Changed Lives - Titus

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Since the above is taken out of the middle of a paragraph, it might actually be a good idea to read what came before the above passage.   The above passage tells us what we are, now that the righteousness of God came to us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.   Paul is telling us that we are washed and regenerated and renewed by the Spirit.   He is saying we are justified by God’s grace and we have the hope of eternal life as a result of this work of the Spirit of God in our lives.  But why is all that even necessary?   Because of what Paul wrote before all that.  Note:

Titus 3:3 (ESV)

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

This is quite the epitaph to be said about us.  Paul wants young Timothy to know what he is fighting in this church as their young pastor.  Paul is telling them that if it was not for the ministry of Jesus through the Spirit in our lives we would still be like that.   However, he writes:   But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.   Because God saved us we are no longer looking out for ourselves and living in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  Our changed lives are due to the intervention of Jesus through the work of the Spirit.  We are new and washed and regenerated.   Now we can live out what Jesus has put into us:

Titus 3:1-2 (ESV)

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

This is our new life in Christ by the power of the Spirit.