D. Scott Meadows

True story: Once there lived a religious hypocrite who hated Christians so much that he chased them down to arrest and imprison them; he even stood by and consented when one was stoned to death by an angry mob.

On his way to arrest some more Christians, he was blinded by a light from heaven. It was the ascended Lord Himself, Jesus Christ. Instead of striking him dead, Christ forgave him, changed his heart, and called him to preach the gospel he had hated. Saul the Pharisee became Paul the apostle. Our verse summarizes his whole life’s message from then on.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Note seven things about this amazing statement:

1) Gospel Truth: “This is a faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation.”

“Faithful” or “trustworthy” saying (ESV). People used to say, “That’s the gospel truth.” Nothing is true, reliable, and trustworthy like the gospel. This is a statement of objective fact.

“Deserving of full acceptance” (ESV). A statement of subjective merit. Because it is true you should believe it, and reliable, you should depend on it. The devil knows it is true but it does him no good. Mental assent together with deliberate reliance is “saving faith.” You are lost unless this message is your entire hope of acceptance with God and eternal life.

2) Gospel Focus: “That Christ Jesus.”

When Paul tells us what that reliable saying is, the first words out of his mouth are “Christ Jesus.” It’s all about Him. He is the beginning, middle, and end of the gospel. It’s about who He is, what He has done, and what He promises, and how He gives Himself as a gift to the unworthy.

Lots of preachers these days tell folks almost nothing about Jesus but instead talk all about themselves or their hearers. If the focus is not on Jesus, a man is not preaching the gospel.
“Christ Jesus” links His title with his name. He is “the Christ,” the Messiah, the central figure in human history (BC/AD), promised from the beginning of the world. “Jesus” is His human name and it means Savior.

3) Gospel History: “Came into the world.”

Even atheists usually admit that Jesus really lived in Palestine 2000 years ago. The NT documents are historically reliable. You know the story of His first Advent: the virgin Mary, His birth, life, teaching, miracles, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension to heaven.

Now we talk about newborns as “coming into the world,” but with Jesus this means so much more. He is God from heaven, taking upon Him human nature, body and soul, just like us except without sin.

The Bible teaches there is one God in three Persons, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Jesus is God the Son; He is the Son of God like no other. He is the only Mediator (go-between) between God and man. As God He is almighty to save; as man He is our approachable brother. His first coming is a matter of history, and the world has never been the same since.

4) Gospel Mission: “To save sinners.”

His was a rescue mission. Ever since Adam sinned, we’re all born sinners, morally corrupted and guilty in God’s sight. Nothing we can do can change that. We cannot purify our own hearts, nor atone for our own sins. Even if you could live perfectly from now on, your old sins and guilt would leave you guilty in God’s court on the Last Day, Judgment Day.

Helpless sinners need a Savior, this Savior, even Jesus Christ. And that is why He came. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3.17).

5) Gospel Testimony: “Of whom I am chief.”

Paul is saying, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save me.” This man used to be “Saul the Pharisee,” a persecutor of Christians! He had a deep sense of his guilt and unworthiness, yet he knew Christ had forgiven him everything.

6) Gospel Call: “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy. . .” (v. 16).

Evil Saul was saved by Christ as a great example of His grace and power for the encouragement of other great sinners to come to Him by faith.

My friends, no matter how badly you’ve sinned, you can be saved if you will come to Christ and trust Him as your Savior. You cannot be too bad to be saved, but only too good, because the self-righteous are offended to be told that are bound for hell without Christ, and that they must have Christ if they make it to heaven. The most humble people sincerely join Paul in his humiliating confession, “I am the foremost” sinner (ESV).

Author of the hymn Amazing Grace, John Newton lived to be 82 years old and preached almost until he died. He never ceased to be amazed by God’s grace and told his friends: “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things; that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”

7) Gospel Worship: “Now unto the King . . . be honor and glory” (v. 17).

God does all this saving work through His Son Jesus Christ to display His holy love and grace and power, and so that the church of the redeemed will worship Him forever and ever. And no one can truly worship God except through Christ. And that should start today. I praise Him for saving me! Will you trust and praise Him, too? May He so move us all. Amen.

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