-------------------
The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them
to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
--------------------
January 27, 2013
--------------------
Contents:
1) 1 Timothy 2:5-8 (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
-------------------
-1-
1 Timothy 2:5-8
by Tom Edwards
As we continue in Paul's epistle to Timothy, the apostle declares,
"For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the
testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a
preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as
a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth" (1 Tim. 2:5-7).
Much of the world in Paul's day had been polytheistic. He
certainly saw that to be so when he came to the capital of
Attica. Acts 17:16 states: "Now while Paul was waiting for
them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was
beholding the city full of idols." Altars to various heathen
deities abounded. The Athenians even had one, in addition, that was
dedicated to "the Unknown God" (v. 23). Was that due to
their being fearful of perhaps having overlooked one? Is it
any wonder, as Easton's Bible Dictionary points out, that "It was a
sarcastic saying of the Roman satirist that it was 'easier to find a
god at Athens than a man'"? It has been said that more
statues of the gods existed in Athens than in all the rest of Greece
combined. And that is the city that history has referred to as
"the most celebrated city of the ancient world, the seat of Greek
literature and art during the golden period of Grecian history"
(ibid.) and "the chief seat of Grecian learning and
civilization...." It was also the city of Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle.
Here in 1 Timothy 2:5, Paul shows that Jesus is the only mediator
between God and man -- and who could ever have been a better
one? For Jesus had not only been a man (and a perfect one at
that), but was also God while dwelling among us. And with regard to
this dual nature the Lord took upon Himself when also becoming a
man, consider the following: "Therefore, He had to be made like His
brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make
propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself
was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the
aid of those who are tempted" (Heb. 2:17,18). Jesus is our
Great High Priest; and in that capacity, He is also seen as a
"mediator" between God and us. For it was by His
soul-cleansing blood that the Christian has been brought near to the
Father. Interestingly, the Latin for "priest" is "pontifex," a
word that literally means "bridge builder"; and, in a manner of
speaking, Jesus has built a bridge that can carry man over the river
of sin and death and into the spiritual realm of God. But,
unfortunately, many people have not been willing to cross over this
span which the Lord has made freely available by the great price He
has already paid for it on our behalf, with His sacrificial and
atoning death on the cross at Calvary.
Since Jesus is the only mediator between God and man, then it is
only through Him that the Christian can go to God in prayer -- and
not through Mary (the mother of Jesus) nor by praying to other
departed saints. For it is only through Jesus Christ that we
can have that access, as the Christian is to pray in His name (by
His authority). So, though in the world of Paul's day in which
idolatry abounded and, along with that, many heathen priests or
mediators between the idol worshipers and their gods, Paul shows the
true contrast to that of just "one God, and one mediator between God
and men...."
And who are those "men" whom the Lord desires to acquire
reconciliation with God? Every lost soul. Paul's
declaration, therefore, that Jesus "gave Himself as a ransom for
all..." (1 Tim. 2:6) can be used today to refute the Calvinistic
misconception of the "limited atonement," which teaches that Jesus
died for only the "elect" -- or, in other words, only those who
would be saved -- that certain few. But, to the contrary, Paul
shows in this verse that the Lord has made redemption possible for
every transgressor. We also saw this last week in the Lord
becoming a man that "He might taste death for everyone" (Heb. 2:9);
and Jesus being "the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours
only, but also for those of the whole world" (1 Jn. 2:2). So,
yes, Jesus did die for every sinner -- and not merely for the elect,
which would be very few in comparison (cf. Matt. 7:13,14).
But another contrast in Jesus' giving Himself "for all" would be
that of the numerous sacrifices of Judaism, which were only for the
children of Israel -- rather than the whole world. The Lord's
sacrifice, however, which has made possible the New Covenant and the
Gospel Age, was truly made for every sinner -- whether Jew or
Gentile, and without making distinctions in the two (cf. Eph.
2:11-18; Gal. 3:27-29; Col. 3:9-11).
