“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
My Notes
What Does Titus 3:5 Mean?
Paul states the negative and positive of salvation with absolute clarity. The negative: not by works of righteousness which we have done. Nothing you did earned it. No moral achievement, no religious performance, no accumulated good deeds produced your salvation.
The positive: according to his mercy he saved us. Mercy — not merit — is the basis. God's mercy initiated the saving. Your works did not trigger it.
The mechanism is described: by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Two images for one event. Washing of regeneration — the cleansing that produces new birth. Renewing of the Holy Ghost — the Spirit making everything new from the inside.
"Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" — the Spirit was not sprinkled. It was shed abundantly — poured out, lavished, given without measure. And the channel: Jesus Christ.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does 'not by works' confront your tendency to earn spiritual standing?
- 2.What does 'according to his mercy' mean for the basis of your salvation?
- 3.How is 'washing of regeneration' different from self-improvement?
- 4.Where are you still performing for something mercy has already provided?
Devotional
Not by works of righteousness which we have done. Everything you have done — every good deed, every moral effort, every religious performance — did not save you. Paul is emphatic: not by works.
But according to his mercy he saved us. Mercy. Not your merit. His mercy. The saving was God's initiative, motivated by his character, not by your résumé.
By the washing of regeneration. You were washed — cleansed, purified, made new. Not by scrubbing yourself clean through effort. By regeneration — being born again, made alive from the inside.
And renewing of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit makes everything new. Not improved. New. The renovation is total — a complete overhaul of your inner life, performed by the Holy Ghost.
Which he shed on us abundantly. The Spirit was not given in careful measure. It was shed — poured, lavished, dumped abundantly on you. Through Jesus Christ. The generosity of the gift matches the generosity of the giver.
If you are still trying to earn what has already been given — still performing to justify what mercy has already settled — this verse says: stop. The works did not save you. The mercy did. And the mercy came with a flood of the Spirit that is still flowing.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done,.... The great instance of the kindness and love of God our Saviour is…
Not by works of righteousness which we have done - The plan was not based on our own good works, nor are our own good…
Not by works of righteousness - Those who were foolish, disobedient, and deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures,…
Here is the fourth thing in the matter of the epistle. The apostle had directed Titus in reference to the particular and…
not by works of righteousness The exact grammatical form is rendered by not by virtue of works, works in righteousness…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture