But for the Grace of God

But for the Grace of God
Words of Faith 9-13-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Titus 3
[3] 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. [4] But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, [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, [7] so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

The saying is familiar. "There, but for the grace of God, go I." This thought was famously uttered by the English reformer and martyr John Bradford in 1555. Speaking about a group of prisoners being led to execution, he said, "There but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford." Bradford was burned at the stake on July 1, 1555, for the crimes of his protestant faith against Mary Tudor.
Paul directed Titus to be established with similar humility, the knowledge that we live, breathe, and declare our faith only because of the grace of God. The remembrance of our own past and the state of our lost soul should give us the motivation to be gentle and considerate toward the unsaved. "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."
The Good News that Titus was to live by was centered on the unconditional action of God toward such lost sinners. "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."
Paul reminded Titus that there is a washing that takes place that is beyond description and we are the continuing beneficiaries of that washing. "God 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, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
This is the glorious Gospel of Christ. This is the Good News, not messages about more religion or condemnation regarding rules. We are made right by His unconditional grace and become heirs if only we will read the "will and testament" and receive that act of grace.
It is good to stop periodically and ask oneself: Is this what I am living by? It is so easy to slip backward into religiosity. We can find ourselves defining life by rules and good works. Right living is important and good works are to be commended but only since they flow from the Spirit that cleanses us and the Gospel that has made us right with God.
It is easy to fall back into a judgmental frame of mind as we engage with a world that knows nothing of Jesus and behaves that way. People often get upset about the things they see sinners doing. Paul would likely say-- What did you expect sinners to be doing? They sin. They need the Gospel just as we did. They need the washing of the Spirit just as we do.
So for today, as we look around, watch with humility. Engage with grace. There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Father God, keep my eyes on you. Keep my heart centered on You. Keep the Gospel paramount in my mind. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.