Titus, Part TwoPrimjer

The Lord forgives and renews us

“He saved us … by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5-6).

Our salvation consists of two aspects, Paul explains.

First, there is regeneration, which is compared to a bath that washes us clean of our sins. When we are born again, we are pure and holy in God's eyes. Our sins are forgiven. The Lord does not even remember them.

In addition, we are renewed and transformed by the Holy Spirit. The destructive influence of sin on our thoughts, feelings, and actions is gradually erased. We begin to resemble God again, as He originally intended when He created us “in His image.” And when we die or when Jesus returns, that process is completed so that we “shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2).

Both aspects are necessary. If we were only renewed, the problem of the sins we have already committed would stay as an enormous mountain between God and us. If the Lord only absolved our guilt but left our hearts unchanged, we would still love sin instead of God and could not have a relationship with Him. But in His mercy, God gives us everything we need to live forever in a restored relationship with Him. What amazing love!

What do these two aspects of a life with the Lord evoke in you?