From Darkness to Inheritance
For Doctrine, Devotion, & Discipleship
Thank you for joining me today as we reflect on the wonders of God’s justifying grace. Our focus is Titus 3:3-8, a passage that unfolds like a spiritual biography, telling the story of who we once were, the miraculous intervention of God’s mercy, and the glorious inheritance we now possess in Christ. This text is like a well-cut diamond, with each facet revealing another dimension of grace. Let’s turn it slowly in the light together.
From Darkness to Dawn: Our Former Condition
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. (Titus 3:3)
Paul begins not with theological abstractions but with spiritual autobiography. The “we” is significant - this isn’t a condemnation hurled at others but a humble confession that includes himself. Like a physician who first diagnoses the disease before prescribing the cure, Paul lays bare our pre-Christ condition with unflinching honesty.
Notice the progression: foolish (lacking spiritual discernment), disobedient (rebellious toward God’s authority), led astray (wandering from truth), and enslaved to passions (in bondage to our own desires). The final descriptors – “passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another” - paint a portrait of relationships poisoned by sin. Without Christ, we were not merely spiritually sick but spiritually dead.
As John Newton, composer of Amazing Grace, reflected on his own conversion: “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once was, and by the grace of God I am what I am.” This honest assessment of our former condition magnifies the wonder of grace that follows.
The Divine Interruption: God's Goodness Appears
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us... (Titus 3:4-5a)
“But” - what a powerful conjunction! In this single word, the entire narrative shifts. Darkness gives way to dawn. Slavery yields to freedom. Death surrenders to life. The Greek word for “appeared” (epephane) gives us our English word “epiphany” - a sudden, striking manifestation or realization. In the blackness of our lostness, the goodness of God broke through like the first rays of sunrise after the longest night.
The word translated “loving kindness” is philanthrōpia, which literally means “love for humanity.” This isn’t abstract benevolence but personal, passionate love. As Dorothy Sayers beautifully observed, “The dogma of the Incarnation is the most dramatic thing about Christianity, and indeed, the most dramatic thing that ever entered the mind of man; but if you tell people so, they stare at you in bewilderment.” Yet this is precisely what Paul proclaims, the appearing of God’s philanthropic love in the person of Christ.
When did this goodness appear? Historically, at the incarnation when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Personally, at the moment God’s Spirit opened our eyes to see Christ as beautiful and his Gospel as true. The initiative was entirely his – “He saved us.” We didn’t find God; He found us.
The Glory of Undeserved Mercy: Not by Works
...not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy... (Titus 3:5b)
Here Paul drives a stake through the heart of works-righteousness. The salvation we enjoy came “not because of works done by us in righteousness.” The Greek construction emphasizes the impossibility of earning or deserving God’s favor. Our spiritual resumé, no matter how impressive by human standards, counts for nothing in justification.
Instead, God acted “according to his own mercy.” Mercy is compassion toward those in misery; it’s pity in action. While justice gives us what we deserve and grace gives us what we don’t deserve, mercy withholds the judgment we have earned. As Martyn Lloyd-Jones once preached, “The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God.”
Jesus illustrated this truth powerfully in his parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). The religious leader stood proudly before God, cataloging his spiritual achievements. The tax collector simply beat his breast and pleaded, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” It was the latter who went home justified. Our salvation rests not on the thin ice of human achievement but on the bedrock of divine mercy.
The Transforming Power: Washed and Renewed
...by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior... (Titus 3:5c-6)
Paul now describes how this mercy reaches us – “by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” The imagery is baptismal, but Paul points beyond the physical sign to the spiritual reality it represents: a complete cleansing and renewal of our inner being.
“Regeneration” (palingenesia) means new birth or radical re-creation. It’s the same word Jesus used when speaking to Nicodemus about being “born again” (John 3:3). “Renewal” (anakainōsis) suggests a continuous process of being made new. Together, these terms capture both the decisive moment of new birth and the ongoing transformation that follows.
