Daily Bible Verse - 9/20/2007 - Titus 3:5

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,

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;

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,

Titus 3:5

Commentary
3:5not by works of righteousness: Since Paul has been exhorting Titus to emphasize good works in his ministry with the Cretans, he wants to make it clear that such works have no value in saving a person. Rather, it is solely on the basis of God's mercy that we are delivered from the penalty of our sin.
washing of regeneration: This phrase refers to the work of the Holy Spirit, who in a moment makes a person new by the cleansing of regeneration (the new birth). This new nature is the ground for living the Christian life and performing good deeds.
renewing of the Holy Spirit: The continual process of Christian living is enabled by the Holy Spirit, resulting in growth in character and good works.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Tit 3:5). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Regeneration
(Gk. palingenēsia, lit. "becoming again" or "being born again") is produced by "the word of truth" (James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23) and the Holy Spirit (John 3:5, 6). Regeneration and renewal describe the work of God in changing a heart from one that has a propensity to evil to one that is capable of faith and good works (Ezek. 36:26, 27).

Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (Tit 3:5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Daily Bible Verse - 9/19/2007 - Isaiah 44:22

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

"I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."

Isaiah 44:22

Commentary
blotted out .. your sins. Further reassurances of God's sovereign grace at work on behalf of Israel were given (43:25). God had blotted out their sins written in His book against them (cf. Rev. 20:12). As a person can't see what is ahead because it is blocked by a "thick cloud," so God obliterated the sins of those He redeemed.
Return to Me. God has already provided for redemption, even before the cross, but based on it alone. For those who turn from sin and return to Him, there is redemption (because the purchase price for the sinner was paid by the sacrifice of Christ). The Lord calls on His people to repent so they may receive the promised redemption (cf. Neh. 1:9; Jer 4:1; 24:7; Joel 2:12; Zech. 1:3; Mal. 3:7; Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Rom. 3:25,26; Heb. 9:15).

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Is 44:22). Nashville: Word Pub.