Paul’s Faithful Sayings

Earlene Davis

There are four of these Faithful Sayings and we may trace a connection between them. The first one is I Timothy 1:15, “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.” What a golden precious saying, like a lamp of a lighthouse. It’s comforting ray of light has guided millions to the port of peace in this dark world. It is “worthy of all acceptation,” as true and valid. Jesus Christ coming into the world to save sinners is the very foundation of our salvation. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Oh the grace of God, providing the great Redeemer.

The next faithful saying is found in I Timothy 4:8-9, “For bodily exercise profiteth little (or for a little time): 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.” This saying declares a double blessing we obtain through salvation. A blessing for time and of eternity.

The third faithful saying is II Timothy 2:11-12, “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” What a precious promise, “if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with Him.” We believe it and lay a hold of this faithful promise from God.

The last saying, Titus 3:8, “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.” Maintain good works, be active in service to Him. It is not only good, but profitable for us and for others.

So in these four faithful saying, we have the root of our salvation, by God’s grace extended to us by Jesus coming to save us. Next the privilege of that salvation which is ours now and in that which is to come. Then as the people of God we are ordained to suffer with Christ with the promise, we shall also reign with Him. Our course of active service is to maintain good works, works of faith not works of the flesh. The believer is compensated in suffering and service for Christ with the fruit of the Spirit by the God of all grace. May we treasure these faithful saying and let them be a guide, comfort and instruction. Our Apostle Paul proved them to be faithful and they are faithful still, “worthy of all acceptation.” We may accept them and prove their faithfulness for ourselves.

My attention is especially drawn to the faithful saying about suffering with Christ (II Tim. 2:11-12). All who have received Jesus are counted as dead in Christ death, and raised and live in newness of life, because He lives. We live in union with Him. By the Spirit of God we are counted to have died with Christ to sin, to self-righteousness, to the world, the flesh and the power of darkness, to live with Jesus. His life becomes our life, as He was, so are we in this world. May we be rooted and grounded in this truth, our union with Christ Jesus. Suffering with Jesus has its reward just as denying Him has it penalty.

To suffer is the common lot of all men. Man comes into this world through suffering and the sentence of death on his life (Job 5:7 & 14:1). Jesus said in Jn. 3:3, “Except Man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” To suffer is not peculiar to the Christian, neither dose it necessarily bring a reward. We must suffer with Christ in order to reign with Him. A man can be in Christ, but it does not follow that all his suffering are with Christ. They can be brought on by passion taking the place of judgment, letting self-will reign or as the result of sin. Then what thanks have we? Cry out to God and confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I Jn. 1:9).

Paul ambition and prayer was to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death: if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection  out from the believing dead (Phil. 3:10-11). Paul sought a personal experience with His Lord, “that I may know Him.” We can know about Jesus, but like Paul, we want to know Him, Himself. To have  dealings with Jesus that bring us into enjoyable fellowship with Him. To know first hand His heart of love, His pity and compassion, to experience His deep personal love (for me). To think His thoughts, feel as He feels, love as He loves, to be moved by His very life.

“That I may know the power of His resurrection;” God raised Him up “according to the working of His mighty  power (Eph. 1:19-20). To know the dynamite of Christ resurrection to the uttermost. Paul experienced something of that power (II Cor. 1:8-10). By yielding to God who raises the dead and seeking His glory. Paul was continually tested, yet his life was one of repeated deliverances. His life was poured out, he died daily. He experienced resurrection power, divine enabling to fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake” (Col. 1:24). Are We running the race with Paul? Then we as Paul live perpetually by the risen life of Christ. Moving in God’s will, pursuing the Prize, living a life we could not live apart from supernatural enabling (Rom. 8:11).

“And the fellowship of His suffering;” Paul suffered similar trials as the Lord did – persecution from the world, even from his own people, which wrung his heart. Through these things he had fellowship with Christ in His sufferings. Today few are absolutely out and out for God and standing for the truth and His perfect will. We read, He that is spiritual discerneth all things.” We discern that “the wife of the Lamb” will be like Him, so we discern the racer must be also to win the Prize (Christ).

“Being made conformable unto His death;” Jesus died to everything and everybody, being in jeopardy every hour, even as Paul said of himself. If not for divine intervention he would have been slain many times. Jesus experienced more inward pain and sorrow during His life here, but He was sustained by the Father. If we walk in the Spirit we will need to know and experience Christ resurrection life and power. The lack of active faith, the indifference, the falling away from the truth pains us. But we are being made conformed to the death of Christ and coming to know the dynamite power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. Thus we are being fitted to reign with Christ (Phil. 1:6). We are confident of this very thing!