Spurgeon Notes #233: 1 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." - 1 Timothy 1:15

Paul had described his ordination in verse 12. He then went on to speak of the grace manifested in the call of such a person to the ministry (verse 13), and of the further grace by which he was sustained in that ministry. Incidentally, he was led to mention the message of his ministry. We may profitably use the text on this occasion.

I. HOW WE PREACH THE GOSPEL.

1. As a certainty. It is a "faithful saying." We do not doubt the truth of our message, or how could we expect you to believe it? We believe and are sure because:

- It is a revelation of God.

- It is attested by miracles.

- It bears its witness within itself.

- It has proved its power upon our hearts.
2. As an everyday truth. It is to us a "saying" or proverb.

The gospel affects us at home, in business, in sickness, in health, in life, in youth and age, in death.
3. As having a common bearing, therefore, a "saying" to be heard by all kinds of people, especially the most sinful.

- All have sinned and need a Savior.

- All who believe in Jesus have a Savior.

- All believers show by their lives that Jesus has saved them.

4. As claiming your attention. "Worth of all acceptation."

- You must believe it to be true.

- You must appropriate it to yourself.

- You ought to do so, for it is worth of your acceptance.

II. WHAT GOSPEL DO WE PREACH?

1. The gospel of a person: "Christ Jesus."

- He is the Anointed of God: "Christ."

- He is the Savior of men: "Jesus."

- He is God and man in one person.

- He died and yet he lives for ever.

2. The gospel of divine visitation. Jesus came into the world:

- By his birth as a man.

- By he mingling with men.

- By his bearing our sorrows and our sins for us.

3. The gospel for sinners:
- For such Jesus lived and labored.

- For such he died and made atonement.

- For such he has sent the gospel of pardon.

- For such he pleads in heaven.

4. The gospel of a finished work.

- He finished the work of salvation before he left the world.

- That work continues complete to this day.

- He is ready to apply it to all who come to him.

5. The gospel of effectual deliverance. " To save sinners."

- Not to half save them.

- Nor to make the salvable.

- Nor help them to save themselves.

- Nor to save them as righteous.

- But to save them wholly and effectually from their sins.

III. WHY DO WE PREACH IT?

1. Because we have been saved by it.

2. Because we are now in sympathy with Jesus and wish to save sinners, even the chief of them.

3. Because we believe it will be a blessing to all of you who hear it. If you are saved by it, you will be happy, and so shall we.

4. Because we cannot help it, for an inward impulse compels us to tell of the miracle of mercy wrought upon us.

Will you not believe a saying so sure?

Will you not accept a truth so gladsome?

Will you not come to a Saviour so suitable?

Spurgeon Notes #238: Titus 2:10

"That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." - Titus 2:10

The apostle greatly values the doctrine of the gospel, or he would not care so much to have it adorned. The apostle highly esteems the practical part of religion, hence he regards it as the beauty and ornament of the gospel. What a wide range of practical instruction we find in this short letter! With what holy ingenuity is this interwoven with the doctrine! We are bidden to obey the precept that we may adorn the doctrine. We have in our text:

I. A NAME OF ADORNMENT FOR THE GOSPEL. " The doctrine of God our Savior."

1. It sets forth its greatness: "doctrine of God."

- Our fall, ruin, sin, and punishment were great.

- Our salvation and redemption are great.

- Our safety, happiness, and hopes are great.

2. It sets forth its certainty. It is "of God."

- It comes by revelation of God.

- It is guaranteed by the fidelity of God.

- It is as immutable as God himself.

3. It sets forth its relation to Christ Jesus: "of God our Saviour."

- He is the author of it.

- He is the substance of it.

- He is the proclaimer of it.

- He is the object of it. The gospel glorifies Jesus.

4. It sets forth its authority.

- The whole system of revealed truth is of God.

- The Savior himself is God, and hence he must be accepted.

- The gospel itself is divine. God's mind is embodied in the doctrine of the Lord Jesus and to reject it is to reject God.

Let us believe, honor, defend and propagate this "doctrine of God our Saviour." What else is so worth of our love and zeal?

II. A METHOD OF ADORNMENT FOR THE GOSPEL.

This is a remarkable verse. Observe:

1. The persons who are to adorn the gospel.

- In Paul's day, bond servants or slaves.

- In our day, poor servants of the humblest order.

Strange that these should be set to such a task!

Yet, the women slaves adorned their mistresses, and both men and women of the poorest class were quite ready to adorn themselves.

From none does the gospel receive more honor than from the poor.

2. The way in which these persons could specially adorn the gospel:

- By obedience to their masters (verse 9).

- By endeavors to please them: "please them well."

- By restraining their tongues: "not answering again."

- By scrupulous honesty: "not purloining" (verse 10).

- By trustworthy character: "showing all good fidelity."

All this would make their masters admire the religion of Jesus.

3. The way of adornment of the doctrine in general.

Negatively, it is found:

- Not in the decoration of the building, the priest, the choir, or the worshippers.

- Nor in the attraction of peculiar garb and speech.

- Nor in the finery of philosophical thought.

- Nor in the tawdriness of rhetorical speech.

Positively, it lies in another direction.

- We must adorn it by our godly lives.

- Adornment, if really so, is suitable to beauty. Holiness, mercifulness,cheerfulness are congruous with the gospel.

- Adornment is often a tribute to beauty. Such is a godly conversation; it honors the gospel.

- Adornment is an advertisement of beauty. Holiness calls attention to the natural beauty of the gospel.

- Adornment is an enhancement of beauty. Godliness gives emphasis to the excellence of doctrine.

Let us all endeavor to adorn the gospel, by:

- Strict integrity in business.

- Constant courtesy of behaviour.

- Unselfish love to all around us.

- Quick forgiveness of injuries.

- Abundant patience under trials.

- Holy calm and self-possession at all times.

New Series: Spurgeon's Sermon Notes

I recently acquired a collection of Spurgeon's Sermon Notes. I've found much value in reading his notes recently and have decided to share select sermons with you here. From now on, when you see Spurgeon's name in the title of a post, you can know that the included text is entirely the work of Spurgeon himself, and not from me.

Who is Spurgeon? Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a British preacher in the mid 19th century. Over his lifetime he preached to an estimated 10,000,000 people. He generally preached from a single verse, teaching from the themes found in the text. Today, over 3,500 of his sermons exist in their complete text, most of which can be viewed online at websites such as http://www.spurgeongems.org/sermons.htm. The volume that I have and will be sharing from is not the complete text from his sermons, but rather just the notes, which are very helpful in getting directly to the meat of the text.

As you read these notes, I would encourage you to use the comments on each post to discuss your thoughts, observations, and questions regarding the post. Certainly, if God reveals something to you as a result of Spurgeon's teaching, comment about that too.

Enjoy!