多三4~5　　然而，当我们救主神的恩慈，和祂对人的爱显现的时候，祂便救了我们，并不是本于我们所成就的义行，乃是照着祂的怜悯，借着重生的洗涤，和圣灵的更新。

　　新约启示出恩慈这个神圣属性。…罗马十一章二十二节说到神的恩慈和祂的严厉，强调神恩慈的属性。不仅如此，以弗所二章七节宣告说，“好在要来的诸世代中，显示祂在基督耶稣里，向我们所施恩慈中恩典超越的丰富。”恩慈是一种仁慈的良善，出自怜悯和爱。神的恩典是在这样的恩慈中赐给我们的。…乃是我们救主神的恩慈和爱拯救了我们，使我们与人有别。（新约总论第一册，一二五至一二六页。）

　　Titus 3:4-5 But when the kindness and the love to man of our Savior God appeared, not out of works in righteousness which we did but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.

　　The New Testament reveals the divine attribute of kindness…. Romans 11:22, speaking of the kindness of God and His severity, emphasizes the attribute of God’s kindness. Furthermore, Ephesians 2:7 declares, “That He might display in the ages to come the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Kindness is a benevolent goodness which issues out of mercy and love. It is in such kindness that the grace of God is given to us…. It is the kindness and love of our Savior God that has saved us and made us different from others. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 107-108)

　　罗马二章四节说，“还是你藐视祂丰富的恩慈、宽容与恒忍，不晓得神的恩慈是领你悔改？”这意思是：你一面定罪人，一面又同样犯罪，你这样作是什么意思？你以为神不会审判你，还是你藐视神丰富的恩慈、宽容与恒忍？你以为神不会审判你，岂不知祂必要审判你。祂现在所以还没有审判你，乃是对你有恩慈。祂的恩慈叫祂宽容你，祂的宽容使祂对你恒久忍耐。祂这样对你有恩慈，是要领你悔改。祂这样宽容忍耐你，是在等你悔改。祂的审判所以还没有临到你，乃是因为祂的恩慈叫祂宽容忍耐你，等候你悔改。这是你应该晓得，而不可藐视的。（从罗马书看神完全的救恩，五二页。）

　　在提多书三章四节保罗说，“然而，当我们救主神的恩慈，和祂对人的爱显现的时候。”在五节保罗继续说，“祂便救了我们，并不是本于我们所成就的义行，乃是照着祂的怜悯，借着重生的洗涤，和圣灵的更新。”二章十一节说，神救万人的恩典；三章七节说，我们因主的恩典得称义；五节说，神照着祂的怜悯救了我们。神的怜悯比神的恩典够得更远。我们可怜的光景造成了我们与神恩典之间广阔的缺隙。神的怜悯乃是横跨这缺隙的桥梁，把我们带到祂恩典的救恩里。

　　在三章四至五节，保罗不是说到恩典，乃是说到恩慈、爱和怜悯。爱是恩典的源头。父神的心里有爱；但这爱借着子彰显出来时，就成了恩典。为这缘故，林后十三章十四节说到基督的恩和父的爱。约翰一章十六至十七节说到恩典；然而，约翰一书论到父神的爱是这恩典的源头。

　　那么，怜悯和恩慈是什么？我们曾指出，怜悯总是比恩典够得更远。我们在正确的光景里，神的爱就会临到我们作恩典。然而，我们都在可怜的光景里，也许今天仍在这样的光景里；所以，我们需要神的怜悯临到我们。神的怜悯甚至在我们可怜的光景里也能临到我们。

　　恩慈是神赐恩典给我们的态度。我们送礼物给人，可能没有正确的态度。比如，我也许将贵重的礼物送给一位弟兄，态度却相当粗鲁、冷淡；另一面，我也许以表现恩慈的态度送给他礼物。

　　我们有怜悯、爱和恩慈，自然就会有恩典。我们的神与父已向我们显示爱、怜悯和恩慈。祂借此拯救我们。（提多书生命读经，四八至四九页。）

　　参读：提多书生命读经，第四至五篇；从罗马书看神完全的救恩，五二至五三页；马太福音生命读经，第五十二篇。

　　[Romans 2:4] says, “Do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that God’s kindness is leading you to repentance?” The apostle seems to say, “On one hand, you condemn others, and on the other hand, you commit the same sins. What do you mean by doing this? Do you think that God will not judge you, or do you despise the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and long-suffering? You think that God will not judge you. You seem to not know that He surely will judge you. He has not judged you yet because He is kind toward you. His kindness causes Him to forbear you, and His forbearance causes Him to be long-suffering toward you. He is so kind to you because He wants to lead you to repentance. He is forbearing and long-suffering toward you because He is waiting for you to repent. His judgment has not come upon you because His kindness causes Him to forbear you and be long-suffering toward you, waiting for you to repent. This is what you should know and must not despise.” (CWWL, 1952, vol. 2, pp. 205-206)

　　In Titus 3:4 Paul says, “But when the kindness and the love to man of our Savior God appeared.” In verse 5 Paul continues, “Not out of works in righteousness which we did but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Titus 2:11 says that the grace of God brings salvation to man, and 3:7 says that we have been justified by the grace of the Lord. But verse 5 says that according to His mercy He saved us. God’s mercy reaches farther than His grace. Our pitiful condition created a wide gap between us and God’s grace. It was God’s mercy that has bridged this gap and brought us to His salvation of grace.

　　In 3:4-5 Paul does not speak of grace, but speaks of kindness, love, and mercy. Love is the source of grace. In the heart of God the Father there is love. But when this love is expressed through the Son, it becomes grace. For this reason, 2 Corinthians 13:14 speaks of the grace of Christ and the love of the Father. In John 1:16 and 17 we have grace; however, in 1 John we touch the love of God the Father as the source of this grace.

　　What, then, are mercy and kindness? We have pointed out that mercy always reaches farther than grace. When we are in a proper situation, God’s love will come to us as grace. However, we were all in a pitiful situation and may still be in such a situation today. Therefore, we need God’s mercy to reach us. The mercy of God can come to us even in our pitiful situation.

　　Kindness is God’s attitude in giving grace to us. It is possible to give a gift to a person without having a proper attitude. For example, I may give a valuable gift to a brother but give it in a rather crude, insensitive manner. On the other hand, I may give him a gift in a way that expresses an attitude of kindness.

　　When we have mercy, love, and kindness, we automatically have grace. Our God and Father has shown us love, mercy, and kindness. It is by this that He saves us. (Life-study of Titus, pp. 40-41)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Titus, msgs. 4-5; CWWL, 1952, vol. 2, pp. 205-206; Life-study of Matthew, msg. 52