Jesus Came For Sinners

“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.”
I Timothy 1:15

Introduction:

  1. There is within the heart of man a great desire to justify self and condemn others. Let’s destroy it today.
  2. If you are born of God, you know you are a great sinner needing a Saviour. Let’s rejoice in Him today.
  3. Since we all sin, often and wickedly, Satan and others condemn us. Let’s exalt free forgiveness today.
  4. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of the holy God (Ro 3:23). We are helpless before Him.
  5. The whole human race is in a boat sinking fast and deep – all the way to hell soon. We need a Saviour!

THE FAITHFUL SAYING

  1. There are many religious sayings in the world, but there are only a few faithful sayings.
    1. “O Baal, hear us,” was the saying of powerless prophets in Israel (I Kgs 18:26).
    2. “Great is Diana of the Ephesians,” was a foolish and vain saying (Acts 19:34).
    3. “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death,” is a vain and profane saying of the great whore of the Catholic Church.
    4. “There is but one God and Mohammed is His prophet. Allah is great and Mohammed is His prophet,” is the profession of moon-worshipping Arabians.
    5. “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” is a very popular tract.
    6. “Jesus wants to save you, if you will just let Him,” is another faithless saying.
  2. Jesus saved Saul of Tarsus as an example to all believers to follow (I Timothy 1:12-16).
    1. Jesus Christ put Paul in the ministry, even counting him faithful (Gal 1:15-16).
    2. Though guilty of horrible sins, he did them sincerely in ignorance (Acts 26:9).
    3. God’s abundant grace gave him faith, where there had been ignorant rebellion, and love, where there had been horrible cruelty. Oh, how marvelous!
    4. Clearly, Saul of Tarsus was the greatest sinner Jesus could have saved in Israel!
    5. And Jesus saved him to give an example of His great longsuffering and mercy!
  3. There are other faithful sayings we should know and remember about Jesus saving us.
    1. Jesus said of Himself, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life …” (John 14:6).
    2. Peter said of Jesus, “Neither is there salvation in any other …” (Acts 4:12).
    3. John wrote of Jesus and life, “He that hath the Son hath life …” (I John 5:12).

THE PURPOSE OF JESUS

  1. The faithful saying teaches that Jesus came – “to save” – for the purpose of saving.
    1. He did not come to offer salvation, make salvation possible, help sinners save themselves, save everyone but lose most, or for any other such faithless purpose.
    2. He came with a definite and specific objective from God, and He finished it! He saved the sinners, every last one of them, whom God had given Him to redeem.
  2. The angels and others at His birth knew His purpose in this world was to save sinners.
    1. The angel told Joseph that He would save His people from their sins (Mat 1:21).
      1. He had always had a people; they were His people; and He saved them.
      2. The third “shall” of this text has no less certainty than the first two.
    2. Zecharias foretold Jesus saving Israel by covenant promise (Luke 1:67-75).
    3. Simeon spoke of the salvation God sent in the holy child Jesus (Luke 2:25-35).
    4. Anna thanked God and told the faithful of redemption in Jesus (Luke 2:36-38).
    5. John the Baptist identified Jesus Christ as definitely taking away sin (John 1:29), and we don’t see all men here any more than Caesar taxing Apaches (Luke 2:1).
  3. Jesus knew His own purpose to save sinners and is recorded several times by John.
    1. He came for the purpose of saving all the Father had given Him (John 6:38-39).
    2. He glorified the Father by giving eternal life to those given Him (John 17:1-2).
    3. He and His Father were One in giving eternal life to the sheep (John 10:27-30).
    4. He knew His purpose to be the calling of Jewish and Gentile sheep (John 10:16).
    5. He knew that with His death He had accomplished His purpose (John 19:30).
  4. Paul taught that Jesus came to save as a result of God’s eternal predestinating purpose.
    1. God promised eternal life before the world began for each of His elect (Tit 1:2).
    2. God’s gracious purpose of salvation was given in Christ in eternity (II Tim 1:9).
    3. God’s purpose was the salvation of some and rejection of others (Rom 9:22-24).
    4. And so He predestinated the elect in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:29-33; Eph 1:3-12).

THE SUCCESS OF JESUS

  1. If Jesus came to do the will of God, you can be certain He did it (Dan 4:35; John 4:34).
  2. As Adam successfully condemned us, Jesus successfully saved us (Romans 5:19-21).
  3. Paul’s inspired argument is that Jesus has infallibly saved the elect (Romans 8:29-39).
  4. Paul writes confidently of Jesus Christ as having by Himself purged our sins (Heb 1:3).
  5. The new covenant and all its spiritual blessings are by means of death (Heb 9:12,15).
  6. Paul assumed that Jesus Christ had been totally successful in His death (Heb 10:10-14).

