This section has 5 verses.
Titus 3:3-7
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and
pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and
hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our
Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us, by the
washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus
Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be
made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
We will begin with the Barclay commentary.
THE DOUBLE DYNAMIC
First, the paraphrase of verses 3-7:
For we too were once senseless, disobedient,
misguided, slaves to all kinds of desires and
pleasures, living in maliciousness and envy,
detestable ourselves, and hating each other. But
when the goodness and the love to men of God our
Saviour appeared, it was not by works wrought in
righteousness, which we ourselves had done, but by
his own mercy that he saved us. That saving act was
made effective to us through that washing, through
which there comes to us the rebirth and the renewal
which are the work of the Holy Spirit, whom he
richly poured out upon us, through Jesus Christ our
Saviour. And the aim of all this was that we might
be put into a right relationship with God through
his grace, and so enter into possession of eternal
life, for which we have been taught to hope.
THE dynamic of the Christian life is twofold. It
comes first from the realization that converts to
Christianity were once no better than their
non-Christian neighbours. Christian goodness does
not make people proud; it makes them supremely
grateful. When Christians looked at others, living
life by the standards of Roman society, they did not
regard them with contempt; they said, as the
Methodist George Whitefield said when he saw the
criminal on the way to the gallows: ‘There but for
the grace of God go I.’
It comes from the realization of what God has done
for us in Jesus Christ. Perhaps no passage in the
New Testament more concisely, and yet more fully,
sets out the work of Christ for us than this. There
are seven outstanding facts about that work here.
(1) Jesus put us into a new relationship with God.
Until he came, God was the King before whom people
stood in awe, the Judge before whom they cringed in
terror, the Ruler whom they could regard only with
fear. Jesus came to tell men and women of the Father
whose heart was open and whose hands were stretched
out in love. He came to tell them not of the justice
which would pursue them forever but of the love
which would never let them go.
(2) The love and grace of God are gifts which no one
could ever earn; they can only be accepted in
perfect trust and in awakened love. God offers his
love to us simply out of the great goodness of his
heart, and Christians never think of what they have
earned but only of what God has given. The keynote
of the Christian life must always be wondering and
humble gratitude, never proud self-satisfaction. The
whole process is due to two great qualities of God.
It is due to his goodness. The word is chre¯stote¯s
and means graciousness. It means that spirit which
is so kind that it is always eager to give whatever
gift may be necessary. Chre¯stote¯s is an
all-embracing kindliness, which produces not only
warm feeling but also generous action at all times.
It is due to God’s love to men and women. The word
is philanthro¯pia, and it is defined as love of
someone as a human being. The Greeks thought much of
this beautiful word. They used it for the kindliness
of good people to their equals, for a good king’s
graciousness to his subjects, for a generous
individual’s active pity for those in any kind of
distress, and especially for the compassion which
made someone pay the ransom for another who had
fallen into captivity.
Behind all this is no human merit but only the
gracious kindliness and the universal love which are
in the heart of God.
(3) This love and grace of God are mediated [removal
of misunderstanding] through the Church. They come
through the sacrament of baptism. That is not to say
that they can come in no other way, for God is not
confined within his sacraments; but the door to them
is always open through the Church. When we think of
baptism in the earliest days of the Church, we must
remember that it was the baptism of grown men and
women coming directly out of the ancient idolatrous
religions. It was the deliberate leaving of one way
of life to enter upon another. When Paul writes to
the people of Corinth, he says: ‘You were washed,
you were sanctified, you were justified’ (1
Corinthians 6:11). In the letter to the Ephesians,
he says that Jesus Christ took the Church ‘in order
to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing
of water by the word’ (Ephesians 5:26). In baptism,
there came the cleansing, re-creating power of God.
Quoted verses:
1 Corinthians 6:11 ...but I will read from
verse 9
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit
the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the
kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but
ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Ephesians 5:26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word,
In this connection, Paul uses two words.
He speaks of rebirth (paliggenesia).
Here is a word which had many associations. After
baptism, converts who were received into the Jewish
faith were treated as if they were little children.
It was as if they had been reborn and life had begun
all over again. The Pythagoreans [puh-tha'guh-REE-uns]
used the word frequently. They believed in
reincarnation and that people returned to life in
many forms until they were fit to be released from
it. Each return was a rebirth. The Stoics used the
word. They believed that every 3,000 years the world
was destroyed in a great fire, and that then there
was a rebirth of a new world. When people entered
the mystery religions, they were said to be ‘reborn
for eternity’. The point is that when we accept
Christ as Saviour and Lord, life begins all over
again. There is a newness about life which can be
likened only to a new birth.
He speaks of a renewing. It is as if life were worn
out and, when someone discovers Christ, there is an
act of renewal, which is not over and done with in
one moment of time but repeats itself every day.
(4) THE grace and love of God are mediated to men
and women within the Church, but behind it all is
the power of the Holy Spirit. All the work of the
Church, all the words of the Church, all the
sacraments of the Church have no effect unless the
power of the Holy Spirit is there. However well a
church is organized, however splendid its ceremonies
may be, however beautiful its buildings, all is
ineffective without that power. The lesson is clear.
