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Titus 3:5
5 Not [ou] by [ek] works [ergon] of [en] righteousness [dikaiosune] which [hos] we [hemeis] have done [poieo], but [alla] according to [kata] his [autos] mercy [eleos] he saved [sozo] us [hemas], by [dia] the washing [loutron] of regeneration [paliggenesia], and [kai] renewing [anakainosis] of the Holy [hagios] Ghost [pneuma]; KJV-Interlinear
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, NASB
God conceived the concept of salvation for humanity, not on the basis of anything that any human being can or will do, but He put into play the plan of salvation, based on His own design, plan, and effort.
Salvation is not connected with human effort or even human intent. The work of salvation was intended for everyone, and is offered as a gift to all. Each person has but only to accept it through faith in Christ. And that expression of faith takes virtually no effort on mans part.
Mans righteousness is as filthy rags, as Isaiah puts it. Actually the filthy rags are uncleaned, reused, and reused and reused menstrual rags. Disgusting idea, and so is mans righteousness.
Salvation is Gods effort for saving man from eternal separation from God. To reject God means to separate ones self from God forever. And since man has no power or control over his environment (God controls everything), then man can’t possibly exist alone in any meaningful way. Chaos and more chaos is mans only destiny, when God is not in his life.
Try controlling anything around you right now. Can you control the weather, the ocean currents, any imminent disasters, the economy, your own life span, anything? No. You really have no control over anything. Even the details of your life are under the control of God. He placed you in this life, at this point in history. He placed everyone else into history with you. God saw your decisions and made provision for your life, at this point in history – your friends, your talents, your abilities, your education, your job, whatever you have, whomever you know. You had no say about your life, prior to your birth, but God made all of the arrangements for you, even before human history existed.
Gods mercy is grace in action. Grace is Gods favor and through His favor, His provision, and from all of this, because of His love and plan for you to have the perfect life, not only now, but especially forever.
God brings salvation to any and all who believe in Christ.
At the very instant of your faith expression in Christ, God the Holy Spirit washes you thoroughly, with a cleansing wash, not of water for the body, but of Gods righteousness.
Washing means to be cleansed by means of a washing laver. The laver of washing is called the laver of regeneration, because it is the means by which regeneration is obtained. Salvation is represented by the alter of sacrifice. It is from that alter, upon which Christ died (the Cross), that you receive your initial washing of life.
This washing is a renewing of your life, a regeneration from your old self into a new creation.
2 Cor. 5:17
17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; NASB
Gal. 6:15
15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. NASB
Eph 4:22-24
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. NASB
A new creature is something that has never existed before. God created the angels, plant life, animal life and human life, but then there was one more creation to come and that was a regenerated human, through the washing by means of the Holy Spirit, who likewise causes the renewing or new creation, in us.
This regeneration, brings a new component into mans existence, and that new component is the human spirit, into which God pours eternal life.
By the way, the second laver of washing which stands between the alter and the first room, the Holy Place, is the laver of washing for confession, which represents the washing away of sins in the life, after salvation, so as to promote an environment for spiritual growth. Don’t confuse that with the regeneration of salvation. Confession does not accomplish salvation, but is functional only after one is saved.
The Father planned, the Son executed the plan, and the Holy Spirit is the mechanism of sustaining the plan.
