WALKING WITH GOD

Part 3

Amos 3:3

Morning Meditation 8/7/17

MAN'S SALVATION IS NOT OBTAINED BY WALKING WITH GOD

Titus 3:5, "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;"

Paul is speaking to Titus a preacher that Paul trained and he had no doubt told him this many times before, so I take it to be a reemphasis of this great truth of grace: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done." Paul is telling Titus that we have done works of righteousness. But salvation is not based on the merits of these works.

1. Paul explains where good works come in and the good they accomplish in Titus 3:8, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." Our good works profit men as they watch us. These good works are done because one is saved. They are done in order that others might be saved. But they are not done in order for us to be saved or to keep our salvation. Salvation is a gift of God. Titus 3:7 says, "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Grace is the unmerited favor of God.

2. The next thing in verse 5 Paul says is, "but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." The word "mercy" according to Webster means, "compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence." Mercy is extended by a person who has the authority to extend this grace upon a person who is guilty, a person who deserves otherwise but is given mercy and by that mercy is set free from the penalty of the offence committed. You don't bestow mercy on an innocent man. Mercy is extended to the guilty. You will also notice that it is by his mercy he saved us. The word saved is used to explain what happens to the guilty person who is under condemnation and is destined for punishment for his sins. And in the case of the Bible it is the lake of fire and/or eternal death. A man is proven guilty, sentenced to die eternally in the lake of fire, but God who is rich in mercy steps in because He has the authority and the compassion and gives the sinner a pardon because Jesus died to pay for his sins on the cross. He is saved by grace. The penalty of his sins has been completely done away by the shedding of Jesus innocent blood on the cross. The sinner is washed in the precious blood and when God is through cleansing Him there is no sin left to bring charges against.

3. There is an unbelievable transformation of character and standing with God when the believer accepts the proposal for marriage to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an eternal proposal and an eternal marriage. It is one based on love wherein the Bridegroom takes the bride forever. It will forever make a difference and once the marriage takes place there will never be a divorce.

4. The good part is that it is based on grace not on the works of the law. This is based on truth and the power of God and it will be a lovely marriage and one that is not just a fake marriage. What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. Up until that day 1 Peter 1:8 says, "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

Salvation by grace through faith is a gift of God. When a person is saved, he should reach and catch the hand of Jesus and walk hand in hand with Him the rest of our stay in this alien world. We are pilgrims on our way to the New Jerusalem. People should notice the difference in us just by observing our daily lives.

Peter talks about our pilgrimage in 1 Peter 2:9-11, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"

1) Peter says, "But ye are a chosen generation." The word "chosen" translates, "picked out, chosen to obtain salvation through Christ."The word "generation" translates, "genos" and means, "kindred, offspring." Think about this. This word could not be used if we as believers had not partaken of the divine nature. We are the offsprings of God. I'm trying to say this in different ways so you will not miss the meaning. This has reference to the New Birth. We are born of God and that literally makes us His offspring. Would someone please hold my mules!!! Hallelujah!!!

The word "royal" translates "basileios" and means, "royal, kingly, regal." We are this by birth. Royalty is made by birth. The word "priesthood" translates, "hierateuma" and means, "the office of a priest." This places us in a responsible position to intercede for the unsaved world and our brothers and sisters in Christ. You say, "Preacher, I don't want to be a priest. I resign!" If you did that you would be resigning your salvation!" Every one that is born again was born into a family of priests.

The words "a holy nation" translates "ethnos" and means, "a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus." And these people are holy. This word holy is also translated "Saints." Every believer is a saint.

The words "a peculiar people" identify us as a peculiar people to the world. They do not understand that we cannot do the same things that they do. The Lord has called us to a separated life which means we do not live by lust but by faith. And faith is a response to God's Word. The modern philosophy of this world is "if it feels good do it." There is nothing wrong with feeling good. But the Lord Jesus has set guidelines on our behavior. There are some things that feel good that are wrong, and that would be something that you would not follow your lusts but Faith in the Christian way Book, i.e., the Bible.

Then Peter says, "that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." The word darkness includes the whole world system including their philosophy of what is right and what is wrong.. We no longer walk by their rules. We follows the Lordship of Christ and as we do the Lord fills us with His joy and in the process we show forth the praises of the Lord. Amen!!! I've had many new converts tell me how much they used to hate sacred music and now it is all that is played in the radio or television. God has limited our music in Ephesians 5:19-20, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"

1. You would be surprised how quickly your taste for music changes. I still run into Christians who do now want to give up the world and its music. This is the reason Ephesians 5:1 says, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"

1. Incidentally, it is totally inconsistent with the Christian faith to listen to music that does not glorify God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Just apply this verse to any song that you listen to and see if it glorifies God. If it does not, it is not what you need to be listening to.

MAN'S SALVATION IS NOT OBTAINED BY HIS WALK WITH GOD BUT HE IS SAVED FOR THE PURPOSE OF WALKING WITH GOD

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

God has chosen to save us by grace and so transform our lives that in the process that it will create a hunger in others to have what we have. When an unsaved man looks at a real Christian walking with God, he thinks that the Christian is saved because of his walk. That is the reason we should take the opportunity to correct that misunderstanding and testify of the saving grace that saves. Our walk gives us an opportunity to have an effective testimony. Once the unsaved man is saved by repenting and believing the gospel he will immediately have the capacity to understand spiritual truths. But not until.

1Peter 2:12 says, "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

Walking with God begins with salvation, it continues with our willing surrender to the Lordship of Christ. It is a life filled with joy and effectiveness and will be rewarded at the Judgment seat of Christ. It is not a life that goes around bragging about being filled with the Holy Spirit. If you are filled, you will have to tell no one. It will be obvious. Walking with God makes our testimony effective.

May the Lord bless this study to encourage you in your spiritual life and may a constant walk with God be the outcome.

In Christ

Bro. White