Titus 3:5

“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” – Titus 3:5.

We were once “foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”  “BUT” – something changed. “When the kindness and love of God” – when love and kindness appeared, something changed. We were transformed from what we were, to something altogether different. The love of God awoke and invoked a response in our own heart, our own lives.

“not by works of righteousness which we have done” – this change is not because of what we have done.

“but according to His mercy He saved us” – it was mercy that saved us, it is mercy and Grace that has changed us.

“through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” – through [washing] + [renewing] or [regeneration] + [Holy Spirit]. This sounds just like being born again, as Jesus taught in John 3:1-5.

An application:

As an “overseer”, Lord, please, wash me and renew me. Please transform me as I am born again into your family. Amen.