STUDIES IN THE EPISTLE OF TITUS –PART 20

                                   5/16/04

 

Chapter 3, verse 5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done…”   Of the numerous verses emphasizing salvation is not by human works ( see Romans 4:6, 3:20, 3:28, 9:32-33, 11:6, 10:3-4, Gal. 2:16, 3:10, Eph.2:8-9, II Tim. 1:9, Heb. 6:1)—this verse is the only place in the NT where the human works are called “righteousness”. Phil. 3:6-7 is similar. 

   Further, such ‘righteous works’ could not save in view of the fact that they are absent from the life of the unregenerate, as made clear in verse 3!  The word “righteousness” (dikaiosunas) refers to a legal

concept as in being in the right in a court of law.  The unconverted are not “in the right” concerning works before God.

 

  “but according to his mercy, he saved us..” these words qualify

how the “saving” took place.  It is entirely according the standard (Greek-kata) of God’s pity to us.  “saved”= aorist tense—the entirety of the saving work (past,present & future); also is in the indicative mood, expressing reality; with active voice showing that God (the subject) did the action.

   “saved” includes God’s action of deliverance of sinners from the

[1] guilt of their sin- John 3:17, Romans 5:9, I Tim. 1:15

[2] power of their sin- I Tim. 4:16, Rom.8:24

[3] presence of sin- Phil. 3:20,  Titus 2:13

  Many references in NT speak of salvation in the broad expression of

the entire work of deliverance accomplished thru Christ.

 

“by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit”- Paul uses dia (by) with the genitive case to express intermediate agency;  that is, what did God use in this saving act?

   There are a number of interpretations of these phrases, most of which make water baptism central to the meaning.  Such theology elevates water baptism to a sacramental power of forgiveness or cleansing.

   Consistent with the view that baptism is testimonial, not sacramental, consider the following:

 1) “washing”  is the spiritual effect of the word of God cleansing our

  lives- see Eph.5:26; that is, scripture brings a change in moral

  behavior from uncleanness to godliness. 

 2) “regeneration” speaks of the imputation of new life, synonymous

   with being born again (John 3:3,5).  In I Peter 2:23, this new birth

   is related to the word of God. 

 

Page 2

 

3) The genitive case used here for both words is qualitative.  By that is

  meant “regeneration that washes”.  Our deliverance (by God) is

  caused by the power of God’s word in imparting life and godliness.

4) “renewing”- as a result of this regeneration/cleansing, the believer

  is free from the dominion of the old life/man and has a new life/man-

  see Eph. 4:22-24.

5) “the Holy Spirit”-  with these words there is again the use of the

  genitive case to emphasize quality.  The quality of this renewal is

  by or from God’s own Spirit who transforms those who have been

  regenerated.

6)  All of this is from “his mercy” that “saved us”—the intermediate

  agency of God’s act of saving is this “washing…renewing..”  It is

  merciful for God to wash, regenerate, renew and give us His Spirit.

 

Chapter 3, verse 6-“which he shed on us abundantly…”-the

   word, “which”, refers to Holy Spirit.   “shed”=poured (NIV, NKJV)-   

   is modified by ‘abundantly’= richly.  This thought expresses the

   fullness of the power of the H.Spirit made available to the NT

   believer and encompasses the entire range of the ministries of the

   Spirit to the believer.  God has not been stingy in His providing this

   essential ministry.

     We move from initial salvation to progressive sanctification in these

few verses.