1 Timothy 2:1-7
(1 Timothy 2:1-7)
1Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
My Thoughts:
Now in chapter 2, Paul changes his focus to other matters relating to public worship. In this chapter we will see some of the most controversial passages from all of Paul’s writing but today we are sticking to verses 1-7. Paul stars out in verse 1 by saying it is only through prayer that we communicate with God and He alone can satisfy the need of the people.
The intercessory prayers are an important part of our prayer life, we pray for our family and friends or anyone else we feel the need to pray for. If there is any doubt that they work take a look at Romans 8:26, 27 “26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our heartsknows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” I get a warm feeling knowing that even the Spirit searches my heart and intercedes on my behalf. Paul also tells us that Christians are to be thankful for the favors received both from men and from God, who give to all men liberally
I also like the fact that Paul tells us to pray for our leaders; now he is not endorsing a monarchy as the ideal government. What he is saying is that whatever form of government we have, as Christians we should recognize its authority and we have an obligation to cooperate with it. Romans 13:1 tells us “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” We may not always agree with them but we should pray that they run the Government wisely.
Paul uses this time to remind us that we have but only one mediator and it is only through Jesus that the sinner be reconciled to God. Please understand that God does not need to be reconciled to man, for it was His “will” (1 Tim. 2:4) that initiated the plan of salvation.
The Father provided the means of salvation through Christ’s life and death. Romans 5:10 supports this though; we read “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life”. Paul here clearly rules out the need of human mediators and the supposed value that some have attached to such attempted mediation.
And he even speaks of “the man Christ Jesus”. Christ’s nature as a “man” is emphasized here, so there should be no miss understanding about this, although many people still hold to the belief that Christ never had a human body, but only appeared to have one. John refers to this belief heresy in 1 John 4:3 saying “and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” Christ came to this earth 100% man and 100% God, but more on this topic later.
Here is what I would see the most important part of these verses, Paul says that Christ “Gave himself”, he tells us that Christ’s mission to this earth was voluntary and John writes of this as well in John 10:17, 18 “17 Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
Would you lay your life down for someone else?
Ellen White statement:
Sorrow filled heaven as it was realized that man was lost and that the world which God had created was to be filled with mortals doomed to misery, sickness, and death, and that there was no way of escape for the offender. The whole family of Adam must die.
I then saw the lovely Jesus and beheld an expression of sympathy and sorrow upon Him.
Soon I saw Him approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father…Three times He was shut in by the glorious light about the Father, and the third time He came from the Father we could see His person…He then made known to the angelic choir that a way of escape had been made for lost man; that He had been pleading with His Father, and had obtained permission to give His own life as a ransom for the race, to bear their sins, and take the sentence of death upon Himself…
Then praise and adoration was poured forth for the self-denial and sacrifice of Jesus, in consenting to leave the bosom of His Father, and choosing a life of suffering and anguish, and death, that He might give life to others.
Said the angel, “Think ye that the Father yielded up His dearly beloved Son without a struggle? No, no.”
It was even a struggle with the God of heaven, whether to let guilty man perish, or to give His darling Son to die for them. {Early Writings p126}
Last thoughts:
Imagine how hard it must have been for the Father to let His only son to come to the earth and die for our sins.
I can imagine that the angels wanted to go down and help. I can see how they would have pleaded to be allowed to drive the people back, pick up the wounded Christ and carry Him home.
But they would have been under strict orders and would never disobey the Father.
(Romans 4:25) “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”
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Wow! That one is a tough one. In this day and time, it is so hard to remember to pray for those in charge. It is so easy to forget that God loves everyone and wants everyone to be saved. We walk around and moan and groan about the way things are going and need to remember that this is all in God’s plan. Could I die for someone? I would like to think I had the love of God in me enough that I could, but truly, I don’t know. The Bible says no greater love hath a man than to give his life. That is a love we don’t understand yet we see people do it everyday. Praise God for this love, and Praise God for His love and the love of Jesus to want to come to this sinful planet and save us. No greater love.
Very good points Rosi,
How many of us sit in front of our TV and yell at the commentator and tell him that if the President, Senator or Congressman would just start doing his job the world would be a much better place? I have to admit that I am one of the biggest critic and I do not care if they are Democrat or Republican I give my criticism to them both, like you said, I forget that God is in control.
As for your other point, I pray that if that day ever comes I will gladly lay down my life for a stranger or even that person that I cannot seem to embrace.