paulmoreland.com

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. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

The apostle Paul wrote the words above to Titus – one christian to another. As we examine these verses we see an assumption that a christian will change from what he once was to something new. He wrote, “At one time we were” – then goes on to speak of new birth, a new beginning, a new way of living. Why then do so many of us struggle with attitudes and actions that are appropriate to the old way of living? This struggle is nothing new.

To the Colossians Paul wrote, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature” and then went on to say, “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these“. These words were written to the church! Yes, christians must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. Not only must we come to Christ – we must CONTINUE in Christ. If we live according to the Spirit we will no longer indulge the flesh by participating in the things of the fleshly nature. We will learn to allow the Spirit to truly wash us and regenerate our nature so that we no longer hunger and thirst for things of destruction that lead to death but rather for God’s Spirit Who brings LIFE.

Have you truly repented of your sins? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to wash your most inner being? Or are you holding on to sin and corruption? Are you turning every part of your life to the Lord except for “_____” (YOU fill in the blank)? All too often the christian is willing to give over public parts of their life. They are willing to “worship” and “praise” and say “I don’t smoke and I don’t chew and I don’t date the girls who do.” – but deep inside they continue to harbor fruits of the flesh. Envy, malice, hatred, lust, lies, dependence on wealth, tarot cards and horoscopes – all these and more are harbored by many who claim to be christians. And furthermore, they bristle at any who dare to challenge them to put these things aside.

Did Christ die to give us freedom to continue in the sins of the world? Did He go to the cross so that we can continue to live as those who do not know God live? I think not. He died to sanctify us. Now there’s a five dollar word that too often is misunderstood – if it is considered at all. He died to set us aside, to make us into the holy image of God on every level of our being. The Bible tells us of a “new life” IN Christ Jesus. That implies that if we are IN Jesus the Christ our way of living must be renewed, transformed – CHANGED.

So, getting back to the passage we started from, have you truly been saved “through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit”? After all, the Holy Spirit was “poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. And all this was done “so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. WOW! These words are written to a CHRISTIAN – and apply to the followers of Jesus the Christ to this very day. The Christian life is a progressive one. That is why the Bible speaks of a “new birth”. It talks about “growing up in all things into Him Who is the Head”. Birth, growth, progress, continuing the race to the end – none of this implies a static Christianity in which the person just waits ’til Christ returns, continuing life as usual. After all, NEW LIFE in Christ is NOT “life as usual”. It is a life of regeneration, rebirth, growing, maturing, abiding. If you are not allowing the Spirit to work in your life to rebuild you completely in every aspect into the image of Christ then you are not living the life that is worthy of one called by the Savior.

“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” II Corinthians 6:1-2

The words above were also written to the Church. Yes, we who are in the “fold” ALSO need to keep ever before our eyes the need to “not receive God’s grace in vain“. Don’t grow complacent, live each day, each moment, as though Christ were returning NOW. Open each corner of your life to the regenerating washing of the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to cleanse each part of your life so that when the Lord returns He will find a pure and glorious people.