(4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (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; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (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.
I beg the Reader to make a full pause over the wonderful relation given of the divine mercy, in the sovereign act of grace, here ascribed to the personal agency of God the Holy Ghost. And I beg of him to ponder it yet more, as being the first act which is wrought openly upon the child of God in a life of grace, which calls him forth into a spiritual apprehension of things, to know his election, and adoption character; his being in Christ, and his interest from Christ, to all the privileges of a child of God, and an heir of the kingdom. Before this act of regeneration is wrought, though chosen in Christ and being one with Christ, in an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure; the child of God, like the child in nature, born to a great inheritance, hath no consciousness of it. But when the hour is come, and the washing of regeneration takes place; the new born heir of the inheritance, which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, is brought forth, to a spiritual, and eternal life in Christ, which can die no more. I must compress a great deal within a small compass, and, therefore, shall only mark down, one by one, a few of the more prominent features, of those acts of mercy.
And, first: let the Reader notice with me, what the Apostle saith in the introduction of the subject. It was after, that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared. By which, perhaps, is meant, that not only after God the Father's everlasting love, in the original choice of the Church in Christ, had taken place; but also, after the love of God our Savior, in coming, during the time-state of the Church, to redeem his Church from the ruin of the fall, had been accomplished, God the Spirit came to accomplish his Almighty purpose of grace no less; and by that act of regeneration, brought the child of God into an ability of enjoying the vast privileges of God the Father's electing love, and God the Son's redeeming mercy.
Secondly. Let the Reader also observe, how the Apostle traceth the mercy to its own original source. Not by works of righteousness which we have done. No! it would cease to have been grace, had any merit, on the part of the creature, been taken into the account. But so far is this from being the case, that the scripture uniformly, in every part, makes it appear, that, as it was when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly: Romans 5:6. so it was when we were dead in trespasses and sins; the Holy Ghost quickened the Church, into a new and spiritual life. Ephesians 2:1
Thirdly, Let the Reader duly consider no less, the cause for which God the Holy Ghost accomplisheth this sovereign act of his, in every instance; namely, as He saith himself, by the Apostle: Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father! Galatians 4:6. Because ye are sons. It is not that this act of God the Holy Ghost, may make them so; for sons they were before, though sinful sons. But because ye are sons, God the Holy Ghost stands engaged, in Covenant engagements, to recover every individual child of God, whom God the Father hath given to his Son, and whom he hath predestinated, to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself; and whose redemption, God the Son hath purchased by his blood; God the Holy Ghost hath undertaken, and will perform it in every instance, to quicken into spiritual life, from the death of sin, in the Adam-nature fall, and make willing in the day of his power. See those scriptures Ephesians 1:4-5; Colossians 1:14-22; Isaiah 44:3-5; Ezekiel 37:11-14. I have dwelt the more particularly on this sweet feature of our holy faith, (for it is both sweet, and precious), that the Reader may be in no danger, (if it so pleaseth the Lord), of being led away by the ill-judged, and mistaken expressions of some, who, from being ignorant of the electing and predestinating love of God's adoption of his children by Christ before all worlds, have called them heirs of hell, and children of the devil, when before conversion. But, blessed he God! they never were in the least related to such a stock, even in their worst days, when doing the work of Satan, and wearing his livery. They were always, and from everlasting, God's children; though long rebellious children. See Galatians 4:6 and Ephesians 2:3 with Commentary, both places. Isaiah 30:1
Fourthly. The regeneration of the child of God, is of such vast importance, in the principles of our holy faith, that before it is wrought, we have no proper apprehension of any one saving mercy. So that, it is this immense act of grace, (than which an equally great one can never more, even in heaven itself, be done), which brings the soul into life and light, and joy and peace in believing, abounding in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13. From this blessed day, the spirit hath witnessing from the Spirit, of our adoption character. Romans 8:16. Justification also, which is an act of God, conceived in the eternal purpose of God from all eternity, and by which the persons of his elect are accepted in Christ, as justified freely by his blood and righteousness; this immense mercy also is in the right of enjoyment at regeneration. And, as the Apostle here speaks, being justified by his grace, they are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life; all these blessings begin, to open upon the soul: neither can they ever after close, but extend more and more to the view, under divine teaching, by the Holy Ghost. Well, therefore, might the Apostle run up all these things, to the fountain head in regeneration; and seeing such blessedness pours in therefrom upon the human state, charge Titus to affirm these things constantly, as a faithful saying; and enjoin all that believe in God, from a work of regeneration having passed upon their spirit, to be careful to maintain good works, which are the gracious fruits, and effects, through divine influences, which must result thereof Romans Reader! what saith the experience of your heart, in correspondence to these precious things?