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THE MEDIATOR. I Timothy 2:1-7. 3/27/2022. #5.
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to 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, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth [d]in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
1. Prayer for all men
a. Paul gives a brief, but profound, lesson on prayer
a1. Prayer for all men
a2. Prayer for government leaders
a3. God wishes that none should perish
a4. Jesus is the only mediator
b. We are to pray for everyone (family, friends, enemies, abusers, leaders…)
a1. Just as we are to love even our foes (Matthew 5:45), we are to pray for them
a2. It is difficult to pray for oppressors
c. Pray for government leaders
a1. This is God’s will
a2. We often mock tyrannical and evil leaders, but God wants us to pray for them
a3. We can oppose their evil, but still pray for them (Acts 5, 23:3, Lk. 13:31-35)
a4. Respect and prayer for officials is not same as endorsing their actions or complying with immoral rulings
d. The Lord is pleased when we pray for everyone, particularly the lost, who need to be saved
e. Giving thanks for all men is more difficult
a1. Hard to give thanks for a brutal dictator
a2. Goal = to live peaceable, quiet lives
b1. We do not seek conflict
b2. Only when officials compel us to violate God’s will do we oppose them
f. God desires everyone to be saved
a1. Jn. 3:16 God’s love covers all people
a2. He loves all, but choses some (Rm. 9)
b1. Election and universal love are also difficult to reconcile
b2. Only God knows how his love and election of a few to salvation fit
2. The One mediator
a. Paul states that there is only 1 mediator (meso + eimi = go between) man and God
a1. There are no intervening priests as in OT between man and God the Father
a2. Jesus (both man and God) bridges the gap between sinful man and the Holy Father
b. John 14:13; 16:24 Jesus tells us to ask the Father in his name (no other intermediary)
a1. James 4:1-10 asking in the will of God
a2. Hebrews 4:14-5:10 Jesus is the only worthy mediator, who opened the way to God for us on the cross
a3. The one who is our ransom is also our mediator (Romans 8:26-34)
3. Paul, the testifier
a. Paul testifies to his calling and truthfulness
b. Prayer is effective through Christ, to be made for all people and officials, and will be heard by God
c. The answer to prayer is totally up to God (his will determines how and when he answers us)
Key verse: Hebrews 4:14-5:1014 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can [a]have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” 6 As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; 7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”