In his writings to the young minister Timothy and to Titus, Paul makes 5 statements which he says are “trustworthy.” Statements in which he feels are important and true. Basically Paul is writing to Timothy to give him encouragement and advice in his young ministry. And he says, you need to trust me when I say the following!
But why should we listen to Paul? Why should we trust what he is saying? There are several reasons why we should give heed to the words of the Apostle. The first of which is just that, he is an Apostle. He has the authority with which to speak. He even says in his opening remarks to Timothy, “by the command of God our Savior and Jesus Christ our hope.” It is imperative that we listen to those in authority. We are slowly seeing a decline in this area of society. Children are becoming more and more disrespectful to their parents. Students are becoming more brazen in their defiance of authority in our schools. Even our society shows little respect for those in leadership positions in our states and country. But Paul has the authority to speak and we should listen.
Paul also has the knowledge with which to speak. He has “been there done that” so to speak. He knows what he is talking about. If I know very little about a particular area, I defer to those who do know about the subject. I hope I never have to appear as a defendant in a court room, but if I do, I will hire a lawyer. A lawyer knows much more about what to do in a court room than do I. I am not foolish enough to try to perform surgery on myself should I need to operated on. I would seek the knowledge of a doctor to complete that task. When preparing many sermons, I ask Dick to read them and give me his honest opinion. His knowledge of sermon writing is much greater than mine.
Because of his knowledge, because of his authority Paul is to be trusted. So when he says, “this is a trustworthy” saying, we should give heed. We should listen carefully, because what he is about to say is something important. Something he wants to emphasize. So let’s look at the trustworthy sayings Paul writes to Timothy and Titus.
I. I Timothy 1:15
A. This statement by Paul is at the very heart of the Gospel. Christ came into this world to save sinners. That was His purpose. That is why He left the splendor of Heaven.
B. Luke 19:10 tells us that “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." In our sinful state, we were lost, but Christ came to save us.
C. Since Jesus came into the world to save sinners, this is the first necessary qualification for being a child of God - being a sinner. So the great news is, sinners are not disqualified from coming to God, because Jesus came to save them.
D. There is a danger in our society today to feel that we are worthy of Christ’s sacrifice. That it is our right to have the love of God showered upon us. But Paul warned the church in Rome: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3)
"As preparations were being made for a battle in the Revolutionary War, a corporal arrogantly ordered his men to lift a heavy beam. A man in civilian clothes was walking by said, "Why don’t you help them?" "Sir," he replied indignantly, "I am a corporal!" The man in civilian clothes apologized for his misperception, stripped of his coat and helped the soldiers himself. When the job was finished, he said, "Corporal, the next time your men need help, call on your commander-in-chief. I’ll be glad to help." With that, George Washington put on his coat and left". If we are truly honest with ourselves, then we will have to admit that sometimes we are like that corporal. This corporal sought to exalt himself only to find that he was humbled
E. I honestly feel that is why Paul tells Timothy, “I am the chief of sinners!” Paul was a solid witness for Christ. Paul made a complete 180 and gave himself totally to Christ. And yet, he calls himself the worst of all sinners. In part because of his past, but also to show that even he is unworthy of the grace of God, that Christ came to save even the Apostle! F. A trustworthy saying, Christ came to save sinners; a demonstration of His obedience and a demonstration of the love of God. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
G. Make no mistake, trust in this saying, Christ came to die for you!
II. I Timothy 3:1 –
A. It would be very easy to skim over this passage in the trustworthy saying because we rarely even hear this verse outside an ordination service. I am not saying that we all should strive to be an elder, because quite honestly, the last word of the verse is very accurate, “work.”
B. And I would like to stop right now and say that we are very lucky here at Oak Grove. Our elders are fine men who have nothing but the best in mind for this congregation.
C. The past couple of months had potential to really turn our work here at Oak Grove on its ear. But your elders were determined not to allow that to happen. Many prayers went up on the behalf of this congregation that our ministry would continue with as little disruption as possible.
D. I have talked with a couple of minister friends who have had problems with “the board”. Egos often get in the way and power struggles occur.
E. But not with our Elders. There are no egos, there are no power struggles, only humble servants who want what’s best for this congregation and the Kingdom.
F. We cannot all be elders, but look at the qualifications of an elder: above reproach, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, have the respect of his family.
G. Shouldn’t we all want to strive to at least be qualified as an elder? Wouldn’t we all be better people, better Christians, better servants if we had those qualities in our life?
