3. A Trustworthy Saying: Jesus Saves Sinners

Introduction

General: True/False Quiz

The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space. (F)

Lightening never strikes the same place twice. (F)

Bananas are berries, but strawberries are not. (T)

Humans use only 10% of their brains. (F)

Red Dye #3 is not a safe ingredient in makeup, but it’s perfectly fine to eat it. (T & F — banned from makeup in 1990 but not from food until 2025)

Personal: The best lies are wrapped in truth. Consider one of the most widely believed lies in the world today: If you’re a good person who believes in Jesus, God will accept you.

Biblical: It’s nothing new. An earlier version of this lie was being taught in the church in Ephesus, and one of the reasons Paul wrote 1 Timothy was to correct it because lies are overcome by truth.

Subject: The Truth & The Trust

Body

The Truth: 1 Timothy 1:12-17… Jesus came to save sinners. Jesus came to find the lost, to restore the broken, to justify the guilty. Jesus said it this way: Luke 5:31-32.

Exposition

Paul is Exhibit A. Grace overflowed for Paul, not after he cleaned himself up but while he was still a sinner.

Jesus judged Paul faithful and gave him the calling to preach the message of Christ even though Paul had been a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.

Paul received mercy even though he didn’t deserve it.

When Paul didn’t love Jesus, Jesus loved Paul. When Paul didn’t have faith in Jesus, Jesus had faith in Paul.

When Jesus looks at you, he doesn’t just see who you are now but who you will be when he completes the work he’s doing in your life.

Here’s Paul’s point: If Jesus will forgive and save and call someone as bad as Paul, Jesus will forgive and save and call you. That’s the gospel: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

What about the righteous? Shouldn’t they be saved, too? Doesn’t God want us to be good people?

God would gladly save the righteous, if there were any.

God does want us to be good/righteous/holy/godly. But you can’t make yourself good. Even following the rules in the Bible won’t make you a righteous person.

Illustration: Harry the Dirty Dog…

Application: Grace > Faith > Salvation > Sanctification

The order makes 100% difference in your relationship with God… Love Corinne because I have to or because I want to?

The order takes the pressure off.

I don’t have to justify myself. I am already justified in Christ.

I don’t have to prove myself. I am already accepted in Christ.

I don’t have to make myself lovely to get God to love me. I am lovely because he loves me.

The righteousness I have isn’t mine but Christ’s credited to my account.

Practicing my faith isn’t work but rest (that’s why this room should be called a sanctuary and not an auditorium).

The Trust: 1 Timothy 1:18-20… God trusts you to know this truth. What is he charging you do with it?

Exposition

Believe it.

Hold on to it.

Allow it to shape your life (see 1 Tim 1:19, faith (trust) and a good conscience).

Illustration: I used to have a Withings watch…

Application: You don’t make yourself righteous—that’s God’s work. Your part is to trust God and respond to what he is doing in your life through the strength that Jesus gives you.

Conclusion: Spiritual Assessment

Do I think God’s love for me changes based on how well I follow the rules?

Do I feel spiritually superior or inferior when I compare myself to others?

Am I easily offended?

Am I quick to criticize?

Have I lost the joy in my faith? Do I feel weary or overwhelmed by trying to “do everything right”?

Am I more concerned about what people see than my inner relationship with God?

Do I fear God’s punishment more than I trust his forgiveness?

Do I struggle to forgive others for their shortcomings?

Do I struggle with insecurity?

Am I afraid God won’t love me if _________________?