Titus 3:5
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;
Titus 3:5
Verse 5 has a crisp contrast: salvation is not achieved by “works of righteousness” that we have done, but by God’s mercy, washing, regeneration, and renewing by the Holy Spirit. The language of washing evokes baptism and cleansing from sin; regeneration signals new birth; and renewal by the Spirit indicates ongoing transformation. The verse emphasizes the radical reversal of human effort as the basis of salvation—God acts first, enabling and transforming. The context contrasts human merit with divine mercy, emphasizing that salvation is a gift received through faith. This is a corrective against legalistic tendencies that insist on perfect observance of law. The Spirit’s work is described as effectual—God accomplishes what humans cannot: inner transformation that leads to new life.
Theologically, this passage anchors essential soteriological truths: justification by mercy through faith, regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and a Spirit-wrought renewal that begins the sanctification process. It emphasizes the Trinitarian work of God in salvation—God the Father’s mercy, the Son’s redemptive work, and the Spirit’s renewing action. It rejects human self-salvation and foregrounds divine initiative and grace.
Practically, rest in God’s mercy rather than striving for acceptance through moral performance. Baptism and church membership rituals can be meaningful symbols of washing and renewal. Invite the Spirit to renew daily: prayer for transformation, confession, and dependence on grace. In communities, teach and model a gospel-based identity that rests on mercy, not merit. This frees people from pride and from despair when they fail, pointing them to Christ’s sufficiency.
Cross-References: Romans 3:24-26; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:3; John 3:5