October 12

Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” —Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5).
GOD’S sovereignty enables Him to deal in grace with erring mortals, apart altogether from any ability on their part to earn or deserve His loving favor. But our poor, legal hearts respond very feebly to His goodness and loving-kindness. It is difficult for us to abide in a sense of grace. We would far rather try to put God in our debt (Rom. 4:44Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (Romans 4:4)) than take Him at His word and receive His gifts in simple faith. When we do come to Him in faith we are regenerated and God the Spirit takes His abode in us.
“Lord, we are Thine; bought by Thy blood.
Once the poor guilty slaves of sin.
But Thou redeemedst us to God,
And mad’st Thy Spirit dwell within;
Thou hast our sinful wand’rings borne
With love and patience all divine;
As brands, then, from the burning torn.
We own that we are wholly Thine.”
―J. G. Deck.