Tit 3:4-7 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
In verse three of this chapter, Paul describes a condition we were once in. He says we were “sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” It doesn’t sound like we were a very likable group, nor did we just decide one day that we would change. Something miraculous happened after we were in this condition.
After it was revealed to us that we were in this wretched condition, something wondrous shined upon us and became known to us (see Strong’s definition of “appeared”)! We became recipients of the revelation of the kindness and love or God. I say we received the revelation of this because the reality was always so in the mind and purpose of God (Eph 1:4). The verses under consideration here also clearly show the divinity of Jesus by Paul’s reference in verse four to “God our Savior” and in verse six to “Jesus Christ our Savior:” Jesus is Emanuel (God with us).
Note that nothing which came after was by anything we have done. The appearing of the love and kindness of God our Savior has nothing to do with us. We have performed no action of goodness (righteousness) that would cause God to be impressed with our worthiness. Our salvation is the direct result of God’s mercy toward us given in Christ, His only Begotten Son.
Our knowledge of, and joy in, our salvation (both our eternal security and our daily deliverance) comes by our immersion (washing) in the restoration we have through Jesus Christ (see Strong’s definition of “regeneration”). This renovation (renewing) is of the Holy Ghost. Notice that scripture does not say from the Holy Ghost as though it were something the Holy Ghost gives. Rather, it is of the Holy Ghost; something the Holy Ghost does.
Our God is not a God of half-measures. He has granted all this in abundance. Jesus Christ our Savior is the conduit for this great abundance of love and kindness our God has shown us in salvation. We are justified (to render [that is, show or regard as] just or innocent) by the grace of God. Our lives now reflect the divine influence of God in our hearts. The grace of God saves all His children, but we are especially blessed if He has chosen to reveal His grace in us here.
Being justified by His grace, we are made (caused to be) heirs. We have been given a possession that is incorruptible. This inheritance is in agreement with (according to) the pleasant anticipation and confidence (hope) of eternal life. This hope and inheritance becomes ours by experience after the kindness and love of God appears. It is ours by fact in the mind and purpose of God before the world was made, sealed in the sacrifice of God the Son, and made alive in our hearts by the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Again, these are the things that become sound doctrine (Tit 2:1), not by the wisdom of man but according to the inspired word of God.
May we rejoice in His absolute power over His creation to work His will according to His purpose in grace!
