Titus 3:1-7
Believers are to live submissive, gentle, and peaceable lives in society because they themselves were once enslaved to sin but have now been saved solely by God's mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.
3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;
7 that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Believers are to live submissive, gentle, and peaceable lives in society because they themselves were once enslaved to sin but have now been saved solely by God's mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
To exhort believers toward civic humility and visible kindness by grounding their conduct in the mercy of God who saved them apart from works.
Believers in Crete lived within a society marked by moral corruption and social tension. Paul's instruction emphasizes that Christians should display humility and gentleness, reflecting the mercy they themselves received.
Grace That Renews and Produces Gospel-Shaped Good Works
God’s saving mercy renews His people so that they reject divisiveness, live peaceably in the world, and devote themselves to good works that display the gospel.