Charles Ellicott Commentary Titus 3:7

"that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." — Titus 3:7 (ASV)

That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.—Here appears the glorious design of God’s salvation. We were in a hopeless and lost state, from which God’s love for humanity saved us by the laver of regeneration and renovation. This was the end for which He saved us—that we should be heirs of eternal life.

“Being justified,” that is, freed from the future punishment and consequences of sin, and received into the favor and friendship of God, which favor and friendship had been forfeited through sin.

“By His grace,” by the favor and kindness of God the Father are we restored to His love and friendship.

“Heirs,” see Romans 8:17, where this thought of our heirship of heaven is enlarged.

“According to the hope of eternal life”—this eternal life is still for us in the future, though ever-present regarding hope. We are indeed children of God and sharers in many a good gift from our Father. However, eternal life, that glorious inheritance, is still in the far future and can, as yet, only be enjoyed by us in hope.

But it is a sure hope—eternal life—the hope of which is the mainspring of all Christian work and activity. Though it includes endless existence, of course, it is something far more.

A veil, impenetrable to mortal eye, hangs between us and the many mansions of the Father’s house. It does not yet appear what we shall be; we only know that then, we, in company with an innumerable host of blessed beings, shall share in the beatific vision. We only know that then we shall ever be with the Lord; and that with this thought and with these words we are to comfort one another. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18.)