Responding to kindness, love of God

Christians had to be good citizens without compromising their faith. While others (non-Christians) may rebel, a Christian is to submit, ready for every good work.

Our heavenly citizenship (Php3:20) does not absolve us from our responsibilities as citizens here and now.

Graceful conduct, treatment of men in general (Tit3:2)

Titus 3:1–2 NASB95

1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

And this morning we will look at the “why.”

So, we will start with gleaning from the passage

Our condition prior to the kindness, love of God (Tit2:3)

Our condition after the kindness, love of God (Tit2:4-7)

Simply Christians Studying God’s Word

Open your bibles together to Tit3:3-7 and let’s glean from the scripture together.

Titus 3:3 NASB95

3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

What was our condition before the kindness and love of God (v.3)?

Titus 3:4–5 NASB95

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

What did the kindness and love of God do for man (v.5)?

How did it do it (v.5)?

Titus 3:6–7 NASB95

6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

What is the results of the pouring out (v.7)

Justified, made heirs!

Our Condition before

Because of the love of God (Jn3:16); Jesus made the way (Jn14:6) to change everything. From who “we” once were.

Who “we” were

It is important to remember who “we” were. This is we, meaning all man kind, for we all fall short (Rom3:23) in fact you can look at Rom1-3 where Paul lays out everyone’s need for the gospel. In this one verse Paul reminds of some important fact on who we were.

We were foolish, disobedient, deceived (Tit3:3; Eph4:17-18)

When you think of these words, give you best definition.

Foolish (anoetos) - not understanding, unwise, foolish - Thayer

Disobedient (apeithes) - unwilling to be persuaded, unbelieving, disobedient - TCWD

Deceived (planao) - those seduced, gone astray - TCWD

How about another bible look at these?

Ephesians 4:17–18 NASB95

17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;

We once walked, but are to no longer walk in the old ways.

Serving various lusts (Tit3:3; Eph4:19; Jude4)

What does it mean to lust?

Slaves to various passions and pleasures (ESV)

Enslaved to various lusts and pleasures (NASB)

Not served or gratified by our lusts and pleasures, but living, as their slaves, a life of misery and wretchedness - Clarke

Given over to lewdness

Ephesians 4:19 NKJV

19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

or to licentiousness

Jude 4 NASB95

4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Living in malice and envy (Tit3:3)

What does malice and envy mean?

Malice (kakia) - ill-will; desire to injure - Thayer

Envy (phthonos) -envy, jealousy, pain felt and malignity conceived at the sight of excellence or happiness (of others) - TCWD

Hateful and hating one another (Tit3:3; Rom1:28-32)

What does it mean to be hateful and hating?

Hateful (Stugetos) - hated, detestable - Thayer

Our conduct was such as to be worthy of the hatred of others - Barnes

Hating one another (miseo allenon) - implying active ill, will, in words and conduct, a persecuting spirit - TCWB

The bible shows this as a condition of those who are left to their own moral degradation or who trade the truth

Romans 1:28–29 NASB95

28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,

Romans 1:30–31 NASB95

30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

Romans 1:32 NASB95

32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

In looking at (Rom1:28-32) what facts do you see, can you pull out from the passage?

They knew God at one time and chose to acknowledge God any longer

God gave them over to a depraved mind

Not only did they hate, they gave hearty approval to others who did the same.

(Transition) - but the kindness and the love of God changes everything, now we are able to turn to that.

Our condition after

What a difference the kindness and love of God makes (v.4) for it brings salvation (v.5) through Jesus Christ (v.6) that makes us heirs (v.7). Now may we look how this all transpires together.

Maybe make a note of a bible illustration of this kind of kindness (2Sam9) the story of David’s kindness to Saul’s son Mephibosheth. He expected to be executed but David extended kindness. Having said that let’s press on.

Titus 3:4–5 ESV

4 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,

How are we saved according to (vv.4-5)?

What is the means (the way it happens), our regeneration (v.5)?

It was not through any works of merit done on by us on our part; Jesus did it, for we are saved by grace (Tit3:5; Eph2:8-9)

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The means (the way it happens) is the washing, regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Tit3:5-6; Rom6:3-5; Jn3:3-5)

Titus 3:5–6 NASB95

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

This can go hand int hand with

Romans 6:3–4 NASB95

3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:5 NASB95

5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

or even Jn3:3-5

John 3:3–5 NASB95

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Oh, now there are various opinions on this washing, cleansing, for look what it says:

Ephesians 5:26 NASB95

26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Vincent word study of this passage states

“. . . it distinctly refers to baptism, in connection with which and through which as a medium regeneration is conceived as taking place. (Rom6:3-5) It is true that nothing is said of faith; but baptism implies faith on the part of its recipient. It has no regenerating effect apart from faith; and the renewing of the Holy Spirit is not bestowed if faith be wanting.”

B.W. Johnson states” “all commentators of reputation refer this to baptism, such as Meyer, Olshausen, Lange, Plumptree, Schaff, Canon Cook, Wesley, Etc. Regeneration is due to the Holy Spirit, but baptism is an outward act that request to complete the fact (as noted in Jn3:3-5)

We are justified by grace (Tit3:7; Rom5:9; Eph1:7)

Justified (dikaloo) - to render just or innocent - Strongs

Justification comes through blood of Christ (Rom5:9)

Rom5:9 “9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”

We have forgiveness of sins through His blood (Eph1:7)

EPh1:7 “7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”

Such justification transpires when we are baptized for the forgiveness of sins and they are washed away (Act2:38, 22:16) and the Holy Spirit is given to us.

(Transition) Because of His mercy, we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and we are justified by grace we are now Heirs, so may we expand on that.

Heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Tit3:7; Rom6:22-23; Tit1:2; Rom8:17)

Titus 3:7 LEB

7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

That hope to be fulfilled at the end (Rom6:22-23)

Romans 6:22–23 NASB95

22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That promise that was made before time began (Tit1:2)

Titus 1:2 NKJV

2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

The hope, that promise that made us heirs with God, joint-heirs with Christ (Rom8:17)

Romans 8:17 NASB95

17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Now a couple more scriptures to keep in mind

Revelation 2:10 NASB95

10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

We need to be faithful until death (expand)

Matthew 24:13 NASB95

13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

(expand on this too) - Because we love God, we want to be faithful, we love God and love others, we keep His commands because we have Him.

(Insert How Great is our God picture here)

How great is our God, and the power of His kindness and love?

He takes the ungodly sinner, enemy of God and saves them, justifies them, makes them an heir with God and co-heir with Christ.

This great kindness and love is available to all Tit2:11 “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,”

This great kindness and love was poured out because God desires all men to be saved 1Tim2:3-6 “3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”

This great kindness and love desires that none should perish but all should come to repentance 2Pt3:9 “9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

This great kindness and love is an open invitation to all who desire, or whosoever desires Rev22:17 “17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

Now, having said all that, looked at all that, may we take a second and go back and read our passage again to have a fuller appreciation so to properly respond to the kindness and love of God.

Titus 3:3–4 NASB95

3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,

Titus 3:5–6 NASB95

Titus 3:7 NASB95

7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.