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Today, we’ll finish the series on the trustworthy sayings.
This is a formula Paul used in the letters to his mentees Timothy and Titus
It basically means “Listen Up” “Hear this” take note and learn.
Today’s saying is found in Titus 3:8
Titus was one of Paul’s most trusted co-workers.
He was a full Gentile that Paul refused to circumcise.
He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem for the Council in Acts 15 on how to deal with the Gentiles coming into the church.
This book focuses on advice Paul gives to Titus about his work in Crete.
There was a group of false teachers on Crete who opposed Paul’s gospel.
Their error related to what a godly lifestyle was expected of all believers.
The focus then was on heresy among the church and culture.
The brief message of this book is seen in two ways.
Christian character is emphasized in 1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1–2, 8
Christian doctrine is summarized in 2:11–14 and 3:4–7
Believers are to live right because they have been made right with God.
We are to take on the family characteristics of our Father.
The goal of Christianity is not only heaven when we die, but Christlikeness now.
The purpose of our new life is to reach the lost with the gospel.
But Paul wants to make sure that his appeal to “good living” is not confused with “works righteousness.”
Let’s look at the passage of our study found in Titus 3:4-8
In the first two verses, Paul takes up the matter of standards for Christian conduct with regard to pagan society in general.
He reminds them to obedient to the civil authorities.
Then wanted them to show respect for all people.
He gives a list of behaviors they needed to project.
In verse 3, he reminds us of our condition prior to our commitment to Christ.
God Shows Mercy
Don’t you love the word “but”?
Verse 4 begins the word “but” that shows a strong contrast to what was previous stated.
As you look at verse 3 you would think there is no hope for any of us.
How could God love us, much less change us into a new creation?
After showing who we once were, Paul reveals what has been done for us.
At on time in our lives we were dead, doomed, and depraved, “But God”.
We were a spiritual corpse, controlled by our own sin nature, condemned with no hope, no future.
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love....appeared.”
God Cares For Us
The most basic truth of the Bible is that God loves us.
His goodness and His love have made an appearance in His Son Jesus, Christ.
His very character compels Him to loves us, the crown of His creation.
This kindness and love has its source in God our Savior.
Kindness root in Greek is the same as get our term “philanthropy”.
It’s a combination of two words “brotherly love” and “mankind”
God loves people made in His image, even the fallen ones.
His love provides the only way to be saved — Jesus
By his death, he saved us from our deserved punishment for disobeying God, taking that punishment upon himself.
When we become Christians, we can experience personally the kindness and love of God provided for us through the death of Christ.
A beautiful illustration of “the kindness of God,” read 2 Samuel and note David’s treatment of Mephibosheth, a little lame prince.
Because Mephibosheth was a part of Saul’s family, he expected to be slain.
But David, in kindness, spared him and treated him as one of his own sons at the palace table.
God love for us lead to
God Changes Us
This whole passage is one long sentence in the Greek.
The verb “He saved us” is the main verb of the sentence.
It’s tense implies completed action in past time.
This is the greatest verse in the Bible on the doctrine of regeneration, the new birth experienced by those who repent of their sin and put their trust completely and exclusively in Jesus Christ.
Paul begins by first telling how regeneration did not happen, countering the false thinking that has plagued humanity for all of our existence.
His words could not be clearer: “He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done.”
Salvation is not earned.
Regeneration is not something you can work up.
You were dead, spiritually—without a heartbeat, no pulse, nothing.
Any good you had done was “like filthy rags” in the eyes of a holy God (Isa 64:6 NKJV).
On your best day you had nothing to give God, and if you have never realized that, then you have never been saved.
“But,” Titus 3:4–5 says, “he saved us … according to His mercy.”
He delivered us from sin and its slavery, rescued us from death, hell, and the grave.
Why? Kindness, love, mercy.
What?
Saved us.
How? Washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
Regeneration consists negatively of removal of filth and positively of a renewing, both brought about by the Holy Spirit.
This is literally “through the bath of regeneration.”
It can refer to (1) the place of bathing, (2) the water of bathing, or (3) the act of bathing.
In Leviticus washings were a symbol of cleansing or purifying persons or things.
The term “regeneration” (palingenesia) is also a rare term, found only in Matt.
19:28 and here.
It is a compound from “again” (palin) and “birth” (genesis).
Therefore, it refers to the new birth brought about by the finished work of Christ and the wooing of the Spirit.
This is not a text that supports baptismal regeneration.
Baptism was the occasion for the public confession/profession (cf.
Acts 2:38) and the symbol of the believer’s death, burial, and resurrection with Christ in symbolic action
In the early church baptism was the opportunity of a person’s public profession of faith (“Jesus is Lord” cf.
Rom.
10:13).
The focus is the action of the Holy Spirit (i.e.
birthing and renewing).
“Renewing” means to cause someone or something to become new.
Grammatically it is synonymous with “rebirth.”
This is not two works of grace, but two aspects of one work.
This implies they are one event administered by the Holy Spirit.
This would be similar to John 3:5–8.
This is a way to say that the Spirit and the Word of God make us brand-new in Jesus Christ.
God Has Come For Us
These words remind us of the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled that first group of believers.
Paul and his associates (us) received the Holy Spirit abundantly (also translated “richly,” “generously”).
God is not stingy, he gives in abundance.
What God did then for the believers gathered in the upper room, He now does for every believer in and through regeneration.
His Spirit comes to be with us and in us abundantly.
God Comforts Us
Verse 7 begins with “So that”.
This a purpose statement.
It’s a result of an action.
So that what?
The phrase having been justified by his grace summarizes the our problem (needing justification) and God’s solution (justification by grace).
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