Disciples of Christ should have a global-mindset in our ministry. We should pray and show concern for all men, knowing Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all.
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Ransom for All
1 Timothy 2:1-6
- The Apostle Paul is speaking to Timothy in our passage of the day
- Paul talks about his own life and ministry in the previous chapter, encouraging Timothy to be faithful in his own life and ministry
- And Paul begins this second chapter with an exhortation
- It is one of many exhortations he will give his own "son in the faith" in this book
- We want to discover what we can learn from these words to open chapter two
- Just the first six verses will be our focus
- As we approach the topic "Ransom for All" from 1 Timothy 2:1-6
- We get a glimpse, right from the beginning of our text, into a global view of ministry
- "All men" are mentioned in the first and fourth verses
- They are to be prayed for
- And God would have them - all men, all people - to be saved
- To come to the knowledge of the truth
- Timothy, as a minister of the gospel, is to be thinking globally
- Certainly he is to reach those in his local area
- But his ministry should also reach beyond
- This is the case with every believer in Christ
- Let's take a closer look at our text
- And see what we can learn…
1 Timothy 2:1-6
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto 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.
- Now that we've read all six verses
- I want to go back and take each verse individually
1 Timothy 2:1
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
- There are four categories of prayer that Paul mentions here
- The church should be involved in all four
- And no one is to be left out - from high authorities all the way down
- Timothy, us, and the church in general should offer "supplications"
- These are just requests - something we ask
- We should also offer "prayers"
- This is a broad word talking about all communication with God
- "Intercessions" are to be offered too
- This is something we ask of God on behalf of someone else
- This is placing others at the top of our prayer list
- And caring enough to do so
- Then, we should be "giving of thanks"
- All Christians ought to be thankful
- We must show gratitude to God in everything
- For whom should these requests, and prayers, and intercessions, and thanks be offered?
- "All men," of course
- This is because all men need prayer
- Those who believe in Christ for ongoing faith and growth and strengthening
- Those who do not believe in Christ for enlightened eyes and belief in the gospel
- This, among many other things, we must pray
- And we must think beyond our own affairs alone
- To the world
- For men at the highest and lowest parts of society
- That's the reminder in verse 2…
1 Timothy 2:2
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
- Sometimes those in authority are despised by the wider world
- And there may be good reason
- But believers are to pray for them
- We must realize all authority is in place by God's will
- And that men, even at the highest level of authority, need Christ
- They need our prayers and our intercessions
- Our goal is not to be on the wrong side of authority
- But to live a quiet and peaceable life
- In godliness and in honesty
- This means right relationships must be maintained with fellow citizens
- With those in charge
- And with brothers and sisters within the church
- Because…
1 Timothy 2:3
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
- It is right that we pray for authorities and all men
- That we care for authorities and for all men
- That we reach out to authorities and all men
- That we think beyond our own, personal concerns - to theirs
- That's good
- That's acceptable in the sight of God
- And in the sight of our Savior Jesus Christ
- All in the church should count themselves responsible for this
- Because…
1 Timothy 2:4
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
- God has a global concern
- He created all men
- Sees all men
- Has love for all men
- That is why He sent His only son
- Because He would have all men to be saved
- And to come to the knowledge of the truth
- He loved the whole world
- And He sent His son to die
- Not for His own sins - of which He had none - but for the sins of the world
- And so His desire is that all me would come to Him
- In faith
- That is why we pray for "all men"
- We must have the same vision
- The same compassion
- The same desire
- We answer the question "why?" next…
1 Timothy 2:5
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
- There is only one Savior
- Only one way to God
- And all men must know about Him
- But how will they know if we do not show concern for them?
- If we do not address God on their behalf?
- If we do not pray for them?
- If we are not thankful for their contribution to society (such as in the case authorities)?
- Because we know there is one Savior
- We must be concerned about the many who do not know Him
- What did He do?
- The next verse reminds us…
1 Timothy 2:6
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
- He gave Himself for all
- He took the place of sinners
- Took a punishment we - the sinners - should have received
- And He did so at the proper time
- Just at the right moment in history
- That was foretold in the Old Testament
- Are we concerned globally
- Are we praying for "all men"
- Are we addressing God on behalf of "all men"
- Because He would have them to be saved