"When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
- Titus 3:4-7

This passage is rich in its description of the blessings of what Christ has done for all who believe. First of all, notice how the gospel is rooted in the goodness and loving kindness of God. Secondly, notice how the apostle Paul describes how God saves us: not by our works but by his mercy. Thirdly, this salvation involves not just the work of Christ but the work of the Holy Spirit, who regenerates (makes us alive) and renews us who believe. This blessing of the Holy Spirit only comes to us through the one Mediator between God and humanity: Christ himself. In the end, justification (God declaring us righteous) leads to eternal life. 

So how do you experience the grandeur and glory of these blessings? Only through faith in Jesus Christ - who he is and what he has done for you. If you rely on anyone or anything else, you will be sorely disappointed. Nothing else in all of the universe can lead to such goodness - not trying to be a good person, not giving your money to charity, not going to church, not reading the Bible, not even praying. When we depend upon Jesus alone for our right standing with God, all of heaven is opened to us with all of the blessings of the family of God described in this passage! Will you experience the goodness and loving kindness of God through faith in Jesus?

For Jesus,
Pastor Mark