Reflections on Titus 3:3-8
(v. 3-6) — "We ourselves were once foolish, .etc. . . . But when the goodness and loving kindness of god our Saviour appeared, he saved us. . . . not because of works done in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
The point of rescue occurs while sinners are yet in their sins. God in mercy appears in kindness to transform and unite himself in Christ with those who are neither seeking nor deserving of his righteousness.Â
Justification of sinners is neither merited by, nor conditioned upon, independent acts of human will, nor on account of determinations to henceforth live morally improved lives (as Tyndale seems to imply in his introduction to the New Testament, 1534). Rather, justification owes decisively and entirely to an act of grace merited by Jesus Christ, in which the Spirit transforms the heart by regeneration, thereby inclining the will to rest by fully in the work of Christ, both for imputation of righteousness and forgiveness of sins.
From start to finish, before the creation of the world to beyond the final judgment, salvation is assured to the elect because it rests secure in the covenanted work of God the Father in Christ Jesus, through the effectual power of the Spirit. Thus may regenerated persons be called, "justfied" and "heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (v. 7) The term, hope, as it is used in the New Testament, would not be hope, were it not grounded on the promise and power of God to fulfill its object. (See Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life) It is unlike our common English use, "I hope I sleep well," but should instead be understood as in, "I have hope that God keeps his promises." Were perseverance grounded decisively on the will of man, independent from inclining grace, such hope would be impossible. Yet David says, "turn me, and I will be turned. . . Incline my heart to you, O Lord." The scriptures testify elsewhere, "he who began the good work in you shall complete it," and "faithful is him who called, and he shall do it"; "he works in you, both to will and to do according to his good pleasure"; "It was granted to you not only to believe. . ."; "who makes you to differ? It is God," etc.
(v.8) — “I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.”Â
It should be noted that promises of the gospel do not lead to lives of sinful license in truly converted souls; rather, assurance of grace stirs believers to good works and godliness, all the more as the promises are expounded and insisted upon.Â
