Titus 3:4-5

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:4-5).

Comment:

No one is certain whether this letter was written by Paul from his house arrest in Rome or after the style of Paul by someone else. It's a pastoral letter filled with instructions about carrying the message to new places, especially to Crete. It includes passages directed to teaching old men, old women, young men, and slaves. Chapter 3 begins with a list of instructions about how to live the new spiritual teachings. In this passage the author uses himself as an example, repeating Paul's central theme in all his writings: We are not saved because of any "works of righteousness," but by embracing the infinite love of the Christ. He really seems to reverse the customary sequence of events. We are not saved by good works, he insists. We are saved as a sacred gift and as a consequence of being saved we naturally do good works, centered in our new consciousness.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed