βThis is a faithful sayingβ¦that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersβ¦β (I Timothy 1:15).
Youβve probably heard the old saying, βDonβt criticize a man until youβve walked a mile in his shoes.β I once heard a comedian add, βThat way when you do criticize him, youβre a mile away, and youβve got his shoes!β
While this addition makes that a humorous saying, βChrist Jesus came into the world to save sinnersβ is a faithful saying. That means if youβre a sinner needing a Savior, you can depend on the fact that Christ came to save you, no matter who you are or what youβve done.
Donβt you wish all old sayings were that dependable? They say, βYou get what you pay for,β but I donβt have to tell you that sometimes you donβt. But even under Godβs kingdom program for Israel, the Lord declared,
βThey that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sickβ¦I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentanceβ (Matthew 9:12,13).
Iβm barely old enough to remember when doctors made house calls, and my doctor once came to our home to treat my asthma. Of course, he wouldnβt have come if I hadnβt needed medical attention. Similarly, Christ wouldnβt have come into the world to save sinners if men didnβt need salvation.
But if youβre not saved, and are unwilling to admit youβre a sinner, youβre in trouble, for that would mean that Christ didnβt come to save you! If youβre willing to acknowledge that βall have sinnedβ (Rom. 3:23), but you think yourself to be pretty godly overall, youβre still in trouble, for βChrist died for the ungodlyβ (Rom. 5:6). If that forces you to concede you are an ungodly sinner, but you think you and God are still on good terms, you are still in trouble, for you must admit to being among His βenemiesβ if you want to be βreconciled to God by the death of His Sonβ¦β (Rom. 5:10).
But donβt be discouraged, all of this is actually good news! What if Paul had said, βChrist Jesus came into the world to save tall people,β and you are βvertically challenged.β You canβt admit to being tall, but you can admit to being a sinner. Why not admit it right now, and believe that Christ died to pay for your sins, and rose again (I Corinthians 15:3,4). If youβre saved, why not repeat this old saying to someone today! βChrist Jesus came into the world to save sinnersβ is not a saying that should go without saying! source
