Titus 3

Titus 3:1–15 — Total Recall

Remember Your Duty (vv. 1–2)

Titus 3:1–2

The verb "remind" is in the present tense — this is to be ongoing. We constantly need to be reminded of these duties. God established memorials throughout Israel's history for exactly this reason: the Passover to remember the exodus, the manna in the Ark of the Covenant to remember His provision, the twelve stones from the Jordan to remember the crossing. In the New Testament, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper: "Do this in remembrance of Me." Forgetting is a spiritual danger, not just a mental one. Paul closes Titus by calling the church to remember seven specific duties.

1. SUBJECT TO RULERS AND AUTHORITIES

When the religious leaders tried to trap Jesus with the tax question, He answered: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matt. 22:17–21). Jesus knew Caesar was corrupt — Caesar called himself a god. Jesus paid the taxes anyway. Romans 13:1 makes the principle universal: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God." When Christians submit to civil authority, they give glory to God. When believers riot, loot, or break the law, they bring discredit to the name of Christ. There is one exception: when the government commands disobedience to God. In Acts 4 and Acts 5, Peter and John were ordered to stop preaching Jesus. Their response: "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Outside that narrow exception, believers are called to be exemplary citizens.

2. OBEY

This extends beyond government to all human authority — employers, church leaders, and those placed over us in any legitimate sphere. Christians should be known for submissive, faithful conduct in every role they hold.

3. READY FOR EVERY GOOD WORK

The word "ready" carries an attitude of active willingness — not merely open to helping when asked but looking for opportunities. Galatians 6:10 says, "As we have opportunity, let us do good to all." Christians should be known in their communities for their aggressive goodness. Titus 1:16 warned that some "profess to know God, but in works they deny Him." The corrective is a life that demonstrates faith through fruit.

4. SPEAK EVIL OF NO ONE

This covers all forms of harmful speech: insult, slander, gossip, disparagement. Paul addresses this to Christians specifically, because Christians can and do say terrible things about one another — in person, and increasingly in the unfiltered arena of social media. When ten percent of a nation (however roughly counted) are Christians, and they spend their public energy attacking each other while ninety percent march toward eternity without Christ, something has gone catastrophically wrong. Jesus prayed for unity in John 17. It is not unity at the cost of truth, but it is unity that the watching world might believe.

5. PEACEABLE

Romans 12:18 counsels: "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our warfare is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. Satan is delighted when believers fight each other — it distracts from the real battle and grieves the watching world.

6. GENTLE — CONSIDERATE

Kindness is not optional for Christians; it is a mark of genuine transformation. A habitual pattern of harshness toward others raises the legitimate question: has grace actually been received?

7. SHOWING ALL HUMILITY TO ALL MEN

True humility, as someone has rightly noted, is not thinking less of yourself — that can itself be a form of attention-seeking. Humility is not thinking of yourself at all. Philippians 2:3 says: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." Jesus said, "I am gentle and lowly in heart" (Matt. 11:29). Note the scope: humility toward all men. Not just those we like, not just those in the church — all.

Recall Your Past (v. 3)

Titus 3:3

Before looking critically at others who are still lost, recall what you were. Paul gives a seven-part portrait of the pre-salvation self. Before you dismiss someone for their sin, remember: this is exactly who you were.

SEVEN MARKS OF THE UNREDEEMED SELF

We were foolish — ignorant of the things of God. First Corinthians 2:14 says the natural man "does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him." We were disobedient — living entirely for ourselves, regardless of the effect on others. We were deceived — Satan, "the god of this age, has blinded the minds of those who do not believe" (2 Cor. 4:4), which fuels both foolishness and disobedience. We were serving various lusts and pleasures — in bondage to the lusts of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Romans 6:20 says we were "slaves of sin." We were living in malice — total depravity, Romans 3:10 confirming that "there is none righteous, no, not one." We were living in envy — never satisfied, always wanting what belongs to others. And we were hateful and hating one another — the inevitable terminus of a life turned inward on itself.

