A Sermon Summary (Titus 3:3-7)
Pastor Dave Hentschel
The church is in desperate need of Revival. Revival is often seen as an extraordinary outpouring of God’s Spirit, but at its heart lies the gospel—God’s power to transform lives. Titus 3:3-7 offers us a vivid picture of the gospel through two contrasting volumes: the bad news of humanity’s condition and the good news of God’s intervention.
Volume 1: The Bad News (Titus 3:3)
Paul begins with a sobering diagnosis of the human condition. “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another” (Titus 3:3, ESV).
This verse reminds us that apart from Christ, we are spiritually bankrupt. Our lives are characterized by:
- Foolishness: A rejection of God’s wisdom, pursuing self-centered paths.
- Disobedience: Rebelling against God’s commands and authority.
- Slavery to Sin: Ensnared by desires and pleasures, unable to break free.
- Relational Brokenness: Envy, malice, and hostility dominate our interactions.
Richard Lovelace describes this state as “living in a world governed by sin, death, and the devil,” leaving us spiritually blind and relationally fractured. Revival begins with recognizing this bleak reality and our inability to save ourselves.
Volume 2: The Good News (Titus 3:4-7)
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us...” (Titus 3:4-5a, ESV). Here, Paul shifts to the radiant beauty of the gospel. God intervenes, not because of our righteousness, but because of His mercy.
- The Source: God’s goodness and loving kindness are the fountainhead of our salvation (v. 4).
- The Means: Salvation is not by works but through God’s mercy, mediated by the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit (v. 5).
- The Goal: Justification by grace, resulting in our adoption as heirs of eternal life (vv. 6-7).
As Lovelace puts it, the gospel restores what sin has destroyed. It reconciles us to God, renews our hearts, and enables us to live in the freedom and power of the Holy Spirit. This is the central message of revival: God’s grace transforms sinners into saints.
Revival begins when God’s people are deeply aware of both the bad news of their sin and the good news of God’s grace. The gospel is not just the entry point of the Christian life; it is the sustaining power for growth, renewal, and mission.
As we reflect on Titus 3:3-7, let us confess our need, celebrate God’s mercy, and pray for the Holy Spirit to renew our hearts and our church. True revival flows from rediscovering the beauty of the gospel, the central message that changes everything.
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