Grace, mercy and pardon

Pastor Carol Grace ♦ May 4, 2024 ♦ Leave a comment

Grace, mercy and pardon

Titus 3:3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 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, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Are you familiar with Titus? Titus is one of Paul’s pastoral letters. The pastoral letters of 1 & 2 Timothy, Philemon and Titus are called that because, unlike the epistles, these letters are not written for the body of believers but instead, to specific leaders. But, although these letters are more personal in nature, we can still find inspiration and instruction.

Titus was the son of two Gentile parents and was converted when he heard Paul preach. He traveled with Paul and at some point they visited the island of Crete where the gospel message really took off. Churches started and Paul left Titus to choose leaders for the churches. The letter to Titus sets out the qualities of leaders, and reminds him of what we all were like before our salvation. Paul knew that sometimes Christ followers need to be reminded that God didn’t call us because we were righteous, he made us righteous after he called us.

So Paul tells Titus that God saved each one of us through grace, mercy and pardon. Grace always comes first. It is that wonderful free gift that we don’t deserve, yet God pours it upon us so that we can be reconciled to him through salvation. Mercy necessarily follows grace and if it did not, then grace would not be sufficient. But we know that cannot be—God’s grace is always sufficient. God will always show mercy to us, sparing us from the judgment we deserve. If God shows us mercy, then we must show mercy to others.

What follows grace and mercy? Pardon, where we are forgiven, and when we are forgiven we must likewise forgive. Forgiveness is not a choice for Christ followers. We forgive not because we feel like forgiving, but because we are told to forgive. We may not feel the warm fuzzies—it is not an emotional response but rather an act of obedience to God.

How much of this letter can apply to us today? All of it. We need to be willing to go to the cross as many times as it is needed. Why? Because it is in the shadow of the cross where our sins are covered, it is the shadow of the cross where we learn humility, and it is in the shadow of the cross where we receive our freedom.

I think of Fanny Crosby’s song, “In the Cross,” and recall that fourth stanza:

Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

It is not a matter of begging God for salvation repeatedly because our initial experience was not enough. The salvation available through Jesus is always enough. It is understanding that as long as we are on this earth, we are under the canopy of sin. Our sin problem was resolved on the cross, but our sin nature remains.

What is sin? Anything that separates us from God. But, the gulf caused by sin is spanned by the cross and access comes first through grace, and then through repentance. Not remorse, not regret, but turning away from sin and toward a holy God.

We are heirs to the promise of eternal life through Christ Jesus. Let us purpose to act like it.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.