Titus 3:5 (GNV)

Passage

Not by the woorkes of righteousnesse, which we had done, but according to his mercie he saued vs, by the washing of the newe birth, and the renewing of the holy Ghost,

Nearby Context

Titus 3:3 For wee our selues also were in times past vnwise, disobedient, deceiued, seruing the lustes and diuers pleasures, liuing in maliciousnes and enuie, hatefull, and hating one another:

Titus 3:4 But when that bountifulnesse and that loue of God our Sauiour toward man appeared,

Titus 3:5 Not by the woorkes of righteousnesse, which we had done, but according to his mercie he saued vs, by the washing of the newe birth, and the renewing of the holy Ghost,

Titus 3:6 Which he shed on vs aboundantly, through Iesus Christ our Sauiour,

Titus 3:7 That we, being iustified by his grace, should be made heires according to the hope of eternall life.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "woorkes", "righteousnesse", "done", "mercie", "saued", "washing", "newe", and "birth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "woorkes" and "righteousnesse", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "But when that bountifulnesse and that loue..." into verse 6's "Which he shed on vs aboundantly through...", so "woorkes" and "righteousnesse" 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 "woorkes" and "righteousnesse" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.