There is always an “after that” effect in any situation. Sometimes it is the suffering of bad decisions by the consequences they bring. However, in our text today it is the good that comes from God after we have been forgiven. Yesterday we looked at the reminders Paul told Titus to tell the church. They were to obey the authorities over them, to speak evil of no man, and to be gentle and meek to everyone. They were not to look down on, or have an attitude of holier than thou, because they too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving their own lusts and pleasures. They were once living a life of malice, envy, and hate toward one another. Now, Paul turns to what happens after their life surrenders to Christ.
In verse 4, Paul says, “but after that,” after all the disobedience and sin that was governing the lives of those without Christ, God showed his love and kindness. The word kindness means goodness. His goodness was demonstrated by the act of redemption. The greatest act of kindness or goodness to a person who is lost, on their way to Hell for all eternity, is to redeem them. To buy them back as one of His own is what redemption means.
We have no works of righteousness on our own. Nothing about us deserves the forgiveness extended to us. If we could have been saved through our own merit Christ would not have had to die. Yet in God’s infinite mercy, He made a way for us to be saved from our sins. Sins that were directly against Him, and the love He had for us when He created mankind. This forgiveness was abundant. It will cover every sin that we ever commit if we will meet the conditions of faith and obedience. We must first believe that God is the rightful owner of everything. He created us in His image and His desire was to enjoy our fellowship and love just as He did in the garden with Adam and Eve before they disobeyed and sinned. It is by His mercy that He made a plan of redemption. We must have faith, repent, and believe, but unless He shows mercy, salvation would not be possible.
But after the kindness and love of God, our Savior Jesus came to earth to make a way for us to be justified by His grace. After God showed His love by giving His Son, he washed us and renewed us to the place of His child. He not only gave us a new life, a new hope for the future, and a new family forever, but He also did it abundantly! We are made heirs, and Romans 8:15 says because we are an heir we can cry out to God as our Father. Abba Father is an intimate term that takes on a meaning of closeness, of climbing up into our Father’s lap for protection and comfort. We have no need to fear because He is our Father and He is in control.
Titus 3:4-7 “But after that, the kindness and love of God our Savior 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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Many times, the “after that” remark refers to negative consequences, but praise be to God we have “after that” results that are glorious. It is beyond our comprehension. It is comfort, love, joy, peace, understanding, and so much more while we live on this earth, but it is even more for all eternity. Romans 8:17 teaches us that as we suffer with Him. We will one day be glorified. If we suffer with Him and for Him, we can rest assured that the glorification we will receive will be exponentially more than we can imagine. As the old song goes “it will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ, one glimpse of His dear face all sorrows will erase, so bravely run the race ‘til we see Christ.”
Romans 8:17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Grab ahold of this truth my Christian friend. It will carry you through the darkest moments of your life and spread hope across your hurting heart. It will inspire you to go beyond your comfort zone to make a difference for God. No matter how feeble you may feel it will empower you to do more for Christ. It’s a beautiful thing to meditate on the “but after that!”
