1 Timothy (Quality: Very good)

[0:00] As the Lord shall be pleased to help me, I shall call your attention to a subject you will find in the first epistle of Timothy, chapter 1, verse 15.

[0:32] 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.

[0:56] Chapter 1, the first epistle of Timothy, and the 15th verse.

[1:09] This is a word which is very familiar to you. A word that is often quoted.

[1:23] Oh, what a wonderful truth it sets forth.

[1:33] And how good it is if that truth has been made to you, the joy and rejoicing of your heart.

[1:47] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.

[1:58] I want, as the Lord shall help me, to look at the subject from three viewpoints.

[2:08] One is, in this great statement, faithful saying, there is a wonderful mystery opened up.

[2:26] Christ Jesus came into the world. The God of heaven was seen among men.

[2:41] And then there is this viewpoint of the subject. A wonderful mission. Astonishing to contemplate.

[2:56] Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And the third viewpoint is a wonderful message.

[3:12] And that is made manifest in the faithful saying. This is a faithful saying.

[3:23] And worthy of all acceptation. That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

[3:36] Of whom I am chief. And now that is an amazing declaration. Of whom I am chief.

[3:48] And yet, if you have the mercy to be a sinner taught of God. You will say amen to that same truth. And you will speak on your own behalf.

[4:04] Out of the abundance. Of the heart, the mouth will speak. You will realize. He came to see.

[4:15] Poor sinners out. And you and me the worst. Of whom I am chief. Many years ago.

[4:30] I was journeying in the train. Down the west country. On my way to fulfill an engagement to preach. And I was in a compartment alone.

[4:40] Looking into the word of God. Thinking about what laid before me. And the guard came down the corridor of the train. And he looked in.

[4:52] The compartment where I was. And said, sir. Can you give me a good word out of that good book? I looked at him. And I said, yes I can.

[5:04] This is a faithful saying. And worthy of all acceptation. That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

[5:15] And I ended the quotation there. And he said to me. How about finishing the text, sir?

[5:27] I said. I'm very glad. If you feel like that. Of whom I am chief. And he said.

[5:37] If I cannot enter into the second half. I am afraid I shall have no real interest in the first half of the text.

[5:49] And I thought how well taught of God the man really was. And I felt a union of spirit to him.

[6:01] He was what the world calls an evangelical. But he was a sinner saved. And now.

[6:13] You and I will have to enter into the truth. In the completeness of it. As it is set forth in our text. This is a faithful saying.

[6:27] And worthy of all acceptation. And this you will have to accept. And you will do. Willingly. Knowing it is the truth.

[6:39] Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of whom I am chief. No sinner needed mercy more.

[6:51] That ever sought God's face. Of whom I am chief. As I thought on this subject just a little. Hoping it was the right one.

[7:03] To say a little to you upon. I thought how good it would have been. If you and I could have heard the apostle Paul preach from it. And he says in the context.

[7:18] I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. Who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful. Putting me into the ministry. Who was before a blasphemer.

[7:31] And a persecutor. And injurious. But I obtained mercy. I obtained mercy. Because I did it ignorantly. In unbelief.

[7:44] And the grace of our Lord. Was exceeding abundant. With faith and love. Which is in Christ Jesus. And then he comes to our subject.

[8:00] And he sums it up. As you must do. If God leads you into his truth. Of whom I am chief. And then he makes this statement.

[8:12] How be it. For this cause. I obtained mercy. That in me. First. Jesus Christ. Might show forth.

[8:23] All long suffering. For a pattern to them. Which should. Hereafter believe on him. To life everlasting. As though the apostle Paul.

[8:35] Declared. I would have you understand. That. Seeing God. As shown. His great mercy. To such a sinner.

[8:47] As I was. And I am. Who of mercy. Need despair. Since I. Have mercy. Found.

[8:59] And that was the substance. Of how he. Tried. To preach the gospel. Of the grace. Of God. Let us look at it.

[9:10] As the Lord should help us. From these. Three. Viewpoints. A wonderful. Mystery.

[9:22] Christ Jesus. Came into the world. And the word of God says. And in. One of these epistles.

[9:32] To Timothy. That. Great is the mystery. Of godliness. God was manifest. In the flesh. You and I do need.

[9:48] To take our shoes. From off our feet. In the gospel sense of it. For the place. Where all we stand. Is. Holy ground.

[10:01] You see. There are many people. There are many people. Religious folk. And others. Who are irreligious. Who will accept it.

[10:13] As a matter of history. A fact that. Cannot be controverted. That Christ Jesus. Came into the world. People. And they just.

[10:25] Accept it. From the viewpoint. Of history. But an historical faith. Will not. Give you a passport.

[10:36] Through the gates. Of pearl. Remember that. The faith of God's elect. Is not.

[10:49] Just. An historical faith. And without faith. It is impossible. To please him. For he that cometh.

[10:59] To God. Must believe. That he is. And that he is. A rewarder. Of all them. That diligently. Seek him.

[11:11] And if. This faithful saying. Is accepted. By you. And blessed be God. Many of you.

[11:22] Have found it. Worthy of all. Acceptation. And because. You have been. Inable to accept it.

[11:34] You have got. An ever deepening concern. To realize. That when. Christ Jesus.

[11:45] Came into the world. To save sinners. It was. Such a sinner. As you. He came into the world. To save. Oh you want.

[11:57] To realize. You have a living interest. In the life. That Jesus lived. And the death. That he died. And that.

[12:08] And that when he rose. From the dead. With the church of Christ. In mystical union. With him. As the church's living head. You rose in him.

[12:21] Then. And that he now. Is in heaven. On your behalf. Now to appear. In the presence of God.

[12:32] For. Us. For you. Cannot be content. Or feel as you want to feel. Until you realize.

[12:43] For me. Oh miracle of grace. For me. The savior. Bled. It is indeed. A wonderful mystery.

[12:55] That Christ Jesus. Came into the world. And I. Read to you. In John's gospel. Just a little.

[13:06] Concerning it. And the light. Shine it. In. Darkness. And the darkness. Comprehended it.

[13:18] Not. And again. He was. In the world. And the world. Was made. By him. And the world.

[13:28] Knew him not. He came on. To his own. And his own. Received him. Not. He came on. To his own land.

[13:40] The land of promise. And his own people. Dwelling therein. Received him. Not. And they said.

[13:51] Sinner. Sinner. Sinner. Still say. The same. We will not. Have this man. To reign.

[14:01] Over us. And then. John tells us. In a beautiful. Word. And the word. Was made flesh.

[14:13] And dwelt. Among us. And we beheld. His glory. The glory. As of the only begotten. Of the father. Full of grace.

[14:25] And truth. And of his fullness. Have all we received. And grace. For grace. Oh do think on this.

[14:39] Wonderful. Mystery. And let your conscience. Tell you. If you receive it. As a faithful.

[14:49] Saying. And worthy of all. Acceptation. Christ. Jesus. Came into the world. It is a wonderful.

[15:01] Contemplation. I try at times. To think about it. But language. Is poverty stricken. To say much about it. The word of God.

[15:13] Tells us. That in heaven itself. Angels veil their faces. Before him. And continually do cry.

[15:25] Holy. Holy. Holy. Lord. God. Almighty. And yet there is this. Wonderful mystery. Almighty God.

[15:37] God. Side human breath. The Lord of life. Experience death. How it was done. We can't discuss.

[15:48] But this we know. Do we? This we hope. It was done. For us. Yes. Sinners.

[16:00] Of whom. I. Am. Chief. And now. When Christ Jesus. Came. Into the world. How wonderful. It is.

[16:10] To go to Bethlehem. And see how he came. Did you ever do it? Did you ever find. Your heart. Wrought upon. And by living faith.

[16:23] Go to Bethlehem. Humble yourself. As it were. Before that. Little babe. Laid in a manger cradle.

[16:35] Sheltered in a stable. And see. In that little babe. Christ. Jesus. Almighty God.

[16:48] Maker of heaven. And earth. Dost thou believe. On the son of God. What. What.

[16:59] Think ye. Of Christ. A wonderful. Mystery. That his shoulders. Held up. Heaven and earth. When Mary.

[17:10] Held up him. I felt. Sometimes. There is such a. Sweetness. In going to Bethlehem. And whenever.

[17:22] I have thee. Task. I was going to say. To lay all that is mortal. Of a little babe. In the grave.

[17:37] I do desire. To go to Bethlehem. For a little while. Before I attend to it. And why.

[17:50] When Christ Jesus. Came into the world. And was born a babe. By birth. Mysterious. He was born a holy babe. The only babe.

[18:02] That ever was born. A holy babe. It is very solemn reading. That in the beginning. When God.

[18:15] Created Adam. That he made him. In his own image. Think of it. Adam was made. In the image of God. And as he came.

[18:28] From his creator's hands. He was. A perfect. Creature. Complete with moral.

[18:39] Righteousness. A perfect creature. But. Sin entered into the world. And death by sin.

[18:51] So death passed upon all men. For that all of sin. And the Adam fall. Took place. And there was made. A tremendous breach.

[19:04] Between God and man. And the Lord God. Drove out the man and the woman. And the woman too. From Eden's garden. Into the world. Under.

[19:16] The curse of God. From that time on. And as Adam's life went on. As he lived it.

[19:29] What do you read? Adam begat a son. In his own likeness. A sinful father.

[19:39] Begets a sinful son. Yes. So that every babe. Coming into the world. Comes in the image.

[19:52] Of its father. A sinner. But Jesus Christ. When he was born. Was the holy.

[20:05] Harmless. Undefiled. Son of God. Manifest. In. The flesh. And.

[20:15] God. I cannot find words. To say. What. Could be said. Because I would not. Use. Imprudent words.

[20:26] But it would. Have been possible. For God. To have sent. His son down. Into the world. Fully grown. To do.

[20:37] That great work. Which he had to do. But it was not. The will of God. That it should be. On that basis. Christ Jesus. Should come into the world.

[20:49] To save. Sinners. No. He must go. Right. Through. From the cradle. To the cross. And.

[21:00] Be born. A babe. And then. Grow up. Through childhood. And youth. To manhood.

[21:11] And then. Do that. Great work. Which he came into the world. To do. And. In doing that. Do remember.

[21:22] He was made. Of a woman. Made. Under. The law. So that. He kept that law. From. The cradle.

[21:33] To. The cross. And he said. I have finished. The work. Which thou. Gavest me. To do. To do. And now. At whatever.

[21:44] Age. People may be. Whom Christ Jesus. Came into the world. To save. It matters not.

[21:56] Be they. Babes. Children. Youths. Maids. Men. And women. Men. And those. Right down.

[22:08] To old age. At any. Sphere. Any stage. In life's journey. This is to be known.

[22:20] Christ Jesus. Came into the world. To save sinners. Of all ages. And of all sorts.

[22:32] People of every kindred. Tribe. And tongue. Shall dwell on his name. With sweetest. Song. And I can assure you.

[22:46] Going back. To what I said about a babe. Being laid in the grave. That there is a wonderful feeling. Given to us. In doing so.

[23:00] The foundation truth. Of our most holy faith. Salvation. Is of the Lord. Then you can say. Of a little babe.

[23:12] Whose redeemed spirit. Gets to heaven. Before it knows. There is a heaven to go to. When all that is mortal of it. Is laid in the grave. In sure.

[23:23] And certain hope. Of a joyful resurrection. To the life everlasting. Because that. Little babe. Has got a redeemed spirit.

[23:37] A soul. Immortal. Fitted for the skies. You will agree. Surely. It is a wonderful mystery.

[23:49] Christ Jesus. Jesus. Came into the world. To save. Sinners. It was.

[24:01] The work. Before his holy eyes. By night and day. As he journeyed through. His life.

[24:13] Fulfilling the law. In every jot and tittle. Of all its demands. This was his.

[24:25] Great work. To save. Sinners. And now it might be well. To sum this up a little.

[24:37] Well. What think ye of Christ. What does all this mean to you. It is a faithful saying.

