“When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:4,5).

We can’t avoid the question. There are forms to fill out and boxes to be checked. “Who are you?” they ask.

Married, single; widowed, divorced. Male, female. Liberal, conservative; Democrat, Republican. Tall, short; plus-size, petite. Outgoing, introverted; fun, boring.

A sinner

Who am I? You’d think we’d know the answer, but how often do we fixate on it or try to figure it out?

And how many times has the answer become just another excuse to sin? Lazy. “It’s who I am,” we say, as we try to justify our failures as a parent, a spouse, a child, a friend, an employee. Stubborn. “It’s who I am,” we say, as we refuse to change sinful attitudes and behaviors or to admit our guilt and confess our sin.

It’s as though everyone else should just accept those things about us. As though we couldn’t change those things. And yet, that’s exactly who we are. Sinners.

There’s no form at the DMV that will ask for that information. As many boxes as there are to check on pages 2, 3, and 4, when we go to the doctor, none of them will ask about that. But it is who we are. Sinners.

A redeemed child of God

So what does God do? What does God say? “Yes, you’re right. You’re going to have to work on that. You’re just going to have to do better. Once you’ve cleaned up your act, as soon as you turn things around, check back with me. Then I’ll see what I can do.”

No. God saved us not because of who we are but because of who he is. “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”

When. The kindness. And love. Of God. Appeared.

In the virgin’s womb, in Bethlehem’s manger. In Jordan’s stream, in that devilish desert. On a grassy hill, on a stormy sea. In the upper room, in Gethsemane’s garden. On trial, on the cross. In the tomb, out of the tomb.

The kindness and love of God appeared in the person and work of Jesus, who lived and died and rose for us.

God saved us not because of who we are but because of who he is.

This kindness and this love and this Jesus continue to appear. In his gospel. In page after page of his Holy Word. In a shallow basin of water that still echoes the name of our triune God. In bread and wine, his body and blood.

Who am I? I was dead, but now I’m alive. I was blind, but now I see. Though I was his enemy, he graciously adopted me into his family. I am a dearly loved child of God. I am washed in the blood of Christ. I am robed with his righteousness. His innocence covers my guilt. In him I am forgiven. Through him I am holy.

That’s who I am. I am an heir, an heir of eternal life. And that’s who you are too. All because of the kindness and love of God.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you so loved the world—you so loved me—that you sent your only Son to be my Savior. Thank you. For him. For faith in him. For making me your dearly loved child. Amen.

Author: Stephen Helwig
Volume 112, Number 07
Issue: July 2025