First Step - day 3

Today’s Bible Reading

Titus 3:1-8

1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility towards all men. 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 Saviour 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 who He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Applying God’s Word in My Life:

1. You are saved by God’s mercy (v.5), reborn by the washing and renewal of the Holy Spirit (v.5) and justified by His grace (v.7). What does all this mean?

2. What new status did God give you when you believed in Christ? (v.7). What does this new status mean for you?

3. What are some good things you can do to show that you are now a believer in Jesus Christ? (v.8).

Today’s Key Verse:

Titus 3:7

Having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Restored

To Power

Isidore Zimmerman served 25 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Because of a false witness at his trial, he was convicted of killing a policeman. In time, however, his innocence was proven, and in 1962 he was released. But did he live ‘happily ever after’? No.

His record was cleared, but society did not fully accept him.

That is the complete opposite to our standing with God when we trust Jesus as our Saviour! We are guilty. Yet because we are given Jesus’ perfection and He pays for our sin on the cross, we are not only declared righteous (right with God), but we are fully restored to favour with our heavenly Father. He treats us as if we had never broken His law, bringing us back to Himself and adopting us into His family. That’s full acceptance.

Even though he had been innocent all along, Zimmerman couldn’t escape the shame of being an ex-convict. What few jobs he could get soon ended when employers learned that he had served time.

It’s amazing that through faith, and on the merits of Jesus’ death, guilty sinners can be declared righteous by God. It’s even more incredible that He would restore us to His favour and want us to work for Him.

But then, that’s what salvation is all about.

—Dennis DeHaan

When we’re reborn—made new in Christ— It should be plain for all to see That God has changed us from within And placed us in His family. —Sper

When God forgives, He removes the sin and restores the soul.