By One of the most beautiful descriptions of Jesus’ life on earth is given here in Titus 3:4 “the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared”.
The verse begins, though, with a “but”, marking this as a sharp contrast to how we are described in verse 3. Unlike us in our sinful condition, God is full of goodness, love, and kindness.
“Goodness” and “loving kindness” are somewhat similar terms. Together they affirm God’s excessive goodness, shown through an intentional decision to do good to others, simply because He is so good and we are in such great need of some goodness. Think of a philanthropist, or a humanitarian volunteer doing some dangerous and difficult works of goodwill to those in severe suffering—except, much more so!
But it is really the word “appeared” that should make us so thankful for our salvation. God is good and kind and loving. But He didn’t just keep it to Himself, enjoying His own good perfections within His own Trinity relationships. Instead, He decided to showcase His goodness to mankind, sending His goodness in the arrival of His Son so that all those in verse 3 who believe in Him, will not experience God’s justice, but instead receive His goodness and loving kindness.
Titus 3:4 is the verse about the arrival of Jesus, the life of Jesus, the death of Jesus, and the salvation of sinners, which is why verse 5 leads us to the main part of the sentence begun here in verse 4, namely that “He saved us!”