Explain Titus 3:5

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CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
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#1
Can anyone explain what is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost means?
 
Jun 1, 2016
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#2
[FONT=Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]adam was created and then God breathed His own Breath ointo adams Lungs making Him a living soul. adam had the spirit of God in Him in eden. adams spirit died through the knowledge of good and evil and became the spirit of man mentioned in genesis 6. it is never given again until Jesus came in the gospel offering the holy spirit to His followers.

think of baptism, we go beneath the water, and are raised up from it. this is to identify us with the death ,burial, and resurrection of Jesus. and a profession of our faith toward Him. its why chapter 6 of romans says what it says, not baptism, but the principle of dying and being raised with Jesus. thats what its all about, we die to our sins through the gospel, and are born again in the Holy spirit.

"washing of regeneration" is saying the " born again are washed clean" and the "renewing of the holy ghost" is what has been offered by Jesus in chapter 14 and 15 of John. this process is what has saved us, of Course Jesus saved us, but thats How, we are re made, or re generated inwardly through faith, and outwarldy to the receiving of the spirit of truth, or the "Holy Ghost" see john 14, 15...and then romans 6-8 when you have time.


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graceNpeace

Senior Member
Aug 12, 2016
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#3
TITUS 3:1-7

3
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
3 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 Saviour,
7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

It is always useful to put a single verse in its context - i.e. the verses all around the verse in
question.
The context makes it clear that what is being referred to is the process of salvation.
The moment we a born again we become indwelt with the Holy Spirit.
In spiritual terms we are transformed from death to life i.e. regeneration.
The renewing is the replacement of the 'old' man with the 'new'. (cf Rom chap 6) Substitute woman if you are a female.
The Greek words 'regeneration' and 'renewal' are practical synonymous. The use of both words so close in meaning suggest closely related processes mediated by one agent - the Holy Spirit in this case.

Aspects of this process are instantaneous - the mere presence of the Holy Spirit within us identifies us as immediately as part of the family of God, while parts of this process such as renewing our inner man (or woman) are not really completed in our lifetime.
This renewing of our souls is sometimes referred to as sanctification.
If you pursue the doctrinal concepts of sanctification you will hear arguments that debate whether sanctification is positional or progressive. The positional argument is that one is sanctified by virtue of being born again while the progressive argument suggests that being born again is a starting point but not the end of the process. The passage we are discussing seems to suggest that sanctification is in fact an 'organic' process that incorporates both positional and progressive components.
In the sense that presence of the Holy Spirit is absolutely requisite for the process of renewal (sanctification) it is process mediated by God. Other Scripture makes it clear though that this a process in which the believer is intended to collaborate (cf Rom 6:6-14).

Our salvation is clearly identified as a work of God "
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us". Furthermore, another aspect alluded to is the forensic term 'justification' found in verse 7:"that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Justification is a legal term with a very specific meaning: acquittal!
In other words any charges brought against us at the judgement seat of Christ that we should answer for our sins will be set aside. Verse 7 also makes a very clear statement as to the circumstances of that acquittal - it is by the grace of God and no other
consideration (see verse 5 "not by works of righteousness which we have done,")
This justification also makes us "heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (cf Gal 3:26-29)

The bigger contest of this passage is a letter addressed to Titus who, on behalf of of Paul, is engaged in church-planting cum church-building (not construction but people) in Crete. Most of the letter addresses issues relating directly to this task of church planting in a world hostile to the missionary efforts of Christians.
In Titus chap 3 Paul is anchoring the practical advice offered earlier in his letter by emphasising the positional situation (and certainty) of the believers relationship with God and giving context to their relationship with the world in which they are ministering.
None of the concepts shared in Titus chap 3 would have been foreign to Titus and his fellow workers. Rather Paul includes this short summary on the meaning and consequences of salvation for the purposes of affirmation and confirmation.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#4
Being born again of the spirit....as simple as it gets! It is the Spirit that quickeneth (makes alive)
 

Zmouth

Senior Member
Nov 21, 2012
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#5
Probably easier to show that explain.

[See Acts 19:2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Since those who do not know how to give good gifts can't receive the Holy Spirit, only those who know how to give good gift, thus one can't receive it unless they asked for it from their heavenly Father.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. John 3:20
 
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FreeNChrist

Guest
#6
Can anyone explain what is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost means?
"But — When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace He made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." Titus 3:4-7
 

valiant

Senior Member
Mar 22, 2015
8,025
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#7
Can anyone explain what is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost means?
The washing of regeneration is based on the picture given in the Old Testament of the Spirit coming down like rain and washing the earth and bringing it to life (Isaiah 32.15; 44.1-5; 55.10-13). So God promises that He will do the same for all Who come to Him. He will give us new birth, granting us life in the Spirit, and enlivening our hearts to do His will, all by His Spirit coming on us. We will thus be 'renewed' by the Holy Spirit and produce fruit as water renews the ground causing life to spring forth,.
 
May 18, 2017
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#8
Can anyone explain what is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost means?
Saviour toward man appeared,

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost [Titus 3:4–5].

"“Not by works of righteousness which we have done.” Verse 3 gave us a picture of how we were before we came to know Christ. It is important to understand that becoming a Christian doesn’t mean just turning over a new leaf—you will find yourself writing on the new leaf the same things that you wrote on the old leaf. Making New Year’s resolutions and promising to do better doesn’t make you a Christian. Nor are you saved on the basis of works of righteousness, good deeds, which you have done.

