GIFT

No person is good enough to deserve any of God's blessings; salvation is the free gift of God's unmerited grace to sinners. --- pgs

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; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:5-6).

For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God ---- not by works, so that no one can boast  (Ephesians 2:8-9).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God:

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Robert Robinson, 1758). 

Regeneration

Mere outward reformation differs as much from regeneration as white-washing an old rotten house differs from pulling it down and building a new one in its place. Augustus Toplady

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 (Titus 3:4-7). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Come, O Come, Thou Quickening Spirit.

Creeds

Good morning!

Creeds. A good creed is a gate to the city that has foundations; a misleading creed may be a road to destruction, or if both misleading and alluring it may become what Shakespeare calls a primrose path to the eternal bonfire. ---- Joseph Cook. 

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine (Titus 1:7). 

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith  in Christ Jesus (II Timothy 3:14-15).

A hymn to be read, sung, or hummed to the glory of God: FOREVER SETTLED IN THE HEAVENS. 

2012.10.7 "Christ Returning"

Good Morning!

Read Titus 2:11-14. "We wait for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."

This is the basis of Christian living: grace teaches, trains and leads us step-by-step to godliness. Grace fills our lives, our thoughts, our dreams with one compelling truth: our Savior is coming! He saves us from the sting of death, judgment and hell. He loves us with an everlasting love. He will bring us at last to heaven.

Paul Settle