According To His Mercy He Saved Us (Tit. 3:1-8) – Part 2

Wade Webster

Last week, we considered the reminder and the revelation of mercy. This week, we will cover two additional points.

The Restriction of Mercy

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done...” (Tit.3:5). Please note the first phrase of the verse.  We are not saved by works, but by God’s mercy. As you know, Paul said the same thing about grace (Eph. 2:8-9). Grace is unmerited favor. We don’t deserve it. We haven’t earned it. A very similar point is made concerning mercy in our text. Grace and mercy seem to be two sides of the same coin. Neither grace nor mercy can be earned. We don’t deserve to be saved or to escape judgment. When we have done all that is required of us, we are still unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10). We enjoy salvation simply because of God’s love and kindness and grace and mercy. It should be noted from Jesus’ statement that we must do what is required of us that we might receive that which we don’t deserve.

The Remission and Regeneration and Renewing of Mercy

“…but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Tit.3:5). Please note the last two phrases of the verse - but according to His mercy He saved us. Remember that mercy doesn’t give us what we deserve. We deserve punishment, but we receive pardon. Why? Because there is remission and regeneration. How? It is through the new birth or baptism. No doubt, you recall the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus (John 3:3-8). Surely, you can see the connections between our text - Titus 3:5 and John 3:3-5. We have connections to regeneration and renewing - “born again” (John 3:3). The word born suggests a beginning. The “again” implies a second time or a new time. We have connections to the Holy Ghost - “Spirit” (John 3:5). We have connections to washing - “water” (John 3:5). As you know, water is a key ingredient in washing. A passage from Paul’s pen to the saints at Ephesus may clarify this connection and others. Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27). Notice the reference to washing - the washing of regeneration. Paul spoke of the washing of water by the word. Here, we have washing connected with water and the word. Paul knew something about this. He had experienced it. The word of God had come to him telling him what he must do to be saved. The must was baptism (Acts 9:6,18). It was by being baptized that his sins were washed away (Acts 22:16). This was the washing of water by the word. This was being born of water and of the Spirit. This was being born again. This was the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Water and Spirit in John 3 are parallel to water and the word in Ephesians 5. As you know, the word is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). The Spirit uses the word to pierce men’s hearts and to make them clean (Acts 2:1-4, 37-38; John 15:3). It is fitting that the New Testament speaks of being born of the Spirit and being born of the word (1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 1:22-23). Let’s now connect another part of our text to baptism or washing - renewing. To the saints at Rome, Paul declared, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Those who are baptized into Christ and His death arise to walk in newness of life. Old things are passed away and everything has become new (2 Cor. 5:17). Let’s connected one more part of our text to baptism. Please note that according to His mercy He saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Having already connected washing and baptism and renewing and baptism, let’s connect the most important piece of all - salvation. We are saved by mercy. We are saved by baptism. Listen to Peter: “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (1 Pet. 3:21). We are saved by mercy when we are baptized (washed, renewed).

According To His Mercy He Saved Us

(Tit. 3:1-8) – Part 1

Wade Webster

In the opening verses of the book of Titus, Paul gave his son the threefold greeting of grace, mercy, and peace. In the verses that follow, Paul elaborates on these three wonderful things - grace (Tit. 2:11-14), mercy (Tit. 3:1-8), and peace (Tit. 3:9-11). Our focus is the mercy of God.

The Reminder of Mercy

“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another” (Tit. 3:1-3). Paul told Titus to remind the brethren to be merciful. They were to be careful how they treated others. Later, in the context, he spoke of affirming or reminding them of God’s mercy constantly or confidently (Tit. 3:8). They were to be subject to rulers and to obey them (Rom. 13:1-7). Furthermore, they were not to speak evil of any man. They were not to be brawlers or looking for a fight. They were to be gentle and meek toward all men. They were to remember that they had been in need of mercy in the past. They had been at times foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Of course, they would also need mercy in the future. In order to receive mercy, they had to show it. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7). James wrote, “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (Jas. 2:13). No doubt, you recall the Parable of the Unmerciful Judge (Matt. 18:23-35). The man who had been shown great mercy lost it when he refused to extend a modest amount of mercy to another.

