Out with the Old In with the New – Titus 3:3-8

Out with the Old, In with the New: Embracing God’s Transformative Power

Have you ever had one of those frustrating moments when you can’t find your keys? You search everywhere, retrace your steps, and still come up empty-handed. Sometimes, our spiritual lives can feel like that too. We forget where we’ve come from, what God has done for us, and what He’s calling us to do. Today, let’s take a journey through Titus Chapter 3 and rediscover these essential truths that can transform our lives and our relationships with others.

The Bad Hair Day of the Soul

Imagine waking up with the worst case of bed head you’ve ever had. Now, multiply that by a hundred, and you might come close to understanding a rare condition called “uncombable hair syndrome.” People with this genetic mutation have hair that simply won’t lie flat or be styled, no matter what they do. 

In a spiritual sense, we all suffer from an “uncombable soul syndrome” before Christ intervenes in our lives. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Titus 3:3:

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”

This verse paints a stark picture of our spiritual condition without Christ. We were:

1. Foolish – stubbornly refusing to acknowledge truth
2. Disobedient – rebelling against authority
3. Led astray – following false gods
4. Slaves to passions and pleasures – addicted to sin
5. Full of malice and envy – harboring ill will towards others
6. Hating and being hated – living lives of mutual animosity

The Divine Makeover

But here’s where the good news of transformation comes in. Paul continues in Titus 3:4-7 with some of the most beautiful words in Scripture:

“But 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.”

Let’s break down what God has done for us:

1. He saved us out of His goodness and loving kindness
2. He acted on His mercy, not our merit
3. He washed and regenerated us
4. He renewed our being through the Holy Spirit
5. He justified us by His grace
6. He made us heirs with the hope of eternal life, thereby giving us a transformation

This is the gospel in a nutshell! Just as no amount of effort can tame truly uncombable hair, no amount of self-improvement can fix our sin problem. Only God’s intervention through Jesus Christ can transform us from the inside out.

Living Out the Transformation

Now that we’ve remembered who we were and what God has done for us, what’s next? Paul gives us clear direction in Titus 3:8:

“This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.”

God doesn’t just save us and leave us as we are. He calls us to a life of good works that flow from our transformed hearts. This isn’t about earning salvation – it’s about living out the new life we’ve been given.

Putting It Into Practice

So how can we devote ourselves to good works and embrace this transformation? Here are some practical ways:

1. Serve in your local church (e.g., teaching Sunday School, nursery care, greeting)
2. Show kindness to neighbors (e.g., mowing lawns, bringing meals)
3. Use your skills to bless others (e.g., playing music, cleaning, maintenance)
4. Pray for your pastors and church leaders
5. Encourage and support widows and single parents
6. Minister to youth and children
7. Give generously of your time, talents, and resources

Remember, these good works aren’t meant to earn God’s favor – we already have that in Christ. Instead, they’re a natural outflow of our gratitude for what God has done and a way to make His love tangible to others. These good works are part of our transformation journey.

As we go about our week, let’s keep in mind where we’ve come from, what God has done for us, and what He’s calling us to do. When we do, we’ll find ourselves living with greater purpose, gratitude, and love for both God and our neighbors. And that’s a transformation worth celebrating!