Turn with me to 1 Timothy. 1
Timothy chapter 1. The title of my message is, The
Gospel in a Verse. The Gospel in a Verse. And that verse is here in chapter
1 of 1 Timothy. Verse 15. This is the first of
the four faithful sayings in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. We read in verse 15, 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. Paul says you can bank on that. You can be assured of that. Christ Jesus is a real savior
for real sinners. And you're listening to one right
now. Right now. By his matchless grace,
some years ago, Not so many years ago that I
should cease to be astounded by the blessed fact, but the
Lord, in his matchless grace, taught me something that I would
have never known otherwise. Parents couldn't teach me. No
preacher could teach me. But Christ convinced me that
I was lost, that I was lost. I mean helplessly lost, that
I was in darkness and nothing I could do, absolutely nothing
that I could do could bring me to God. I was hopelessly lost. He convinced me that I was the
sinner. Mike, I quit looking at my neighbor
and comparing myself to them. No, like that publican, I was
convinced that I was the sinner, like Paul says, the chief of
sinners. As old Newton wrote in that blessed
old hymn, he said, it was his grace that taught my heart to
fear. That taught me I was lost. Taught me I was the sinner. Ever been there? Ever been there? Oh, but he didn't leave me there. As old Newton went on to write,
His grace my fears relieved. He stripped me in order to clothe
me. Convinced me I was lost, that
I might be saved. Could never be saved otherwise.
And I know, I know that this is a faithful saint. I know if
nobody else does, if nobody else believes this, this sinner rests
upon this solid foundation, this solid rock that Jesus Christ
came into the world to save sinners. There's the gospel in a verse. Take Christ out and there's nothing
left. Nothing left. Had Christ not
come, there would be no Savior. As Peter and John told the religious
leaders of their day, who claimed to know God, who looked down
their self-righteous noses at Peter and John and said, they're
unlearned and ignorant men. They don't know anything. Oh
yes, they've been with Jesus, but that's all. That's all. And Peter said, you've got that
right. You've got that right. And I'll tell you this about
Jesus. There's none other name given among men whereby we must
be saved. There's no substitute for the
substitute. If Christ had not come, Simeon
would have never been able, holding that infant in his arms, he would
have never been able to declare, I've seen thy salvation. And neither could any other sinner.
Because without Christ Jesus, if he had not come, there would
be no salvation. There would be no salvation.
There would be no such thing as the saving of a sinner. You're
aware that between the Old Testament that closed with the book of
Malachi and the New Testament that there was 400 years between,
an interval of 400 years in which God did not speak by any prophet. And when he came on the scene,
that is the Lord Jesus Christ, came into this world, studying the four Gospels, we
see what man does without God speaking to him. He still has
his religion, doesn't he? Still has his religion. You don't
need grace to be religious. There was plenty of religion
But very little, very little indeed, a Simeon, an Anna, a
Joseph, a Mary, an Elizabeth, a Zacharias, but very few that
worshiped the true and living God. There was no knowledge of
the true God. Our Lord said to the religious
leader he's speaking, And he says, you make void the word
of God that you may hold to your traditions. My soul, doesn't
that sound familiar? Doesn't that sound familiar?
I don't know how many times I've had men say to me, well, we really
don't have any scriptural authority to do such a thing, but it's
the tradition. We've always done it that way.
