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Washing of Regeneration - Titus 3
Washing of Regeneration - Titus 3
"By the goodness and kindness of God, He saved us". Notice Paul's description of these disciples pre-conversion lives as written in vs 3: they were disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”
It is obvious that they could not undo their sin nor could they make up for it or atone for it. All they could do was plead guilty and pay the penalty. That is, that is all they could do UNTIL God stepped in. Such salvation is due to God’s goodness and loving kindness. Hence it was according to His mercy that we are saved BY the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. (vs. 4)
Regeneration means to make alive again. We were dead in sin but GOD made us alive. We learn from Ephesians 2 that one must have faith. We learn from Acts 22:16 that in baptism we wash away our sin. We learn from Col. 2:11-14 that in baptism God makes us alive, that is, God regenerates us. Baptism, in and of itself, doesn’t have any power to cleanse us from sin and make us alive. Baptism, when done in faith and submission to God, is when God promised to forgive and make us alive.
When the Corinthians heard the gospel, they believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8). Paul later said of their conversion that they were "washed, sanctified, and justified'.
Here in Titus 3:4-5, by the mercy of God people are said to participate in the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit SO THAT being justified by his grace they might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
People will accuse us of believing in 'baptismal regeneration' even though we affirm over and over that it is God that regenerates. What they are refusing to acknowledge is that God makes one alive IN baptism. It is not our work, but God that works. It is not baptism that makes one alive, it is God who regenerates WHEN one is buried in baptism. As Paul said in Romans 6:3-4: "we were buried in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life".
By mercy God saved us.
Hugh DeLong
