Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

When the potter has the clay on the wheel and He spins us up and we get out of balance, He takes us off the wheel and reworks us. He doesn’t throw us away. He reshapes us.

Jesus had the Father send the Holy Spirit to do the work of regeneration and renewal.

That process never ends until this life is over and we receive that which is incorruptible.

Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This last line in chapter 5 of the sermon on the mount is puzzling to me. How can we who are imperfect be perfect? Then I saw the next sentence.

Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

Practice makes perfect.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith

Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

I make mistakes. Be merciful as He is merciful, practice righteousness.