Titus 3:1-8
(1) Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, (2) to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. (3) For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. (4) But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, (5) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (6) whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7) that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Titus 3:1–8 is a powerful passage showing the transformation of believers from a life of sin to a life of grace, grounded in God’s mercy and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Paul is giving us, in the book of Titus, instruction on belief and behavior. If I were going to give a title to the book of Titus, I would call it: The Behavior of Belief or Belief and Behavior. In every one of the chapters of Titus (there are only three), he talks about that. In Titus 1, it is the belief and behavior in the church. In Titus 2, it is then the belief of behavior in the home. In Titus 3, it is the belief and behavior in the world or in society. That’s kind of a neat way to understand and remember the book of Titus (three chapters)—what we believe and how we behave in the church, what we believe and how we behave in the home in the family, and what we believe and how we behave in society.
Now, when Paul says (verse 1), “remind them”, in the Greek it’s actually in what’s called the present tense. It’s what’s called the present imperative. That means he’s commanding Titus—he’s not giving him an option—“I want you to do this,” and he tells him, “I want you to do it continually, ongoingly, and habitually.” You need to hear the truth of God’s Word, because it’s important for us to get it down, understand it, and to have that repetition. One of our great dangers is, like Israel, they forgot God. They came out of the Exodus of Egypt, got settled in the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey and blessings, and what did they do? They forgot that God redeemed them with a strong arm.
Paul first reminds believers of their past—“we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another” (Titus 3:3, NKJV) This “we were” sets the stage for the gospel truth: God’s kindness and love appeared, not by our works, but by His mercy (Titus 3:4–5). Salvation came through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, making us heirs of eternal life.
Consider these points from Titus 3:1-8
- Acknowledging the Past – Recognizing our former state of spiritual blindness and rebellion is essential for humility and gratitude. This is not self condemnation but a confession of truth that opens the door to grace.
- God’s Mercy as the Foundation – Salvation is not earned but received by grace. This truth undergirds all Christian behavior in verses 1–2, which call for submission to authorities, good works, and peaceableness.
- Transformation by the Holy Spirit – The “washing of regeneration” and “renewing of the Holy Spirit” are not just theological terms but describe a new heart and identity as children of God.
- Behavior Grounded in Belief – Titus 3:1–2 gives practical commands (obedience, peaceableness, good works) that flow from the gospel truth in 3:3 8. This is the “behavior of belief” Paul describes in the book of Titus.
What should we do?
- Self-examination – Ask: What “vulture thoughts” (pride, envy, malice) have circled my mind recently? Naming them helps reject their hold.
- Gratitude for Grace – Remember that no matter our past, God’s mercy has made us new.
- Living Out the Gospel – Let humility, service, and good works be the natural outflow of our new identity in Christ.
- Community Care – In Titus 3:1–2, the call to be “ready for every good work” includes caring for the vulnerable, reflecting God’s heart.
Practical Application
Titus 3:3–8 is both a confession and a call to action. Confess your past, rejoice in God’s mercy, and live in the newness of the Spirit. This passage is a reminder that our Christian life is not about self-improvement, but about being made new by God’s grace and living in that newness for His glory.