Save by Grace for Good Works
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This Month's Topic: Understanding Salvation
Scripture Reference: Titus 3:1-8
Discussion Objective: Spirit empowered faithfulness to Jesus will declare God's grace to the world.
Summary of Titus 3:3-8
● In the past, believers were foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
● However, God our Savior, in his goodness and loving kindness, intervened.
● God saved believers, not because of their righteous deeds, but according to his mercy.
● He saved them through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out richly through Jesus Christ.
● Through God's grace, believers have been justified and are now heirs, according to the hope of eternal life.
● This is a trustworthy saying. Believers should insist on these truths so that those who believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.
● These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Why is it important to “speak evil of no one” and to “avoid quarreling” (Titus 3:2)? What are the potential consequences of speaking evil of others or engaging in quarrels?
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.
V1-3: Can you think of examples from your own life or from current events where these instructions are particularly relevant?
Titus 3:7 emphasizes that believers are “justified by his grace” and have become “heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” What is the significance of being justified by grace?
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.
V4-7: How does this concept provide a foundation for assurance of salvation?
According to Titus 3:8, why should believers be “careful to devote themselves to good works”? Is this a contradiction to the earlier statement that we are saved “not because of works done by us in righteousness” (Titus 3:5)? How can we reconcile these two ideas?
8 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.
V8: Compare with Ephesians 2:8-10, which clarifies that good works are a result of salvation, not a prerequisite for it. How does this understanding of good works impact a believer's motivation and approach to serving others?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how you are living out salvation in your life. Is there evidence?
Notes from same book of the bible
| File | Chapter | Resource |
|---|---|---|
| 1_Titus Overview | - | Bible Book Overview |