 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. Meditation God invites you to discover His desire to redeem mankind and to be deployed for His purposes. God’s desire is centered on God’s work in Christ. Jesus “gave Himself as a ransom for all” (6). No one took the life of Jesus (John 10:18). Jesus gave Himself as a ransom, an economic description of Christ’s work, referring to His death paying the penalty for our sin and purchasing us to belong to Himself. We are not our own, bought by Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20) with His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (5) because He is the only one who can purchase people from the penalty of sin, saving us from the wrath of God. God’s desire is for all people to be saved from the penalty of sin. Paul is not a Universalist, teaching every person will be saved. He is not and they will not. Paul is revealing Divine desire, that all people will know His love and come to ”knowledge of the truth.” This is why Paul was appointed as an apostle (7), deployed to the Gentiles, and why Christians should pray for all people (1-2). Paul orders his desires after the revelation of God’s desires (8) as He seeks to order the Church according to God’s garden design (9-15). Paul’s point here is the purpose of discovering Divine desire: God desires to save sinners. This trustworthy saying Paul proclaimed (1:15-16) is now an invitation for Christian participation. Discovery of God’s desire should deploy us to share the good news with all people. Richly Dwelling -Are you comfortable with God’s desire for all people to be saved? Why or why not? -Why is it significant that God provides the power for people to be purchased from the penalty of sin? -Jesus is the ONLY mediator between God and man. Who in your life needs to know this truth? When and how will you share it with them? Key Verse 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. Comments are closed.
|