Negatively

The first part of the verse is teaching us the vital truth that man’s works have no part to play in his salvation. It literally reads, “not out of [ek] works in [en] righteousness.” The source is not works and the sphere is not “righteousness”. God does not save us because of what we have done or will do; our good works do not influence God in His dealings with individuals. In this great matter our effort is futile and worthless. This is constantly underlined in Paul’s writings, as may be gleaned by reference to the following representative Scriptures. Rom.3.28, 4.5; Gal.2.16; Eph.2.8, 9; and 2 Tim.1.9.

Positively

His mercy. This is the origin of this great blessing – it comes from Him and as a result of His mercy. Mercy “is the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it”, W. E. Vine. It is God’s pity towards the afflicted with the desire and ability to help. We could visit some hospital ward and see the patients in suffering. Our hearts may go out to them in pity but we do not have the wherewithal to meet the need. We praise His name that He had the ability to accomplish what His pity prompted.
He saved us. This is what He accomplished, the totality of salvation. The aorist tense indicates that there was a point when this happened and at that time the event was complete in itself. Salvation is not a process; it is instantaneous the moment a sinner puts faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour. It does not say, “He helped us.” He did it all.
We have seen above that we were wrong inwardly and outwardly. Therefore two things are required.

For the Outward there is Washing
For the Inward there is Renewing.
Both of these happen at Conversion.

Washing of regeneration. This is in a sense External and was to remove all defilement and sin. In John chapter 13 the Lord Jesus was about to wash the disciples feet and Peter objected. When the Lord explained to him the consequences of not having his feet washed Peter wanted to be washed all over. In v.10 we read, “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit …”. This seems a strange expression until we note that two different words for ‘wash’ have been used. The first word means to bathe, to wash all over. The second word means to wash part of the body and is used in John chapter 13 in vv.5,6,8,10,12,14. Thus there is a bathing that does not need to be repeated and there is a partial washing, of the feet, which requires repetition. This initial washing is called here, in Titus chapter 3, the “washing of regeneration”.
Perhaps an illustration will help our understanding. In the Old Testament the priests were used to various washings. However, there were two that were vital to their service. At their consecration we read in Lev.8.6, “And Moses brought Aaron near, and his sons, and bathed them with water” J.N.D. This was a one off event and was done on them by Moses who was acting for God. However when they would approach to serve they had to have constant recourse to the laver to wash their hands and feet. This they did for themselves. The former is Titus chapter 3 and the latter is John chapter 13.

Note Heb.10.22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Some suggest that this is a literal washing and refers to baptism. If we take the “body” literally, then we must take the “hearts sprinkled” literally also. This is another reference to “the washing of regeneration”. Another Scripture, which links closely here, is Jn.3.5, “… Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”.

For the sake of completeness we ought to mention that 1 Cor.6.11 is different. The word there means ‘to wash off or away’, and as used in the Middle Voice it means ‘to wash oneself’. As expounded by W. E. Vine it, “indicates that the converts at Corinth, by their obedience to the faith, voluntarily gave testimony to the complete spiritual change Divinely wrought in them.”

And renewing of the Holy Ghost. This is Internal and involves a complete renovation, a complete change for the better. As defined earlier it is the introduction of a completely new state. The Holy Ghost, Who uses the Word of God to reach the repentant and believing sinner, brings about this renewing.
The “washing” and “renewing” are seen in the one verse in 2 Cor.5.17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; (this is Washing) behold, all things are become new” (this is Renewing).

He shed on us abundantly. This verb, in the aorist tense, does not permit an ongoing process. Just as v.5 “saved” is complete and not a process, so this shedding which happened only once and is explained by the use of the same expression in Acts 2.33, “having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” It is the same word as is used for the pouring out of the vials in Revelation chapter 16.
On the day of Pentecost, Acts chapter 2, the Lord Jesus poured out the Holy Ghost in rich profusion and He has never been recalled. Thus we need not expect any further outpouring in our day. The Holy Ghost is a Divine Person, not an influence. We cannot conceive of part of this Person being poured out. On that great day He was poured out totally and, said the Lord Jesus, “… He may abide with you for ever” Jn.14.16. As long as the church is here, He will be here also.

Some may point to the same word being used in Acts 10.45 as evidence that there is an ongoing out-pouring of the Holy Ghost, “… on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” It is to be noted that the tense here is not as in Acts 2.33. There it is an aorist, pointing to an action complete at that time. In Acts 10.45 it is the perfect tense meaning that the action is viewed as having been completed in the past, but has present and ongoing effects. Thus in Acts chapter10 the Gentiles came into the good of that which was done in Acts chapter 2. There has not been a fresh outpouring of the Holy Ghost since Acts chapter 2. When a person becomes a Christian through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, at that moment they come into the good of the event described in Acts chapter 2.

What Difference Did Regeneration Make?

The answer is in 3.1,2 with respect to our Present Responsibility, and in v.7 with respect to our Future Destiny.

3.1,2 - Present Responsibility

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, [but] gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”

Since we belong to a new order of things, changes are expected. In these verses two are highlighted.

