Paul already dealt with church leaders and conduct of believers as members of the Christian community.  In this final section Paul insists that believers also have duties to the government and to the non-Christian world.

(3:1) – “Remind the people” – they must have already been told, but it needs to be reinforced over and over again – why?  The Cretans are to be reminded of the teaching that they should be submissive to the authorities in their communities.  By nature, the Cretans were a rebellious people and fought among themselves if there were no foreign wars to occupy their energies.  As soldiers, they would only be obedient by reward and booty offered to them.  They needed to be taught and instructed in the right way to live.

            It is our Christian duty to submit to the governing authorities and have a favorable impression on the non-Christian world.  This submission is a voluntary acceptance of this position of authority.  This teaching was particularly appropriate here among the Cretans, but exists elsewhere.  (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17)  Obedience then becomes the visible demonstration of their attitude of submission.   However, this obedience could not contradict explicit Christian duties.  The One to be obeyed is God, Who establishes the authorities in the first place.   As good citizens, believers must be willing to do whatever is good – be prepared and willing to participate in community activities, show good public spirit, and prove Christianity to be a constructive force in society.

(3:2) – Believers should be polite and supportive even to pagan neighbors showing the love of God to all men.  Stay clear of gossip and bashing sessions. Like Jesus we should not retaliate evil for evil.  We should be considerate, gentle, and not stubborn about getting our own way, but rather acting in courtesy.  Show “true” humility which is an attitude of the mind, opposite of self-assertiveness.  We need to be careful not to injure someone’s reputation by what we say.  The Bible speaks a lot about the sins of the tongue.   We need to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to become angry.” ( Jas. 1:19)  Sin interrupts our relationship with God.  He knows this and has addressed the issues in the Word for our benefit, not His. He wants us to experience His blessing and peace and happiness in this life.  These areas of sin show a lack of God’s love for others that we are supposed to be demonstrating.  (Phil. 4:5;  James 3:16-17)  We are to show consideration to all men as a mind-set of true humility.  True humility is the realization of God’s gracious provision of everything that we have, and that we have not earned or deserved even one good thing.  This is to be shown to “all men” – even those who are hostile or morally perverse.  This really shows the genuineness of the Christian profession.

(3:3) – Such conduct as mentioned above, is necessary and possible in view of God’s transforming work in our lives.  Paul then gives a description of his own life before salvation.  We must always remember where we came from and the gratitude we have to God for delivering us from the past life to server Him.  This is extremely important when we minister to others not yet sold out to Christ.  Where are they in their walk?  We must be careful not to be judgmental.  We choose everyday whom we shall serve.  Matt. 6:24 – we cannot serve two masters.  Joshua 24:15 – As for me and my house, we will server the Lord.  (our choice).  We are not to be unwise, gullible, etc.  We are to be taught in the church, by those who have and use the Spiritual gifts He gives to build a mature organization.    (Eph. 1:7-12; Col. 1:9-13; Eph. 4:11-15; 1Pet. 2:15-16)  We have a tendency to pounce on the obvious sins of some and ignore the subtle sins we ourselves fall prey to.  Our sins can compound on each other until we get to hatred and hating one another.

(3:4) – “But” – Paul makes a contrast with our past lives here to what we have become in Christ.  Any change for the better is the result of God’s salvation given freely and to those who had done nothing to earn or deserve His mercy.  (Rom. 6:17-23; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:7-12; Col. 1:21-22; 3:7-10).    “God our Savior” – all those who appropriated this Savior as their own – a personal relationship.  His salvation must motivate our dealings with the unsaved.  “Kindness” – God’s mental attitude of love toward the human race.

Eph. 2:2-13 – It is through His goodness that we see God’s grace attitude.  Do not despise this: (Rom 4:4).