In the first seven verses of the chapter, Paul affirms an important truth, we are saved by the mercy and grace of God, brought to us through Jesus Christ.
Right after he states that we do not merit our salvation by “works of righteousness we have done” (5), he writes Titus to “affirm constantly” the need to “maintain good works.”
Interestingly, denominational preachers often do just the opposite. They are so interested in affirming that we are not saved by our own merit (which is true), that they deny that our salvation depends at all upon our obedience (which is decidedly false)!
Read this from Paul’s pen, “those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works” (8).
Any doctrine that teaches God’s grace does not expect anything in return from its recipients is a cheap and faulty view of grace. We can’t get to heaven without God. We all agree with this. Nowhere does the Bible say we don’t have to do anything!