“But according to his mercy he saved us.” Because Christ died for us and paid the penalty for our sins, God is prepared to extend mercy to us; it is according to His mercy that He saved us. And He is rich in mercy, which means He has plenty of it. Whoever you are, He can save you today because Christ died for you. He paid the penalty and makes over to you His righteousness!

“By the washing of regeneration.” “Washing” means laver—it is the laver of regeneration. In the Old Testament the laver, which stood in the court of the tabernacle and later the temple, represented this.

This washing of regeneration is what the Lord was speaking about in the third chapter of John: “… Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The water represents the Word of God—the Bible will wash you. It has a sanctifying power, a cleansing power. We are cleansed by the Word of God. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God—“born of water and of the Spirit.” That is the way we are born again.

“And renewing of the Holy Ghost”—He regenerates us." McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy/Titus/Philemon) (electronic ed., Vol. 50, pp. 172–173). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

"washing of regeneration. See notes on Ezek. 36:25–29; Eph. 5:26; James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23. Salvation brings divine cleansing from sin and the gift of a new, Spirit-generated, Spirit-empowered, and Spirit-protected life as God’s own children and heirs (v. 7). This is the new birth (cf. John 3:5; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1). renewing of the Holy Spirit. Cf. Rom. 8:2. He is the agent of the “working of regeneration.”

Eze 36:25–27 I will cleanse you. Along with the physical reality of a return to the Land, God pledged spiritual renewal: 1) cleansing from sin; 2) a new heart of the New Covenant (cf. Jer. 31:31–34); 3) a new spirit or disposition inclined to worship Him; and 4) His Spirit dwelling in them, enabling them to walk in obedience to His word. This has not happened, because Israel has not trusted Jesus Christ as Messiah and Savior, but it will before the kingdom of Messiah (cf. Zech. 12–14; Rom. 11:25–27; Rev. 11:13).

Eph 5:26, 27 sanctify … cleanse … holy … without blemish. This speaks of the love of Christ for His church. Saving grace makes believers holy by the agency of the Word of God (Titus 2:1–9; 3:5) so that they may be a pure bride. For husbands to love their wives as Christ does His church, demands a purifying love. Since divine love seeks to completely cleanse those who are loved from every form of sin and evil, a Christian husband should not be able to bear the thought of anything sinful in the life of his wife that displeases God. His greatest desire for her should be that she become perfectly conformed to Christ, so he leads her to purity. See note on 2 Cor. 11:23." MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1813). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.
 
May 18, 2017
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#9
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. John 3:20
Had to have it their way.


...B. The punishment (16:3b): The waters become as blood, killing all life in them.

III. Third Judgment Bowl (16:4–7)
A. The place (16:4a): It is poured out on the rivers and springs.
B. The punishment (16:4b): These fresh water sources also become as blood." Willmington, H. L. (1999). The Outline Bible (Re 16:3–4). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
 
R

RomansToPhilemon

Guest
#10
You probably don't understand because you have been brought up to believe that you are supposed to be baptized by water when you get saved. This is false and Israel's doctrine. It has nothing to do with the body of Christ. We are baptized INTO Christ the moment we believe. There is no water in that ;P So when You come along and read Titus and see that verse, you come ill prepared because of the false religious system out there. It's all over this site and the internet.

Hence the next verse!

[FONT=&quot]Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When you get saved after you believe the CORRECT gospel, you are a NEW creature. Placed into the body of Christ. Hid IN Christ. Baptized IN Christ. No water. You are a new man; a new creature. You live in the dispensation of grace. Where Christ's work is sufficient to pay for your sins. Once you trust this and believe it - you have eternal life. And the Holy Spirit is placed in you as the down payment until the redemption at the rapture. Or as the bible puts it the earnest of the Spirit.

Eph 1.13-14

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[FONT=&quot]In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.[/FONT]
 
May 12, 2017
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#11
You probably don't understand because you have been brought up to believe that you are supposed to be baptized by water when you get saved. This is false and Israel's doctrine. It has nothing to do with the body of Christ. We are baptized INTO Christ the moment we believe. There is no water in that ;P So when You come along and read Titus and see that verse, you come ill prepared because of the false religious system out there. It's all over this site and the internet.

Hence the next verse!

Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When you get saved after you believe the CORRECT gospel, you are a NEW creature. Placed into the body of Christ. Hid IN Christ. Baptized IN Christ. No water. You are a new man; a new creature. You live in the dispensation of grace. Where Christ's work is sufficient to pay for your sins. Once you trust this and believe it - you have eternal life. And the Holy Spirit is placed in you as the down payment until the redemption at the rapture. Or as the bible puts it the earnest of the Spirit.

Eph 1.13-14


In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
dispensation, and you accuse others of spreading a false doctrine.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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#12
The word "washing" in the Strong's Greek Concordance with Vine's Number 3067 - (Loutron) "a bath, a laver" is used *metaphorically of the Word of God, as the instrument of spiritual cleansing,* Ephesians 5:26; and Titus 3:5, of the "washing of regeneration." The word "regeneration" is from the Greek word palingenesia, which is taken from two root words "born" and "again."

Greek Scholar A.T. Robertson states: Through the washing of regeneration (dia loutrou palingenesiaß). Late and common word with the Stoics (Dibelius) and in the Mystery-religions (Angus), also in the papyri and Philo. Only twice in the N.T. (Matthew 19:28 with which compare apokatastasia in Acts 3:21, and here in personal sense of new birth). For loutron, see Ephesians 5:26, here as there the laver or the bath. Probably in both cases there is a reference to baptism, but, as in Romans 6:3-6, the immersion is the picture or the symbol of the new birth, not the means of securing it.