What’s remarkable is the lavish nature of this gift - God “poured out” the Spirit “richly” through Christ. The word “richly” (plousiōs) conveys abundance beyond measure. This isn’t a miserly trickle but a generous flood. As G.K. Chesterton observed, “The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.” In this case, God opens our hearts to fill them with his Spirit.
Jesus himself promised this outpouring: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37-38). The Spirit’s presence is both the seal of our justification and the power for our transformation.
The Glorious Result
“...so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7)
Here we arrive at the destination - justification leading to inheritance. “Justified” (dikaiōthentes) is a legal term declaring us righteous before God’s tribunal. It’s not that God overlooks our sin; rather, through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, he counts us as having fulfilled all righteousness.
But justification isn’t the end, it’s the gateway to adoption. We become “heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” The inheritance isn’t merely future bliss but present relationship as God’s beloved children. As Alister Begg has said, “The wonder of salvation is not just that our sins are forgiven and heaven awaits, but that we are brought into the family of God and can call him Father.”
This hope isn’t wishful thinking but confident expectation. The Greek word elpida conveys certainty about what is promised though not yet fully realized. It’s the kind of hope that transforms how we live in the present. As Timothy Keller writes, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
The Life That Follows
The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (Titus 3:8)
Paul concludes with application. The doctrines he’s expounded aren’t merely for intellectual satisfaction but for spiritual transformation. Those who have been justified by grace should be “careful to devote themselves to good works.”
Note the order - good works follow justification; they don’t procure it. As the Reformers insisted, we are saved by faith alone, but saving faith is never alone. Good works are the fruit, not the root, of our salvation. They’re “excellent and profitable” both for our own spiritual growth and for the benefit of others.
Charles Spurgeon captured this beautifully: “When I thought God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against One who loved me so and sought my good.” The grace that justifies also sanctifies.
Living as Heirs of Hope
How then shall we live as those justified by grace and made heirs of eternal life? First, we must continually remember who we once were. This remembrance isn’t meant to produce shame but gratitude. When we forget the depth of our need, we lose sight of the height of God’s mercy.
Second, we embrace our identity as God’s beloved children. The Spirit within us cries, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15). We approach God not as terrified subjects but as treasured sons and daughters. This identity shapes everything about our lives - our prayers, our priorities, our perspective on suffering.
Third, we live generously toward others, extending the same grace we’ve received. Having been shown mercy, we become merciful. Having been forgiven, we forgive. Having been loved when unlovable, we love the difficult people in our lives.
T.S. Eliot wrote, “The wounded surgeon plies the steel / That questions the distempered part; / Beneath the bleeding hands we feel / The sharp compassion of the healer’s art.” In Christ, the wounded Surgeon has healed us. Now he sends us as wounded healers to a broken world, displaying through our lives the transforming power of justifying grace.
Bible Study Questions
Read Titus 3:3. What descriptors does Paul use for our life before Christ? How do these contrast with the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23?
In Titus 3:4, how does the phrase “goodness and loving kindness” shape our understanding of God’s motive in salvation? Compare with Romans 2:4.
According to Titus 3:5, why did God save us? How does this verse echo Ephesians 2:8-9 in its emphasis on grace rather than works?
What is the “washing of regeneration” in Titus 3:5? How does this connect to Jesus’s teaching about being “born again” in John 3:3-8?
What role does the Holy Spirit play in Titus 3:5-6? How is this consistent with the promises in Ezekiel 36:25-27?
What does it mean to be “justified by his grace” in Titus 3:7? How does this relate to Paul’s teaching in Romans 5:1?
What does being an “heir” in Titus 3:7 imply about our relationship with God? Compare with Galatians 4:6-7 and Romans 8:15-17.
According to Titus 3:8, why should believers devote themselves to good works? How is this consistent with what Paul teaches in Ephesians 2:10?
How would you explain the relationship between justification and sanctification based on this passage? What comes first, and why does the order matter?
