16 May 2026

One of the marvellous things about the letter to Titus is that the author begins and ends the letter with a greeting. These greetings enfold the letter in grace. ‘Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.’ is the opening greeting. ‘Grace be with all of you.’ is the concluding greeting.

This grace has been manifested in the incarnation of Christ. In the centre of the letter to Titus, there is a wonderful celebration of this when the author says, ‘When the kindness and generosity of God our Saviour dawned upon the world …

The birth of Jesus and the unexpected consequences of his birth, is described as the dawning of God’s kindness. It’s such a simple expression. God seems so much more accessible, approachable, just like one of us.

We know all about kindness. We are kind to our family. People are kind to us. And we are kind in return. But how kind are we to those who aren’t kind to us or to those who don’t return our kindnesses to them? Is this the dawning of God’s kindness? The writer says two things about it.

Firstly, it’s not the fruit of our good deeds. God’s kindness is given to one and all regardless of what they have done. We don’t need to and, in any case, we cannot do anything to deserve God’s kindness. It’s in his nature to be kind and the dawning realisation of this began with the birth of Jesus.

Secondly, God’s kindness leads us into eternal life. Elsewhere in this lovely little passage, the author describes this dawning kindness in two ways – mercy and grace. Both of these terms have within them the sense of being undeserved.

If someone shows us mercy, he forgives the thing we have done wrong. We deserve to be punished not forgiven. If someone is gracious towards us, she shows us a courtesy, a respect, a love which we do not deserve.