“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 ESV)
“Some years ago, I heard someone say that we should preach the gospel to ourselves every day. Though I had already been doing that to some degree, the statement brought clarity and focus to my own practice, so I began using it in my ministry to others.” – Jerry Bridges, The Gospel for Real Life.
Believers in Christ should be thankful each day for God’s salvation to us from the penalty, power and eventual presence of our sin. Realizing this deliverance from sin is by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone should make our gratitude even greater.
Often, we focus our attention on what the LORD has saved us for (Eph. 2:10). However, we must always remember what God has delivered us from. Today’s text from Titus has this as its focus.
I Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV) says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
The Apostle Paul explains that we ourselves were once foolish. He includes himself in this spiritual diagnosis. To be foolish (ἀνόητος; anoētos) refers to a lack of good sense or senselessness regarding the things of God (Gal. 1:3; 3:3; I Timothy 6:9).
This condition of foolishness results in disobedience to God. To be disobedient (ἀπειθής; apeithēs) means to not trust in, commit to, depend upon and worship Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. This results in a lifestyle that is rebellious against God.
To be led astray (πλανάω; planaō) is a present passive participle meaning to be deceived and to wander from the ways of God.
To be a slave to various passions (δουλεύω; douleuō/ ἐπιθυμία; epithymia) means to presently and actively serve one’s lusts or desires. These are passions that bring willing enslavement (I John 2:15-17; Gal. 6:16-21). Pleasures (ἡδονή; hēdonē) refers to sensuous habits. The English word hedonism comes from this Greek word.
Malice (κακία; kakia) refers to a vicious disposition of wickedness. Envy (φθόνος; phthonos) means being jealous and holding a grudge.
Finally hatred (στυγητός; stygētos) is to be despicable, wicked, vile and loathsome. Hating (μισέω; miseō) is a present, active participle. It means to evidence one’s nature by one’s behavior.
“It is not that every believer has committed every sin listed here, but rather that before salvation every life is characterized by such sins. That sobering truth should make believers humble in dealing with the unsaved, even those who are grossly immoral and ungodly. If it weren’t for God’s grace to his own, they would all be wicked (1 Pet. 3:15; cf. 2 Tim. 2:25; See Rom. 1:18–32; 1 Cor. 6:9–10; Gal. 5:19–21; Eph. 4:17–19),” states Dr. John MacArthur.
“Reflection upon our own former condition makes it easier for us to be mild and kind toward others. Note, “For at one time we also were …” We means: I, Paul, who write the letter; you, Titus, who receive it; and further, all believers in Crete, and in fact, all believers everywhere. Paul, too, had been a slave of sin. To be sure, he had been “zealous for the traditions,” but at the same time he had been “persecuting the church” (see on 1 Tim. 1:13; then Gal. 1:11–17). As to what Titus had been, read Gal. 2:2, 3.”[1]
“This merciful inclusion of oneself is very effective and appealing. It causes the reader (Titus) and the hearers (the Cretan believers when the letter is read to them) to feel that the writer is standing on common ground with them and understands them (cf. Titus 1:4; then 1 Thess. 5:9; Rev. 1:9). Moreover, the sharp contrast between what men were in their state of sin and what they have become since they entered the state of grace encourages gratitude to God; hence also goodwill toward the neighbor who was made in God’s image. (The vivid portrayal of this contrast is characteristic of Paul; see 1 Tim. 1:12–17; then Rom. 6:17–23; 1 Cor. 6:11; Eph. 2:2–13; 5:8; Col. 3:7; and cf. 1 Peter 4:3.).”[2]
Consider the particular sins of which the Lord has delivered, and is delivering, you. Pray that your behavior will display His delivering power. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 387.
[2] Ibid., 387.
His Word Today 