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, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 (NIV)
The Holy Spirit is the cleansing spring and fountain for all the pollutions of our depraved natures – Praise Him! He washes us, making us clean in God’s sight. What man could not do for Himself, God did, as the great Apostle writes in Romans 8:5-8 (NIV): “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” Indeed, we cannot please God by wallowing in our sinful natures. Even our perceived “righteous acts” accomplished by mere flesh are as filthy rags to the One Who clearly sees even the motivation behind each action. And remember the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, the Prophet Jeremiah writes. That is why we need a Savior. And He has not left us as orphans either. He has given us the Holy Spirit to indwell every believer in Him, empowering them to walk in a manner worthy of Christ.
The Holy Spirit marks the believer with a seal – a seal that cannot be broken. If we are His, we are always His. He cleanses and washes us making us whole. And who among us is not filled with pollutants? We daily need the cleansing of forgiveness, Amen? We can get awful dirty in this world can we not? The Holy Spirit is faithful to show us our sins - in all their ugliness - and points us back to the Savior. He woos us to come - to cast off our rebellion - and run back to Christ, the Lover of our souls. It does not take much for us to consider all our vanities, our lusts and perverseness, and our darkness and ignorance – not to mention our pride and disordered affections with our continual lust for more. And God wants us to look like Jesus, so that we may point others to the Savior of our soul. We will never be perfect and we are all in process, but we are certainly to be striving towards the great goal of walking as Jesus did, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for His glory and not for our own. And the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling every believer in Jesus, equips and empowers us to do so. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.** Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)**
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)