The Core Gospel message of 1 Timothy 2:3-7
The core Gospel message as outlined in 1 Timothy 2:3-7 (ESV)
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.
Here we will expand on each statement:
1.
God is our savior
o
God sees all that transpires.
o
God recognizes the need for our salvation.
o
There is no salvation apart from God.
§
We do not have salvation within ourselves or any
other means (apart from God).
2.
God desires all people to be saved.
o
God loves us and is concerned for our well-being.
o
Humanity is naturally under condemnation without
divine intervention.
3.
God desires all people to come to the knowledge
of the truth.
o
Salvation corresponds to coming to the knowledge
of the truth.
o
Salvation involves actively living according to
revealed truth, not mere intellectually knowing the truth.
o
This truth is further elaborated as follows:
4.
There is one God.
o
There is only one who is God (strict monotheism).
o
Excludes all others from deity status in the
strict sense.
5.
There is one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus.
o
Jesus is God’s mediator.
o
There is only one mediator.
o
The mediator is the man Jesus.
§
Jesus was fundamentally a man (a human being).
o
Jesus is the Messiah (anointed one) - God’s chosen
agent, who was exalted and appointed by God at God’s right hand.
6.
Christ Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all.
o
Jesus was a servant of God, obedient unto death.
o
Jesus was a ransom for all.
§
Jesus played a sacrificial role.
§
This universal provision enables salvation for
everyone who believes.
§
There is no other name given among men by which
we might be saved.
7.
The ransom of Christ Jesus was the testimony at
the proper time.
o
Jesus is God's provision for our Salvation.
o
The testimony of Christ Jesus is God's
predetermined plan for salvation.
o
Jesus' sacrifice is the fulfillment of divine
revelation at the proper time.
8.
For this, Paul was appointed a preacher and an
apostle.
o
“For this” indicates that the above is the core
Gospel message.
o
Paul received a divinely ordained mission.
o
Paul was appointed as both a preacher and an apostle.
9.
Paul was a teacher to the Gentiles in faith and
truth.
o
Paul was used to bring this core Gospel message
to the Gentiles.
o
The Gospel ministry is not mere teaching of
doctrines (spreading knowledge) but the transmission of genuine faith and
truth.
The Distinction between the one God and the one Mediator Jesus Christ is paralleled in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6
A parallel verse with the use of the word one in comparing our One God and Father, with the one Lord Jesus Christ, is 1 Corinthians 8:5-6:
For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords” - yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Cor. 8:5-6 (ESV)
·
In a loose sense, there are many so-called “gods”
and “lords”
- For us believers, there is one whom we regard as God: The Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist.
- For us believers, there is one Lord Jesus Christ. (God made Jesus both Lord and Christ – Acts 2:36)
- Salvation is provided through the one who God made both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36)
No comments:
Post a Comment