Importance of faith in Christ

Titus 3:3-8 (NIV)
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 Savior 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 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 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.

The apostle writes about the changes that take place in a Christian’s life. For at one time all were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures;  living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. God’s grace and mercy of salvation through Jesus Christ however frees a person from the bondage of sin. They are allowed to live free from guilt and shame trusting God to bring about goodness in their lives. Their freedom even affects the lives of others by ending malice, envy and hatred. It’s not good deeds that make a person righteous, but God’s salvation and because of that salvation we can do good deeds which please God and make us right with God and people.

 

 

                               God 100% righteous

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|                                                                                           
|            Pope              Billie Graham                                
|                    Priest                                                              
|                                    Church Leader               
+                 Mother            Father                                                                          
|                          Good Neighbor                                                        
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QUESTION: If you had to chart your righteousness on the chart above where would you place your name and what reason would you give for the ranking you chose?

Romans 3:10 tells us “there is none righteous”.  Isaiah 64:6 says, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.” Romans 3:23 says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

So if we all have fallen short of God’s standard for righteous how can we ever be in God’s presence?

There is only one way and that is by repenting of our sin and placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For Jesus Himself told us, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not why are you waiting?