Lately, I've been spending my time with Titus... Paul's epistle to him, anyway. (Did you know that Paul called him "my true son in our common faith" like he did Timothy? Titus 1:4.) Anyway, as someone who believes--not in a "works salvation," but in a lived-out faith--Titus 3:8 spoke to me.
Having been accused at one time of belonging to a cult (the Church of the Nazarene), and often being accused of believing in a works salvation, Paul's words to Titus confirmed a deep-seated belief within me. Something that is so foundational to who I am, in fact, that I didn't even realize where it came from. Namely, that "those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works." (Titus 3:8)
If the Word says it, why would I believe differently?
Does this mean Paul advocates salvation by works? Of course not! Read Ephesians 2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
It means that God expects His children to live as such. Why would we argue with that?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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We exercise our faith by our works. As you said, not for salvation, that is a free gift, but to be fruitful.
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