Titus 3:4

Then, he describes the present state of our salvation, when he says, but when the benignity. First, he describes its order and process; second, he confirms what he has said, at it is a faithful saying. In regard to the first he does four things: …

That is, when the Only-begotten became incarnate and became like us.

We read of riches of goodness and mercy, Rom. ii. Let us acknowledge this, and give him the glory of it, not turning it to wantonness, but to thankfulness and obedience. (3.) Here is the means, or instrumental cause--the shining out of this love and grace of God in the gospel, after it appeared, that is, in the word.

But after that the kindness and love of God - By χρηστοτης we may understand the essential goodness of the Divine nature; that which is the spring whence all kindness, mercy, and beneficence proceed. Love toward man - Φιλανθρωπια· Philanthropy. It is to be regretted that this attribute of the Divine nature, as it stands in relation to man, should have been entirely lost by a paraphrastical translation. Philanthropy is a character which God gives here to himself; while human nature exists, this must be a character of the Divine nature.

To show how little reason the Cretan Christians had to be proud of themselves, and despise others not Christians (see on Tit 3:2, 3).

LAST Thursday evening my sermon was based upon the contrast in the second chapter of Ephesians, between the expressions "not of works" and "created in Christ Jesus unto good works." I tried to show the true place of good works in connection with salvation. Many of you were not present then and I felt that the subject was of such extreme importance that I must return to the same line of thought in this greater congregation.

LAST Thursday evening my sermon was based upon the contrast in the second chapter of Ephesians, between the expressions "not of works" and "created in Christ Jesus unto good works." I tried to show the true place of good works in connection with salvation. Many of you were not present then and I felt that the subject was of such extreme importance that I must return to the same line of thought in this greater congregation. I shall endeavor by another text which contains the same contrast, to set before you the usefulness, the benefit, yes, and the absolute necessity for our abounding in good works if indeed we are saved by faith in Christ Jesus. Let us come at once to our text. Our Apostle tells us that we are to speak evil of no man but to show meekness unto all men. And he adds this as an all-sufficient reason—we ourselves also were sometimes like the very worst of them. When we look upon the world today, it pains us by its folly, disobedience and delusion. He that knows most of this modern Babylon, whether he observes the richer or the poorer classes of society, will find the deepest cause for grief. But we cannot condemn with bitterness—for such were some of us. Not only can we not condemn with bitterness but we must look upon our sinful fellow creatures with great compassion—for such were some of us. Yes more—we feel encouraged to hope for ungodly men, even for the foolish and disobedient—for we ourselves also were, not long ago, like they. We feel that we must give the thought of our heart and the energy of our lives to the great work of saving men out of gratitude to the Lord our God, who, in His kindness and love, has saved us. "I am a man," said one, "and everything that has to do with men concerns me"—but the child of God adds to this, "I am also a sinful man and owe my cleansing to the loving favor of the Lord.

But after that - Greek, when - ὅτε hote The meaning is, that “when the love of God was manifested in the plan of salvation, he saved us from this state God appeared” after we had sinned in this way, but that when his mercy was thus displayed we were converted from our sins, and made pure in his sight. The kindness - χρηστότης chrēstotēs - “the goodness, or the benignity.” The word is rendered “goodness” and “good” in Rom 2:4; Rom 3:12; Rom 11:22, thrice; “kindness,” 2Co 6:6; Eph 2:7; Col 3:12; Tit 3:4; and “gentleness,” Gal 5:22. The act of redeeming us was one of great kindness, or goodness. And love of God - Margin, “pity.” The Greek word is φιλανθρωπία philanthrōpia - “philanthropy - the love of man.” The plan of salvation was founded on love to man, and was the highest expression of that love; the notes at Joh 3:16. The Greek of this verse is, “When the kindness and love of God our Saviour to man was manifested, he saved us” Tit 3:5, to wit, from those sins of which we had before been guilty.