I think “photoshopping” is a pretty cool invention.I like pictures and I like the ability to digitally edit them.Especially pictures of myself.I can’t believe how bad I can look in a photograph, and I like having the ability to manipulate the picture on the computer to the point where I am actually not so embarrassed by what I see.I will take a better looking me even if it is not the real me, anytime.Which I think is true for most people, and I am not just talking about pictures that come from a camera.I am talking about pictures of themselves spiritually.Most people prefer seeing themselves in the best possible light, even if it is not actually reality.When it comes to who we are spiritually, we all tend to really be into photoshop; we think of ourselves as righteous and upright and wise and holy and if we see any picture of ourself that seems different, we manipulate that picture to the point where we can look at ourselves and still think of ourselves as something seriously special.Like someone who, sinking in the ocean grabs at anything he thinks will keep his head above water, people whose souls would sink if they really looked at what they were doing and who they were, grab hold of the smallest, most minute, reasons to think they are good people.They may be watching pornography but they’ll say at least I’m not living in adultery.They may be living in adultery but they’ll say at least I don’t have one-night stands.They may be having one-night stands but they’ll say at least I feel bad about it.They magnify the importance of the good things they do in order to minimize the seriousness of the bad things they do.You talk to some who is prejudiced and he might say at least I attend church.You talk to a prostitute and she might say at least I’m a good mother.You talk to a person who is lying bold-faced and they’ll say at least I’m nice and thinking about people’s feelings.No matter what sins people are involved in, you’ll find that they have an amazing ability to rationalize away their sins, to do spiritual photoshop even to the worst of them.Maybe they’ll change the name of sin.Or they’ll use common little sayings to justify their sin.They’ll blame their actions on everyone but themselves.They’ll use the world’s opinion to justify their behavior.They’ll bring up the religious things they do as an excuse.They’ll twist Scripture to defend what they do.They make selfishness the ultimate standard for right and wrong.Most people do whatever it takes to maintain an image of themselves in their minds as good people and will do anything they can to avoid seeing themselves in a bad light; which is a problem on so many levels.This is a major problem and it is a major problem on so many levels. I am not sure that deleting bad pictures of yourself on a camera is going to do you much harm, but being unwilling to look very carefully at bad pictures of yourself spiritually is going to do a whole lot of damage.For one thing, it will keep you from appreciating your need of salvation.We are beginning a series on the doctrine of salvation, but I AM GOING TO LAY IT DOWN HERE AT THE BEGINNING AS AN IRREFUTABLE LAW:You will never appreciate the doctrine of salvation until you are personally gripped by your need of it.If this were a varsity class and I was a lecturer and we were at the beginning looking at the syllabi together, I would have it right up there on the list of requirements for the course, you will not understand anything that I am saying really, if you don’t have a deep sense of your need of salvation.Which is why I want us to look carefully at the way Paul goes about helping us feel our need of salvation in verse 3 of Titus 3. He gives us a picture of ourselves, pre-salvation, and believe me, this picture is not photoshopped.In the least.In this verse, Paul identifies six characteristics that were true of each and every one of us before God saved us, which we will look at next time.