CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
Titus 3:4. After that the kindness.—The original word (χρηστότης) is a beautiful word for a beautiful grace, pervading and penetrating the whole nature, mellowing there what would have been harsh and austere. Christ’s yoke is said to be easy (χρηστός), i.e. it has nothing galling in it. And love of God our Saviour toward man.—The R.V., by bringing “love toward man” into closer connection, has brought us nearer to “philanthropy”—St. Paul’s word. It was necessary to cleanse the word from its heathenish use and degeneracy of meaning before taking it into the New Testament. Only again there, Acts 28:2.
Titus 3:5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done.—R.V. “works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves.” They are works done in the spirit of a righteous man which are spoken of. But according to His mercy.—“If of grace [mercy], it is no more of works.” Our verse is a truly Pauline sentiment, and may say something for the authenticity of the letter. See Ezekiel 36:21: “I had pity for Mine holy name.… I do not this for your sakes.” By the washing of regeneration.—R.V. margin, “through the laver.” Baptismal regeneration can only be found here by substituting the sign for the thing signified. [Note in this verse the use of the prepositions. “Not out of works,” “in righteousness,” according to His mercy,” “by means of the washing.”]
Titus 3:7. Being justified by His grace.—The pronoun leads Alford to say it is the grace of the Father. If St. Paul had been fastidious in his use of words we might think so. It seems better to admit, with Winer, that the usage is departed from in this case—the grace being, as usual, that of our Lord Jesus Christ.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Titus 3:4-7
The Programme of Salvation.
I. Salvation originates in the philanthropy of God (Titus 3:4).—There was nothing impelling God to save men but His own loving-kindness. His grace, flowing over in streams of beneficence, is the practical manifestation of that love. Love is its own perennial fount of blessing and the inspiration of the noblest acts. Life without love would be intolerably dreary. Love is unselfish, and must find outlets for its exercise, though it is lavished on unworthy objects. Life, the world, the universe, is all the richer for the revelation of the love of God.
II. Salvation is an act of unmerited mercy.—“Not by works of righteousness … but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). As an old writer has said, “We neither did works of righteousness nor were saved by them, but His goodness did the whole.” Salvation is a manifestation to the soul of the Divine mercy. Faith, as our part in the personal realisation of salvation, is not mentioned, but is presupposed. The object of the apostle here is to describe the Divine side of the work, and to show that our salvation was brought about independent of all merit on our part. Every saved sinner can sing,—
“’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.”
III. Salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit.—“By the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the HolyGhost; which He shed on us abundantly” (Titus 3:5-6). As the priests in the old tabernacle had to wash in the laver of cleansing before they could enter in the Holy Place to minister before the Lord, so the sinner must be cleansed in the laver of regeneration before he can enter upon the service of God, in which service the work of inward renewal is perpetually going on. The washing and the renewing are the work of the Holy Spirit, and the renewing is perfected by the abundant shedding forth of the Spirit’s influence. “I know my soul am as clean as cotton,” said an old Baptist negro, “’cause I was immersed when de tide was running over.”
IV Salvation entitles man to an inheritance of future blessedness.—“Made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7). Being justified by Divine grace, we are constituted heirs of God, and the heirship inspires the hope of possessing the inheritance of eternal life, and entitles us to it. Eternal life is the grand realisation of the hope. Until we are saved we are without hope; but once possessing the blessed hope we have the strongest motive for leading a life of practical holiness, which is the prominent argument of the apostle in the paragraph.
Lessons.—
1. Salvation is wholly a Divine work.
2. Salvation is realised by the agency of the Holy Spirit.
3. Salvation fits the soul for eternal glory.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
Titus 3:4-7.—The Source of Salvation.
I.—Salvation is based on Divine mercy.
II. Is independent of human merit.
III. Is provided abundantly.—
1. As an exhibition of abundant mercy.
2. As a remedy for great sin.
3. As a provision for all who will repent.
IV. Is everlasting.—
1. Justification a ground of hope.
2. Eternal life the object of hope.—F. W.
Titus 3:5. Salvation.
I. The salvation effected for us.—
1. In general, the deliverance from any evil.
2. In particular, salvation from sin. From its guilt, misery, power, and stain, and from the wrath of God.
3. It is a certain salvation. “He saved us.” The veracity of God ensures it; the experience of the believer exemplifies it.
II. The medium through which it flows.—Not through human goodness, but Divine mercy, both in its origin and course.
III. The agency by which it is imparted.—The cleansing and renewing power of the Holy Spirit.
Lessons.—
1. Here we have cause for humility.
2. Gratitude.
3. Diligence.