This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:15

There is more to this verse than meets the eye. In this section of 1 Timothy, Paul is speaking about the grace of God. He has already highlighted the greatness of God’s grace in verses 12–13 for placing him into ministry, even though he had persecuted the church as a blasphemer and an insolent man. He then proclaims in verse 14, “And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”

The grace of God had gripped Paul’s heart and life, and now he can say, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” The phrase “faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance” is unique to the Pastoral Epistles and appears five times (1 Timothy 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; Titus 3:8). Paul used this expression to emphasize the importance of key doctrines.

Here, Paul sets before us Christ Jesus—Christ, the Anointed One, and Jesus, His human name—given because He came “to save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The fact that He came means that He existed before He came. As the eternal Son of God, Christ entered the world (John 1:9; 3:19; 6:14; 11:27; 12:46; 16:28; 18:37). John repeatedly emphasizes in his Gospel that Jesus came down from heaven. This is the grace of God that brings salvation and has appeared to all people (Titus 2:11). Paul declares that this truth is worthy of universal acceptance.

In Luke 19:10, the Lord Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” In Matthew 9:13, He said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” In John 12:46, our Lord declared, “I have come as a light into the world.” In John 3:16–17 we read, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and Christ came into the world to save sinners. The grace of God is powerful enough to redeem us from the slave market of sin and to “make all things new,” making us new creations in Christ Jesus. God not only accepts us in the Beloved, but He also desires to use us for His glory—just as He did with Paul.

How are we responding to the grace of God in our lives?

Anchor For Today:
Though our nature’s fall in Adam seemed to shut us out from God,
Thus it was His counsel brought us nearer still through Jesus’ blood;
For in Him we found redemption, grace and glory in the Son;
Oh! the height and depth of mercy! Christ and we, through grace, are one.
~ Robert Hawker