Titus 3

If I had to pick a tagline for the book of Titus, it would be this: "Saved by grace; now devote yourselves to good works."

Back in the first chapter we noted Paul's qualifications for elders and concluded that those who profess to know God should not deny him by their works (1:16). Then in yesterday's reading, we saw that in fact Christ Jesus died to purify a people for himself who would be zealous to do good works (2:14). And finally here in the third chapter we find not one but two exhortations like the two just mentioned. Paul uses the phrase which I drew out above—that the people of God should "devote themselves to good works" (3:8, 14).

Why has Paul gone to all the trouble to emphasize this point? Remember that Paul is writing to a man who's caring for churches in which many are legalistic and ungodly. So to address the legalistic among them who would try to add their own effort to salvation, Paul plainly lays out the gospel, in 2:11-14, and 3:3-7. He is very careful to explain that salvation comes to us only because, in God's goodness and loving kindness, he saved us and justified us by grace (vv 4, 7). NOT because of works done by us in righteousness (vs 5a).

Then, to address the ungodly among them, he tells them to devote themselves to good works. You see, it's very easy to read the above statements about salvation, and think that all of our works are bad. But that is not what this passage, or indeed what the Bible, is saying. Our works (actions), can't gain salvation. But once we are saved, we cannot simply sit back and think God will take care of the rest. We are responsible for listening to our Father's voice (reading Scripture), and then responding in faith and obedience.

Saved by grace; now devote yourselves to good works.