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“According To His Mercy He Saved Us (Tit. 3:1-8) – Part 4”
According To His Mercy He Saved Us (Tit. 3:1-8) – Part 4
Wade Webster
In the first three installments of this study, we noticed the reminder, the revelation, the restriction, the remission/regeneration/renewal, the riches and the road of mercy. This week we are considering the reward and the requirement of mercy.
The Reward of Mercy
“That having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Tit. 3:7). God’s mercy doesn’t just save us, it makes us heirs of God. It gives us the hope of eternal life. Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:3-4). In Ephesians, Paul wrote, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:7, 11-14; cf. Acts 20:32).
The Requirement of Mercy
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men” (Tit. 3:8). Although we do nothing to merit God’s mercy or grace, there are things required of those who enjoy them. In the second chapter of Titus, in discussing grace, Paul wrote, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Tit. 2:11-14). Please note that grace teaches us to live a certain way - soberly, righteously, and godly. We have been redeemed by grace that we might be zealous of good wonks. In the third chapter, in discussing mercy, the emphasis is on being ready to every good work (Tit. 3:1) and on maintaining good works (Tit. 3:8, 14). Sadly, some act as if grace and mercy and love require nothing of the believer. This is not the case. We must do what is required by these things (Jude 21).
In the verses that make up our assigned text, Paul discusses eight wonderful attributes of mercy. May we prayerfully consider them and praise God for them.
