Titus 3:5 (DRB)

Passage

Not by the works of justice which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the laver of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Ghost.

Nearby Context

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were some time unwise, incredulous, erring, slaves to divers desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

Titus 3:4 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared:

Titus 3:5 Not by the works of justice which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the laver of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Ghost.

Titus 3:6 Whom he hath poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour:

Titus 3:7 That, being justified by his grace, we may be heirs according to hope of life everlasting.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "saved", "mercy", "works", "justice", "done", "laver", "regeneration", and "renovation". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "saved" and "mercy", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "But when the goodness and kindness of..." into verse 6's "Whom he hath poured forth upon us...", so "saved" and "mercy" belong inside that flow. In Titus context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "saved" and "mercy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.