Notice, also, that Jesus "GAVE HIMSELF as a ransom...," which
indicates His willingness to do this. It, therefore, wasn't
that men took His life from Him; but, rather, that the Lord
willingly gave up His life for us, which can also be seen in John
10:11,17,18: "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down
His life for the sheep. For this reason the Father loves Me,
because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one
has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I
have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up
again. This commandment I received from My Father." Consider
also Matthew 26:50-54, which pertains to an event on the night of
the Lord's betrayal: "And Jesus said to him, 'Friend, do what you
have come for.' Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and
seized Him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and
drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut
off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into
its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the
sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and
He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of
angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it
must happen this way?'" It is because of the Lord's
willingness to comply with those who would crucify Him that we read
in Philippians 2:8 that Jesus "...humbled Himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
In 1 Timothy 2:6, Paul speaks of "the testimony given at the proper
time." The testimony appears to be referring to the context of
Jesus being the mediator and the redeemer for mankind. For
look what Paul goes on to say in 1 Timothy 2:7: "For THIS I was
appointed a preacher and an apostle..." (emphasis mine). For
what was Paul appointed a preacher and an apostle? Was it not
to preach of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be a witness for Him?
And central to that preaching would be pointing out that Jesus is
the redeemer for the world, the only mediator between God and man,
and the only way back to God, having made the only sacrifice that
can atone for sins. Consider, too, 1 Corinthians 2:1,2: "And
when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of
speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and
Him crucified." It can also be pointed out, according to 2
Thessalonians 1:10, that there will be great reward for those who
truly accept and apply the testimony in their own lives. For
this verse states, "when He comes to be glorified in His saints on
that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed--for our
testimony to you was believed."
Paul says this testimony was "given at the proper time." God
has always chosen the right, appointed times for doing things.
Though it was in the Lord's mind, before the world began, to one day
send Jesus into our world, Galatians 4:4 states, "But when the
fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,
born under the Law." The dictionary defines "fullness of time"
as "the proper or destined time" (Random House Webster's College
Dictionary). Jesus, therefore, did not enter this world at
some unplanned or random time; but, rather, at God's appointed time.
Compare this also to what Paul tells Titus in Titus 1:2-3: "in the
hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages
ago, but AT THE PROPER TIME manifested, even His word, in the
proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment
of God our Savior" (emphasis mine). Notice what the Bible also
tells us about the time in which Jesus suffered for us at Calvary:
"For while we were still helpless, AT THE RIGHT TIME Christ died for
the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6, emphasis mine). Think, too, of Jesus,
shortly prior to His ascension, instructing His apostles to wait in
Jerusalem for the power (the Holy Spirit) whom they were to receive
and be made effective witnesses for Christ (Luke 24:45-49; Acts
1:7,8). They did wait, as He commanded; and 10 days later the
Holy Spirit fell upon them; they spoke in tongues (various
languages) of the mighty acts of God; three thousand souls were
converted, and the church was established (Acts 2). That
wasn't a random falling of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles;
rather, all occurred according to God's timetable.
Just as we saw in Galatians 4:4 that Jesus came into this world at
the appointed or destined time, that is also true for when He will
come the second time, according to 1 Timothy 6:14,15: "that you keep
the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our
Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about AT THE PROPER TIME--He
who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of
lords" (emphasis mine).
And going along with the Lord's second coming is another thing that
God has appointed a time for, which can be seen in Acts 17:30,31 --
the Judgment Day! Here, Paul shows that God has
"...fixed a day...." in which all the world will be judged.
Paul then states in 1 Timothy 2:7, "For this I was appointed a
preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as
a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." The "this," as
mentioned earlier, is referring back to Jesus as the only mediator
between God and man, and as the redeemer -- which the gospel itself
also gives testimony toward. Paul was not only appointed a
preacher and an apostle, but also was given a special mission toward
the Gentiles. For instance, when God was sending Ananias to
Paul, Ananias first appears to have had doubts about Paul; but the
Lord assures him by saying, "...'Go, for he is a chosen instrument
of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons
of Israel" (Acts 9:15). And, in writing to the Romans, Paul
tells them, "For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an
apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry" (Rom. 11:13).
Paul then gives some more instruction on prayer in 1 Timothy
2:8. He states, "Therefore I want the men in every place to
pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." In
this verse, Paul is emphasizing that it is the "males" who are to
pray. For "men" is not from the Greek word "anthropos," which
would refer to mankind in general; but, rather, "aner," which W.E.
