Titus 3:4-5 says, “4 But when the kindness of Elohim our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, [through Yeshua] 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,” Paul is sharing with Titus that our regeneration and renewal…salvation if you will, comes as a result of what Yeshua did based on the Abrahamic covenant.  This covenant is based on faith, even though, as you read through the covenant YHVH made with Abraham, you will definitely see that there were “deeds” he had to do as he entered this covenant; we also have something to do, and that is confess and repent [turn away from our sins] in order to receive salvation.  Salvation is about justification; our works that follow our faith is about sanctification.  The Torah/Teachings and Instructions given at Sinai was given to a redeemed people…it’s the instructions for HOW to walk as a redeemed person. 

In John 3:1-8 we read; “1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Yeshua by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from Elohim as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless Elohim is with him.” 3 Yeshua answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of Elohim.”  4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Yeshua answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohim. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” It all begins with the Spirit of YHVH and from that, as we are renewed/sanctified, we receive His wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and fear [reverence] of YHVH.

Colossians 3:10 says, “and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—” When does this renewal happen? When we have had our personal Passover…when I’ve made “the Lamb” “My Lamb”.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” The concept of renewal is all through the Scriptures.  Our heavenly Father gave us Passover in the springtime to give us an outward manifestation of the inward work that goes on inside of us when we submit to the drawing of the Spirit. It happens when we get born again, and then day by day and year by year different areas of our lives are renewed to the image of the Savior if we allow the Spirit to do the work.  We can say, based on patterns in the Word, we have been renewed in our spirit, we are being renewed in our mind, will and emotions to which actions follow and we will yet be renewed in our body at the resurrection.

Have a blessed and shalom filled day!!

Tammy McLendon

Courtesy of
River of Life Tabernacle
Tammy McLendon
Great peace have they who love Your law. Psalm 119:165a