Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humilty to all men. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:1-7
In closing his letter to Titus, Paul admonished Titus to remind believers under his care of their attitudes toward others including: Their rulers and authorities for one, whether they are believers or unbelievers, and with people in general, and reminding them of their own previous state as lost in sin. But for their gracious salvation through Jesus Christ, which is their righteous testimony to an unsaved world, and of their responsibilty to oppose false teachers and false doctrines within the church. All of these matters are essential to effective evangelism. Submission to the authority of Scripture demands submission to human authorities as part of a Christian’s testimony. Christians are to exemplify these godly virtues in their dealings with everyone. The admonition applies especially to dealings with unbelivers. The use of this phrase here is in general to all those who cross our path (all men). Paul reminds us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that, before salvation we were living lives that were characterized by such sins. And with that sobering truth should make believers humble in dealing with the unsaved, even those who are grossly caught up in immoral and ungodly behavior. If it weren’t for God’s grace to His own, they/we would be still guilty of the same wicked sins. The kindness and love of God—Without a doubt, Jesus Christ is our evidence that God loves us! Paul was speaking here of the incarnate Savior who was kindness and love appearing in human form. Not by works—Salvation has never been nor never will be by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9) washing of regeneration—Salvation is described for us in the O.T. as a cleansing that will wash away all sin (Ezekiel 36:25-31). And such cleansing was symbolized in the Mosaic rite of purification for the concept of sprinkling in cleansing (Numbers 19_17-19). Our salvation brings divine cleansing from sin and the gift of a new, Spirit -generated life, Spirit-empowered life, and Spirit- protected life as God’s own children and heirs of His kingdom life. The Holy Spirit is the agent of the “working of regeneration. When believers are saved, Christ’s Spirit blesses them beyond measure (But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law) Galatians 5:22-23.
Beloved friend, The central truth of salvation is justified by faith alone. When a sinner repents and places his/her faith in Jesus Christ, God declares them just, and imputes the righteousness of Christ to them, and gives them eternal life by virtue of the substitionary death of Christ as the penalty for that sinner’s iniquity. We become ” heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).
May the Lord bless your walk with Him!
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