Tit 3:5 | KingComments | STEP | . In the previous chapter Paul speaks about how the different groups must behave in the house of God. In this chapter he deals with the attitude of the Christian in the world. The Cretans may know that they are redeemed from their lawless deeds ( ), but that doesn’t mean that they should ignore the authorities (cf. ; ). They know indeed that they ought to subject themselves to the government, but it seems that they have forgotten that. Titus must remind them of that. They possibly are influenced by their former life. In those days they did not care about anyone, even not about the civilian authorities. How is that with you? Do you also struggle with acknowledging the authorities? How do you comply with the traffic instructions or filling out forms for a student grant or your income tax declaration or other forms of the government by which you claim to be entitled to a certain compensation? It might be necessary for you to be reminded not to be swayed by the spirit of rebellion against authority or the softer form of civil disobedience. I certainly need that. Besides, not only obedience is required, but it is expected of you that you are “ready for every good work”. In this case it implies that you cooperate with the government in all things what is good for the nation and society. That means that what you do, has to meet the will of God. . In this verse it is not only about the government, but about “all men”. What is written here applies toward all people. How do your neighbors, fellow classmates or colleagues know you? Be careful not to speak with contempt about your unbelieving neighbor who may live like a ‘lazy glutton’ or an ‘evil beast’. How do you consider your unbelieving colleague? The command “to malign no one” regards the unbelievers here. I hope you do not participate in a gossip that may be going around about a colleague. I also hope that you are known as someone who is “peaceable” and not as someone who is argumentative or contentious, but much more as someone who is “gentle”, kind and helpful. It cannot be right that you are kind to your brothers and sisters and in the meantime quarrel with your neighbor because he parked his car on the very spot where you normally park yours, even if he did that on purpose just to annoy you. You then miss the chance to show “every consideration for all men”. ‘All men’ is not ‘all men except for your annoying neighbor’. If you show gentleness you show a wonderful feature of the Lord Jesus, Who says to you that you can learn this from Him ( ). In that way people will see that you are a citizen from another realm. The whole conduct radiates gentleness, always kind and helpful to ‘all men’, not only to nice people. . The remembrance of how you were will help you to bring the previous into practice. Then you will be able to show people the same love that God has shown to you. The most terrible things that other people may possibly insult you with in the heart of your being, do not come from a source that is more evil than your old nature. Therefore, remember that you too can come to the most terrible deeds if the Lord does not keep you. Therefore you cannot speak with contempt about a criminal, how great and just your abhorrence may be about his deeds. How were you yourself once (and unfortunately may possibly still be at times)? 1. You were “foolish”, which means: without reason. That is not flattering for people who think of themselves to be very smart. 2. You were also “disobedient”, not be willing to do anything you were asked to do. 3. You also did not see the purpose of your life, you were “deceived” or were “wandering”, for you were just wandering without knowing in which direction you would come out. 4. That led you to a life where you were ‘addicted to’ and were “enslaved to various lusts and pleasures”. 5. You were spending your life “in malice and envy”. You did not tolerate the other to enjoy anything he had; you wanted to have what he had. 6. Your whole performance was “hateful”, revolting. 7. The pleasure you had was fake, for the atmosphere where you abided was one where people were “hating one another”. . If God had dealt with you according to your behavior, you would have perished. But fortunately He did not. Instead on the contrary He dealt with you in His “kindness … and [His] love for mankind”. Therefore you are still alive and you have not ended up in the ditch, and will not, what is still worse, end up in hell. His ‘kindness’ has totally changed you. That kindness is supposed to be seen in you by people. You are not kind because others are kind to you, but because you are a Christian. While you were hateful He showed His ‘love for mankind’ to you. In that way He showed you that He cares about you because of who you are as a human being. Speaking with reverence, God acted that way because He could not otherwise. That love for mankind must be visible in you for others, not because they show you love, but because you cannot otherwise. . How did God save you? Certainly not on the basis of your own works, for those were all unrighteous before your conversion. Even your so-called good works of which you thought that God should consider for righteousness were condemnable ( ). You were absolutely totally unable to present anything to God that He could reward with salvation. But what you were not able to do, God did as an expression of “His mercy”. Instead of pouring out His righteous wrath over you He held that back and gave you in His grace what you could never achieve: salvation. Mercy presumes the greatest need of its object and also the necessary means for help, in order to fulfill the need. So God has saved you because He is merciful. To save you He used two means. The first means is “the washing of regeneration”. Although regeneration looks very much like the new birth ( ), yet it is not the same. While the new birth happens in you, inwardly, the regeneration is more an outward matter. You can conclude that from the only other time that the word ‘regeneration’ appears and that is in Matthew 19 ( ). In that case regeneration refers to the time that the kingdom of God has outwardly come, whereby the Lord Jesus reigns on earth and His own reign together with Him. Creation will then be regenerated as it were. All things you will then see are new. What then will be the general situation now already applies to you personally. To you that new condition has come already. The sins you were living in once ( ), have been washed away. This washing happened through the Word ( ; cf. ; ). Due to that your behavior has totally changed. What people see of you is not anymore what you once were, but is from the world that is to come. Nevertheless the only way for you to live like that is because something has happened to you inwardly. Your outward life happens from the inside, where “the renewing by the Holy Spirit” has taken place. The renewing by the Holy Spirit means the renewing that comes from Him and is worked by Him. Through this renewing work of the Holy Spirit you have received a new spiritual ability through which you are able to see and think in accordance with God ( , the only other place where the word ‘renewed’ is used). The Holy Spirit is the source of a completely new life, of totally new thoughts. . There is not only mention of the work of the Spirit, but also of the gift of the Spirit. He has been given to you ( ) and gives power to the new life, that this new life may be expressed. He works a daily renewal in you and also liberates you from the old life you lived. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event that has taken place on the day of Pentecost ( ; ). The Lord Jesus has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father as a result of and because of His work, Whom He then poured out. He did not do that scarcely, but “richly”. Think about it: You are not only born of Him, but He works in you and is available to you. He dwells in you and abides in you and reveals everything to you what is yours in Christ. Because of the Holy Spirit you can richly enjoy the true life, the life in abundance ( ). Now read Titus 3:1-6 again. Reflection: What are the differences between the past and present in your life?

