GOD...WANTS ALL MEN TO BE SAVED
1 Timothy 2:1-8 - October 12, 2003
1 TIMOTHY 2:1-8
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time. 7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
8I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
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Dearest Fellow-Redeemed and Saints in the Lord:
When we look around at the world, sometimes we wonder to ourselves how long will the world continue in its present state. Sometimes we wonder to ourselves if we have already surpassed the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah and if society could ever change and turn around and repent. So we might be tempted to throw up our hands in despair and say, "Oh Lord, how long will it be before you return?" Part of that is because the world certainly has grown much more sinful in recent years than one could even remember. Part of that attitude is also because we live in a society that is impatient and wants to see things done now or sooner. This morning, we are again reminded that the Lord has His own time according to His own plans. Paul says in our text that God wants all men to be saved. In Peter we are also told: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance"(2 PETER 3:9). So the world goes on and the Lord patiently waits for more to come to repentance. Because as Paul tells us it is our great joy to know that God our Savior wants all men to be saved. He gives us direction and encouragement of how that can come about and how we can be part of God’s great saving plan.
Today we consider that fact that:
God…wants all men to be saved.
I. We constantly pray for all people
II. We proclaim God’s Word of truth.
I. We constantly pray for all people
A brief review for ourselves: these are the words of Apostle Paul who was a veteran mission missionary and now was turning back to do more mission work. He left behind Timothy at the congregation of Ephesus. Paul was going to give Timothy advice and encouragement. (If you look in your Bibles in chapter 2, the heading says, "Instructions on Worship.") Paul gives instructions on worship for the congregation but also for Timothy in his own private worship. In the second chapter, verse 1, Paul talks about praying and praying and praying and praying again. He says: 1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- He uses four different words that mean the same thing--to pray, pray and to pray some more. In other words Paul says pray constantly. The last word meaning prays means to pray with thanksgiving.
The prayers of the believers as the congregation and the private prayers of the believers are to be made for everyone. He says they are to be made for everyone-- 2for kings and all those in authority. This would show their true Christian character that they would pray for those in authority. At this time Nero was the ruler in Rome. If you remember Nero in history, he was the one who used Christians at night as torches to light up the city. Yes, Paul says to pray for him--pray for kings and those in authority. Pray that they may change their hearts. This would benefit them. Pray for kings and those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
If the unbeliever’s heart is changed, certainly the life of the believer would better be able to be led in quietness, holiness and godliness. God would be able to do that. He would be able to change the hearts of those who are opposed to him. God did this for the Apostle Paul and Paul now knew that all things were possible with God. This is why he encourages Timothy. He encourages these believers to pray constantly for all people. At the end of our text, he says: 8I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. He says in the unity of Christian faith they are to pray for those in authority, to pray for all people, yes, even for the rulers and those opposed to the Gospel.
Sometimes we may forget to pray for those who stand against us. Sometimes we may forget to pray for those who are enemies of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, we realize they are there. The enemies stand all around opposed to what Christ has to teach and to say. We are to pray for those who follow Allah. We are to pray for those who are enslaved by the false teaching of Islam that strive for only one purpose. That one purpose is to put to death all Christians and everyone else who do not follow Allah. We have learned that in the terrorism that is around us today. How sad it is for them, because they are uncertain of their future. The Lord says we are to pray for them that their hearts would be changed, that they come to see the light of the knowledge of eternal salvation. Jesus in Matthew says: "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven"(MATTHEW 5:44,45a).
Our Lord says to us to pray, pray and to pray some more, not just for people we know, but even for those we don’t know, especially for those who stand opposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord can change their hearts! The Lord encourages us in prayer, because we realize our prayers are not offered in vain. Our Lord encourages us in prayer, because He is anxious to hear us. Our Lord encourages us in prayer, because He wants to answer our prayers. It is exactly as the Prophet Isaiah reminds us: "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear"(ISAIAH 65:24). Imagine that! We have a God who is anxious to hear, who wants to answer our prayers. He is unlike any other God. He is the only true God. He is God our Savior who wants all men to be saved. He wants us to come to Him with constant prayer.
As we come to our Savior with constant prayer and we pray for those who oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can also pray for those who are members of God’s kingdom already. Pray for one another, he says, that you and I would be strengthened in the faith that you and I would grow in the mystery and the knowledge of salvation that we who are sinners have been saved by God. We have been saved by grace. We read in Hebrews: "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness"(HEBREWS 3:13). Yes, we need to have encouragement and prayers daily, because the deceitfulness of sin can sneak up on each one of us. Just like anyone else, as long as we are on this side of heaven, we have our earthly sinful nature. We can fall into Satan’s sinful snares. We can be tricked by the wickedness of the world. We may even fall prey to the failings of our human flesh.
