Titus 3:3 - The Believers’ Old Life

REVIEW: Paul instructed Titus to remind the brethren “to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work…, showing all meekness unto all men.”

THE REASON: For WE ourselves also WERE sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived…” (emphasis added)

THE REMINDER: Do not look down upon others, for consider what we were before God saved us!

Before Salvation, we WERE:

Foolish – being unwise in seeking to please God apart from faith. See Gal 3:1ff “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith” (3:11). See Eph. 5:17.
Disobedient – professing “to know God; but in works [denying] him” (1:16).
Deceived – being led away from the truth into error and sin. See Matthew 24:4
Enslaved – “serving diverse lusts and pleasures,” which are “of the world” (1 Jn. 2:16), “of the devil” (Jn. 8:44). See also Rom. 1:21-25 and Luke 8:14.
Wicked – “living in malice and envy”—having ill will or desiring to harm others; desiring things belonging to others.
Hateful – “hating one another.” Indeed, our ability to genuinely love another is a result of His saving grace. See 1 Jn 4:19- “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

“BUT WHEN the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life… so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds” (Titus 3:4-8).

On a side note:

We thank the Lord for the resources made available by various Christian groups and the help being extended to COViD-19 patients, such as by Samaritan Purse, despite persecution for their efforts.

We ask prayer for our fellow believers in other parts of the globe who continue to undergo severe trials, for wisdom for each of us, to focus on our Hope in Christ and opportunities for sharing that Hope.

This “confinement” allows us to have a glimpse into the more serious confinement being experienced by fellow believers in hostile nations and helps us to pray with some understanding. See Hebrews 13:3.