He Saved Us

Titus 3

Because of God’s grace, mercy, kindness, and love, “He saved us,” those who have trusted in His sinless Son, Jesus Christ by faith alone.

We did not save ourselves. He has washed away our sins and granted complete forgiveness because we have received His salvation and believed in/on His Son Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lord. We stand justified in His sight by the admission of our sinfulness and inability to save ourselves and by the confession of our faith. We can now face the future confidently because we are the heirs of God, adopted into His eternal family and home.

In Titus 3, we are reminded to remember what we should do, what we were, what He did for us, and what He expects us to do in the difficult days ahead.

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” Titus 3:1–2 (ESV)

Christians are citizens of earth as well as citizens of heaven, and they should be the kind of people described in these two brief verses—the kind of people who exemplify Jesus, possessing His love, peace and joy, and a people with complete faith, hope, and confidence in the eternal life that awaits for those who believe.

Warren Wiersbe states that “we are to remember what we were” before meeting Jesus, in reference to verse 3.

“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.” Titus 3:3 (ESV)

Forgetting the past and pressing on is difficult for most everyone. We often fail to forgive ourselves because we refuse to forget the failures and sins of the past. God has forgotten our sins, and we should, too; but it does us good to remember what it was like to be a lost sinner, especially when testifying to the amazing grace of our Father in Heaven and the sacrificial love of Jesus on the Cross, our sacrificial Lamb.

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;” 1 Peter 4:1–4 (ESV)

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 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, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4–7 (ESV)

Here, Paul encourages Titus to remember what God did for him and to challenge the church at Crete and us to also remember. Did you deserve to hear the gospel and receive the gift of eternal life? No, it all happened because of God’s kindness, love, and grace. “He saved us!”

Dr. Tony Evans says, “We are now heirs, sons and daughters of the King, with the hope of eternal life. So live like a royal heir and make his kingdom vision your own.”

“The saying is trustworthy, and 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. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” Titus 3:8–11 (ESV)

Finally, we are reminded to remember what God expects of us. A major theme in this letter is good works—not works for salvation but works as a response to our salvation and love for the One who saved us. I would make note that people who are busy for the Lord, serving in their area of giftedness and with a heart humbled and surrendered for His Glory, do not have time for useless arguments like those in Crete. This was a great problem for Titus. As the saying goes, “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop.” Therefore, we are challenged to discover our giftedness and use it for His Glory and the benefit of blessing others in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

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