When you hang around racing long enough you begin to pick up racing terms. The longer you are around the sport the more you pick up. But to really get a feel for what’s going on you need to spend time in the pits and in the garages. As I clicked around on the web I found dozens of terms used in racing. It was kind of cool to recognize many of them but there were a bunch I didn’t know such as a Delaware start. The Delaware start is a restart style where the leader begins in the first row all by himself.

We have read and studied the book of Titus where we find a number of theological terms. We could be intimidated by them but we should want to get to know them and understand what they mean. Let’s read through some of them and try to catch their meaning.

Remember that Titus 3: 3 reminds us that we are sinners undeserving of anything good. In fact, there is nothing inherently good in us. Sin separates us from God and it is this same sin that has us heading toward the ultimate separation for eternity in hell. That would be disastrous if it were not for the those great words that follow in verses 4-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 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, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Sinner – Missing the mark. God sets the standard and gives us His Word and commands. All men, every person, has fallen short of them. That makes every one of us sinners and as much as God loves us, He hates sin and those who sin. We need help, we are needy.
Saved – From what and to what? We are saved from hell to heaven and to worship God as we see in Revelation chapters four and five. Why and how are we saved? Because Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and then took on our sin and nailed them to the cross. He died a pain-filled death on the cross. But He rose from the grave and many saw Him and spoke to Him after his resurrection.
Righteousness – It is a character trait. A condition of heart and life that is approved by God. Righteousness is conformity to God in a way that is acceptable to God. As Baker Bible Dictionary for Kids says, it is harmony with God.
Mercy – Mercy is closely related to compassion. It is not getting the wrath and punishment we deserve. It is a sinner not getting thrown into the flames of hell because God pours out His mercy upon us.
Regeneration – Moral renovation or to bring back life. It is radical change. A change of heart and change of mind. Regeneration is God changing a heart that hates to a heart that loves. It is a heart that formerly thinks only of self, changed to thinking of God first and what pleases Him instead of what pleases our flesh. Then thinking of others second.
Renewal – This is not the same, but similar to regeneration. Renewal is to be made new, not the same as before, changed, made back to new. A complete change for the better. Like in Romans 12:2 the mind needs to be made new, it needs to align with God.
Poured out Spirit – This is exclusive. It is only for the chosen, the elect, the saved. Are you one of those? Is your spirit stirring in need? Do you long for Jesus and to repent? God pours out His spirit, the Holy Spirit on the saved at the point of salvation and seals the person.
Justified – Also at salvation we are justified. We are deemed, declared, rendered right, righteous. Do you marvel at this? So unworthy yet God moves upon a sinner and makes him right in God’s eyes. WOW!
Grace – Getting what we don’t deserve. Grace is favor, kindness of God. Grace cost Jesus for us to be given favor. It is kindness leading to salvation.
Heirs – Inheritable, the privileges of being family (Matthew 25:34; Mark 10:17; Romans 8:17,24; Titus 1:2)
Hope – Joy from looking into the future with the confidence that what is promised will happen. The hope is not in what is to come as much as it is the “WHO.” The “WHO” we place our hope, trust, and faith in is that of Jesus Christ our LORD.
Eternal Life – Scott Buhrow of Your Choice Ministry presents the choice, heaven or hell? There are two and only two destinations for eternity. They both last forever and there is no escape as Hebrews 9:27 illuminates. This is the most important, critical thing we will think about and do in all of our life. We must get it right. Don’t miss out. The cost is too high to get wrong.