3.1 - No Anarchy Politically.
3.2 - No Antagonism Socially.


3.1 - No Anarchy Politically

Put them in mind. This is an apostolic command from Paul to Titus. He is to continually and constantly remind the believers of this responsibility.
To be subject. They, and so we, are to submit or obey as the troops would their military leadership. It has been translated twice as “obedient” already in the epistle in 2.5,9. It is used by Paul in the same context in Rom.13.1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.”
To obey magistrates. The only other mentions of this word are in the book of the Acts – 5.29,32, “obey” and 27.21, “have hearkened”.
The teaching is practical for us. Unless such subjection hinders our obedience to the Word of God, we are to be obedient to every kind of ruler whether national or local. It matters not whether we like the people concerned, agree with the laws passed or even find them unfair. We submit and pay our local and national taxes, and live life as quietly as possible.

The constant reminder is required because when laws are passed which we do not like we could soon forget our position and become involved politically. In 1 Tim.2.1,2, we are taught that our only point of contact with the murky world of politics is in prayer, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” Note that we do not pray that our particular brand of politics will prevail, but we do pray that those in authority will so act that we may live and so serve God quietly and peaceably.

In the New Testament there are high incentives for us to be in subjection to the “powers that be”. Here it is Regeneration: In Rom.13.1, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers” is based on Justification: In 1 Pet.2.13, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” it has as its motivation the subject of Redemption.

3.2 - No Antagonism Socially

To speak evil. Literally means to blaspheme, to injure by speech, to rail or to revile. The classic examples are to be found at the trial of the Lord Jesus and when He hung on the cross. Matt.26.65, “… He hath spoken blasphemy”; 27.39, “they that passed by reviled Him …” The word has been used already in the epistle in 2.5, “… that the Word of God be not blasphemed”. Such uncouth language and behaviour has no part in the life of those who have entered into this new state of regeneration.
No brawlers. The only other mention of this word in the New Testament is in relation to overseers in 1 Tim.3.3, “… not a brawler …” It means we are not always quarrelsome, not fighting or given to contention.
Some people have the unhappy knack of being able to cause trouble anywhere and over nothing. If we are always objecting about paltry and incidental things, when a serious matter arises our objection will scarcely be considered.

Now we are taught that it is not all negative, what we should not do, but there is the positive side.

Gentle. This occurs five times in the N.T. In Jms.3.17 and 1 Pet.2.18 it is also rendered “gentle”; in 1 Tim.3.3, “patient” and in Phil.4.5, “moderation”. It means to be very reasonable, behave in a seemly way, “not insisting on the letter of the law”, W. E. Vine. This person will neither be biased nor rash in coming to a conclusion, but will weigh all the facts in a reasonable manner. In personal matters this person will suffer the wrong rather than brawl. There will be no insistence on an apology nor will there be threats if one is not forthcoming.
Shewing all meekness. This person will not be haughty and self-assertive. This is a feature of the Lord Jesus, 2 Cor.10.1, and is part of the “fruit of the Spirit”, Gal.5.23. In the world such a characteristic is interpreted as weakness and so they send employees on self-assertive courses. This is far from the standard God desires from His people. Rather than being weakness, meekness is really power under control.
Unto all men. This manner of living is to be displayed to “all men” - not just to believers. It is all meekness to all men. What a standard! Some can be very delightful on the Lord’s Day when at the meetings and very difficult on Monday when in business. Such duplicity is not acceptable Christian behaviour.
3.7 - Future Destiny

Being justified by His grace. The subject of justification has been dealt with in chapter 4 of this book, so the subject needs very little comment here. Just notice that it is here “being justified by [ek, out of] His grace”. This brings to our attention the Prompting of Justification. In Rom.5.1, we read, “being justified by [ek, out of] faith” - the Principle of Justification. Again in Rom.5.9, we read, “being now justified by [en, in virtue of] His blood” - the Power of Justification;
Heirs according to the hope of eternal life. When Paul writes about eternal life he deems it to be in the future. Whereas with John it is present. See, for example, Jn.3.15 and 10.28. John is teaching us that we can presently enjoy that which Paul says we shall enter into fully in eternity. With the “hope of eternal life” here linked with heirship the thought is probably linked with our inheritance. The glory of the thought sometimes overwhelms us, that we are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” Rom.8.17. Again Paul teaches us that “… thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” Gal.4.7. Peter brings the inheritance into focus when he writes in 1 Pet.1.4, that we have “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”
‘incorruptible’ - it is not subject to Death and suggests Immortality
‘undefiled’ - it is not subject to Defect and suggests Purity
‘fadeth not away’ - it is not subject to Decay and suggests Beauty
‘reserved in heaven’ - it is not subject to Dissolution and suggests Certainty.
This should cause thanksgiving to arise to God from our worshipping hearts as it did with Paul when he wrote, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” Col.1.12.

May the subject of Regeneration touch our lives practically that we may reflect more of the Lord Jesus until we meet Him in the air.

What a wonderful God