A Faithful Saying - The Gospel

Homer’s Odyssey- The Sirens’ Song

On voyage home from Trojan Wars Odysseus must pass the Isle of the Sirens. The beautiful song of the Sirens drew in unsuspecting mariners to their doom on the rocks. Odysseus ordered his shipmates to plug their ears with wax and then to tie him to the mast so he alone could hear their beautiful, but treacherous song. Only in this way could they sail past these dangerous waters. The Pastoral Epistles in like fashion warn us of wandering spirits drawing men to suffer shipwreck. But you don't need to be bound to legalism and bondage to be free from the sirens call. Grace is all you need.

1 Timothy 1:19 “having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,”

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;”

Simplicity in Christ

2 Corinthians 1:12 “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.”

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

In the name of diversity men have listen to the Sirens song with deadly consequences. Perilous Times; unsound doctrine; wandering teachers are but a few of the wiles. The first and most serious doctrine attacked by these Sirens is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When is comes to the purity of the gospel there is only deadly consequences if we get it wrong

There is but one gospel. We first hear it from the lips of Jesus Himself in John’s gospel

John 3:15–17 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

John 6:47 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.”

A Faithful Saying

1 Timothy 1:15–17 “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

God gives abundant life. Everlasting and eternal. It is a present possession that has power for today

Everlasting life = salvation = gospel

1 Timothy 1:15–16 “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”

1 Timothy 1:16 “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”

1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

1 Timothy 6:19 “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

Titus 1:2 “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,”

Titus 3:7 “that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,”

2 Timothy 1:9–10 “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,”

2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

2 Timothy 3:15 “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Bookends of Assurance

Titus 3:3–7 “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” bookends for the sanctified life.

Everlasting life

A present reality

Present tense assurance

A future blessing

A sure promise

A hope of reward

God - Savior - Jesus Christ

1 Timothy 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,”

1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

1 Timothy 2:3 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,”

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”

1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.”

Titus 1:3–4 “but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”

Titus 2:10–13 “not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

Titus 3:4–6 “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,”