Christ Came to Save Sinners

Christ Came to Save Sinners

Opening: this week in small groups

It always comes back to the face “Because I have been saved…”

The Gospel message is the central focus of a healthy church.

Christ does not examine the health of His churches by their size, budgets, entertainment value, the number of ministries they offer,

He examines the church by our view of the gospel.

Revelation speaks of a church Who had all those thing but they had lost their first love: They stopped caring that Christ came to the world to save sinners. They stopped telling others of same trustworthy statement.

He rebuked them for it.

As we examine this text, let’s ask ourselves, How much of my life is lived with the Gospel in mind?

1 Timothy 1:12–20 HCSB

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” —and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you may strongly engage in battle, having faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and have suffered the shipwreck of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them, and I have delivered them to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

Prayer

A Sinner Saved, Gives Thanks to God. V. 12-14

Explanation:

Paul is expressing thankfulness as one who does not deserve

the grace he received (the worst of all sinners). He was a murderer and

arsonist, who falsely accused and arrested innocent people; of whom he

eventually became.

He was a Blasphemer, persecutor, and arrogant man.

In every part of his being,

He fought against God’s will.

He was a merciless, hateful, ignorant, rejector of the faith.

What he received was grace.

Illustration:

Two magnets of the same pole cannot be attached no matter how hard you try. It’s because they are the same.

The force of sin separates us from God. We cannot pull fight or push our way to God. Because both are competing for being God.

Argumentation

Paul responds with a thankful heart because he realized he

received what he did not earn or could not be rewarded.

He rejected Jesus, Paul was not being rewarded for his sin He was being redeemed from them.

God’s way overcomes the hate, wickedness, and selfishness of this world.

Because Jesus overpowers those evils with His goodness.

Paul received strength, mercy, grace, faith, and love.

And that compelled him to stop living in his old way and instead, to follow Christ as his eternal King.

Application

Knowing where he had come from created a thankfulness in Paul’s

Heart.

Knowing what we were saved from and for creates within us thankful heart.

2. A Sinner Saved, Gives Witness to God (15-16)

Explanation:

Unlike the statements in 1 Tim 1:3-4; 6-7 Paul said this is

Trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. ‘What I am

about to tell you is reliable, not only is it certain, its worthy

you putting all your weight on this one thing.

For Paul, He risked his reputation his livelihood, his family and

everything on this “trustworthy statement” and he wanted

everyone to accept the good news by faith.

If Paul had tried to convince everyone he was a changed person,

and remained a blasphemer, a persecutor, an arrogant

man, no one would believe what he’s trying to convince

people of.

He would be a hypocrite, and no one would take his claims seriously

Instead of judgment, Paul received grace, mercy, love and

faith they changed him.

How much?

An overflowing amount.

The presence of God changes people.

Illustration

You cannot get somewhere if you do not know where you are. I was in Land Surveying for several years before ministry.

It was easy to get turned around and lost in the woods. My job was to stay put and collet data from the different places the other guy would go in the woods.

Sometimes we would be very deep in the woods and guys would be out of sight and they would get lost. They would radio to me to help them find their bearings.

I would yell.

A good yell in the forest can travel far.

From the sound of my voice they would know

if they were N, S, E, or W, of me.

If your lost in the woods, you need something to help you discover your position.

Paul knew he was far from God. When Christ came to his position, he knew He was in a bad spot.

The road to Damascus Paul learned that he was sinning against God Himself.

When Christ reveals himself to you us we are also made aware of our sinful position before a holy God.

Argumentation

God deals differently with Paul than I would.

I would find him guilty for war crimes.

I would have sought the death penalty. An eye for an eye.

Yet Jesus doesn’t destroy him by judgement he delivers him from it.

Christ came to save sinners!

On one hand Paul realized he was a sinner, then he needed to understand that he must be saved by Christ.

It is true that all have sinned, and all will face judgment for their sins. It is also true that their judgement will be an eternity of greater suffering than this world has ever experienced.

Paul knew He wanted saved from that judgement and that outcome.

Paul experienced this trustworthy statement. Christ was the trustworthy way deserving of our whole lives.

But why would Jesus do that?

Because it shows the power of God.

God not only spares a person from their eternal decisions, he rescues them and give them a life that they never imagined.

Quote:

The gospel—the message that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope—creates a radical new dynamic for personal growth, for obedience, for love.

Timothy Keller

Application

In order to be rescued by Christ you need to understand that you are a sinner according to the Word of God; a sinner in need of being saved.

A Sinner Saved, Worships God (17)

Explanation

Paul was overcome by enthusiasm that a song broke out right there and then.

