Titus 3:4-5

Titus 3:4-5

[4] But  after  that the kindness  and  of God  Saviour  toward man  appeared,  [5] Not  by  works  of  righteousness  which  have done,  but  according to  his  mercy  he saved  by  the washing  of regeneration,  and  renewing  of the Holy  Ghost; 

What does Titus 3:4-5 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The appearance Paul referred to is the sending of Jesus Christ to die for us, the Incarnation. That was the greatest revelation of God"s kindness and love for humankind. God took the initiative. God does not save people because they behave righteously but because He is merciful (cf. Romans 3:27-28; Romans 4:4-5; Galatians 2:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9). The salvation He provides consists of rebirth that Paul likened here to washing off sin"s filth ( John 3:3-8; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:23) and renewal by God"s Holy Spirit ( 2 Corinthians 5:17). He did not mention human faith because his emphasis here was on God"s grace in providing salvation.
"He came to tell men, not of the justice which would pursue them for ever until it caught up with them, but of the love which would never let them go." [1]
In Titus 3:5 "washing" could refer to conversion and "renewing" to the coming of the Holy Spirit on the new believer. Another view is that "washing" could refer to baptism with "regeneration" and "renewing" describing what the Spirit does in salvation. [2] Probably "washing" is a metaphor for spiritual cleansing rather than for baptism with the emphasis in the entire phrase being on the Spirit"s cleansing, regenerating work. [3]
Note the reference to the work that all three members of the Trinity accomplished in our salvation in these verses.