Revival in the Church comes not from increased
efficiency in organization but from waiting upon
God. It is not that efficiency is not necessary; but
no amount of efficiency can breathe life into a body
from which the Spirit has departed.
(5) The effect of all this is threefold. It brings
forgiveness for past sins. In his mercy, God does
not hold our sins against his sins. ‘Man,’ said
Augustine, ‘look away from your sins and look to
God.’ It is not that we should live our lives
without being perpetually repentant for our sins;
but the very memory of our sins should move us to
wonder at the forgiving mercy of God.
(6) The effect is also new life in the present.
Christianity does not confine its offer to blessings
which shall be. It offers us here and now life of a
quality which we have never known before. When
Christ enters into our lives, for the first time we
really begin to live.
(7) Last, there is the hope of even greater things.
Christians are men and women for whom the best is
always still to be; they know that, however
wonderful life on earth with Christ may be, the life
to come will be greater still. Christians are people
who know the wonder of the forgiveness of past sins,
the thrill of present life with Christ, and the hope
of the greater life which is yet to come.
~Barclay Commentary
Now to the other commentaries. We will begin with
the general and move to the specific. We will begin
with the Matthew Henry Main commentary which covers
1-8. I am breaking in where it discusses verse 6.
(8.) Here is the manner of God's communicating this
Spirit in the gifts and graces of it; not with a
scanty [scant in amount] and niggardly [nig-erd-lee-reluctant
to give] hand, but most freely and plentifully:
Which he shed on us abundantly. More of the Spirit
in its gifts and graces is poured out under the
gospel than was under the law, whence it is
eminently styled the ministration [attendance,
aid, service] of the Spirit, 2 Corinthians 3:8.
A measure of the Spirit the church has had in all
ages, but more in gospel times, since the coming of
Christ, than before. The law came by Moses, but
grace and truth by Jesus Christ; that is, a more
plentiful effusion [pouring forth] of grace,
fulfilling the promises and prophecies of old.
Isaiah 44:3, I will pour water upon him that is
thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour
my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thy
offspring: this greatest and best of blessings, an
effusion of grace, and of the sanctifying gifts of
the Spirit. Joel 2:28, I will pour out my Spirit
upon all flesh; not on Jews only, but Gentiles also.
This was to be in gospel times; and accordingly
(Acts 2:17-18, Acts 2:33), speaking of Christ risen
and ascended, having received of the Father the
promise of the Holy [Spirit], he hath shed
forth (says Peter) this that you now see and
hear: and Acts 10:44-45, The Holy [Spirit]
fell on all those that heart the word, Gentiles as
well as Jews. This indeed was, in a great measure,
in the miraculous gifts of [God through] the
Holy [Spirit], but not without his [God's]
sanctifying graces also accompanying many if not all
of them [all of them]. There was then great
abundance of common gifts of illumination, outward
calling and profession, and general faith, and of
more special gifts of sanctification too, such as
faith, and hope, and love, and other graces of the
Spirit. Let us get a share in these. What will it
signify if much be shed forth and we remain dry? Our
condemnation will but be aggravated the more if
under such a dispensation of grace we remain void of
grace. Be filled with the Spirit, says the apostle;
it is duty as well as privilege, because of the
means which God in the gospel is ready to bless and
make effectual; this is the manner of God's
communicating grace and all spiritual blessings
under the gospel - plentifully; he is not straitened
towards us, but we towards him and in ourselves.
Note: "Great abundance of common gifts of
illumination, outward calling and profession [your
duties], and general faith, and of more special
gifts of sanctification too, such as faith, hope and
love [fruits of the Spirit]." This is what
our being in the salvation process is all about. We
see the "great abundance" in our life experience and
in our putting everything into the hands of God
daily.
Quoted verses:
2 Corinthians 3:8
How shall not the ministration [attendance, aid,
service] of the spirit be rather glorious?
Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and
floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit
upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will
pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall
dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Acts 2:17-18
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith
God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and
your young men shall see visions, and your old men
shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will
pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall
prophesy:
Acts 2:33
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted,
and having received of the Father the promise of the
Holy Ghost [Spirit], he hath shed forth this,
which ye now see and hear.
Acts 10:44-45
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost
[Spirit] fell on all them which heard the
word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that
on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the
Holy Ghost [Spirit].
(9.) Here is the procuring cause of all, namely,
Christ: Through Jesus Christ our Saviour. He it is
who purchased the Spirit and his saving gifts and
graces. All come through him, and through him as a
Saviour, whose undertaking and work it is to bring
to grace and glory; he is our righteousness and
peace, and our head, from whom we have all spiritual
life and influences. He is made of God to us [meaning
God the Father set Jesus Christ in position of
Saviour] wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption. Let us praise God for him [Christ]
above all; let us go to the Father by him, and
improve him to all sanctifying and saving purposes.