When he was an enemy to God, he did not experience peace, love, mercy and the glory of God in his life.

Now he is overflowing with mercy, grace, joy and faith he cannot contain himself.

So he breaks out in adoration.

Illustration:

I remember purposing to Holly in 2001.

Immediately after

She told her family,

She called her friends,

She showed off the ring

She began to plan times for dress shopping.

She was excited! She was engaged!

She knew that day was going to happen.

It was set, and she was set to get married. And she told everyone.

Paul is like a newly engaged bride to be.

He got so excited testifying of what Christ did for him, he bursts into praise right then and there.

Argumentation

You know who struggles to give glory and honor to God?

Unsaved people.

Those who reject the claims that they are sinners.

How did Paul know the message was trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance?

Because He accepted it and believed in Jesus as Lord of His life and his life was drastically changed.

He went from persecuting Christians to being persecuted himself.

2 Corinthians 11:22–26 HCSB

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death many times. Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers;

Philippians 1:21 HCSB

For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.

Romans 1:16 HCSB

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.

He knew that Jesus coming into the world to save sinners brought true power in the lives of those who receive it by faith.

It is the central focus of his ministry and everything he did. He would defend it to the end if needed.

Application

When the Gospel is the central focus of our lives, we overflow with mercy, faith, and love, that Christ has given us. We know that we are sinners saved by grace. We live to help others overcome the evils in this world through the trustworthy message; Jesus came to save sinners.

When the Gospel is the focus of the church we are marked by the transforming power of Christ and He uses us to see others saved.

A Sinner Saved, Battles to Save Truth 18-20.

Explanation

Paul says, remember when we ordained you as a pastor?

1 Timothy 4:14 HCSB

Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.

The people saw the life change in Paul, but they saw that life change in timothy too.

So he said battle against the things that rise up against it.

If you allow false teachers who pedal false doctrine in the church, it will seek to move salvation to the fringe places of our lives.

Some have rejected the Gospel and have shipwrecked their faith.

Myths and endless genealogies.

Illustration

The rudder is a small part located at the back of the boat in the water. It is used to steer the boat.

The boats that haul shipping containers oversees can run 1300 feet long. That is a ¼ mile.

You would never think about the rudder as it is underwater, but did you know that those rudders are only 40 feet tall and 20 feet long?

That is less than 2% of the vessels total length yet it steers the ship through the ocean.

Our conscience and faith are similar to a rudder.

They are unseen small parts of our being that can be ignored and overlooked.

But when yielded to, they steer us away from sin and evil.

A ship without a rudder drifts aimlessly and so does a life that ignores their conscience and rejects faith.

Argumentation

Paul said to Timothy ‘guard your own heart from wandering and guard those in the church as well.’

If people try to get the church of course deal swiftly and sharply with them.

Paul does not have the authority to cast someone into hell.

Instead he is saying let them have their desire, but do so outside of camp, so that they understand the consequences of their decisions and hopefully they will return in repentance.

Application

The Trustworthy statement deserving of full acceptance is also fully worthy of defending.

We need to take a strong look at our conscience and, ask where is it taking us?

As a church, are we centering our efforts and our aim on the gospel message, that Christ came to save sinners?

Visualization:

Imagine if everyone in here had such a heart of thanksgiving that we could not help but testify of the ways God has changed our lives.

Imagine we are overflowing with so much mercy, grace, fauth and love we cant help but burst out in worship!

Think of the testimony that is to people we come in contact with.

People who are in many ways broken, hopeless and crushed by the sin of this world and their guilt and shame.

Think how encouraged they will be when they learn that Christ came to save sinners and that they too can have what you have in Christ.

Actualization:

For that to happen, we have to understand what it cost Jesus to save sinners like you and me.

My shame, my guilt my, my conviction, didn’t just go away magically,

He paid the penalty for my sin by taking it on himself and dying for us.

He has eternally removed my punishment. He has given me immortality and He is always working in ways that I cannot see.

And when I worship him for that, others will take notice.

(Worship Team)

Have you accepted the trustworthy statement that is deserving of you total acceptance?

1. Do you admit you are a sinner? No one can receive Christ who rejects that.

2. Do you need saved? If you are to proud to admit your a mess in need of saving you cannot be saved.

3. Have you made God the king of your life? The greatest lie of today is

that I can serve my self and God at the same time.

Admit, Believe, Confess

Don’t wait, If God is stirring a faith in your heart and speaking to your conscience, then respond this morning.

Let go, and allow God to give you his overflowing mercy, love, grace and put a song in your heart.

Be Thou My Vision