In Titus 3:3, Paul wrote that at one time, Christians were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our lives in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
But, we have been saved by the grace, love, and kindness of God. Verses 4-7 are all one sentence and discuss salvation through Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:4-7: “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” (ESV).
Compare this with the “grace” that appeared in 2:11. Again, it is a metonymy; Christ is the one who appeared and brought the fullness of God’s revelation of His “kindness,” “love,” and “grace.” Verse 5 has the principle verb in the sentence: “He saved us.”
Verse 4 gives us the time frame of this salvation – “when”
Verse 5 gives us the negative basis of that salvation – “not on the basis”
Verse 5 gives us also the positive basis of that salvation – “but according to”
Verse 6 gives us the agent of that salvation – “through Jesus Christ”
Verse 7 gives us the purpose of that salvation – “so that”
If a “work” is commanded by God and tied to salvation (as is “faith:” John 6:27ff and “immersion:” Acts 2:38), then that respective work is not included in these “works of righteousness” by which we are not saved.
But it is “according to His mercy,” that He saved us: Through the washing of the new birth & renewal of the Holy Spirit.
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Please observe that there is only one prepositional phrase that governs both these phrases, showing that they are two sides of the same coin. That is, they occur at the same time. When we are washed in the new birth, the Holy Spirit renews us.
So, the “washing” is the agency and the “renewal” is the goal or purpose of that washing. Clearly, “washing” is a reference to immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins. Earle (415) writes that this verb (louo) means “to bathe the whole body.” The only other time “washing” is used is in Ephesians 5:26. Compare the thoughts in Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11 and Revelation 7:14.
Certainly, the “new birth” (“regeneration) is a reference to John 3:3, 5. The word itself is only used one other time, in Matthew 19:28 where it refers to the new birth of God’s relationship with man, inaugurated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
It is this “renewal” by the Holy Spirit that makes us “new creatures” (2 Cor. 5:17). The “outpouring” of the Holy Spirit occurred on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) in fulfillment of the prophet Joel (2:28-30). He has thus been made available to renew us richly through Jesus Christ.
So, we are justified by His grace. Verse 7 begins with a participle, “being justified by His grace,” while the main verb is “we might become.” What is the purpose of our salvation and justification? So that we may become “heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Guthrie suggests (228) that the phrase “according to the hope of eternal life” “conveys the idea of solid assurance.”
No one deserves salvation nor any other gift from the hands of God. All the good things we enjoy come from His grace, His kindness, His love. The revelation of His works and our faithful response to it gives us a “solid assurance” of appearing with Him in glory.
–Paul Holland
