(Titus 3:3-8)....[/QUOTE]
3 "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful,
and hating one another.
Verse 3 says that we WERE (past tense) disobedient and foolish serving lusts and pleasures.
Notice the theme here Jason, it's about hate. As a Christian we love our Neighbor as ourselves. God desires mercy, the same mercy He has shown unto us.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Verse 4 talks about initial salvation because it is saying how the love of the savior appeared towards man. This is Jesus's appearance 2,000 years ago. When Jesus appeared His sacrifice and resurrection is able to make man into a right relationship with God by redeeming Him of his past sin through Jesus.
Have to say, you really read into that.
This says God loves us and has shown kindness toward us by sending His Son.
5 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;
Verse 5 is saying that this intial salvation is not by works of righteousness by which we have done because it was according to His mercy He saved us (a one time past event by accepting Christ) and by the washing and regeneration of the Holy Ghost. The washing and regeneration of the Holy Ghost is a one time event here.
You have added the word initial. The Scripture is plain, it is not by our works or our righteousness that we are saved. It is by God's mercy that we are saved. It is God that washes us clean, we are renewed by the giving of the Holy Spirit. We are born again, under grace. We are no longer under the Law, we are under the Grace Of God. You are right, it is a one time event, a Christian now lives by the Spirit of God. Under the Grace of God.
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Verse 6 says that God shed the Holy Spirit upon us abundantly through Jesus christ our Savior. So if the Spirit is shed upon us abundantly, then the fruits of the Spirit and not the fruits of the devil will be evident in our lives.
Go back to verse 5, what is shed on us through Jesus Christ our Saviour? God's Mercy! We are renewed by the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us.
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Verse 7 says that we are justified by His grace we SHOULD (which is a possibility) be heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
We are justified by God's Grace, not our works, not our righteousness just as verse 5 says. It is God's mercy upon us when we put our trust in Christ. Christ is our hope. The only hope we have.
It all follows the same theme:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
Verse 8 says that they that believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. Why do they have to be careful in maintaining good works?
Jesus tells us what the good work is:
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
God has sent His Son, Jesus of Nazareth. Our Lord, Our Savior, Our God!
James says faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
As John says, We obey His Commandments. Love God, Love our Neighbor. We show the fruits of the Spirit:love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
James was definitely not talking about the Law, right before he says faith without works is dead he says thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. He than admonishes those that are keeping the Law. He says if you offend in one point you are guilty of all.
In Christ
Daniel