Our fathers did it that way, and our grandfathers. Oh, but
it's contrary to scripture. Oh, but it's our tradition. Our
Lord said, you set aside the word of God that you may hold
to your tradition. And Paul, writing in his second
epistle to Timothy, said, in the last days there shall be
a form of godliness There'll be religious tradition, there'll
be a form of godliness, just a form, just a shadow, just going
through the motions to satisfy the flesh, but with only a form
of godliness. But that's all. And that's all
there can be without Christ. That's all there can be. That's
the best, worst, I should say, that there can be. Christless
religion. Christless religion. What good
is that? What good is that? It will not
satisfy a needy sinner. It will appease someone that
just wants to ease their conscience. Religion will do that. Oh, but
for a thirsty sinner, Someone that really wants to know the
living God. Someone that would like to lie
down at night and know, know that their sins are all forgiven,
that they have peace with God, and if God should require their
soul of them that very night that they could enter into glory
accepted perfectly. Religion can't give that. Only
the Lord Jesus Christ. This text speaks of two wonders. The first wonder is the who came. Who came? Christ Jesus, as John
taught about this morning. The anointed of God. The anointed
savior. Christ came into the world. And
the second wonder there in the text is the reason he came. Why
he came. Why did God become flesh and
blood? To save sinners. First of all,
who came? Who came? Christ Jesus. Look, if you will, back in John's
Gospel, chapter 1. John chapter 1. This is who came. John describes him. John tells
us who came in John's Gospel chapter 1 and
verse 1. In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was
in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and
without Him was not anything made that was made. Look at verse
10. He was in the world and the world
was made by Him and the world knew Him not. Verse 14. And the Word was made flesh.
That's the wonder. And the Word was made flesh and
dwelt among us And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. God manifests in the flesh. The Lord Jesus did not begin
then to exist. He's the eternal Son of God. from everlasting to everlasting. But he, the eternal God, became
flesh and blood, and thus he was Immanuel, God with us. God with us. He never ceased
being God, brother-in-law. Yes, he became flesh of our flesh
and bone of our bones, but in doing so, he never ceased being
God. All the fullness of the Godhead
dwelt in him. As the prophet Isaiah spoke 700
years before his wondrous birth with these words, for unto us
a child is born that sow. But unto us a son is not born,
oh no. He was the son eternally. Unto
us a son is given, is given. And look what it says concerning
him. Or listen rather. The government, the rule of God's
kingdom, the government shall be upon his shoulder and his
name shall be called wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the
everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of
his government and peace, there shall be no end. Upon the throne
of David and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish
it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever,
the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it. A child born. a son given. And Paul says in
verse 16 of chapter 3 of this same epistle, without controversy,
without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God
was manifest in the flesh. Oh my! That dark skin Jewish baby boy
lying in that stable? Is God Almighty? Is God over
all? My soul, no wonder Paul said
this is a mystery. Deity, Mr. Spurgeon said, Deity
is not to be explained but to be adored. And the Sonship of
Christ is to be accepted as a truth of revelation. and to be apprehended
by faith, though it cannot be comprehended by the understanding. See, Christ our Savior made like
his brethren. Turn, if you will, to Hebrews.
Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2. Let's read
a few verses here concerning this wondrous deed God becoming
man and the reason why. See, Christ our Savior made like
his brethren. In Hebrew chapter 2, for it became
him, speaking of Christ, it was necessary for him. For whom are
all things and by whom are all things, of him and through him
and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever and ever. and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their
salvation perfect through sufferings. Look down at verse 14. Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself
likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy
him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage. For verily, he took not on him
the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham,
Wherefore, in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his
brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Made like unto his brethren.
