“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2: 1-6
Many times we wonder “What is God’s will?” We ask this question at many levels, and in many circumstances. However, at the largest, and frankly most important level, we ask the question “What is God’s will for mankind?” This text gives tremendous insight into the heart and will of God.
In verse 1, Paul exhorts (strongly urges) us that we should pray with requests (supplications), we should intercede, and we should give thanks for ALL men. He goes on in verse 3 to tell us why he is so strongly urging us to do this: because it is good and acceptable to God our Saviour. God is not only pleased when we pray for all men, but He accepts those prayers. Verse 4 tells us why this is good to God: because He WILL have ALL men to be saved and to come unto a knowledge of the truth. THERE IT IS: THE WILL OF GOD FOR MANKIND. God will have all men to be saved. Job 42:2 says “I know that Thou can do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.” God is pleased with prayers and supplications for all because He LOVES all and plans to save all! And His love never fails, which is why we can give thanks for all, because, in God’s timing, ALL will come to a knowledge of the truth.
But to make sure that we are clear on how all men will be saved, and what that “truth” is that he is referring to, Paul explains: there is one God (not many gods) and one mediator between man and God-Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said “I am THE way, THE truth, and the Life. NO one comes to the Father BUT BY ME.” There are not multiple ways to be saved. ONLY through the mediation of Jesus Christ on a man’s behalf can the man be saved. Paul ends his explanation by stating Christ’s authority to do this: He gave Himself as a ransom for all. He paid for (ransomed, with His own life) all people, and thus can-and will- save all people.
“But,” you may say, “we know this isn’t true because not everyone is saved (know the truth, ie, Jesus, and His role of Savior) before they die.” But Paul addresses that too, at the end of verse 6: He writes, “to be testified in due time.” To testify means to make declaration and/or solemn affirmation. The phrase “in due time” tells us that it is yet to come, BUT that a time will come when this mediation and ransoming of all by Jesus is affirmed, and all men will know this truth. This will happen in the ages to come. …and while that is a discussion for another post, the GOOD NEWS that the angels spoke of to the shepherds in the field is that God has GOOD will and peace toward ALL men. And that is indeed Good News.