Scripture: Titus 3: 3-6

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Scripture Commentary: Free yourself from malice and envy with Jesus.

Paul reminds Titus in Titus 3: 3 that we are sometimes foolish, disobedient, and deceived. We are slaves to our lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. That was our style until Jesus Christ freed us.

We shouldn’t look down on anyone but instead should look back and see how God saved us. We should ask God how we can help our fellow man.

We’ve come this far because of God’s grace and mercy, and the shedding of Jesus Christ’s blood. We didn’t do anything ourselves.

Jesus did it all.

Jesus freed us from the desires and control of sin. We have moved from a life of sin to a place where God’s Holy Spirit directs our destination.

Look at yourself now. Then look at where you were. See the difference. You didn’t do it. God did it because He loves you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Titus Chapter 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Titus:

Passions and Pleasures Lead to Addiction

Stop Being Enslaved to Sinful Desires

Scripture: Titus 3: 3-7

³ For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], ⁵ He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee). 

Scripture Commentary:

Think back to the life you were living before Jesus Christ entered in. The Bible says, you were ” foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures.” Although, at the time, many of us thought we were doing well in that lifestyle.

Because of God’s mercy and love for us, we moved from a life of sin to one where we are lead by God’s Holy Spirit. All our sins, not merely some, but ALL, are washed away by His mercy.

Open your heart and soul to Jesus.

When we open our heart and soul to Jesus, He cleanses us. He does this not because we earned or deserved it. It is His gift to us. We know now that freedom doesn’t consist of doing anything we want. Freedom is living a life for Christ.

Our old lifestyle led to a path of slavery to addictions and sensual gratification. We were not free but slaves to what our body dictated. Christ frees us from the desires and control of sin. None of this occurs because we earned or deserved it. It is a gift from God.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Titus Chapter 3

Read More Commentary from the New Testament:

You Have No Excuse

Live By and Keep Step with the Spirit

Scripture: Titus 3: 3-8

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Scripture Commentary:  What passions and pleasures derail you?

Slavish Addiction comes when you constantly give yourself over to passions and pleasures.  Many believe freedom is doing what they please without consequence. People are addicted to immediate gratification. They are slaves to their own gratification.

Paul summarized what Christ does for us when He saves us. We move from a life full of sin to one where we are led by God’s Holy Spirit. We are no longer slaves to our worldly vices as our sins are washed away. Washing refers to the water of baptism, which is a sign of salvation.

In becoming a Christian, the believer acknowledges Christ as Lord. They recognize his saving work and gain eternal life with all its treasures. The Holy Spirit renews us continually. We don’t earn or deserve salvation; it is all God’s gift. Christ frees us from our desires and the control of sin.

Let yourself be freed!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Titus Chapter 3