He Saved Us!

Titus 3:5-6

5 HE SAVED US, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  HE SAVED US through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.

In John 3, we find one of the most profound gospel conversations ever recorded.  Jesus has a gospel conversation with Nicodemus.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee.  He was a well-educated and much-esteemed Pharisee.  As a matter of fact, he was a member of the ruling class of Pharisees, knows as the Sanhedrin.  In John 2, Jesus performed one of His first miracles when He changed the water into wine at a wedding in Cana.  In John 2, Jesus also made His way to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God, but He found a troubling scene.  Instead of reverent worship for God, Jesus saw the people performing everyday business transactions.  With righteous anger, Jesus called out the people.  He cleared the temple courts, scattered the coins of the money changers, and overturned their tables.  Yes, Jesus was God's glory revealed, and the people took notice, especially the religious zealots and leaders.  Nicodemus was one such leader.  Nicodemus went to Jesus at night, perhaps using the cloak of darkness to keep his Pharisee and Sanhedrin brothers from knowing that he was intrigued by Jesus' words and life.  Nicodemus says to Jesus in John 3:2, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come FROM God.  For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not WITH him."  Nicodemus exposes a painful reality.  He did not see the truth about Jesus.  He thought Jesus was "A" teacher, not "THE" Teacher.  He thought Jesus was "FROM" God and that God was "WITH" Him.  However, Jesus IS God.  Jesus says to Nicodemus in John 3:3, "Very truly I tell you, no one can seek the kingdom of God unless they are born again."  Jesus didn't waste His time with Nicodemus.  He didn't casually converse with him.  He knew Nicodemus.  He knew what Nicodemus was looking for in his heart.  He wanted truth.  The term "born again" was confusing for Nicodemus.  He could only see things with a physical perspective, but Jesus was showing him something from a spiritual perspective.  In the Greek, the word "another" is our word for "again," which means "from above."  Jesus told Nicodemus the only way to see the kingdom of God is to be born again, or to be born from above.  Nicodemus was passionate about the Law; his goal was to know the Law and keep the Law.  Up to his point, Nicodemus believed that by knowing and keeping the Law he could be right with God, he could see the kingdom of God.  Jesus shares the gospel truth with Nicodemus, and He shares the gospel truth with us.  Nicodemus could not save himself.  We cannot save ourselves.  Nicodemus needed the grace of God found in Jesus Christ.  We need the grace of God found in Jesus Christ.  Nicodemus' best efforts, his education, and his position could not help him with God.   Our best efforts, our education, and our position will not help us with God.  We all need Jesus.  We need regeneration.  Regeneration means that God alone awakens us spiritually through the power of His Spirit.  Regeneration means that God is the provider and we are the recipients.

If you want to be right with God, then you have start with and acknowledge two truths: 1. You are sinner in need of a Savior.  2. Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world.  As the Spirit of God stirs your heart and mind, you will begin to understand the spiritual truths of God's Word.  He will open your heart and mind, and you see that there is nothing you can do to earn or to deserve God's grace and mercy.  You will begin to understand that Jesus lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, and rose from the grave to defeat sin and death for you.  You will begin to understand that Jesus is not just "A" teacher; He is "THE" Teacher!  You will begin to understand that Jesus is not just "FROM" God and that God is not just "WITH" Jesus; Jesus IS God!  When you repent of your sin and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, you are born again; you experience regeneration...something only God can do through His grace found in Jesus Christ.  That is why Paul said it in his letter to Titus this way in Titus 3:5-6, "HE SAVED US, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  HE SAVED US through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior."  What an incredible truth!  What an incredible blessing!  God did for us what only He could do!  HE SAVED US!  Rest in this truth and this blessing today, and thank God for Jesus, our Savior!