en_tn_lite_do_not_use/tit/03/05.md

by his mercy

"because he had mercy on us"

washing of new birth

Paul is probably speaking of God's forgiveness for sinners as if God were physically washing them. He is also speaking of sinners who become responsive to God as if they had been born again. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)