God can't suffer. Oh, but God in the flesh The
God-man, he can and does. Oh, how far did the Son of God
stoop? How far did he stoop? Well, remember, how far down
did he come? He came to where his brethren
were. How far away was that? How far
down was that? He came to seek and to save his
brethren. He stooped as far as necessary. He reached out his hand for them. Oh, no. He became like unto his
brethren. Had he not become a man, he could
not die as our substitute. Had he not been God, his death
could not have redeemed anyone. Oh, the blessed, blessed mystery
No mind but the infinite mind of the infinite God could conceive
and accomplish such a thing as this. The great eternal incomprehensible
God assumed our nature and came into this world. He was in the
world. God became a man. He who is the
eternal Jehovah became Jehovah's servant. The immortal God became
flesh and blood, God who is independent, self-sufficient, all-sufficient,
stood in need of food and clothing and shelter. God who owns everything
became a man who owned nothing. He said, Behold, the son of man
hath nowhere to lay his head. God who knows all things, as
a man, had to learn how to walk, how to talk, how to read and
write. Imagine that. Imagine that. He who is life was made to die. God who is infinitely, immutably,
unchangeably happy was made to suffer sorrow, pain, torment,
and death. He who is the object of God's
perfect everlasting love, this is my beloved Son in whom I am
well pleased, became the object of God's unmitigated wrath. The Holy One was made sin. Great is the mystery of godliness. It is who Christ is that gives
virtue and merit and value to everything he did. Child of God,
would you have assurance as to your standing before the Holy
God. Don't look in here to try to
find it. Don't look at touch not and taste
not and do not and go not and where not. Oh no. Would you know
the security, the safety of your standing before God Almighty
Look to that one in whom you stand. Look to Him. The question is not your value. The question is His. Look at
Him. What is Jesus Christ worth to
God Almighty? Oh my! Now I begin to get some
idea. That gives this centerpiece.
That gives this sinner hope that when I leave this world, which
I shall soon do, that I need not fear. I need not fear. Not because I'm not a sinner,
but I'm a sinner that's been saved by the grace of God that
is in Christ Jesus. And I rely on this faithful saying. that He came into this world
to save sinners. What is He worth to God Almighty? Turning, if you will, back to
Luke's Gospel, chapter 2, Luke chapter 2, a familiar passage,
a passage that will be read in many homes in a few days concerning
the birth of our Savior, Luke chapter 2. Look at verse 6. And it was that
while they were there, that is Joseph and Mary, the days were
accomplished that he should be delivered, that she should be
delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn
son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger
in a stable because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of
the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them. And they were sore afraid. And
the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto
you is born this night What a night. God, God became
a man. God came into this world. For unto you is born this night
in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And
this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. That one whose birth
was revealed to the lowly shepherds that night as they watched over
their sheep was himself the great shepherd of the sheep. He was
at that moment in becoming like his brethren, seeking and saving
his sheep. This is another example of what
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1. not to mighty, not to noble,
not to rich, oh, but to lowly. Those who the world looks at
or really doesn't pay any attention to at all, he reveals himself
to them. He passes by king's palaces. He passes by the thrones of monarchs
and the rich and he reveals himself to lowly shepherds. That one
born in the city of David is greater than David. He is David's
lord and David's king. He's the one that David wrote
about in his Psalms. He's the one that David in his
dying hour said, this is all my salvation. This babe, born
in Bethlehem. David said, he has made with
me an everlasting covenant. The covenant of God's everlasting
grace. And this is all my salvation
and all my desire. Bethlehem, the city of David. The word means, as you well know,
house of bread. House of bread, Bethlehem. 400 years, more than 400 years,
the prophet Malachi wrote, but thou Bethlehem, though thou be
among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come
forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Israel. whose goings
forth have been from old, even from everlasting." From everlasting. Bethlehem, the house of bread. You remember what our Lord said
in John chapter 6? Turn over there for just a moment. John's Gospel, chapter 6. Verse 35. And Jesus said unto them, I am
the bread of life. I am the bread of life. He that
cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth in me shall
never thirst. Verse 48. I am that bread of
life. Verse 57. As the Living Father
hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth me,
even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came
down from heaven, not as your fathers did eat manna and are
dead. He that eateth of this bread
shall live forever." Shall live forever. Back in Luke chapter
2, We read this concerning the shepherds. They found the Messiah. They came in verse 16, and they came with
haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.
Lying in a manger. They see that baby in the stable.
