In our sermon series through Titus we have taken Titus 3:1-8 and broken it down into these 4 major points:

1. Remind Them – vs. 1-2 (Sermon: Qualified by Grace – 6/26/11)
2. Remember, We Were Once… – vs. 3 (Sermon: Qualified Despite Our Past – 7/10/11)
3. Remember, He Saved Us – vs. 4-7 (Sermon: Qualified by Mercy – 7/17/11)
4. Remember, We Have a Mission – vs. 8 (Sermon: Bearing Quality Fruit – 7/24/11)

In the first point, Paul reminds Titus to remind the church about seven things they are to be actively doing in their daily lives as followers of Jesus Christ. In the second point he reminds Titus to remind the church about seven things that were true of each of us before we became followers of Christ. So in these two points we see a before and after snapshot of our lives, before and after trusting Christ.

So what really makes the difference between what we were before and what we are now? What changed? Our third point says it all: “Remember, He Saved Us.” Listen to verses 4-7:

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Before conversion, we were headed our own way doing our own thing, very much living up to the description given in verse 3. However, as God poured out His grace on us and called us to new life in Christ we have become a new creation. The Scriptures declare that we have been called from death to life, having put off the old man and put on a new man, created in righteousness and holiness. God has been undeservingly kind, gracious, and merciful to us, loving us even while were were His enemies and “children of wrath.”

We know that God never changes, but He does change us, praise His name! Our message this Sunday gives us an opportunity to study the Scriptures and learn about God’s kindness and mercy shown to us in salvation, regeneration, and justification. When we understand what it is that He has accomplished in saving us we should be moved to worship and glorify Him even more.

We are not what we should be, we are not what we once were, and through Christ we will one day be what we should. All for His glory. Join us for worship at 10:30AM Sunday, July 17, for the message “Qualified by Mercy” from Titus 3:4-7.