“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
This is a favorite saying of Paul’s. Similar sayings are found in Timothy and Titus. It is one loaded verse, as I hope to prove in this article. This saying reveals a worthy proposition. I think that this was a ‘’faithful saying” because it was something that the original apostles agreed with, and perhaps, Paul heard from Jesus in the Arabian Desert. As we would say, “You can take this saying to the bank.” There was a lot of other stuff going around about Jesus, and Paul wanted Timothy to know that this was a genuine saying. This saying reveals a worthy purpose: “That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Jesus Himself said that this was His purpose in Matthew 18:11: “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” In Luke 15, Jesus gave three parables based on this theme. He told about a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. In all three parables, that which was lost was found. Saving lost sinners was the specific reason that Jesus came. People have tried to change this purpose for about two thousand years, and it still hasn’t changed. This purpose was born in the heart of God “before the foundation of the world...” This is what the “good news” gospel is about. This saying reveals an unworthy person: “...to save sinners, of which I am chief.” Paul always used himself as a reminder that if Jesus could save him, he could save anyone. People do not come to Jesus saying they are worthy to receive the salvation that He came to bring. People come to Jesus confessing and repenting of their sins, and asking for His forgiveness, and for Him to come into their lives and save them. I think that the former Pharisee, Paul, wanted to remind people that he was no longer a self-righteous Pharisee. People might think that he had earned his salvation. Paul reminded us about this in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” All of these things are truth today that “you can take to the bank.” Bro. Joe
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
All
Archives
September 2021
|