We are all familiar with what a “saying” is. A saying is simply something that is said, usually over, and over again over the course of time. Sayings like, “A stitch in time saves nine, a penny saved is a penny earned, absence makes the heart grow fonder”, and countless others have become a part of our vocabulary and culture. I have often been amused when someone will quote one of these adages and then ask me where it is found in Scripture. While these types of sayings often give us insightful bits of wisdom, they are certainly not on a par with the inspired Word of God. There are however, sayings that are the Word of God. These sayings are distinguished from all other sayings in that they are said to be “faithful”. While man’s sayings become sayings because they are found over the course to time to be generally true, a “faithful saying” is guaranteed by God Almighty to be true every time. The four faithful sayings of Scripture are found in the epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus.
Christ Came to Save Sinners
The first of Paul’s faithful sayings is found in I Timothy.
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
The first point that we will consider about this faithful saying is its subject, the person about whom Paul speaks. In Paul’s explanation of this faithful saying, he is careful to identify exactly who Christ Jesus is.
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. I Timothy 1:16
It is no mere mortal man that has provided salvation for sinners. It is the “only wise God”. No truth in scripture is more important or more clear that the fact the Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for sin, was God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Paul testifies to this fact in his epistle to the Colossians.
Who [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:15-17
For in him [Jesus Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Colossians 2:9,10
A Scripture that settles the issue once and for all is found in the book of Hebrews.
But unto the Son [Jesus Christ] he [God the Father] saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Hebrews 1:8
This passage tells us how God the Father addresses Jesus Christ. He addresses Him as “God”. How can we do any less? The one who came into the world to save sinners is the “King, eternal, immortal, invisible”. To believe anything less is heresy and brings damnation.
The next point that we will consider about this faithful saying is its object, the people whom Christ came to save. Paul identifies them simply as “sinners”. A sinner is anyone who is born in Adam’s race. Sin is a hereditary problem and all human beings have it.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Romans 5:12-14
The fact that all men die is conclusive evidence that all men are sinners. It is for these sinners that Christ came into the world. Christ did not come to die for people who deserved his love and sacrifice. He came to die for those that hated him and had disobeyed his commandments.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Romans 5:6-10
Not only did Christ die for sinners, but on the cross he was actually made sin for us.
For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21
A holy and righteous God was made sin that sinners might be made righteous. This certainly is a truth that is worth repeating!
Bodily Exercise Profiteth Little
The second of Paul’s faithful sayings is also found in I Timothy.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. I Timothy 4:8,9
In this faithful saying, Paul is drawing a contrast between the dead religious works of the flesh and true godliness. The bodily exercise of which he speaks is not physical exercise with treadmills, and barbells, and rowing machines. It is the fleshly performance of good works. This contrast between godliness and religion is the focus of this part of Paul’s letter to Timothy.
He begins by describing a life of true godliness.
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. I Timothy 3:14-16
Notice that Paul says that he is writing that we may know how to properly behave ourselves in the church of God. This behavior is based upon the “mystery of Godliness”. The mystery of Godliness is not a reference to the incarnation of Christ. Rather, it is a reference to the fact that the life of Christ now resides in, and is lived out through, the members of the Body of Christ. This live of Christ within us is what produces true godliness.
Religion, on the other hand, is described in Paul’s next statements to Timothy.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. I Timothy 4:1-3
Paul here describes people who have departed from the faith, i.e. they are not behaving properly. Although these people have abandoned God’s truth, they continue an outward, religious observance of, “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats”. These people are religious, but not godly.
The type of person that Paul describes above is also described by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:25-28
The question we must ask ourselves is how we can know when we are producing true godliness, and when we are merely performing in the flesh. There are two principles that separate religion from godliness.
One way that we know whether any particular action is godliness or religion is by the heart attitude that produces it. Christ told Israel that the scribes and Pharisees did their works to be seen of men.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, Matthew 23:5
The works of the scribes and Pharisees were not wrong, they were simply done with the wrong attitude, and therefore became meaningless.
Paul tells us that we are to walk by faith.
For we walk by faith, not by sight: II Corinthians 5:7
The only justification for good works is a heart that is responding in faith to the truth of God’s Word. Any act that is performed for any other reason is a dead religious work. Only a heart of faith can produce godliness.