Vine shows is "never used of the female...." We can also
determine this by the context and from what we infer
elsewhere. For it is the males exclusively who are to lead the
public prayers -- though, of course, all are to unite in that
prayer, whether male or female. Also 1 Timothy 1:9 indicates
that verse 8 is pertaining to the males. For Paul first gives
this instruction to the males; and then in verse 9, he gives
instruction specifically to the women. We can also note that
prayer is not merely to be led by the preacher, the elders, or the
deacons; but it can be led by any man who is a Christian. And
more specifically, in Paul's day, these prayers would not be led by
only the Jewish males who were Christians, but also by the Gentiles
as well.
Paul says that the men are to pray "lifting up holy hands."
The lifting up of the hands in prayer is an allusion to that which
had been common among the Jews. Note for instance 1 Kings
8:22,23: "Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the
presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands
toward heaven. And he said, 'O LORD, the God of Israel, there
is no God like Thee in heaven above or on earth beneath, who art
keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Thy servants who walk
before Thee with all their heart...." Also Ezra 9:5: "...and I
fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the LORD my
God." Psalm 141:2: "May my prayer be counted as incense before
You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering." Jeremiah
declares, "We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven"
(Lam. 3:41).
Though it was common for Jews to pray to God with their hands
literally raised, the Bible doesn't specifically instruct us
concerning our physical posture in prayer. For some people
prayed after falling on their faces (Num. 16:22); and sometimes by
kneeling (2 Chron. 6:13); sometimes folks would bow down to the Lord
(Psa. 95:6); and, as we saw with Solomon, prayer was also made while
standing (1 Kings 8:22,23). Since we are to "pray without ceasing"
(1 Thess. 5:17), we might find ourselves in various positions
throughout the day when we are praying. It might be while driving a
car, or while walking down a road, or while sitting at a desk, or
while washing the dishes. Prayer can often be a spontaneous
thing.
What Paul means by the phrase "lifting up holy hands" simply
indicates prayer offered by one who is holy. Compare
Isaiah 1:15: "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will
hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will
not listen. Your hands are covered with blood." Do you think
their hands were literally covered in blood at that moment? I
wouldn't think so. But it does express a corruption in their
character. As Albert Barnes points out, "It is probably a
figurative expression, not meaning literally that they were
murderers, but that they were given to rapine and injustice; to the
oppression of the poor, the widow, etc." Would it not be that
they were like murderers, in heart, when it came to their cold and
indifferent treatment toward the poor and the widows? Compare
Psalm 24:3,4: "Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may
stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure
heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, And has not
sworn deceitfully." Is "clean hands" simply referring to
someone who had just washed his hands and scrubbed away all the
dirt? Surely, "clean hands" means much more than that. Rather,
it figuratively describes a person who is living a pure, godly life.
Notice, too, that the men are to pray "without wrath and
dissension." E.M. Zerr refers to this first term as "anger
that would be disposed to inflict punishment on someone." Is
it ever right, however, for us to tell God what kind of punishment
He should inflict on the wrong-doer? For instance, suppose
someone intentionally scratched up your car and poured paint on
it. Would it be right to pray to the Lord that the same thing
would happen to the one who did that or some other personal
punishment? Would that not be praying with wrath?
Rather, should we not pray that the criminal would be caught and the
proper justice carried out, and also that the person would come to
see his crime and truly repent of it? Some versions translate
this phrase "wrath and dissension" as "anger and quarreling."
That certainly would not be the proper spirit or frame of mind that
one should be in when praying.
How thankful we can be for Jesus Christ, the world's only mediator
between man and God; for the atonement He has made for every lost
soul, and for the avenue of prayer for every Christian. In
view of Paul's service to God in telling others of these wondrous
truths of the Lord Jesus, as well as all the gospel, may we who are
God's children also be encouraged to do our part in teaching others
that message.
--------------------
-2-
News & Notes
Let those of us who are Christians be remembering the following
people in prayer:
* The family and friends of Pauline Moyer (Sue Stutzman's
mother) who recently passed away at 98 years of age. We extend
our condolences.
* We also offer our sympathies to the family and friends of Scott
Moon (Jackson Moon's grandfather) who has also departed.
* Remember, too: Bill Barfield (Linda Blevins'
uncle) who is now at a rehab center in Slidell, Louisiana; Cheryl
Crews who has chronic ailments; Shirley Young who
suffers from fibromyalgia; and Jean Calloway who has health
problems.
--------------------
The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom.
10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet.
3:21).
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can
be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
--------------------
Park Forest
CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)