For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (12) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lists, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (13) looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (14) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (3:4) 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, (7) that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The letter to Titus was written by the apostle Paul. Titus was a companion of Paul in his ministry ( thus Titus was well aware of the Judaizers or legalizers trying to corrupt the gospel) and at the time of this pastoral letter Titus was evangelizing on the island of Crete. A Cretan was considered a liar, glutton and evil so Paul was emphasizing the necessity for holy and godly living which would be a huge contrast to the pagan lifestyle of Cretans – true Christian behavior was/is a living testament to the gospel and today’s verses were meant to prepare the Christians on Crete.
In this world life is measured on a merit system. Christianity however is the only religion that IS NOT merit based – With the exception of Catholicism which still teaches Jesus AND; and good works, the existence of purgatory etc. In the Christian belief, man at the moment of faith in Christ Jesus becomes transformed. Before faith man was spiritually dead but in Christ men received God and the free gift of grace – unearned by good works – and eternal life. The gospel changed human hearts and in our verses today, Paul is saying godly living might be the only gospel some people ever hear.
Man can never earn salvation by himself – salvation is always of the Lord