James Earl Massey
James Earl Massey, DDiv, is Dean Emeritus and Distinguished Professor at-Large, Anderson University School of Theology, Anderson, Indiana, United States, as well as Emeritus Dean of the Chapel, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, United States.
A word about our great Saviour
Living in the so-called "Bible Belt" of the United States for several years now, I am accustomed to the large lighted signs churches there use to draw attention to their services. Some signs even offer a concise message-a saying-to prod thought and promote faith. One church sign I saw stated, "Satan Subtracts and Divides, God Adds and Multiplies." Another sign warned, "Forbidden Fruit Creates Many Jams." Another sign promised, "God Answers Knee- Mail." Still another sign advised: "Read the Bible: Prevent Truth Decay." What a worthy message when so many unbiblical notions are widely voiced and steadily promoted in our syncretistic and religiously muddled society. Our textual passage, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, shares a saying first century Christians joyously voiced as they worshiped, and it was their word of witness as they evangelized. Paul has preserved that saying here, and he commended it as "sure and worthy of full acceptance … Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (v. 15).