Ransom for All

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.

You can play, download, or read the transcript of this Take Note Podcast below.

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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

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