Introduction:  If we were to declare that there is one nine word sentence in the Word of God, that totally and dogmatically defines the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, most people would laugh us to scorn. But that is just exactly what the words, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" does. This statement is the definition, the summation and the evaluation of the entire life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  On one hand, this is the most mind boggling statement ever recorded, but on the other hand, this statement is so simple that a small child can comprehend its meaning. This also is the most descriptive and defining explanation of our Lord's ministry, in that it settles once and for all which doctrines are true and which are false. Did Jesus come into the world to teach situational ethics? The answer is no, and that silences Robert Schuler. Did Jesus come into the world to perform miracles? The answer is no and that silences Benny Henn. Did Jesus come into the world to promote a social gospel? The answer is no, and that silences Joel Osteen. Did Jesus come into the world, so that men could appoint themselves Lords over God's heritage? The answer is no, and that silences the legalists. The Bible still says, "Let God be true and every man a liar." As we examine these verses, may we rekindle the fire and passion for lost souls. We see:

I.          DECLARED AND RELIABLE ("faithful")

This word "faithful" means "trustworthy", and is only used four times in the epistles, and can be found nowhere else.  Each time it is used, it is used to introduce a statement about salvation or faith.  This word has legal implications. It is as if Paul were saying, "I do solemnly affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God".  This saying is reliable, faithful and trustworthy in three ways:

A.        It Is Foundationally Reliable

The foundation is Christ Jesus, the 2nd part of the Godhead, the one and only God-Man, the Prophet, Priest and King, the Savior  and Lord, who came the first time as a sacrifice for sinners, and is coming the second time as the sovereign of the saints.

B.        It Is Factually Reliable

Never in the history of time and of mankind, has there been one god defying person, who has ever proven one punctuation mark in this Bible wrong. 

C.        It Is Functionally Reliable

God has given us a functional book of Holy Ghost fire. This book will jump at you if you do not believe it, and it will joy in you when you do believe it. This book will be the sound reminder to all them that choose hell, but it will also be the sound of redemption to all those who choose heaven. God has given us functional salvation. It functions as a simple salvation brought to a simple sinner by a sovereign Savior.

II.        DECLARED AND RECOGNIZED ("saying")

Some sayings tend to die out with the generation that started them, but this saying "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners", has transcended time, generations, apostasy, atheism, liberalism, socialism and today, it lives on with power and demonstration of God's ultimate love for sinners.  Had it not been a true, faithful and trustworthy saying, then the skeptics and false fact finders would have proven it wrong long ago. That thief on the cross recognized why Jesus came into the world and was miraculously saved by God's grace. Almost 2000 years from that memorable event on Mount Calvary, a little 11 year old son of a Southern Baptist preacher recognized why He came into the world, realized that he was a lost sinner, and was redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus who came into the world to save this sinner.

III.       DECLARED AND RECEIVABLE ("worthy of all acceptation")

A.        A Warranted Transaction

The word "warrant" means "justification from a prior action; something that attests to or guarantees a result; a voucher authorizing payment; a judicial writ authorizing an officer of the court to make a search and seizure; to guarantee the quality, character or condition of; to guarantee the security of something; and assurance by the owner of something that the goods or property are as represented and will be delivered as promised. This is not a 10 year limited warranty, but this is an eternal everlasting warranty.

B.        A Wholehearted Transaction ("all")

The word "all" means "the total entity of something; the whole quantity of something; the utmost possibility of something; beyond all questions; each and every one; each and every thing; exclusively after everything has been examined, after every possible problem has been dismissed, and after every possible angle has been studied.

C.        A Weighty Transaction ("acceptation")

The word "acceptation" means "a favorable reception or ready belief". This means that one must receive this "acceptation" with "expectation" and "gratification" and realize that there will be no "cancellation.” This divine transaction is so weighty that no power on earth can lift it, no power in the entire universe can destroy it, no demonic power can block it, and no amount of unbelief can weaken it.  It is unmovable, irrevocable, unchallengeable, unearnable, indestructible, undoubtable, unforgettable, and ungovernable. 

Conclusion:     All the weight of where we will spend eternity is upon the shoulders of this statement.  This is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.