And that one, that one is the one in whom and by whom and through
whom and because of God has given us all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places. How? Why? Through whom? The Lord Jesus
Christ. He chose us in Him before the
world began. God justifies us in Him. And God accepts us, sinners,
redeemed by His blood and called by His grace. God accepts us
in Him. Oh, how safe we must be. How
safe we must be, Mike, in Him. Indeed, what a wonder. God became
a man. It must be, listen, listen, it
must be a great and difficult work to save a sinner. It must be. It must be. Because it required nothing less
or nothing else than the Son of God Himself assuming our nature,
our human nature, becoming flesh of our flesh and bone of our
bones. Nothing else could accomplish
the salvation of His people. And in that body prepared for
him, he said, I come to do thy will, O my God. Oh, salvation is a great and
mighty work. And I'll tell you this, it's
greater than anything the sinner can do. As a matter of fact,
Our Lord, when asked the question, who can be saved? Who can be saved? And you know
how most people answer that question today. You know what the answer
would be by most professing Christians today? And they've heard this
from their pastors, their preachers. In answer to the question, who
can be saved? How can any sinner, how can any
fallen son of Adam be saved? How can they be reconciled by
God, to God? How can they be pronounced righteous
before the Holy Lord God? And the answer of this religious
world is, it's easy. It's easy. It's not a problem. It's not a problem. All it requires
is man's decision. That's all it requires. All it
requires is moving from that spot to this spot. All it requires
is repeating these words after the soul winner. That's all it
requires. What does it take to save a sinner? It takes God becoming man. And it took that God-man, likewise,
becoming sin, being made sin. And that's not easy. That's not
easy. Who then can be saved? The Lord
Jesus Christ said this, with men, and that's you, that's you,
and that's me. With men, it's impossible. Impossible. Oh, but not with
God. Christ Jesus came into the world. Now here's the second wonder.
Why did he come? To save sinners. To save sinners. I like that tune. I like that
song. Shepherds, unto you is born this
night, this very night, there's born unto you a Savior. He's not anything, and I speak
it reverently. He's not anything if he's not
a Savior. Call his name Jesus, Joseph.
Why? Because the name means Savior. It means salvation and glory
to his name. He shall live up to his name
for he shall save his people from their sins. He did not come
to establish a kingdom, an earthly kingdom. to set up on an earthly
throne in Jerusalem. Oh, no. He came to accomplish
a greater work than that. He came to set up his kingdom
and rule in the hearts of fallen sinners. And that's a great work. That's a mighty work. He did
not come to help sinners save themselves. that tells Lazarus if he takes
the first step, then Christ will do something for him. He'll save
him if that can never be good news, the dead dog sinners. Can it? Can it? John, that can
never be good news to someone that knows they're the sinner,
that knows they need life, and they can't take the first
step. They can't take the first step. They're dead. How can they
take the first step? They can't believe. They can't
even make themselves willing to be saved. Jesus, our Joshua,
our mighty God and Savior, does everything. He does everything. He doesn't partly save. He doesn't
redeem and say, now you're on your own. You must keep yourselves
in grace. Oh, no. He doesn't justify, but
not also sanctify. No glory to His name. He saves
from the gutter most to the uttermost. from sin's penalty, from sin's
power, from sin's presence. You see, he's mighty to save. He's mighty to save. And that's
why the gospel is good news to needy sinners. It tells them. It tells them. It proclaims.
Before the tomb of dead sinners, Jesus saves. He doesn't try to
save. He doesn't attempt to save. Jesus
saves. Jesus saves. That's the best
news I ever heard in my life. And I've never heard any better
news since I heard that in the first place. Oh, hallelujah,
what a Savior. He saves them just as He finds
them. The old Puritans used to say,
well, the only hopeful sinner, the only hopeful sinner for salvation
is a feeling sinner, one that feels their need, a repenting
sinner. He came to save sinners, not
repenting sinners, not believing sinners, not feeling sinners.