The second way to evaluate any action is closely related to the first. Is the action based on the doctrine of God’s Word? “Doctrine” has become a dirty word in today’s church, but doctrine simply means teaching or instruction. True godliness must be based on the instruction found in God’s Word and not on the teachings of men.
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. I Timothy 4:6,7
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. II Timothy 2:15,16
Any act that is not based on the doctrine found in God’s Word, rightly divided, is a dead religious work. Only the life of Christ, contained in the pages of God’s living book, can produce true godliness.
In order for our service to be pleasing to God, we must remember that he desires true Godliness, not dead religious works!
Salvation With Eternal Glory
The third of Paul’s four faithful sayings is found in his second letter to Timothy.
Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: II Timothy 2:10,11
This faithful saying begins with the word “therefore”. Because of this, it is especially important that we understand the verses that come before it. In the verses immediately preceding this faithful saying Paul has been explaining the reason for his imprisonment and bondage.
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. II Timothy 2:8,9
The very heart of Paul’s gospel was the resurrection of Christ. It was this message of resurrection that was causing him to suffer as an evil doer, especially at the hands of the Jews. The Jews were persecuting him for preaching the very message that was their hope.
For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. Acts 28:20
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? Acts 26:6-8
Although Paul was in bonds for preaching the resurrection, the Word of God was not bound. In fact, Paul’s bonds had actually helped the gospel to be proclaimed with more zeal.
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philippians 1:12-14
It was because of this continued going forth of the Word of God that Paul was willing to endure all things. The message of grace was being proclaimed in the midst of his suffering.
Paul goes on to say that the message he is preaching would provide eternal glory for the elect. The elect are not a group of people that have been chosen to be saved, they are those that are already saved. Paul desires that all believers obtain eternal glory with their salvation. The obtaining of eternal glory has to do with the positions of authority that we will have in reigning in the heavenlies with Christ.
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:[a reigning position] If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. II Timothy 2:12,13
If we learn to face our sufferings and endure them in grace, as Paul did, the tribulations of this life work to produce eternal glory.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; II Corinthians 4:17
If we keep this faithful saying in mind, we will be able to view our sufferings in the way that Paul viewed his. The patient enduring of suffering simply a means to build up eternal glory in our future reigning with Christ in the heavenlies.
Maintaining Good Works
The last of Paul’s faithful sayings is found in his instructions to Titus.
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Titus 3:8
One of the criticisms that is leveled at those of us that teach justification by grace, through faith, is that we are giving people a “license to sin”. Some reason that if our salvation and security is not based upon our own efforts we have no motivation to serve God and be obedient to His Word. While this reasoning may be sound from man’s perspective, it is contrary to what the Scriptures say about salvation by grace. In fact, in the immediate context of the passage we are now considering Paul gives us God’s viewpoint of what grace teaches us.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 3:10,11
Far from giving us a “license to sin”, grace teaches us to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts”. We should believe what God says about His grace rather than what men say about His grace.
The key to understanding this teaching of grace is to understand the difference between the motivation that the law provided and the motivation that grace provides. Both law and grace teach men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. The difference is in how they motivate man to that denial. A simple illustration from the writings of Matthew and Paul will demonstrate this point.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. . . . For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:12,14,15
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
In both cases, God desires His people to deny bitterness and anger and be forgiving. However, the law-based motivation in Matthew uses fear to motivate Israel to forgive. Israel was to fear the wrath of God if they didn’t forgive. The grace-based motivation of Ephesians motivates the Body of Christ to forgive by love. Paul reminds us that God has already forgiven us by His grace.
The entire motivation system of grace is different from the motivation under the law. All of grace’s motivation comes from a heart that is filled with thanksgiving to God for what He has done for us in Christ.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: II Corinthians 5:14
In the Age of Grace, it is not God’s wrath, but His love that motivates us to service. We serve God out of thanksgiving, not fear.
The grace of God teaches us to maintain good works. This is indeed a faithful saying, by which we should live our lives.
Four Faithful Sayings
Paul’s four faithful sayings cover a broad variety of topics. He deals with our salvation, our position, our eternal reward, and our service under grace. We would do well to heed these admonitions in our lives rather that being led astray by the teachings of men.
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. II Timothy 2:15,16