Examine the phrase “poured out on us richly” in verse 6. What does this suggest about the nature of God’s giving? How does this connect with Jesus’s promise in John 7:37-39?
How does Paul’s instruction to Titus to “insist on these things” (v.8) reveal the importance of sound doctrine for practical Christian living?
Looking at the passage as a whole, how does Paul connect our past condition, God’s saving work, and our present responsibility? What theological principle underlies this connection?
Questions for Discussion and Personal Reflection
Paul begins by recalling our life before Christ in Titus 3:3. Take some time to reflect honestly on your own “spiritual biography.” How does remembering your former condition deepen your appreciation for God’s mercy?
When you look at the specific descriptors Paul uses (foolish, disobedient, enslaved, etc.), which ones most resonated with your pre-Christian experience, and how has Christ specifically transformed those areas?
Titus 3:4 speaks of God’s “goodness and loving kindness” appearing in salvation. What specific moments can you identify when God’s goodness broke through in your life?
How might sharing these “epiphanies” of God’s goodness encourage others who feel God is distant or indifferent to their struggles?
The passage emphasizes that salvation comes “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy” (v.5). In what subtle ways do you still find yourself trying to earn God’s favor rather than resting in his mercy?
What practical difference does it make in your daily spiritual life to know that your standing with God depends on Christ’s perfect work rather than your imperfect efforts?
How would you explain justification to someone who believes they must be “good enough” for Heaven? How has this passage equipped you for such a conversation?
What does it mean to you personally to be an “heir according to the hope of eternal life?” How does this inheritance affect how you view both present trials and future glory?
How has the Holy Spirit’s “washing of regeneration and renewal” been evident in your life? What areas are you currently experiencing his transforming work?
Based on verse 8, what “good works” do you believe God has prepared for you to walk in at this season of your life? How can you be more intentional about fulfilling these opportunities?
Action Steps
1. Set aside 30-45 minutes this week for a meaningful spiritual exercise. Take a large sheet of paper and draw a timeline of your life, marking significant moments when God’s mercy broke through in tangible ways - perhaps your conversion, answers to prayer, guidance at crossroads, comfort in suffering, or unexpected provision. For each mercy moment, write a brief prayer of thanksgiving. Then identify one person with whom you can share part of this mercy timeline in the coming week, someone who might be encouraged by seeing how God has worked in your life. This practice helps cement in our hearts the truth that we’re saved “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.”
2. Since we are “heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (v.7), choose one practical way to live out your royal identity this week. First, select a “royal privilege” to embrace, perhaps bold access to the Father in prayer (spend 15 minutes daily in unhurried communion with God), confidence in your acceptance (write down and meditate on scriptural affirmations of your standing in Christ), or joy in your inheritance (list five eternal blessings you already possess in Christ). Second, select a “royal responsibility” to fulfill, perhaps extending mercy to someone who has wronged you, generously sharing your resources with someone in need, or speaking truth with gracious confidence. Keep a journal of how living as an heir rather than an orphan or slave changes your outlook and actions.
3. In response to verse 8’s call to “be careful to devote themselves to good works,” identify a specific need in your community, church, or sphere of relationships that you can address this week. Rather than serving out of obligation, approach this opportunity as a joyful response to God’s lavish grace. Before beginning, spend time in prayer thanking God for his justifying grace and asking him to fill you with his Spirit for this work. Afterward, reflect on how serving from a foundation of grace rather than guilt changed both your experience and your effectiveness. Consider making this a regular practice, allowing the wonder of your justification to fuel ongoing works of mercy and kindness.
Thank you for joining me today in reflecting on this beautiful passage from Titus. My hope is that you were encouraged and blessed as we explored the depths of God’s justifying grace together. For more devotionals, Bible studies, and resources that go beyond these emails, be sure to click here: Walking Points. If you found this devotional helpful, please consider sharing it with others and encouraging them to subscribe as well. Let’s walk faithfully in the light of God’s grace.
Until next time, keep walking wisely, and may the Lord bless you every step of the way.