The Revelation of Mercy

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared” (Tit. 3:4). Appeared is a word of revelation. You may remember that Paul used it of the grace of God in the second chapter of Titus. We read, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Tit. 2:11). Here, in our text, it is used of the kindness and the love of God. Later, in Hebrews, it will be used to refer to Jesus. We read, “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Heb. 9:24-28). We have three appearances of Christ mentioned here. He appears now in the presence of God for us. He appeared in the past to put away sin for us. He is appearing in the future to save us eternally. The kindness, love, and grace appeared when Jesus appeared the first time. They are manifest now as He appears in God’s presence for us. They will ultimately appear when He comes again to receive us to Himself.

Five Pictures of Hope

Wade Webster

The Bible gives us five powerful pictures of hope. Let’s quickly examine each of them.

Hope Is A Light Against The Darkness Of LIfe

Life can be dark. Paul spoke of a time when he had not seen “sun nor stars in many days” (Acts 27:20). Perhaps, you have been through one of these dark patches in life also. Although we as Christians face the dark problems of life, we have been provided with a light to help us to see through them. You might say that God has left a light on for us. In the book of First Kings we find the following statement, "Nevertheless for David's sake did the Lord His God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem (1 Kings 15:4; cf. Lev. 24:2-4; 1 Sam. 3:2-3; Psa. 132:17). In the context, we learn that times were dark in Israel. Wicked King Jereboam was on the throne and God's people were engulfed in a dark cloud. However, for the sake of David, God left a lamp of hope on for them.

Hope Is A Nail Against The Pressures Of Life

Have you ever felt like everything in your life was coming apart? Probably, we will all admit that there were times when we don’t know if we can hold things together or not. The pressures of life can threaten to tear us apart. Although we as Christians sometimes face some of the same pressures that those around us face, hope serves as a nail to hold things in place for us. Ezra, the great priest and restorer, asked God simply for a "nail in His holy place" (Ezra 9:8). Asking for a nail doesn't seem like much does it? Yet, Ezra realized that all that he needed was a little reason to hope. This nail would serve as a reminder that the temple could be rebuilt and that the people could be restored.

Hope Is A Door Against The Temptations Of Life

Have you ever felt trapped by temptation or problems? Have you ever wished for a way of escape? Hope provides a way of escape. To the saints at Corinth, Paul wrote, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able ; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). In like manner, through Hosea, God promised to provide His people with the valley of Achor, for a door of hope (Hos. 2:15; cf. 2 Kings 9:3, 10; 1 Cor. 10:13). In the midst of persecution and captivity, God's people must have felt like they were enclosed in a vault with no way out. To relieve these feelings, God provided them with a door to brighter days.

Hope Is A Helmet Against The Blows Of Life

Have you ever felt bloody and bruised from the blows of life? Although we as Christians suffer some of the same blows that others face, hope serves as a helmet to protect us. In addressing the Christians at Thessalonica, Paul told them to put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation (1 Thess. 5:8; cf. Eph. 6:10-17). No doubt, Paul knew how cruel life could be. More than once, he had felt life's blows (2 Cor. 11:23-25). Had it not been for the helmet of hope, he would not have made it.

Hope Is An Anchor Against The Storms Of Life

Have you ever felt as if the storms of life were going to blow you away? No doubt, most of us have experienced a few stormy days and nights. Although we as Christians are not immune to the high winds of life, we do have an anchor to help us ride out the storm. Paul spoke of hope as "an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast" (Heb. 6:19; cf. Col. 1:23). If you are familiar with the book of Hebrews, then you know that the Hebrew saints were being persecuted on every side. Paul wanted them to know that they could weather the storms of life with the anchor of hope (Psa. 16:8). He did not want them to be “tossed to and fro” and “carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:13-14). We know that he was speaking from experience because he had weathered a storm or two in this way (Acts 27:22-23, 29-30).

