Titus 3.8a-Paul Affirms the Trustworthiness of His Doctrinal Statement Recorded in Titus 3.4-7
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday August 24, 2014
Titus: Titus 3:8a-Paul Affirms the Trustworthiness of His Doctrinal Statement Recorded in Titus 3:4-7
Lesson # 34
Please turn in your Bibles to Titus 3:4.
Titus 3:1 Continue to make it your habit of reminding them to make it their habit of voluntarily subjecting themselves to governmental rulers, or in other words, governmental authorities by making it their habit of being obedient, to be ready for any kind of act which is divine good in quality and character. 2 They are to be characterized as slandering absolutely no one, to be characterized as peaceable, magnanimous with the result that together they show every consideration for each and every member of the human race. 3 For, we ourselves also, at one time, were existing in the state of being foolish ones, disobedient ones, deceived ones, those enslaved to various lusts as well as pleasures, continually spending our lives in malice as well as envy, hateful ones, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness, yes the love for mankind originating from the Savior who is our God was manifested, 5 He saved us, by no means on the basis of meritorious actions as constituting its source. In other words, on the basis of human self-righteousness which we ourselves have done. But rather on the basis of His mercy as constituting the standard, by means of a washing produced by regeneration, specifically, a renovation produced by the Spirit who is holy, 6 whom He poured out upon us in full measure through Jesus who is the Christ, our Savior. 7 The divine purpose was accomplished so that we became heirs in order that we can confidently expect to experience eternal life because we have been justified by this His grace. (My translation)
Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. (NASB95)
“This is a trustworthy statement” is composed of the following: (1) adjective pistos (πιστός), “a trustworthy” and the noun logos (λόγος), “statement.”
This expression πιστὸς ὁ λόγος appears five times in the Pastorals, three in 1 Timothy (1:15; 3:1; 4:9), once in 2 Timothy (2:11) and once in Titus (3:8).
In Titus 3:8, “this is a trustworthy statement” is referring to Paul’s teaching in Titus 3:4-7 and is affirming this teaching as possessing trustworthy statements regarding when the Christian was saved and the basis for their salvation, the means by which they were saved as well as the purpose for which they were saved.
In Titus 3:8, the apostle Paul is employing the figure of “asyndeton” in order to emphasize the statement “this is a trustworthy statement” is important for the Christian community to understand.
This figure emphasizes how serious Paul viewed his teaching in Titus 3:4-7 regarding the Christian’s salvation and its importance to the spiritual growth of the body of Christ, which is the household of God, i.e. the local assembly, the church.
If they do not know on what basis they were saved, or the means by which they saved and when they were saved and through whom they were saved, they can not possibly grow to spiritual maturity while producing good works.
The reason this is the case is that the post-conversion spiritual life of the Christian is based upon God’s grace policy just as their conversion was based upon this grace policy.
If the Christian does not know this, they can never lead others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The adjective pistos means “faithful, trustworthy” and is modifying the noun logos, which means “statement” and refers to the statement Paul communicated in Titus 3:4-7.
Pistos expresses the idea that Paul’s teaching in Titus 3:4-7 is an accurate and faithful presentation of the gospel or in other words, a faithful and accurate presentation of God’s message to the entire human race.
The adjective pertains to the fact that this teaching in Titus 3:4-7 is worthy of trust or belief and is dependable and implies that it originates from God and is inspired by Him.
This adjective is ascribed to Paul’s teaching in Titus 3:4-7 expressing the fact that it is an articulation of the gospel as well as an expression of Paul’s apostolic authority.
It is designed to rebuke and refute those pastors in Crete who sought to be teachers of the Law and taught false doctrine.
It implicitly rejects the Law as the basis for eternal salvation and as the means of transforming the sinner into an obedient child and servant of God.
It epitomizes what Paul has been saying throughout his epistle to Titus.
The noun logos means “statement” or “saying” and denotes a declaration or an assertion, which is identified in Titus 3:4-7 and is thus referring to Paul’s teaching in these verses.
Therefore, it refers to the doctrinal statement contained in Titus 3:4-7.
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness, yes the love for mankind originating from the Savior who is our God was manifested, 5 He saved us, by no means on the basis of meritorious actions as constituting its source. In other words, on the basis of human self-righteousness which we ourselves have done. But rather on the basis of His mercy as constituting the standard, by means of a washing produced by regeneration, specifically, a renovation produced by the Spirit who is holy, 6 whom He poured out upon us in full measure through Jesus who is the Christ, our Savior. 7 The divine purpose was accomplished so that we became heirs in order that we can confidently expect to experience eternal life because we have been justified by this His grace. (My translation)
In verses 4-5, Paul teaches that when God’s kindness was manifested through the First Advent of His Son Jesus Christ and in particular through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ, He saved the Christian.
This means His Son provided the offer of eternal salvation to each and every member of the human race through His death and resurrection.
Then, the apostle teaches in verse 5 that the Christian was not saved based upon their own merits or in other words, by their own human self-righteousness.
But rather the Father saved the Christian based upon His mercy which is an expression of His attribute of love.
This love was manifested through the cross of His Son.
In verse 5, Paul teaches that the means by which the Christian was saved was the regenerating work of the Spirit.
In verse 6, he teaches that the Father poured out the Spirit on the Christian in full measure through His Son Jesus or in other words, through their faith in His Son.
Thus, the grace of the Father was manifested in time through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
In verse 7, Paul teaches that the Father’s purpose in saving the Christian through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ and on the basis of His mercy and by means of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit was accomplished in time at the Christian’s conversion.
He teaches that the Father’s purpose for saving the church age believer was so that they would become His heirs.
The benefits which the Christian will receive in the future as a result of being made an heir of God include a resurrection body which they will receive at the resurrection of the church as well as rewards at the Bema Seat if they were faithful in time.
It also includes entrance into the millennial kingdom and the new heavens and new earth as well as the new Jerusalem.
Paul teaches in verse 7 that the Father’s purpose in making the Christian His heir was so that they can confidently expect to experience eternal life in the present and into eternity future.
He also teaches in verse 7 that the Christian became an heir in order that they can confidently expect to experience eternal life now in the present and for all eternity because they were justified by God the Father’s grace policy.
Lastly in verse 7, he teaches that God’s grace policy was the means by which the Christian was declared justified.
The Father’s grace policy was manifested through the work of the Son and the Spirit which is indicated by Paul’s statements in Titus 3:4-6.