Titus 3 Love Personified Part 32


Titus 3:4-5a

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us”

If you know Paul's history, then you know that Paul was not always a servant and preacher of the gospel. Paul, formerly Saul, persecuted the Christians of his time, even putting many in prison. So, how did the persecutor become the preacher? Titus 3:4 gives us the answer; quite literally, "the kindness and love of God the Savior appeared." Saul went from persecutor to preacher, not because of anything he had done, but because Jesus came to him, and as our text says, "He saved us!" In Acts 9, we can read about Jesus' appearance to Paul, and in verse 20, it says, "At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." The opposer became the opposed, again, not because of anything Paul did, but because God chose to reveal Himself to Paul through Christ Jesus. Jesus personifies God's kindness and love, and we can see a strong contrast between who we are in Titus 3:3 and who God is in Titus 3:4. Paul is giving us a clear reminder of the nature and work of salvation. What we've been called to be and how we are called to live was displayed and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Paul was transformed by, through, and because of God's love and kindness. In his letters, Paul has described Christ as the personification of grace, salvation, redemption, teaching, hope, and the instruction and inspiration to live godly lives. In chapter 2:11 Paul wrote, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” It is by Jesus that we learn this grace, are saved, redeemed, and transformed to be more like Him. The persecutor became the preacher because God's grace and loving kindness came down to Him, in Christ Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit, his heart was changed. Only by God's grace, personified in Christ Jesus can we be saved, and as we'll see in the next few verses, transformed and renewed through the Holy Spirit.

1. Jesus often referred to Himself as different things, for example, in John 11:25 He calls Himself “The door”. Find other passages where Jesus refers to Himself in different ways. What can we take from these descriptions?

2. Read Ephesians 2:1-10. What can we learn from this, specifically, verse 7?

3. We are all sinful and corrupt so how are we to boast? See 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

4. Paul often used words to personify the traits of God in Christ Jesus, where else in scripture can you find this?

God of grace, mercy, truth and love, I come before you now to ask that You remove any confusion in my mind, give me eyes that see You, ears that hear You and a heart that longs to do Your will. Apart from You I am foolish, disobedient and enslaved by my passions, please forgive me and make me more like You. Amen


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