Titus 3:1-15
Saved in Order to Do Good
1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.
Final Remarks
12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.
In Titus 3, Paul provides a beautiful companion to our studies on the Sermon on the Mount and John 14, as it serves as a bridge between our internal faith and how we treat the world around us...In this letter to Titus, Paul provides a clear roadmap for how believers should conduct themselves in a complex society, emphasizing that our "good works" are not the cause of our salvation, but the natural result of the mercy we have received...This chapter really highlights the "washing of rebirth" that gives us a fresh start every day...It’s a great reminder that while we work hard around the house and in our jobs and career, our spiritual standing is a gift we simply receive from God...
Paul's words to Titus serve as a powerful reminder of how the Truth of the Gospel should manifest in our daily interactions with the world and with one another...Paul begins by instructing Titus to remind the believers to be "subject to rulers and authorities," to be obedient, and to be "ready to do whatever is good"...We should always do what is good, because this is what God wants...He wants us to be loving and forgiving, not vengeful, gaslighting, and deceiving with our speech...This call to integrity is especially vital for those of us who believe in studying the Sermon on the Mount and the comforting promises of John 14...We know that Jesus didn't just offer us a way to heaven; He offered us a Way to live on earth that reflects the character of the Father...When we choose to speak with honesty and kindness instead of using our words to manipulate or control others, we are showing the world that we have been "washed" by a different spirit...
Paul is echoing the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the Light of the world, showing that our faith is not a private matter but a public testimony of the peace we have found in Christ, and that we do want to follow Him and live like Him, knowing He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...Paul is particularly concerned with our speech and temperament, urging us to "slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone"...This gentleness is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of the strength we find in Philippians 4:13, knowing that our security is in God and not in winning earthly arguments or asserting our own will...We don't have to wind every argument with everyone, but we can listen and be attentive and forgiving of others when we believe their opinions are wrong...Whether we are interacting with neighbors or facing the stresses of health challenges and recoveries, our call is to reflect the calm, steady assurance that comes from belonging to the household of God...Let us at the time of our disagreeing with our neighbors, bring in the Fruits of the Spirit, which are always good to follow...
To help us maintain this humble posture, Paul reminds us of our own history before we encountered the Truth, noting that "at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures"...By acknowledging our past state, Paul strikes a death blow to the legalism and always following rules and the law, without consideration of the Spirit of the Law and the heart that Jesus teaches...So often following the letter of the law leads to a judgmental spirit; we cannot look down on others when we remember that we were once in the same darkness...
Paul shifts the narrative beautifully in verse 4: "But when the kindness and LOVE of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy"... This is the heart of the Gospel—that salvation is a gift of pure grace, a "washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" whom God poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ...This "washing" is a complete spiritual surgery, far more profound than any physical procedure like a pacemaker installation, because it gives us a new heart and a new standing as heirs with the hope of eternal life...We are saved by Jesus in order to do good and thus more like Him...When we rest in this type of work and are more like Him, our anxieties about "measuring up" or maintaining a perfect checklist begin to fade, replaced by the peace that Jesus promised in John 14...Just as a pacemaker regulates the rhythm of the physical heart, the Holy Spirit regulates the rhythm of our spiritual lives, keeping us in sync with God's Grace...
Being critical and judgmental can hurt our relationships with others...Paul is very clear about this...And he tells us that while works do not save us, those who have trusted in God must "be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good" and to be good to others...He emphasizes that these things are "excellent and profitable for everyone," contrasting them with "foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law," which he describes as unprofitable and useless...This is a vital lesson for us today: we must stay focused on the "noble, right, and pure" things Paul mentioned to the Philippians, rather than getting entangled in divisive debates when we are critical and judgmental of others and that this only serves to steal our peace and our relationships with others...As we look out through the large windows of our lives at a world that is often angry and divided, we are called to be the peacemakers Jesus spoke of, offering a different way of living that is rooted in the "kindness and love of God"...We serve as mentors to the next generation, including those who are working hard to increase their goodness and fruits of their Spirit, by showing them that the greatest strength of all is found in a life submitted to the grace of Jesus Christ...
As Paul concludes his letter, he mentions his fellow laborers like Artemas, Tychicus, and Zenas the lawyer, showing that the work of the Gospel is a team effort involving people from all walks of life...He reminds the church once more to "learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives"...Paul's words are a call to and active, practical love—the kind of love that supports a spouse, helps a neighbor in distress, or encourages a fellow believer through a season of grieving...Paul’s final blessing, "Grace be with you all," serves as the perfect bookend to his teachings; it is grace that starts the journey, grace that sustains us through every trials and tribulations, and grace that will lead us home...When we believe the Truth about God's mercy, we are empowered to live lives that are truly profitable, standing firm in the peace of the LORD and reflecting His light to everyone we meet... Amen...