“But when the goodness of loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us….” Titus 3:4–5
Christ could not have made the Great Commission clearer: go and tell. Yet we often find ways to complicate what God has made simple, developing methods and strategies for sharing the gospel. We can become so focused on how to share the gospel that we lose sight of the message itself.
In His wisdom, however, God did not make the good news complicated. The gospel is profound enough to leave the most learned scholar in awe, yet simple enough for a child to understand. It is a message meant for every believer to know and share.
One of the beautiful things about Scripture is how often God summarizes this message for us. A wonderful example of this is found in Titus 3:3–7. In these verses, Paul gives what we might call a “mini-gospel,” a brief but powerful summary of the good news. Within this short passage, we see the full picture of salvation: our sinful condition, God’s mercy, the saving work accomplished through Christ, the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of eternal life.
Titus 3:3 opens the passage with a description of our human condition: “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures….” Good news does not seem good until we first understand the bad news. Humanity has a sin problem separating us from our holy Creator. Worse still, we are powerless to save ourselves.
Titus 3:4–5 shifts the focus to God’s initiative. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us….” Our salvation begins with God, and His driving motives are goodness and mercy.
Paul clarifies in Titus 3:5 that our righteousness cannot be earned: “… not because of works done by us in righteousness….” From childhood, we are taught that rewards come through effort, yet the gospel tells us that salvation is a gift. Our all-powerful God needs nothing from us; we cannot work our way into His favor.
The same verse continues with the means of our salvation: “… by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit….” Regeneration is the moment when a person places their faith in Jesus and is made new. Renewal is ongoing, the process of sanctification, as the Holy Spirit shapes us to walk more faithfully with Christ.
Titus 3:6 reminds us that the Spirit comes through Christ: “… whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior….” Because of Christ’s innocent death on the cross, bearing our sins, we can be restored to a right relationship with God. In short, God the Father saves through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:7 concludes with the results of salvation: “… so that being justified by his grace… we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Justification is the legal declaration that we are righteous before God, entirely by His grace. The promise of adoption and eternal life is the ultimate outcome of our faith.
In just a few short verses, Titus 3:3–7 unfolds the entire story of the gospel: who we were, what God has done for us, and what He promises to those who trust Him.
Take this mini-gospel to heart, and go share it boldly. There is no better news in all the world.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Help me to be faithful in my devotion to reading it, storing it in my heart, and sharing it! Remind me that salvation is from You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want More?
Read 1 Corinthians 15:3–5 and find elements of the gospel. Practice how you would share the gospel to someone using these verses.