THE BENEFITS OF REMEMBERING

Why recall the wretchedness of our past? Four reasons. First, it produces gratitude — we cannot be truly thankful for salvation unless we honestly assess what we were saved from. Second, it produces humility — I was that broken, and I am only different because of grace, not because of anything in me. Third, it produces compassion toward the lost — I can identify with them because I was them. And fourth, it strengthens faith — if God did it with me, He can do it for anyone. John Newton was right: "I am not who I used to be."

Reflect on Your Salvation (vv. 4–7)

Titus 3:4–7

From the wretchedness of verse 3, Paul pivots with one of the most powerful conjunctions in all of Scripture: but. Sinful, broken, lost — but when the kindness and the love of God appeared. This is the great turn of redemption. And notice what initiated it: not our repentance, not our goodness, not our spiritual readiness — but His kindness and His love. Romans 2:4 teaches that it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. He went first.

SEVEN REALITIES OF SALVATION

1. Saved by God's kindness and love. The incarnation — John 1:14 — was God's aggressive kindness made visible. 2. Saved by grace, not works. Ephesians 2:8–9 closes the door on any contribution from human performance. Trying to be saved by works is like jumping the Grand Canyon — some can jump further than others, but none of us reach the other side. The only way across is the bridge — the cross of Jesus Christ. 3. Regenerated. Jesus told Nicodemus that unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). At salvation, God does not improve the old nature — He creates something entirely new. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). 4. Renewed by the Holy Spirit. The moment of faith brings the Holy Spirit into permanent residence. He does not come in partial measure — He is "poured out abundantly." He guides, comforts, seals, gifts, and bears fruit. 5. Redeemed through Jesus Christ. Salvation does not happen apart from Christ's substitutionary death. He took our place. God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). 6. Justified. This is a legal term — to be declared righteous by a court. The Judge looks at the case and drops the gavel: forgiven. Jesus stands as our defender: "Father, I died on the cross for this one." All sins — past, present, and future — are covered. 7. Heirs of eternal life. Jude 24 says He is "able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory." Philippians 1:6 promises He who began the good work will complete it. First Peter 1:4 speaks of "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."

Retain Your Commitment (vv. 8–15)

Titus 3:8–15

MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS — THE THIRD EXHORTATION

Paul has now called for good works three times in this chapter — in verse 1 (be ready for every good work), in verse 8 (maintain good works), and in verse 14 (learn to maintain good works to meet urgent needs). Repetition is intentional. The church in Crete, recovering from false teaching and cultural compromise, needed to rebuild its testimony through visible, tangible acts of goodness. Jesus's words in Matthew 5:16 apply directly: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." We are not saved by good works, but the grace that saves is never alone. It always produces fruit.

AVOID FOOLISH DISPUTES — AND DIVISIVE PEOPLE

Paul draws a sharp contrast: maintain good works, but avoid foolish disputes. Not every question deserves a prolonged argument, and not every person raising questions is a genuine seeker. There are those who come to the church to wrangle over minor doctrinal points, to stir up controversy, or to build a personal following — the Judaizers among them, with their obsession over genealogies and ceremonial law. Paul's instruction is firm: after a first and second confrontation without repentance, withdraw from a divisive person. Romans 16:17 echoes this: "Note those who cause divisions and offenses… and avoid them." God values the unity of His people highly — high enough to remove those who fracture it.

THE CLOSING VISION — FRUITFULNESS

Paul's final concern, in verse 14, is that the church "not be unfruitful." This echoes Jesus's teaching in John 15: "I am the vine, you are the branches… without Me you can do nothing… He who abides in Me… bears much fruit." The goal is not institutional survival or theological precision alone — it is fruitfulness. A church that remembers its duty, recalls its past with gratitude, reflects on the staggering realities of its salvation, and retains its commitment to the Lord and to one another will bear much fruit.

Paul closes with greetings and grace: "Grace be with you all." The same grace that appeared in Christ, that taught us to deny ungodliness, that redeemed and purified us — that grace sustains us to the end. R. Robinson's great hymn captures it: "Oh to grace, how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be. Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Take my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above."