He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5

If we want to seek God and his salvation in our lives, we could easily become convinced that we have changed ourselves to be ready to receive what God wishes to give us. This is not the case: over and over again, God tells us through the scriptures that He is the one who saves us, and the methods by which he has done so. More than the methods though, the motivation matters! Yes, the washing of rebirth, baptism and renewal has come to us through the Holy Spirit, but the reason that has come has nothing to do with our own fitness to claim them and everything to do with God’s right and willingness to extend mercy to us.

Why are we saved? Because God said so!

Ethan Kirl