Tit 3:5-7 | TNotes | STEP | 3:5 not because ... but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16 ). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8 ). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9 ; John 3:1-15 ; Eph 5:26 ; Heb 10:22 ; 2 Pet 1:9 . • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2 ; 2 Cor 5:17 ; Col 3:10 ).

3:5 ^a not because ... but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16 ^b). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8 ^c).

• He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9 ^d; John 3:1-15 ^e; Eph 5:26 ^f; Heb 10:22 ^g; 2 Pet 1:9 ^h.

• and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2 ⁱ; 2 Cor 5:17 ^j; Col 3:10 ^k).
3:7 ^l The first half of this verse sums up 3:4-6 ^m. The second half supplies the purpose for what God did.

• made us right in his sight: See Rom 3:20-28 ⁿ; Gal 2:16-17 ^o.

• inherit eternal life: The Spirit (Titus 3:5 ^p) is often linked with our status as heirs (see Rom 8:15-17 ^q; 1 Cor 6:9-11 ^r; Gal 4:6-7 ^s; Eph 1:13-14 ^t).