.

Work due not to my winsome personality, or genetic makeup, or kind acts toward others, or place of birth, or any of the thousand other things I might consider redeeming qualities.

No, God saves me, and you, simply because of his mercy.

Titus 3 in week twenty-eight of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Dominik Kuhn