Titus 3:5 *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;
Not by 'our' works of righteousness. Check? Check!
Which we HAVE DONE, Check? Check? Check!
But according to His mercy he saved us. (Mercy not getting what we deserve (punishment) due to not doing what we should have (disobedience). Check? Check!
By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost...washing and renewing, both work of the Holy Spirit. Check? Checkmate!
Not by 'our' works of righteousness. Check? Check!
Which we HAVE DONE, Check? Check? Check!
But according to His mercy he saved us. (Mercy not getting what we deserve (punishment) due to not doing what we should have (disobedience). Check? Check!
By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost...washing and renewing, both work of the Holy Spirit. Check? Checkmate!
Not by OUR works of righteousness. One cannot be saved by dong his OWN righteousness but can be saved by doing GOD'S righteousness. Some fail, or simply refuse, to make the distinction between one doing his OWN righteousness and doing GOD'S righteousness. The two are different as night and day.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Note how Paul makes a distinction between the Jews going about to establish THEIR OWN righteousness and submitting/obeying GOD'S righteousness.
No one here that I have seen has said a man can be saved by doing HIS OWN righteousness. But the bible does teach a man can be saved by doing/submitting to GOD'S righteousness.
Titus 3:5 is the new birth Jesus spoke of in Jn 3:5, and Paul said in Tts 3:5 that Christ saved us by the washing of regeneration/born of water/water baptism. So obedience in submitting to water baptism (God's righteousness) is CONTRASTED to works of our own righteousness we have done.