[24:49] hundreds of millions of sinners have found how faithful it is oh they have found that word a wondrous reality if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation and how do you accept it is it a faithful saying that hangs about in your mind in everyday life and sometimes a question arises did Jesus die and not for me am I forbade to seek my God is there not pardon full and free proclaimed through Jesus precious blood all to know Christ Jesus came into the world to save such a sinner as I feel to be sinners of whom

[26:05] I am chief this man receiveth sinners he delighteth in mercy and what do you sing I wish you believed it as it should be believed the vilest sinner out of hell who lives to feel his need he is welcome to the throne of grace the saviour's blood to plead a wonderful mystery see Christ Jesus as he came into the world at length fulfilling the work in the completeness of it when on Calvary's cross you see a scene of matchless grace tis Jesus in the sinner's place and there it is demonstrated

[27:13] Jesus blood through earth and skies mercy eternal mercy Christ Christ died for our sins Christ died for the ungodly a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation and if you accept it in your soul's desires you will never feel as you want to feel until you see Jesus and see in him all your salvation and all your desire and you can feel my beloved is mine and I am his and his desire is toward me it is a wonderful mystery and now let us look at it as a wonderful mission

[28:23] Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners a number which no man can number sinners what does that really mean sinners who were made aware that is the name to which they answer if you want God to call you by your name when he is pleased to do that he will call you sinner because that is your name remember that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners what does that imply sinners embracing all whom

[29:34] God the Father had ordained to life eternal you must compare scripture with scripture and before time was born or the world was built there was a number which no man can number shut up in the covenant of grace to be sinners saved by grace and in that covenant of grace Christ Jesus was proclaimed as the mediator of it there is one God one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus and that he in the fullness of time would come into the world and do that which had to be done that a door of mercy might be opened in heaven and that all that vast host of sinners ordained to life by God the Father might be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in life

[30:49] Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners what did he come to save these sinners from them first of all he came to save them from the ruin which was wrought by the Adam Paul our hymn writer says for this there must be one who can from sin and death release us make up the breach twixt God and man which none can do but Jesus when he came into the world to save sinners Christ Jesus went down to the very bottom and lower still of the

[31:54] Adam Fall who remembered us in our lowest time for his mercy endureth forever strictly speaking the Adam Fall is a bottomless abyss you cannot tell the depth of it words fail but Jesus Christ went down into the very depths of it he saw me ruined in the fall and loved me not withstanding all he saved me from my lost estate his loving kindness oh how great not only so Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from the lost curse and condemnation all these sinners in the text who will indeed ultimately be sinners saved by grace were lost sinners in the

[33:08] Adam Fall and therefore they were under the laws curse and condemnation did you ever ponder what that really is cursed is the man that continue with not in all things written in the book of the law to do them and now Christ Jesus came into the world to endure that curse Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law as it is written cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree and in the holy life that he lived in the death of infinite merit which he died Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one which believeth yes so that the terrors of law and of God with me can have nothing to do if I am one of the sinners in the text sinners of whom

[34:31] I am chief my saviour's obedience and blood hide all my transgressions from view and then Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from sins utter defilement oh it must have been exquisite suffering beyond our words to describe for Christ Jesus as federally man and the holy harmless undefiled son of God to be made sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him so the word of God tells us and he came into the world that he might save sinners from sins utter defilement so that in the ultimate issue of his great salvation they are made fit to be the guests of God and it says the church of Christ is to be presented before God the Father without wrinkle or spot or blemish or any such thing and in another word it says blameless and unreprovable because

[36:13] Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and to remove sins utter defilement yes so that they are a holy people fitted for the skies and then Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from being overcome by the world and falling afraid to the wickedness of it oh that is a great declaration in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world yes and that means this whatever our circumstances may be in the world and they may be adverse circumstances whatever their nature

[37:18] Christ Jesus came into the world that poor sinners like you and me might enter into that wonderful word we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose yes you are not of the world even as I am not of the world said the Savior to his disciples marvel not if the world hate you but know this it hated me before it hated you so that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and to ensure to every sinner saved that they should triumph over the world and all that is therein and choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of

