Titus 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
As we saw yesterday, Paul had charged Titus to remind the believers in Crete that the Gospel of Christ was founded on His grace, which carried with it a challenge to change. It was to affect their attitudes: they were no longer to be rebellious in spirit. It was to affect their speech: they were now to be respectful in every way. It was to affect their living: they were to be committed to holiness and purity. Again, this is all based on good doctrine: Christ did not save us because of our righteousness, but our of His mercy and grace, with His Holy Spirit entering into our lives to cleanse us and renew our spirit, preparing us to receive the inheritance of eternal life with Him. Without a changed life there has been no conversion.
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