Trustworthy Saying
This is a phrase Paul has used four times in his letters to
Timothy and Titus. We may trace a connection between these ‘’Trustworthy Sayings’’ even though they occur in different letters and under
different circumstances.
- The
first time it occurs is in 1 Timothy 1:15, ‘’This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners--and I am the worst of them all’’.
That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners is the
greatest piece of news ever uttered in to the ears of mortal man. That the
Redeemer had His work cut out for him before His arrival is joy to our hearts.
Paul’s sharing his anti-Christian past here is designed to persuade the
reluctant sinner to come forward to accept the grace.
We understand the basic and the most glorious
truth in the book of God that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners. He came into this world to destroy
the works of the Devil, and to search out for the lost sinner and rescue him.
We are all sinners and have been justly condemned to eternal death. Christ
Jesus became incarnate, suffered, and died to redeem us; and, by his grace and
Spirit, saved us from our sins.
Paul’s assertion of this is a doctrine that can
be credited, without an iota of doubt. The
death of Christ and the mission of the Holy Spirit, sealing pardon on the souls
of all who believe, are truths that have been confirmed and established . This
doctrine is worthy of accepting as valid and true. It is
applicable to all, because all are sinners; and may be received by all. The
true light from Christ that illuminates every man has come into the world. The death of Christ, and His saving grace, are
for everybody.
Paul’s allusion to his past might be construed as a public confession
and an example of his truth and modesty, but it is also a statement deliberately
made to persuade those of the fence-sitters to come to Christ, make them
understand that every true repentant will be pardoned, that no one is beyond
the reach of grace. At times we may be reluctant to share our past lest it
tarnish our image. Paul here demonstrates that lowering our guard might be an
important step in communicating the Gospel.
- The
second time he uses this phrase is in 1 Timothy 4:8, 9, " … physical exercise is of limited value,
but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come. This is a trustworthy saying and everyone should accept it".
There are always people around us who need some
encouragement. Those who know we will
encourage them will be happy to work with us. Don’t expect too much from others, don’t push them too hard.
Don’t set unfair standards for people. Pay
due consideration to other’s skills, experience and maturity when assigning
them tasks. Be patient with distracted or slow learners. Make sure people
understand your goal. People are not likely to hit a target that is not clearly
identified! Always thank people for a job well done. These ‘exercises’ will
help you develop your own spiritual muscles as well.
- The
third usage is found in 2 Timothy
2:11, " This is a trustworthy
saying :If we die with him, we
will also live with him.".
It shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are
called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that If we die with
him, we will also live with him.’’
‘’Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus’’
Paul exhorts his disciple (2 Timothy 2:3).
Like soldiers we must give up worldly security and endure rigorous discipline.
God promises that someday we will be in eternity with Him. We will live in
Christ’s kingdom and share in its administration. Salvation is free, but discipleship has a price.
Jesus’ condition is “If
anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and
follow me’’ (Matthew 16:24). Hebrews 2:10 clarifies
this further: For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through
whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of
their salvation through sufferings. Acts 14:22 says
"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God
Jesus has warned His disciples that the world will hate them
because it hated Him first. He has also
taught them how to respond to persecution: "God blesses you when people
mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things
against you because you are my followers. Rejoice and be glad, because great is
your reward in heaven;’’ (Mathew 5:11, 12).
True Christians are considered to be crucified with Christ
symbolically and partakers in His death and in resurrection. Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will
also be raised to life as He was. (Romans 6:5). Romans 8:17 says if
we are to share in His glory, we must also share His suffering.
Numerous verses speak about the importance of following Jesus’
example, live the way He lived, suffer the way He suffered and die the way He
died. Peter says in 1 Peter 2.21 “For God called you to do good, even
if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is our example, and
we must follow in His steps’’. It is the ultimate aim of every Christian to
become like Christ (2Corinth 3:18). The Lord makes us more and more like
Him as we are changed into His glorious image.
St. Paul
1 Peter 5:10 has
these comforting words for those who suffer for Him: “After you have suffered
for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory
in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you”.
- The fourth mention
of the phrase is in Titus 3:3, "This is a faithful saying, that
they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good
works." It sets forth the
active form of Christian service, bidding us diligently to maintain good
works.
Genuine faith in Jesus must always result in actions that
demonstrate the faith. Jesus named us as light of the world and expects our
light to shine on men. “In the same way,
let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your
heavenly Father” He said in Matthew 5:16. He also called us as salt of the earth.
Salt preserves an object to which it is added, it also improves the taste of
food by contact. Christians are expected to be good witnesses for Jesus. It is by the fruits we produced we show the
world we are His disciples (John 15:8).
Paul who held perhaps more firmly than any other man, to the
position that people are saved by the mere grace of God, and by a divine agency
on the soul; but it is certain that no man ever held more firmly that people
must lead holy lives, or they could have no evidence that they were the
children of God. See Ephesians 2:10: ‘’For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them’’. He adds in Titus 2:14 ‘’Jesus gave his life to free us
from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people,
totally committed to doing good deeds’’.
James pitches it hard in favor of good works. He doesn’t mince his
words. Faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead. A person is
justified by what he does, and not by faith alone. .’’A good person
produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person
produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart’’, John the Baptist
warned. Luther put it precisely -- “You are saved by faith alone, but if faith is alone, it is nor faith’’.
The history of the church is full of examples of notorious
criminals whose lives were transformed by the Good News. None of these
miraculous turnarounds can compare to the story of Paul. A former persecutor of
the early church was transformed into the most fearless spokesman for the church
through a direct confrontation with the Lord. These three letters were written
by Paul to the two young pastors trained by him and received their commission
from him. The consistency between them is so amazing that it was possible to group
four of the verses from them and make one story. That is because God’s word is
itself consistent and infallible. God says in Isaiah 10-11 ‘’For just
as rain and snowfall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth,
making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word
that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish
what I please, and it will prosper where I send it’’. May His word prosper from
eternity to eternity!
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