‏ Titus 3:5

Once and Now

Tit 3:1. In the previous chapter Paul speaks about how the different groups must behave in the house of God. In this chapter he deals with the attitude of the Christian in the world. The Cretans may know that they are redeemed from their lawless deeds (Tit 2:14), but that doesn’t mean that they should ignore the authorities (cf. 1Pet 2:13-14; Rom 13:1).

They know indeed that they ought to subject themselves to the government, but it seems that they have forgotten that. Titus must remind them of that. They possibly are influenced by their former life. In those days they did not care about anyone, even not about the civilian authorities.

How is that with you? Do you also struggle with acknowledging the authorities? How do you comply with the traffic instructions or filling out forms for a student grant or your income tax declaration or other forms of the government by which you claim to be entitled to a certain compensation? It might be necessary for you to be reminded not to be swayed by the spirit of rebellion against authority or the softer form of civil disobedience. I certainly need that.

Besides, not only obedience is required, but it is expected of you that you are “ready for every good work”. In this case it implies that you cooperate with the government in all things what is good for the nation and society. That means that what you do, has to meet the will of God.

Tit 3:2. In this verse it is not only about the government, but about “all men”. What is written here applies toward all people. How do your neighbors, fellow classmates or colleagues know you? Be careful not to speak with contempt about your unbelieving neighbor who may live like a ‘lazy glutton’ or an ‘evil beast’. How do you consider your unbelieving colleague? The command “to malign no one” regards the unbelievers here. I hope you do not participate in a gossip that may be going around about a colleague.

I also hope that you are known as someone who is “peaceable” and not as someone who is argumentative or contentious, but much more as someone who is “gentle”, kind and helpful. It cannot be right that you are kind to your brothers and sisters and in the meantime quarrel with your neighbor because he parked his car on the very spot where you normally park yours, even if he did that on purpose just to annoy you. You then miss the chance to show “every consideration for all men”. ‘All men’ is not ‘all men except for your annoying neighbor’.

If you show gentleness you show a wonderful feature of the Lord Jesus, Who says to you that you can learn this from Him (Mt 11:29). In that way people will see that you are a citizen from another realm. The whole conduct radiates gentleness, always kind and helpful to ‘all men’, not only to nice people.