THE GLORY OF JESUS

  1. Let us rejoice greatly with His inspired mother and say, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46-47).
  2. Jesus shall soon gloriously show His success in saving those God gave Him (Heb 2:13).
  3. The multitude in heaven witnessed by John sing the song of redemption (Rev 5:9-10).

THE OBJECTS OF JESUS

  1. Consider the Bible statements as to our condition when Jesus Christ came to save us.
    1. We were without strength, ungodly, sinners, and enemies (Romans 5:6-10).
    2. Where sin abounded, grace in Christ did much more abound (Rom 5:20-21).
    3. Even when we were dead in sins, we were raised up with Christ (Eph 2:1-7).
    4. We were also foolish and hateful and wicked, but He saved us (Titus 3:3-7).
    5. He doesn’t only pardon; He abundantly pardons; different than man (Is 55:6-9).
  2. Consider our Lord’s general treatment of sinners and His attitude toward them.
    1. He ate with sinners, though others depised them and Him for it (Mark 2:15-17).
    2. He gave three parables to define His pursuit of sinners and condemn the self-righteous spirit of others (Luke 15:1-32). Let us rejoice with the angels of God.
    3. He gave true judgment of great sinners being the greatest saints (Luk 7:40-43).
    4. He damned the Pharisees as hypocrites (Mat 23:5,25-28; Luke 11:39-40; 16:15).
    5. The church at Corinth had sinners of all sorts who were forgiven (I Cor 6:9-11).
  3. Consider our Lord’s specific treatment of individual sinners for the comfort they give.
    1. He forgave and blessed David as His favorite over all other men and kings.
    2. He forgave and blessed Peter as a favorite over many of the other apostles.
    3. He justified a publican, who admitted his sins, over a Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14).
    4. He had supper with Zacchaeus, whom all knew was a sinner (Luke 19:1-10).
    5. He forgave the woman taken in adultery and comforted her to go (John 8:1-11).
    6. He forgave the thief on the cross in a very short exchange (Luke 23:39-43).
    7. He forgave and received Mary Magdalene and others to serve Him (Luke 8:1-3).
    8. He exalted a very sinful woman over a very “righteous” Pharisee (Luk 7:36-50).

THE ENEMIES OF JESUS

  1. Arminians, Pelagians, and most Calvinists must add to the work of Christ for salvation.
  2. Pharisees hated Jesus for (1) receiving sinners and (2) rejecting their form of godliness.
  3. The spirit of Pharisaism yet lives, whereby men justify themselves and condemn others.
  4. There will be false brethren in Christ’s churches who glory in appearance (II Cor 5:12).

THE SERVICE OF JESUS

  1. We rightfully sing, “I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou done for me?”
  2. Paul said his great zeal was constrained by the love of Jesus Christ (II Cor 5:13-15).
  3. Another faithful saying requires believers to carefully maintain good works (Titus 3:8).
  4. We must forgive others out of the debt He forgave us (Ephesians 4:32; Matt 18:23-35).

Conclusion:

  1. Are you the chief of sinners? You are in good company. Thank God for Paul’s example of forgiveness.
  2. Come to the Lord Jesus by faith today and confess your sins. He will abundantly pardon you now!
  3. No sinner has ever come to Jesus Christ begging humbly for mercy and been rejected (Romans 10:11).
  4. Though being the triune holy God, there is full and free redemption and forgiveness in Jesus Christ!

 

I Will Arise and Go to Jesus

Joseph Hart was born in 1712 in London, England. He died there on May 24, 1768. His body sleeps in Bunhill Fields Cemetery, London, where John Bunyan, John Rippon, and Isaac Watts also sleep. For 45 years of his life, brother Hart resisted Christianity. He even wrote a pamphlet, “The Unreasonableness of Religion, Being Remarks and Animadversions on John Wesley’s Sermon on Romans 8:32.” However, brother Hart came to love the Christ he once rejected and became a highly esteemed preacher and hymn writer. Thousands attended his funeral.

 

Refrain

I will arise and go to Jesus,

He will embrace me in His arms;

In the arms of my dear Savior,

O there are ten thousand charms.

 

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,

Weak and wounded, sick and sore;

Jesus ready stands to save you,

Full of pity, love and power.

 

View Him prostrate in the garden;

On the ground your Maker lies.

On the bloody tree behold Him;

Sinner, will this not suffice?

 

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,

God’s free bounty glorify;

True belief and true repentance,

Every grace that brings you nigh.

 

Lo! th’incarnate God ascended,

Pleads the merit of His blood:

Venture on Him, venture wholly,

Let no other trust intrude.

 

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,

Lost and ruined by the fall;

If you tarry till you’re better,

You will never come at all.

 

Let not conscience make you linger,

Not of fitness fondly dream;

All the fitness He requireth

Is to feel your need of Him.