Titus 3:4-7

Saved By God's Mercy

Yet, God was gently disposed toward all mankind. He initiated efforts to save man by sending the Savior to earth. Though man may do a multitude of good deeds, he cannot earn salvation. Instead, man's salvation comes as a result of God's mercy. The loving Father extends that mercy through the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:4-5). Joseph H. Thayer, in his Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, says the word "regeneration" means "new birth." A careful comparison with Romans 6:3-4 clearly shows Paul is talking about baptism since it is in that watery grave that one finds newness of life (see also 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:26).

Of course, salvation is not complete without the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Peter told the Pentecost assembly to "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Christians are bought with a price and have become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. He is the symbol of our hope in God's love which has been given to us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 5:5). In Titus 3:6, Paul describes Christ as having poured out the Spirit upon those penitents who were baptized.

The Revised Standard Version begins Titus 3:7 with the words "so that." When we obey God in the washing of the new birth and receive the renewing of the Holy Spirit, God justifies us by his grace (Galatians 2:16). Obedience then is a means of access to God's favor, not a work of merit. It is the means by which a sinner reaches the blood of Christ which is found in his death (John 19:31-34; Colossians 2:12; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 5:9). After he is washed in the blood, God adopts him and makes him an heir of the hope of heaven (Galatians 3:26-29; Galatians 4:1-7).