[38:31] God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and there is this to be named Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from going down into eternal misery the hymn writer says our sins a hell procured and he that hell endured and says Williams the hymn writer death of death and hell's destruction Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners so that when each of these sinners saved comes down to die oh they will find the bottom to be good in Jordan swelling have that amazing mercy to realize oh death where is thy sting oh grave where is thy victory much might be said along that line of thought

[39:47] Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and now that is only just a faint outline of what his mission was and now let us look at this third viewpoint the wonderful message this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation and now maybe some of you will have surgings of heart you will argue about it can it be a possibility Christ Jesus came into the world to save a sinner like me and now if you look into the word of God which is what you should be doing you will find there much to encourage you to hope in God even though you are the sinner that you feel to be and I like to look at it from this viewpoint and now in Old

[41:01] Testament times under the law it was made very plain that he who was guilty of murder or of adultery or of blasphemy the law said to such sinners thou should die there could be no question of any extenuating circumstances there could be no setting aside the law but it had to be fulfilled in each instance thou shalt die and now that is what the law said to sinners born under it especially those in that category which I have named and now if you think it over this is the gospel of the grace of God

[42:14] Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and now such sinners as I have named are saved under the gospel and the gospel says to them when they are brought before God to put their mouth in the dust of self abasement if so there may be hope thou shalt not die I've often thought about David the Selmist because in his heart he was a murderer and alas a lied to it an adulterer in one sad incident in his life and yet you remember after a long while God dealt with

[43:15] David and he was humbled before God to acknowledge his iniquity and then Nathan was commissioned to say the Lord the Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die and now that is the essence of the gospel through this man there is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins and now you think of some of the characters of whom you read when Jesus Christ went about doing good and he came into the world to save sinners and some of the sinners that he did save oh they were notorious characters think of the dying thief who were saved in life's latest hours think of

[44:20] Mary Magdalene and now let Paul himself be a witness as I read to you who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious the word of God says when he was born of Darsus that he hailed men and women to prison that they might be put to death in his heart he was a murderer and yet he was saved by grace oh the wonderful grace of God or sins unnumbered as the sand and like the mountains for their size the seas of sovereign grace expand the seas of sovereign grace arise it is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and you might remember too

[45:26] Manasseh in Old Testament times who made Jerusalem streets run with rivers of blood and yet even such an one as he was when in his affliction he called on the Lord his God he found this word to be a sure word in his soul's experience and he found mercy and now who can tell but what God will be gracious unto you this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation and the gospel as it is proclaimed by those whom God ordains to preach it and grants his divine aid to do it the gospel is indeed what it was declared to be in its first proclamation behold

[46:28] I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people unto you is born a saviour which is Christ the Lord good tidings of great joy it is tidings that God is approachable tidings that there is forgiveness of sins to be known tidings of a righteousness for poor sinners who are aware they have none of their own tidings of a fountain open for sin and for uncleanness yes it is tidings of exceeding great and precious promises to encourage poor sinners to wait on him who is the sinner's friend and find in him all their salvation and all their desire this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation and now think of that word in Isaiah think on it when you get home think on it prayerfully come now saith the

[47:57] Lord let us reason together and your sins though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool though they be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow 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 raise thy downcast eyes and see numbers do his throne surround who were sinners once like thee but blessed be God they have mercy found Amen to heaven lay in the supplement number 905 and the crowd beat up who瞼 could be witness

[49:35] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS

[50:40] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS Thank you.

[51:56] To all the church, these kings arise, His grand distinction to the earth, Their whole church, these kings, Their whole church, these kings, Their whole church, these kings, Their whole church, these kings, Their whole church, these kings, CHOIR SINGS

[53:19] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS To you, you may not escape The heart of which we rise, He axis,

[54:24] This very good saying that the soul will hold each is to be believed And brought them to the novel that saved us takich by these days S chili do Thine thine and did the shining and silo

[55:42] May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father, the communion of the Holy Spirit be upon us, and all who love the truth everywhere.

[55:59] Amen and amen.