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The importance of faith cannot be overstated, but it must be placed in the truth. By definition, faith is a belief that endures in the face of doubt, and it includes trust and reliance. Therefore, as Paul confirms for Titus, it must be in someone who is faithful, truthful, and reliable. It must be in God – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Faith allows us to access the Grace whereby we are saved from the price of our imperfections. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Is the Apostle Paul contradicting himself in these above two descriptions? Are works required or not? As always, we need to place these verses back into the context of where they were written. In both, Paul is telling us that Grace is what saves. Titus 3:7, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

But once saving is experienced, a change in relationship with God requires the building of a divine nature within us, which is visible in our good works and words. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The journey begins with God’s mercy, manifests in our life as Grace, and lives in the way we follow Christ as part of His spiritual body on earth, the church. Titus 3:4-5, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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;”

Faith allows us access to saving Grace, but saving Grace allows our faith to live through good works. James 2:18, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

The importance of faith cannot be overstated, but it must be placed in the truth. By definition, faith is a belief that endures in the face of doubt, and it includes trust and reliance. Therefore, as Paul confirms for Titus, it must be in someone who is faithful, truthful, and reliable. It must be in God – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Faith allows us to access the Grace whereby we are saved from the price of our imperfections. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Is the Apostle Paul contradicting himself in these above two descriptions? Are works required or not? As always, we need to place these verses back into the context of where they were written. In both, Paul is telling us that Grace is what saves. Titus 3:7, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

But once saving is experienced, a change in relationship with God requires the building of a divine nature within us, which is visible in our good works and words. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The journey begins with God’s mercy, manifests in our life as Grace, and lives in the way we follow Christ as part of His spiritual body on earth, the church. Titus 3:4-5, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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;”

Faith allows us access to saving Grace, but saving Grace allows our faith to live through good works. James 2:18, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”