"Jesus saved us, not because of righteous deeds we had done, but according to his mercy."
–Titus 3:5a
The gospel is a promise of grace.
Grace is the unearned and undeserved favor of God. It means that God loves us and saves us, not because of anything we have done or can do, but because of His love and mercy.
In Titus 3:5a, the apostle Paul writes,
"Jesus saved us, not because of righteous deeds we had done, but according to his mercy."
The Bible tells us that we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But because of God's grace, we can be saved from the consequences of our sin by trusting what Jesus has done for us through his life, death, and resurrection.
This promise of grace is not something we can earn or deserve; it is purely a gift from God. And once we receive this gift by faith, we are made right with God (justified), adopted into his family, indwelt by his Holy Spirit, and given the assurance of eternal life.
In Ephesians 2:8-9, the apostle Paul writes,
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Being saved by works means that we can earn or deserve salvation by doing good things or following certain religious practices. But the Bible teaches that we can never be good enough or do enough good works to earn salvation.
On the other hand, being saved through faith means we receive salvation as a gift from God–not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus has done for us.
Because the gospel is a promise of grace.
Discussion Questions
What is grace?
What does it mean that salvation is a gift?
How is being saved through faith different from being saved by works?
In what ways do we try to earn God's favor or prove ourselves worthy?
How do we receive the gift of salvation?
How does trusting what Jesus did for us change our relationship with God?
A Suggested Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the promise of grace. We confess that we are sinners who fall short of your glory. But we are grateful that through faith in Jesus, we are saved and made right with you, adopted in love, and empowered by your Spirit. Help us to live with gratitude for your love and mercy.
In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.