◄ What Does 1 Timothy 1:15 Mean? ►

A faithful and trustworthy saying in the Word of God, is a faithful FACT. It is a trustworthy TRUTH, upon which we can build our life. It is a factual saying that will stand the test of time, a reality given to us by God Himself. A faithful and trustworthy saying is a dependable doctrine and a certain creed upon which to rest.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," is a faithful and trustworthy saying. It is a gospel truth that is deserving of full acceptance, for it is the glorious gospel of God. It is a statement of great importance for our eternal destiny, and we are to believe this truth in our heart, by faith.  

Christ's act of coming into the world as a Man, was a vital step He took in bringing salvation to mankind. Only a perfect Man could pay the price for the sin of fallen humanity. Only God was good enough to redeem us from the slave-market of sin. Our Saviour had to be God AND Man, and Christ Jesus was God incarnate, He was God in the flesh. He alone has the credentials to be our Kinsman-Saviour. 

Without a perfect sacrifice for sin and the shedding of human blood, mankind could never be forgiven. Without the forgiveness of sin, fallen man could never be reconciled to a holy God, and the first step Christ took towards the forgiveness of our sin, was to come into the world as a tiny babe, in order to die for our sin. YES indeed, "it is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

First, we hear a factual truth, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. But after truth has been heard and faith has been birthed, we need to make a wise response. We need to fully and unhesitatingly accept, receive, embrace, and take to heart the astonishing truth that these profoundly simple words proclaim. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved.

We are to believe in our hearts by faith. We are to take hold of this amazing truth and stand fast in the veracity of God's Word, with great joy, worshipful praise, and reverential awe. For Christ Jesus DID came into the world. And Christ Jesus DID die on the cross to save sinners. Christ Jesus came into the world to save YOU, and He came into the world to save ME too.

A lifetime of contemplating these words could not transmit to our hearts the depth of meaning within this superlative statement. No wonder Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, who had proudly followed the letter of the Law and considered himself to have lived a perfect life before his encounter with Christ and his great salvation, lamented in poverty of spirit, that of all men he "was the worst of sinners." When Paul realised the enormity of this truth, he admitted the depth of his own sinfulness - and so must we.

Who would have looked into the manger that first Christmas day, and known that the tiny baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger was the Saviour of humanity? Who would have imagined that this tiny baby was and King, born to die for the sins of the whole world? Who would have known as they gazed on that tiny infant that; Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners?

Who could have grasped that this sleeping babe, wrapped in that tiny bundle of swathing bands, was God incarnate, the personification of God's love and grace and truth and desire? Who could have guessed this newborn babe had a world mission and a universal message that would cause Him to be despised and rejected of men, and that His sinless blood would be shed on Calvary's tree, so that every stained sinner that believes on Him would not perish, but have the power to become sons of God, even to them that believed on His name.

The very purpose of the incarnation was salvation for a rebellious race that was dead in trespasses and sin, at enmity with God, and condemned to eternal separation from their Creator. And like ALL the trustworthy sayings in Scripture, it is worthy of our full acceptance, because it brings us to the foot of the cross and an important decision, "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."

When we consider the price Christ Jesus paid to come into this world and save us from our sin, when we reflect on the stain that sin has left on our heart and realise the forgiveness we have received by God's grace, through faith, surely we can do nothing other than conclude with Paul that of all sinners, "I am the worse sinner of all." He saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of His great and wonderful 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 Saviour. He saved us so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, with the hope of eternal life. And He came into the world willingly to save each one of us.

This is indeed, a statement that can be trusted and is deserving of complete acceptance. It is a commendable and faithful saying, and worthy of full and universal acceptance. This is indeed, a noble and glorious truth that is deserving of full, total and praiseworthy acceptance and warrenting our eternal praise, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Glory to God in the highest for Your plan of salvation, and praise Your holy name that I have become Your child, simply because I trusted in the saving work of Christ on Calvary. Thank You, for laying out Your wonderful plan in such simple terms that even I can understand it. In His name, I fully accept this glorious, trustworthy truth. Enable me to be a worthy witness of Christ’s great redeeming sacrifice for the whole world, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord, will be saved. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.