Titus 3:4–7
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 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. NKJV
We live and breathe in the mercy of God. In His great love, shown to us in the gift of salvation, we are no longer separated from God. Jesus came to earth, in His sacrifice, we are brought together by faith as the Body of Christ. In Him, with Him and in the unity of Holy Spirit we abide. Without Him we are left without protection against the evil that seeks to separate us from God. Rest in peace and do the good works that God ordained us to do as believers in His grace. Carla
Ephesians 2:4-10
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace •you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace •you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NKJV
Because of Adam’s sin, the entire human race is spiritually dead. Only God can grant new life and save us from this predicament. Out of His mercy, God gave His Son for us while we were yet His enemies. He loved us long before we loved Him (1 John 4:9, 10). In addition to making us spiritually alive, He determined that we would sit in heavenly places with our Savior, Jesus Christ. God desires to demonstrate His kindness throughout eternity through Christ Jesus His Son. This has nothing to do with our own merit. It is only because He is merciful and kind that He reaches out to save us.
Christians have been saved by grace.
The grace of God is the source of salvation; faith is the channel, not the cause. God alone saves. Salvation never originates in the efforts of people; it always arises out of the lovingkindness of God. Truly, “salvation is of the Lord” The past tense of the verb saved in this passage indicates that the believer’s salvation has already occurred in the past, at the Cross. We cannot do anything to earn our salvation. Some suggest that the gift of God modifies the word faith in this verse. Thus Paul is saying that even our belief in God does not originate in ourselves. This too is a gift. The NKJV Study Bible
God’s abundant mercy, which characterizes Him throughout the Bible (Exodus 34:6–7), is epitomized by His willingness not to punish “children of wrath” but instead to save believers through His grace (Ephesians 2:5).
Through union with Christ, believers receive new life that reverses the effects of death (Romans 6:4–11; John 3:16–17). Those who believe in Christ participate in His death and resurrection. Consequently, believers share in Christ’s resurrected life—life that is indestructible, in union with God, and led by the Spirit.
The basis of salvation is grace—God’s undeserved generosity toward people. God demonstrated His grace through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection. You are saved in this context, the Greek word used here, sōzō, refers to God delivering people from death and giving them life.
Because believers are identified with Christ’s resurrection, they also share in life that is no longer subject to death. Believers share Christ’s position of authority at the right hand of God by virtue of their union with Christ.
In Christ Jesus emphasizes the centrality of Christ. By grace you are saved. The Greek word used here for faith, pistis, can refer to belief, trust, faith, or loyalty (faithfulness).
Faith is the gift of God. People cannot accomplish salvation through their own effort.
In this context, the Greek word used here for works, ergon, may refer to the Jewish law or to specific components of the law that are related to Jewish ethnic identity (circumcision, food laws, Sabbath observance). The idea of works also might include any actions motivated by a desire to earn favor or right standing with God.
Good works is different from the works of verse 9. Here Paul is talking about acts of faithfulness and service to God. Faithlife Study Bible
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Ephesians 1:20
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
Colossians 2:12–13
buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Acts 15:11
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
This week, showing up matters. An invitation to be here now. And to let my light spill to the world around me. To create safe places—for those wounded or left out. And to remember that the “script” we carry—of expectations and assumptions—does not get to say how the story ends.
When we say “yes”, then hope wins, instead of panic.
Courage wins, instead of fear.
Compassion wins, instead of indifference or cruelty.
And speaking of saying how the story ends, I was grateful for this quote from Rev. Cameron Trimble. “Every culture ends up reflecting what it rewards.
If we reward spectacle, we will produce more spectacle.
If we reward cruelty, we will normalize cruelty.
If we reward wisdom, steadiness, and depth, we create space for those qualities to grow.
This is true for nations, but also for communities, families, groups, and even ourselves.
Leadership is never only ‘out there.’ We practice it every day in how we carry ourselves, how we respond to conflict, and whether we add to the chaos or help steady the room.” Sabbath Moments
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