Are you living in hope (Tit. 1:2) or without hope (Eph. 2:12)? God wants you to know that there is hope for you. There's a light to help you see through the darkness of life, a nail to hold things together in the midst of the pressures of life, a door to help you escape from the temptations of life, a helmet to protect you from the blows of life, and an anchor to hold you through the storms of life. These things can be yours if you are willing to lay hold upon the hope set before you. Through God's grace, your obedience will let you face each day with the hope of eternal life (Tit. 2:11; Mat. 7:21). Hope is one of the key things that separates Christians from others (1 Thess. 4:13; 1 Pet. 3:15; 1 Cor. 15:55-58). Do you have this key difference? Do you have this sustaining power?

"This Is A Faithful Saying”

David Sproule

Five times in his letters, Paul used the expression, “This is a faithful saying,” and all of them are found in his letters to Timothy and Titus.  Of course, all Scripture is comprised of the “faithful sayings” of God, but let us see what we can learn from these five truths that Paul identifies as “faithful.”

The first “faithful saying” focuses on the purpose of the coming of Christ.  “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:15).  Didn’t Timothy already know that?  Of course, he did!  But we all need to be reminded regularly that Christ came into this world, not for Himself, but to save sinners like me!

The second “faithful saying” focuses on the paramount work of elders.  “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Tim. 3:1).  Being an elder is not a high position of honor and nobility.  It is not a promotion for successful deacons.  It is a position of service, as those who aspire to this “good work” set the work and needs of the church above themselves, indicative of their deep sense of dedication to the Lord.

The third “faithful saying” focuses on the PROFITABLENESS OF SELF-DISCIPLINE.  While it is true that “bodily exercise profits a little,” Christians must “exercise/discipline” themselves “toward godliness.  For…godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance” (1 Tim. 4:7-9).  We have many goals in life, but to which one are we constantly and rigorously training in order to reach?  May we discipline ourselves toward godliness!

The fourth “faithful saying” focuses on the PROMISES OF GOD.  “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.  If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.  If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:11-13).  If we are faithful to Him, we shall “live with Him” here and “reign with Him” in eternity.  But, if we are not faithful, He is still faithful and will bring upon us His just consequences.  His promises are greater than we deserve!

The fifth “faithful saying” focuses on the PRACTICE OF DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING.  “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works” (Tit. 3:8).  We are busy people.  God tells us to be busy and to take the lead in engaging in “good works,” which He has detailed for us in Scripture and which should characterize His children.

God’s faithful sayings should propel us to faithfulness.

Pray And Not Lose Heart

Wade Webster

The last few weeks, we have been examining prayer. In the first few lessons we noticed prayer and watching, prayer and fasting, prayer and seeking, prayer and confessing, and other things. In this lesson, we are going to notice prayer and one of the NOT connections. We will focus in this lesson on praying and not losing heart.

Perhaps, you recall the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Luke introduces the parable with the following words, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). The Greek word translated as lose heart means “to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted.” The weariness that this widow felt was more than physical. It was emotional. It was not just weariness of body, but also weariness of soul. The Hebrew writer declared, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:3).

Prayer gives us the opportunity to cast that which is wearying us on One who can carry it far better than we can. David wrote, “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalms 55:22). In like manner, Peter wrote, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).

Prayer also involves trust. It involves waiting on the Lord. Those who wait on the Lord renew their strength. Isaiah declared, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).

If the persistent widow could get what she needed from an unjust judged who didn’t care about men or fear God, surely we can get what we need from a just God who deeply cares about us.

As we get ready to worship this week, let’s pray and not lose heart. Let’s cast our cares upon the Lord and renew our strength by waiting on Him.