A Trustworthy Saying Series

Do you remember when you made a concentrated effort to clean your house and felt the satisfaction of a clean house? Then after all the work straitening, dusting, vacuuming you look across the room and everything looks clean and then a beautiful ray of sunlight comes through the window. In that beam of light, you see dust floating everywhere. What might have seemed clean looks dusty because the light has exposed what was there all along, but we just could not see it.

This is what happened to the apostle Paul in a spiritual sense. He thought he was pleasing God. He thought his house was in order. He followed the law and he thought he was a clean person. The ray of sunlight came in. It was actually the light of Christ that knocked him off his horse.

Paul, who was known as Saul at that time, met Jesus on the Damascus Road. He saw himself for what he really was, a sinner before God. He even called himself the chief of sinners.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 12-17)

This is a trustworthy saying.

This is from the letter that the Apostle Paul, who had this Damascus Road experience, is writing to his disciple Timothy. At the very first chapter Paul is giving Timothy this trustworthy saying. Paul emphasizes that this is a sure word.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)

There is no reason to thing that Timothy is going to reject this saying. After all he is a son in the faith of Paul. But Paul wants to emphasize how trustworthy this saying is. He makes the point that it is worth full acceptance. This is a saying that can be depended on and relied on. This saying is foundational to Christianity.

Paul emphasizes not only is this saying absolutely trustworthy, but it is also worthy of full acceptance. The idea is that of approval and that this is a welcome statement. Paul is saying, Timothy this next statement that you are about to read is of paramount importance. You must accept it without hesitation. You must not have any doubt about this statement. I can say that for you reading this now it is of paramount importance for you. You must accept it.

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

Here is the essence of the Christian faith. This statement contains everything we do at Christmas and Easter. This is the purpose statement of Jesus. It becomes our purpose statement as Christians. This statement captures the heartbeat of the entire Bible story from Genesis to Revelation.

The purpose of Jesus coming was to save sinners! Don’t let anything sidetrack you for that one message. Everything in the Bible makes sense in light of this statement.

When God called Abraham, he called him to bless all the families of the earth. “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3) This makes sense when you know the purpose of Jesus coming was to save sinners.

When Joseph was led to Egypt and his family was there for 400 years this makes sense when you know the purpose of Jesus coming was to save sinners. When God raised of Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt this makes sense when you know the purpose of Jesus coming was to save sinners.

What the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea and Malachi said makes sense when you know the purpose of Jesus coming was to save sinners. The stories of Ruth and Esther makes sense when you know the purpose of Jesus coming was to save sinners.

It all leads to one central point. It leads to a focus of history God simply calls, “the fullness of time.” God sent forth his son, born of a virgin, not to call the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance. The purpose of your church, and the purpose of every New Testament church is to tell this good news that Jesus came to save sinners.