“I am REGENERATED by God”
“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness,
But according to His own mercy by the washing of regeneration
And renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
(Titus 3:5)
As I meditate on this verse, the word HE is the key. He, GOD, saved us, and if that declaration wasn’t clear enough, the next phrase was penned – not because of works done by us in righteousness. There is nothing that I have done in the past, nothing that I can do in the present, and nothing I will do in the future that could ever merit God saving me. Think about this. If there was something “I” could have done, why would God have sent Jesus to this earth to live a perfect life and be hung on the cross for my sin?
My salvation is “ALL GOD” and nothing of me.
It was according to HIS mercy that I have been regenerated.
So what does regenerated mean? The Greek word (palingenesia) used here means spiritual rebirth. Considering the truth that salvation is ALL GOD, think about when a child is conceived in the mother’s womb and born, he or she did absolutely nothing to cause that process – not the conception, not the birthing – nothing.
If you have been regenerated, GOD DID THAT!
Regenerated by God and “renewal of the Holy Spirit”. The Greek word for renewal (anakainōsis) means a complete change for the better, effected by the Holy Spirit. Give that some thought. If you have a relationship with the Living God, have you been changed? Is there a difference in how you think, in what you chase after, in how you react and respond to others, in your motivations?
If you answer yes to those questions, thank the Holy Spirit. HE DID THAT in you!! “for it is God (His Holy Spirit) who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure”, (Philippians 2:13).
The Spirit, in His process of renewal, accomplishes
both the “want to” and the “carry through”.
I find myself so very grateful that I have been chosen by God, called by God, and regenerated by God. When I struggle at times, feeling not “good enough”, these are truths I can lean into. Who I am in God’s eyes is not based on my work, but on JESUS’ finished work on the cross.
Next week we will dig into “I am justified by God”. I sure hope this is ministering to your heart the way it is mine. I need these reminders…like on the daily!!