When Kindness Appeared

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Titus 3:3–7

3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,

5He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

6This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Berean Standard Bible. Read the full chapter

Reflection

Paul begins with an honest look in the mirror. We too were once foolish, disobedient and led astray. We were enslaved to all kinds of desires and pleasures, and our lives were full of malice, envy and hatred (Titus 3:3). He includes himself, the former persecutor (1 Tim 1:13–15).

Then comes the turn. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us (Titus 3:4–5). Salvation began with God, not with us (Eph 2:8–9).

Paul describes how God did it. He cleansed us, gave us new birth and made us new by His Spirit, whom He poured out generously on us through Christ (Titus 3:5–6). Believers read this washing that brings new birth in different ways. Some see baptism itself as the means through which God gives this new birth (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet 3:21). Others see the Spirit's inner cleansing of the heart, with no direct reference to water (Ezek 36:25–27; John 3:5–8). Others see baptism as the outward sign and seal of that inner cleansing (Rom 6:3–4; Col 2:11–12). All of these readings agree with Paul's first point: God saved us not because of righteous things we had done but because of His mercy (Titus 3:5), and the washing and renewal are His work by the Holy Spirit, not ours.

And the goal is breathtaking. Declared righteous by grace, we become heirs who look forward to life that never ends (Titus 3:7).

If you think your past puts you beyond God's reach, read verse 3 again. That is exactly who God came to rescue. Grace is kindness to the undeserving, and then it trains us to live a new life (Titus 2:11–14; Titus 3:8).

Word study: verified (STEPBible)

philanthropia (Greek, Strong's G5363): loving kindness toward people (Titus 3:4). The New Testament uses it only here and in Acts 28:2, where islanders welcome shipwrecked strangers. It is paired with chrestotes (kindness, G5544), and Titus 3:5 grounds salvation in God's eleos (mercy, G1656).

Cross-reference trail

  1. Eph 2:4-9: Rich in mercy, saved by grace.
  2. Titus 2:11-14: Grace that appears and trains us.
  3. Ezek 36:25-27: A promise of cleansing and a new spirit.
  4. John 3:3-6: New birth from above.
  5. Rom 8:15-17: Children and heirs.

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Prayer

God my Savior, Your kindness found me when I was lost. Thank You for mercy I could never earn.

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