H. If anyone would like to have the qualities of an elder, he desires a noble work. This is a trustworthy saying.
III. I Timothy 4:8-1 (New Life Version)
8 Growing strong in body is all right but growing in God-like living is more important. It will not only help you in this life now but in the next life also. 9 These words are true and they can be trusted. 10 Because of this, we work hard and do our best because our hope is in the living God, the One Who would save all men. He saves those who believe in Him.
A. There is a great craze in our society surrounding physical fitness. As you can tell, I have done my best to refrain falling prey to this craze.
B. Paul’s next trustworthy saying is that it is good to keep your body physically fit, but being spiritually fit is much more important. Spiritual development and physical development share some similarities. With each, growth only comes with exertion and proper feeding. To achieve physical fitness, we must exert ourselves and eat right. To achieve spiritual fitness we must exert our minds in study of the scriptures, exert our knees in constant prayer, be fed weekly with our brothers and sisters in Christ through worship and Sunday School and eat meat from the Word daily!
C. Paul says physical fitness is great for our bodies in this life. But spiritual fitness not only helps us in this life, but the life to come. Let’s face it. As some point our bodies are going to give way to death. Regardless of how physically fit we are today, at some point, our bodies will fail us. But our spiritual fitness will never fail us. If we are spiritually fit, when this physical body gives way, our Spirit is still very much alive! Though godliness does not make this life the most comfortable, or richest, or most pleasurable, or easiest in the life that now is, it undeniably makes it the best, the most contented, and the most fulfilling life one can live in this world. And prepares us for what is ahead. Godliness prepares us for eternity. Godliness, both in its temporal and its eternal sense is very important.
D. Sin and vice offer nothing for the life to come. Genealogies and pedigrees offer nothing for the life to come. Worldly success and wealth offer nothing for the life to come. Personal fame or beauty offer nothing for the life to come. Achievements in learning or the arts offer nothing for the life to come. Godliness is the only guarantee of a profitable life which is to come.
E. This is a trustworthy saying: Spiritual fitness is more important than physical fitness, for physical fitness is temporal, spiritual fitness is eternal.
IV. II Timothy 2:11-13
A. Don DeWelt and others, feel that this passage is part of an early Christian hymn, something that would be familiar to the young minister Timothy. Many feel it was a martyr’s hymn or a hymn of encouragement to those facing persecution.
B. Look at the passage carefully, what a beautiful, trustworthy saying:
1. If we died with Him, we also live with Him. One of the illustrations of baptism is that of a death, burial and resurrection. We die, with Christ, are buried in the water of baptism then raised a new person. If we die with Him, then we can also live with Him.
2. If we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we can stick it out, if we can make through this world with all the junk that is thrown at us daily, there is a prize for that endurance. Christ made that promise Himself in Revelations 3:21--To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. The Greeks had a very unusual Olympic event. Runners would take off at night with lit torches. The winner was not the first to cross the finish line, it was the first who finished with his torch still lit. When all is said and done, we want to finish this race, this life, with our torch still lit. If we do, there is a great prize that awaits us. We will reign with Christ!
3. If we disown him, he will disown us. Jesus said it very plainly in Matthew 10:33, “Whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. You can’t say it any simpler than that. If you don’t have the courage to stand up for Jesus in this life, He will not stand up for you before His Father. But Jesus also said, Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. Stand up, stand up for Jesus!
4. If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. When I first read that verse, I misread it. I thought it said, “If we are faithful to him, he will remain faithful.” Did I miss that one or not. It doesn’t matter if I am faithful to Him or not! What a great picture of Christ here. It is a terrible thing when people who name the name of Jesus show themselves unfaithful; many have been turned off from Jesus because of the hypocrisy of those who take His name. But all the faithlessness of man doesn’t disprove the faithfulness of Christ. Regardless of our condition in regard to our faith, Christ remains unchanged. He is and always will be faithful. This is not to say that we can live however we want and expect to be saved. Rather, it means that Christ remains true and trustworthy, for He cannot be otherwise. For those who persist in sin and unbelief, their condemnation is sure. But for those willing to repent, His promise of longsuffering and mercy provides hope!
Paul had one more “trustworthy” saying, this one written to Titus. And it almost summarizes his “trustworthy” sayings from his letters to Timothy. Titus 3:3-8
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (We were not being very “elder” like)
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, (Christ came into this world to save sinners)
so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Spiritually fit)
This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Endure here, we reign with Him)
Let’s trust Paul this morning. Let’s live our lives in such a way that we reflect the qualities of a spiritual leader, let’s make sure we are spiritually fit and ready for eternity, let’s endure this life and remain faithful because Christ came into this world to save sinners, of which I too am the worst!
But thanks be to God, that His grace and mercy is available to us today.
