Read: Titus 3:4-7 Listen: Titus 3

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:4-5

Paul writes to his young protégé, Titus, whom he has sent to strengthen the early church on the island of Crete. Paul wants these new believers to remember exactly what has happened to them. Before Christ, they were enslaved to sin, not just struggling with it but owned by it. Then God showed up. Not because they’ve cleaned up their lives or earned his attention, but because of his mercy. He has washed them of their sin and made them clean. The initiative is God’s from start to finish.

We can be tempted to think that baptism requires us to have it all together first—to resolve the sin issue or to finally look the part of a Christian. But that gets the gospel backward. We aren’t washed clean by the water or by any act we do. We are washed clean from our sin by the blood of Jesus. God knows every place we’ve fallen short, every moment we’ve felt like a fraud, and every time we’ve counted ourselves out. He wants to wash us clean anyway. That’s not a small offer. That’s the whole story of the gospel: the old life is gone, and we’ve been made new through his grace.

TODAY: If you haven’t placed your faith in Jesus, don’t wait. Tell Jesus you believe he died for you and that you’re turning from your sin to follow him. If you have questions, email us at btw@adabible.org. Join us this weekend as we celebrate baptisms and the work Jesus has done on the cross to make us clean.