Tit 3:3. The remembrance of how you were will help you to bring the previous into practice. Then you will be able to show people the same love that God has shown to you. The most terrible things that other people may possibly insult you with in the heart of your being, do not come from a source that is more evil than your old nature. Therefore, remember that you too can come to the most terrible deeds if the Lord does not keep you. Therefore you cannot speak with contempt about a criminal, how great and just your abhorrence may be about his deeds.

How were you yourself once (and unfortunately may possibly still be at times)?

1. You were “foolish”, which means: without reason. That is not flattering for people who think of themselves to be very smart.

2. You were also “disobedient”, not be willing to do anything you were asked to do.

3. You also did not see the purpose of your life, you were “deceived” or were “wandering”, for you were just wandering without knowing in which direction you would come out.

4. That led you to a life where you were ‘addicted to’ and were “enslaved to various lusts and pleasures”.

5. You were spending your life “in malice and envy”. You did not tolerate the other to enjoy anything he had; you wanted to have what he had.

6. Your whole performance was “hateful”, revolting.

7. The pleasure you had was fake, for the atmosphere where you abided was one where people were “hating one another”.

Tit 3:4. If God had dealt with you according to your behavior, you would have perished. But fortunately He did not. Instead on the contrary He dealt with you in His “kindness … and [His] love for mankind”. Therefore you are still alive and you have not ended up in the ditch, and will not, what is still worse, end up in hell.

His ‘kindness’ has totally changed you. That kindness is supposed to be seen in you by people. You are not kind because others are kind to you, but because you are a Christian. While you were hateful He showed His ‘love for mankind’ to you. In that way He showed you that He cares about you because of who you are as a human being. Speaking with reverence, God acted that way because He could not otherwise. That love for mankind must be visible in you for others, not because they show you love, but because you cannot otherwise.

Tit 3:5. How did God save you? Certainly not on the basis of your own works, for those were all unrighteous before your conversion. Even your so-called good works of which you thought that God should consider for righteousness were condemnable (Isa 64:6). You were absolutely totally unable to present anything to God that He could reward with salvation.

But what you were not able to do, God did as an expression of “His mercy”. Instead of pouring out His righteous wrath over you He held that back and gave you in His grace what you could never achieve: salvation. Mercy presumes the greatest need of its object and also the necessary means for help, in order to fulfill the need.

So God has saved you because He is merciful. To save you He used two means. The first means is “the washing of regeneration”. Although regeneration looks very much like the new birth (Jn 3:3-6), yet it is not the same. While the new birth happens in you, inwardly, the regeneration is more an outward matter.

You can conclude that from the only other time that the word ‘regeneration’ appears and that is in Matthew 19 (Mt 19:28). In that case regeneration refers to the time that the kingdom of God has outwardly come, whereby the Lord Jesus reigns on earth and His own reign together with Him. Creation will then be regenerated as it were. All things you will then see are new.

What then will be the general situation now already applies to you personally. To you that new condition has come already. The sins you were living in once (Tit 3:3), have been washed away. This washing happened through the Word (Eph 5:26; cf. Jam 1:18; 1Pet 1:23). Due to that your behavior has totally changed. What people see of you is not anymore what you once were, but is from the world that is to come.

Nevertheless the only way for you to live like that is because something has happened to you inwardly. Your outward life happens from the inside, where “the renewing by the Holy Spirit” has taken place. The renewing by the Holy Spirit means the renewing that comes from Him and is worked by Him. Through this renewing work of the Holy Spirit you have received a new spiritual ability through which you are able to see and think in accordance with God (Rom 12:2, the only other place where the word ‘renewed’ is used). The Holy Spirit is the source of a completely new life, of totally new thoughts.

Tit 3:6. There is not only mention of the work of the Spirit, but also of the gift of the Spirit. He has been given to you (Eph 1:13) and gives power to the new life, that this new life may be expressed. He works a daily renewal in you and also liberates you from the old life you lived. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event that has taken place on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:33; 1Cor 12:13). The Lord Jesus has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father as a result of and because of His work, Whom He then poured out. He did not do that scarcely, but “richly”.

Think about it: You are not only born of Him, but He works in you and is available to you. He dwells in you and abides in you and reveals everything to you what is yours in Christ. Because of the Holy Spirit you can richly enjoy the true life, the life in abundance (Jn 10:10).

Now read Titus 3:1-6 again.

Reflection: What are the differences between the past and present in your life?