He saves them just as He finds them. And when He finds them,
they're none of those things, but they become so in the day
of His power. He makes them feeling. He makes
them to know that they're a sinner. Old Joseph Hart asked this question,
and you've heard me often quote it. What comfort can a Savior
bring to those who've never felt their woe? And he doesn't. Oh,
but he makes them to feel their woe. As old Barnard says, he
gets them lost. He gives them life. And from
that eternal spiritual life arises faith and forgiveness. If you've never been lost, if
you've never been lost, you've never been found. If you've never been blind, you've
never been made to see. If you've never been the sinner,
you've never known the only Savior. He came to save sinners, not
pretend sinners, not sham sinners, real sinners. Sinners that can
do nothing, have nothing, claim nothing. He came to save sinners
like that. Glory to His name and He gets
the job done. Let's read the text again. This
is a faithful saying, and worthy, O child of God, Bank on it. Rest on it. Rest on it. Fall
down on it. Worthy. Worthy. This gives honor
to our God. Believing that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. And He still saves sinners. Jesus
is still His name. And He still does what that name
means. Saves to the uttermost. Oh God,
help me to believe that. Help me to believe that, Joe.
His sheep, he said, will hear his voice. There's no question
mark about that. And they will come to him. And he will. He will see it to
develop his soul and he will be satisfied. In a moment, we'll
take the bread, represents his body, broken for us. And the
wine, which is just a symbolic, representing his blood. Oh, but
dear dying lamb, your precious blood will never lose its power. Never. It's as effectual as redeeming,
sin atoning as it was that day he shed it. It will never lose
its power to all the ransomed church of God. Everyone he shed
his precious blood for will be gathered around the throne of
everlasting glory. Crying worthy is the Lamb. Paul said, sinners, he came to
save of whom I am chief. You see, Paul was an experimental
preacher. I've heard folks say, well, I
like a doctrinal preacher. I like a practical preacher.
I like an experimental preacher. Paul was all three. He was experimental. He had experienced what he wrote
about. He knew that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners because he saved him. He saved
him. Paul knew that. I know he said,
whom I have believed. I know he shall perform that
good work in me until the day of Jesus Christ. I know that
when I cross over, when my time comes, nevertheless, he shall
stand with me. Timothy, at my first answer,
no man stood with me. When I was ushered before Nero,
nobody wanted to acknowledge they were acquainted with me.
Nevertheless, the Lord stood with me, and I believe he shall
preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom." Paul, you see, experienced
this grace he spoke about, preached about, and wrote about. Brother Henry, you've heard it
said. You've heard him say it. Brother Henry Mayhan. You can
no more tell what you don't know than you can come back from where
you've never been. Paul had been there. Paul had
been a blind, lost, self-righteous Pharisee. Oh, but now he sings
of God's amazing grace and says, oh, how sweet the sound that
saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now Now
I'm found. I was blind. I was, but now I
see. But I can be more personal than
speaking of Paul, who said he was the chief of
sinners. So was I. A rebel cursing God and bowing,
bragging. I will not, I will not, I will
not bow to him. No way. No way. Said it Louis. Oh. No way. Not me. Not me. I will not, I will never
come to Christ. I will not bow to him. But God. Oh. But God, that same rebel
with that same boast, I see in my mind's eye that same rebel
bowing down alone, weeping and begging, God have mercy on me,
the sinner. What happened? What happened? Christ Jesus came to save sinners. And in the time of love, he said,
arrest that man. That rebel is coming down. That rebel is going to bow to
me. Oh, glory to his name. The biggest surprise of God saving
great sinners is that he would see a great
sinner like me. Thank you. Thank you, Lord Jesus,
for your amazing grace. You see that multitude that John
wrote of before the throne of God? All clothed in white robes,
the best robe. The righteousness of Jesus Christ,
perfect. That's why they stand before
God without fault, without blemish, and without any trace of sin.
How can that be? How can that be? Why are they
there? Because Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners of whom we are chief. God enables
sinners to remember their Savior in just a moment when we observe
the Lord's Supper. God bless you.