All the more reason we are reminded of this blessed fact that God our Savior wants all men to be saved and we are to pray. We are to pray for one another, pray for our enemies, and pray for ourselves. In that way we would be encouraged to take the next step to proclaim God’s Word of truth.
II. We proclaim God’s Word of truth.
Paul realized how many people who were praying for him. He was the worst of sinners. He was the great persecutor of the followers of the Way, but he became a proclaimer of Jesus Christ because of the power of God. God wanted all men to be saved. Paul says: 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior. 7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle. Paul says he was now a proclaimer of the God’s gospel. He was now one sent by God instead of against God. Of course, he adds these words: --I am telling the truth, I am not lying; because there were still some who doubted that this Paul, who once was known as Saul, was truly a believer. He says, "Yes, I have come to proclaim God’s message, proclaim it to those who are of the household of faith." Then he adds: --and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. The Gentiles were considered unclean and untouchable. Paul states, "To them I have come to proclaim that message of salvation" as a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
What was the message? It was a very simple message. Paul explains it: 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. He reminded Timothy and he reminded his congregation of their sinfulness. Paul also explained there was a mediator or go-between, between God and man. There is one who speaks on behalf of man. There is one who speaks because of mankind’s sinfulness to God who is sinless. It is that Man, the Savior Jesus Christ. Paul goes on to say the defense that mankind has--it is open and shut. The case is closed; because this Man Jesus Christ gave himself as a Ransom for all men, the testimony given in its proper time. Jesus has paid the price and there is no more punishment. Jesus has paid the price and all fines are taken away. Judgment is upon Christ rather than the sinner. That is the message that you and I are able to proclaim, that Word of Truth which some would deny but which cannot be dismissed.
It is easy for us today to say, "Yes, we can pray. We can always do that." But the Lord wants us to take our prayers seriously as we pray for encouragement to proclaim His Word of truth. Because without hearing that message, there can’t be any believers. Paul asks these questions and the answers are obvious: "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"(ROMANS 10:14). He says it takes that Word of God to be proclaimed that they might hear and faith comes by hearing, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. Sometimes you and I might forget that awesome grace God has shown us--that He wants all men to be saved. That is simply and purely out of divine grace. God has saved us, saved us that we might pray for others. God has saved us that we might proclaim His Word of Truth to others.
Again in this society, which demands instant gratification, doesn’t always want to listen to our words, do they? We know of someone that needs to hear the message, someone that needs to be encouraged; but they are not always anxious to hear what God has to say. But what do they do? They see our lives. Often times our actions preach a greater and louder message than our words could ever say.
We are encouraged this morning by the words Paul wrote to the Colossians: "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone"(COLOSSIANS 4:5,6). He says that now is the time of the testimony of our Savior by our words and by our words and our actions.
As believers, we plant the seed and God reaps the harvest. We know how little control we have once that seed is planted into the ground. We trust in the Lord to do the rest. It is the same when we proclaim the message of the Word of Christ. We proclaim it and then we trust God to do the rest; because we know when it comes right down to it, not all men are saved, are they? Some in the hardness of their heart are always going to deny the Lord. They choose that path of destruction for themselves. We are told in Ephesians: "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts"(EPHESIANS 4:18). We look at Paul. He hardened his heart for a long time until God by His grace brought him into the light of the knowledge of salvation. (We are going to look at that in Bible Study in Acts 9 this morning.) The simple desire that God has is our simple mission in life--which God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. This is the truth of God’s Word that we are sinners. But we are sinners who are saved by the ransom that Christ has paid. It is something we ought to pray for constantly: pray for other people to be enlightened. Pray for the enemies of the Gospel of Christ that God would change their hearts into love for God. Pray for other believers to remain strong in the Christian faith. Pray for ourselves that we would be encouraged to proclaim that Word of Truth. Then we would want to pray for patience also just as the Lord is patient.
This is the joy of our earthly life. These are the blessings we have realizing that there is so much more for this life than eating and drinking and making a living. There is the joy of our eternal salvation. The Prophet Simeon, when Jesus was brought into the temple, realized that he saw the joy of his salvation, that the Lord had kept His promise. Simeon was an old, old man, and he had been waiting a long, long time to see the Lord’s salvation. The Lord in His time allowed that to happen. We have his words, his words that are to be our words. In Luke we read: "For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel"(LUKE 2:30-32). He reminds us once again that light of salvation is for believer and for unbelievers. God wants all men to be saved, and He encourages all Christians to pray constantly for all people. He encourages us as Christians to proclaim that Word of truth so that all men would come to a knowledge of that truth--that Christ has died for the sins of the world. Amen.
Pastor Timm O. Meyer
