Titus 3:4-7 - “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared 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, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
How do people get saved? “Saved” is the word used twice by the apostle as he writes to his son in the faith, Titus. The word means to rescue someone from impending danger and the danger Paul is talking about is the death and destruction of the sins we once lived in (see Titus 3:3).
As he explains, we didn’t save ourselves by our own good works. Instead it was the distinct work of each member of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Here’s how we have hope in eternal life by faith in Jesus.
God the Father saved us by his goodness and love which led to his mercy for us. If our Heavenly Father did not decide to be merciful to us in our sin, and just let us destroy ourselves and die in them; we could not be saved.
The Holy Spirit saves us by regenerating and renewing us. In big theology terms this is called “sanctification”. In other words, from the inside out, his presence in us changes us from sin-prone people into righteous people of God. He is doing this work in those who believe in Jesus.
Finally, the Son saved us from our sins by dying for us on the cross which is why we call him “Savior.” By his grace we are “justified” (old explanation: “just as if I’d” never sinned) by his blood and made righteous.
How do people get saved? By the mercy of God, the renewal of the Spirit, and the grace of Jesus. So what do we do? Believe it. That’s it. By faith you have been saved.
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