Elder Devotional: Titus 3:3-7

The Past (3): For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Paul reflects upon the depraved state of unbelief that he and Titus, along with others have all shared. This is meant to be a reflective basis for the Christian behavior that Titus is to remind the people in Crete of in verses 1-2. There is to be a pastoral reflection that “we ourselves” once lived the same way as those who we instruct.

Such reflection should cultivate humility in the heart of the pastor as to cause him to carry out the ministry with understanding and patience towards others under our charge.

Why is this helpful for us to remember?

The Means (4-6): But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Notice that Paul describes God as manifesting His goodness and loving kindness through the the Savior (4). God is the one who initiated this manifestation in our direction and on our behalf. In this sense God is the means and the one who has provided the practical means for us.

God is the one who saved us (5) and it had nothing to do with the good works done by us. This salvation was not merited by us as to prompt God to work His salvation for us. It was God’s mercy, and the agency of the Holy Spirit working regeneration and renewal in us (born again).

The Holy Spirit was poured out on us through Jesus Christ (6). Notice that the whole of the Godhead was actively involved in the salvation of believers. And that the initiating work was from God towards man without any contribution from man’s good works. The Holy Spirit is the regenerating agent who applies the work of Christ to our lives.

This is a critical text when it comes to election being conditional on man’s part. Man did not act as to motivate God to elect. That would be conditional election and would be the determining factor in God electing someone. This does not liberate the will of man but instead makes the will bound to fate. Though most Arminians hold to this because of their desire to protect human autonomy but it puts the will into the bondage of fatalism.

This is because man would not be able to do anything other than what God saw him do in the future. When the present arrives man is bound in the will to act as God saw him act and man is not free to do other.

How does the reformed (biblical) doctrine of “free will” (volition) keep us from fatalism?

The End (7): so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This work done by God (justification) and initiated by Him has made us heirs of eternal life (7). God’s work of salvation has secured for us a glorious end. We are secured by Him as heirs of the promise of eternal life.

What makes this hope secure?

Is this critical for the believer to be aware of? Why?