Have we grace? Let us thank him [Christ] with
the Father and Spirit [the power of God] for
it: account all things but loss and dung for the
excellency of the knowledge of him, and grow and
increase therein more and more. ~Matthew Henry
Main
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise:
Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but
confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good
meanings are not enough without good works. They
were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness on
all occasions, not toward friends only, but to all
men, though with wisdom, James 3:13. And let this
text teach us how wrong it is for a Christian to be
churlish [rude, mean] to the worst, weakest,
and most abject. The servants of sin have many
masters, their lusts hurry them different ways;
pride commands one thing, covetousness another. Thus
they are hateful, deserving to be hated. It is the
misery of sinners, that they hate one another; and
it is the duty and happiness of saints to love one
another. And we are delivered out of our miserable
condition, only by the mercy and free grace of God,
the merit and sufferings of Christ, and the working
of his Spirit. God the Father is God our Saviour. He
is the fountain from which the Holy Spirit flows, to
teach, regenerate, and save his fallen creatures;
and this blessing comes to mankind through Christ.
The spring and rise of it, is the kindness and love
of God to man. Love and grace have, through the
Spirit, great power to change and turn the heart to
God. Works must be in the saved, but are not among
the causes of their salvation. A new principle of
grace and holiness is wrought, which sways, and
governs, and makes the man a new creature. Most
pretend they would have heaven at last, yet they
care not for holiness now; they would have the end
without the beginning. Here is the outward sign and
seal thereof in baptism, called therefore the
washing of regeneration. The work is inward and
spiritual; this is outwardly signified and sealed in
this ordinance. Slight not this outward sign and
seal; yet rest not in the outward washing, but look
to the answer of a good conscience, without which
the outward washing will avail nothing. The worker
therein is the Spirit of God; it is the renewing of
the Holy [Spirit]. Through him we mortify
sin, perform duty, walk in God's ways; all the
working of the Divine life in us, and the fruits of
righteousness without, are through this blessed and
holy Spirit. The Spirit and his saving gifts and
graces, come through Christ, as a Saviour, whose
undertaking and work are to bring to grace and
glory. Justification, in the gospel sense, is the
free forgiveness of a sinner; accepting him as
righteous through the righteousness of Christ
received by faith. God, in justifying a sinner in
the way of the gospel, is gracious to him, yet just
to himself and his law. As forgiveness is through a
perfect righteousness, and satisfaction is made to
justice by Christ, it cannot be merited by the
sinner himself. Eternal life is set before us in the
promise; the Spirit works faith in us, and hope of
that life; faith and hope bring it near, and fill
with joy in expectation of it. ~Matthew Henry
Concise
Quoted verse:
James 3:13
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among
you? let him shew out of a good conversation his
works with meekness of wisdom.
Now to the specific commentaries. This verse is
primarily in two parts:
1] Which he shed on us abundantly. [some
breakout the word, "abundantly."]
2] Through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
1] Which he
shed on us abundantly.
Which he shed on us - Greek, “Which he poured out on
us” ~Barnes Notes
Abundantly - Margin, as in Greek, “richly.” The
meaning is, that the Holy Spirit had been imparted
in copious measure in order to convert them from
their former wickedness. There is no particular
allusion here to the day of Pentecost, but the sense
is, that the Holy Spirit had been imparted richly to
all who were converted, at any time or place, from
the error of their ways. What the apostle says here
is true of all who become Christians, and can be
applied to all who become believers in any age or
land. ~Barnes Notes
Which he shed on us abundantly - Οὑ εξεχεεν· Which
he poured out on us, as the water was poured out on
them in baptism [full immersion], to which
there is here a manifest allusion. The heavenly gift
was poured out richly, in great abundance. ~Adam
Clarke with minor editing by me
Which he shed on us abundantly - "Or richly"; either
which love he shed abroad in the hearts of those
whom he regenerated and renewed by his Spirit; or
which water of regeneration, that is, grace,
comparable to water, he plentifully shed, and caused
to abound where sin had done; or rather whom, or
which Holy Spirit, with his gifts and graces, such
as faith, hope, and love, and every other, he poured
forth in great abundance on them; see Isaiah 44:3 [already
quoted above]. ~John Gill
2] Through
Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Through Jesus Christ - Baptism is nothing in itself;
and there had been no outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
had there been no saving and atoning Christ. Through
him alone all good comes to the souls of men.
~Adam Clarke
Through Jesus Christ our Saviour - the love and
kindness of God the Father our Saviour, comes
through him; the mercy of God streams through him;
the salvation itself is by, and through him; the
grace communicated in regeneration and renovation is
out of his fulness; the Spirit [itself] is
given forth from him; and every supply of grace, by
which the work is carried on, comes out of his
hands; and everything wrought in us, that is well
pleasing in the sight of God, is through him; and
even the gift of God, eternal life itself. ~John
Gill
This John Gill commentary says it all and is the
lesson of verse 6.
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