10/08/2026
SAVED BY MERCY,
RENEWED BY THE SPIRIT
Titus 3:5–6 (KJV)
“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;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
Introduction
There is one question that every person must answer:
How can a sinful person be saved and made right with a holy God?
The world gives many answers:
“Be a good person.”
“Do more good than bad.”
“Go to church.”
“Give money.”
“Keep religious traditions.”
“Try harder.”
But the Bible gives us a completely different answer.
Salvation is not the achievement of man; it is the accomplishment of God.
Paul makes it very clear in
Titus 3:5:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done…”
Our works cannot save us.
Our religion cannot save us.
Our goodness cannot save us.
But God, in His mercy, saves us.
And Titus 3:5–6 gives us three tremendous truths about salvation.
1. THE MERCY OF SALVATION
“According to his mercy he saved us…”
(Titus 3:5)
The first truth is that salvation begins with God's mercy.
Paul says:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
Notice the contrast:
Not our works, but His mercy.
A. Our works cannot save us
The Bible does not say, “According to our goodness He saved us.”
It says:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done.”
Isaiah 64:6 reminds us:
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…”
Even our best righteousness cannot purchase salvation.
Ephesians 2:8–9 says:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith… Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
If salvation were earned by works, heaven would be filled with people boasting about what they had accomplished.
But salvation is designed so that God receives all the glory.
B. Our sin requires mercy
Why do we need mercy?
Because we are sinners.
Romans 3:23:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
We don't need merely improvement.
We need salvation.
We don't simply need to turn over a new leaf.
We need a new life.
We don't need to make ourselves acceptable to God.
We need God to save us.
C. God's mercy reaches the undeserving
Mercy means that God does not give us what our sins deserve.
We deserved judgment.
But God offered salvation.
We deserved condemnation.
But God extended mercy.
We deserved separation.
But God provided reconciliation through Jesus Christ.
Illustration:
Imagine a guilty man standing before a judge.
The evidence is undeniable.
He cannot argue his innocence. He cannot pay his debt.
He cannot undo his crime.
Then the judge, because of his own mercy, provides the payment and releases him.
That man cannot say,
“I saved myself.”
He can only say:
“I was shown mercy.”
That is salvation.
Christian, never become proud of your salvation.
You are not saved because you were better than somebody else.
You are saved because God was merciful to you.
And if God has shown you mercy, you should show mercy to others.
2. THE MIRACLE OF REGENERATION
“By the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost…”
(Titus 3:5)
Salvation is not merely receiving forgiveness.
Salvation produces transformation.
Paul says:
“By the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
The word regeneration speaks of being made new, receiving new spiritual life.
A. Regeneration gives us a new life
Jesus explained this truth to Nicodemus.
John 3:3:
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus was religious.
He had knowledge.
He had position.
He had morality.
But Jesus told him he needed to be born again.
Religion cannot replace regeneration.
Reformation cannot replace regeneration.
Education cannot replace regeneration.
A sinner needs a new birth.
B. Regeneration is the work of the Holy Ghost
Titus says:
“Renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
The Holy Spirit works in the heart of the sinner.
He convicts.
He convinces.
He brings the sinner to repentance and faith in Christ.
And God gives new life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Christianity is not simply changing your behavior.
Christianity is receiving a changed heart through Jesus Christ.
C. Regeneration produces a changed life
When God saves a person, something changes.
The desires begin to change.
The direction changes.
The attitude changes.
The priorities change.
The heart changes.
We are not saved because we changed ourselves.
We are changed because God saved us.
Illustration:
A pig may be washed and dressed beautifully, but when it sees mud, its nature still wants the mud.
Why?
Because its nature has not changed.
But when God saves a sinner, He doesn't merely clean up the outside.
He gives a new nature.
Ask yourself:
Has there been a genuine work of regeneration in my life?
Not:
“Did I pray a prayer?”
Not:
“Did I raise my hand?”
Not:
“Did I walk an aisle?”
But:
“Have I truly been born again?”
The evidence of salvation is not merely a profession from the lips, but a transformed life produced by the Spirit of God.
3. THE MEASURE OF GOD'S ABUNDANCE
“Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
( Titus 3:6 )
Now Paul moves from mercy to regeneration and finally to abundance.
“Which he shed on us abundantly…”
What a beautiful description of God's grace!
God doesn't give salvation reluctantly.
He doesn't give us just enough mercy to survive.
He gives abundantly.
A. God's grace is abundant
Romans 5:20:
“But where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound.”
Our sin may be great.
But God's grace is greater.
Our failures may be many.
But God's mercy is greater.
Our past may be dark.
But God's grace can bring light.
Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.
B. God's Spirit is abundant
Titus 3:6 says:
“Which he shed on us abundantly…”
The Holy Spirit is not given in a miserly way.
God gives abundantly.
He gives power to serve.
He gives strength to endure.
He gives wisdom to live.
He gives comfort in sorrow.
He gives conviction when we go astray.
He gives guidance as we follow Christ.
C. God's salvation is through Jesus Christ
Don't miss the final phrase:
“Through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
Everything comes through Christ.
Our salvation is through Christ.
Our forgiveness is through Christ.
Our reconciliation is through Christ.
Our eternal hope is through Christ.
Jesus is not merely part of salvation.
Jesus is the Saviour.
Acts 4:12 declares:
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Illustration
Suppose a man is drowning in the ocean.
He cannot save himself by promising to swim better tomorrow.
He needs someone to rescue him.
And when the rescuer reaches him, he doesn't say:
“Grab hold of me because you have earned this.”
The drowning man simply receives the rescue.
That is the picture of grace.
We were drowning in sin, but Jesus came to save us.
THE THREE GREAT TRUTHS
(Titus 3:5–6)
gives us a beautiful picture of salvation:
1. MERCY — God saved us.
“According to his mercy he saved us…”
2. MIRACLE — God changed us.
“By the washing of regeneration…”
3. MEASURE — God blessed us abundantly.
“Which he shed on us abundantly…”
And notice what is absent:
Our works.
Notice what is present:
God's mercy.
Notice who performs the work:
The Holy Ghost.
Notice who makes salvation possible:
Jesus Christ our Saviour.
CONCLUSION
Titus 3:5–6 destroys the idea that salvation can be earned.
We are not saved because we are good.
We are saved because God is merciful.
We are not saved because we changed ourselves.
We are saved because God regenerated us.
We are not saved because we deserved it.
We are saved because God gave abundantly through Jesus Christ.
So today, there are three questions we must ask.
Have you received God's mercy?
Have you experienced regeneration?
Are you trusting completely in Jesus Christ?
You cannot save yourself.
Your religion cannot save you.
Your baptism cannot save you.
Your good works cannot save you.
Your church membership cannot save you.
Only Jesus saves.
John 14:6:
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Invitation
If you are not saved, come to Christ today.
Don't try to earn what God freely offers by grace.
If you are saved, thank God for His mercy.
If God has regenerated you, live like the new creature He has made you.
And if God has blessed you abundantly, serve Him abundantly.
Because salvation is:
Not by our works,
but by His mercy;
not by our goodness,
but by His grace;
not by our strength,
but by His Spirit;
not through ourselves,
but through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
To God alone be the glory!
