Pray for All Men!

Scripture Text 1 Tim.2:1-6

Intro: This Friday we have a new executive branch of government being installed. As Christians, We must be aware of the need to pray for the incoming administration. This is most important as we see those who are already stirring up trouble and rumors. The new administration will need God’s help to be able to make the changes that are necessary to make us truly one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We must pray for God to change the hearts of those who oppose His will on earth. We are to pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will be done on earth as in heaven.

2:1 Paul encourages Prayer for all men! 1 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. It is both a privilege and an obligation. It is a sheer privilege for us to have audience with God in behalf of our fellow men. And it is an obligation, too, for we are debtors to all with the good news of salvation. The apostle lists four aspects of prayer—supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. In modern usage, supplication has the thought of strong and earnest request, making specific requests for specific needs. The word here translated prayers is a very general term, covering all kinds of reverent requests to God. Intercessions describe those forms of petition in which we address God as e Supreme Authority in behalf of others. Giving of thanks describes prayer in which we realize the grace and kindness of our Lord, and pour out our hearts in gratitude to Him. To summarize the verse, in praying for all men, we should be humble, worshipful, trustful, and thankful.

2:2 We are to pray for government leaders. 1 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV) For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. This includes Kings, presidents and all who are in authority. These must occupy a special place in our prayers. In (Rom. 13:1) Paul reminds us that the authorities that exist are ordained of God and in (Rom. 13:4) he says they are ministers of God to us for good. Without government we would have chaos. Terrible persecutions were inflicted on the Christians of that day by the wicked ruler Nero, but the apostle Paul says that should not affect the fact that Christians should pray for their governmental heads. The NT teaches that a Christian is to be loyal to the government under which he lives, except when that government orders him to disobey God. In such a case his first responsibility is to God. We may simply refuse to obey any order that is contrary to the word of God and then quietly and submissively take the punishment as we have seen some do. A Christian should not engage in revolution or in violence against the government, but take lawful ways to change government when we believe the government is wrong. The reason Paul gives for praying for rulers is that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness [conforming to the laws of God] and reverence [deep respect for God]. It is for our own good that the government should be stable and God fearing so that the country is preserved from revolution, civil war, turmoil, and anarchy and have God’s blessings.

2:3 Prayers are good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. 1 Timothy 2:3 (NKJV)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, God is pleased and accepts our prayers when we pray for all mankind. Therefore, to pray for all men is to promote the will of God in this regard. Prayer proves we depend on God for everything that we need in this world! We don’t depend on mankind alone because God is Supreme and is our Savior.

2:4 God desires all men to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV)  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. No one is beyond salvation if they desire it. There is the divine and the human aspects of salvation. The first half of the verse indicates that man must be saved. The verb here is passive; man cannot save himself but must be saved by God. This is the divine side of salvation. In order to be saved, man must come to the knowledge of the truth. God does not save men against their will. He does not populate heaven with rebellious subjects. Man must come to Jesus who is: “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone. This is the human side.

2:5 God desires that all men know the truth about salvation! 1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, The truth is there is only one God because God said He is one; there is not a different god for each nationality and religion. Therefore, He is the God of all men, no matter what their race or nationality and prayer should be made to Him in behalf of all men. As the one God, He desires the salvation of all men and the truth is there is only One Mediator between God and men. Paul identifies the Mediator as the Man, Christ Jesus. This declares the deity of the Lord Jesus. In order to be the Mediator between God and men, He must be both God and Man. The Lord Jesus is God from all eternity, but He became Man in Bethlehem’s manger for us. He represents the whole race of humanity. No man can come to God in any other way. A mediator is a go-between, who can stand between two and communicate peace between them. Through Christ, who is Perfect Man, God can approach men with forgiveness of sins. Consequently any poor sinner can approach Him, and will by no means be rejected.

 This verse effectively contradicts the teaching so common today that there are many ways to God. God says there is only one Mediator, and His name is Christ Jesus.

2:6 Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all. 1 Timothy 2:6 (NKJV) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, The emphasis is on the fact that God desires the salvation of all men. This is further shown by the fact that Christ was a ransom. Notice that the ransom is for all. A ransom is a price paid to release or set another free. This means that the work of the Lord Jesus on Calvary’s cross was sufficient to save all sinners. This verse teaches that the death of Christ was substitutionary. He died as a Substitute in behalf of all mankind. Whether all will accept it is another question, but the fact remains that the redemptive work of Christ was sufficient for all who will believe.

     To be testified in due time means that the testimony concerning Christ’s substitutionary work was to be given in its proper time. Now is the proper time. God has decreed that the gospel message should go out in this age in which we live. This is the purpose of the church. We are to keep telling the old, old story, of Jesus and His love. The church is designed to demonstrate the overwhelming longing on the part of God to save and bless mankind.

     Invitation: God’s desire to save all mankind includes you. God gives you a personal invitation right now to come to Him, so you can know the truth and be saved. Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to save you and invite Him into your life to take charge of you till you come to be with Him in Heaven. Then be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! If you are already saved, will you make a determination today to pray for our new government leadership and all mankind everywhere?

This will be pleasing and acceptable to God!