Spurgeon: October AM
* 10/27/AM
"It is a faithful saying."
--2 Timothy 2:11
Paul has four of these " faithful sayings ." The first occurs
in 1 Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners." The next is in 1 Timothy 4:6, "Godliness is profitable
unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and
of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy
of all acceptation." The third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, "It is a
faithful saying--If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with
Him"; and the fourth is in Titus 3:3, "This is a faithful
saying, that they which have believed in God might be careful to
maintain good works." We may trace a connection between these
faithful sayings. The first one lays the foundation of our
eternal salvation in the free grace of God, as shown to us in
the mission of the great Redeemer. The next affirms the double
blessedness which we obtain through this salvation--the
blessings of the upper and nether springs--of time and of
eternity. The third shows one of the duties to which the chosen
people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the
promise that "if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." The
last sets forth the active form of Christian service, bidding us
diligently to maintain good works. Thus we have the root of
salvation in free grace; next, the privileges of that salvation
in the life which now is, and in that which is to come; and we
have also the two great branches of suffering with Christ and
serving with Christ, loaded with the fruits of the Spirit.
Treasure up these faithful sayings. Let them be the guides of
our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The apostle of the
Gentiles proved them to be faithful, they are faithful still,
not one word shall fall to the ground; they are worthy of all
acceptation, let us accept them now, and prove their
faithfulness. Let these four faithful sayings be written on the
four corners of My house.