TEXT:  1 Tim. 2:1-8

INTRODUCTION:

A. 3 THOUGHTS.

          1.       Pray for all men.

          2.       God desires all men to be saved.

          3.       Jesus is our mediator and gave himself for all men.

B. THESE 3 THOUGHTS COULD FOSTER 3 COMPLETE SERMONS.
I.      PRAY FOR ALL MEN.

A.      PRAYER IS A PRIVILEGE NOT TO BE NEGLECTED OR ABUSED

          (1 Thess. 5:17;  James 4:3).

B.      GOD ANSWERS PRAYER IF WE PRAY iN FAITH ( James 1:5-7).

C.      GOD’S WILL OUGHT TO BE THE CENTRAL THOUGHT OF OUR PRAYERS

          (Matt. 6:10).

D.      PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY TO PRAY FOR ALL MEN ( vs. 1).

          1. Each word in our text has its own connotation:
                   a.  “supplications” — humility.

                   b.  “prayers” — entreaties.

                   c.  “intercessions” — for others.

          2.       All prayer is to be filled with “thanksgiving” ( Eph. 5:20;  Phil. 4:6).

          3.       It is our great love that motivates us to pray ( Matt. 5:43-45).

          4.       Paul’s greatest prayer ( Rom. 10:1).

E.      PAUL SINGLES OUT RULERS TO PRAY FOR ( vs. 2).

          1.       Blessings upon them are blessings upon us.

          2.       We are taught to cooperate with civil authorities( 1 Pet. 2:13-17).

          3.       Even the persecuting Romans?

F. PAUL REPEATS THE ADMONITION TO PRAY ( vs. 8).

          1.       Holy hands — not posture, but condition of the soul.

          2.       Not in anger, but in faith.

II.     GOD DESIRES THAT ALL COME TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE

        TRUTH AND BE SAVED.

A.      ALL MEN HAVE THE CHOICE( 2 Pet. 3:9). WHAT ABOUT PREDESTINATION?

          1.       Bible doctrine — God foreordained a kind for salvation ( Eph. 1:4-5).

          2.       In his desire to see all become that kind Jesus invites all to come

                   (Man. 11:28;  Rev. 3:20).

          3.       Depends on will or desire of the men — not pre-choosing by God ( Rev. 22:17).

B.      IT IS THROUGH A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL THAT WE ARE SAVED.

          1.       John 8:31-32;  17:17.

          2.       Rom. 1:16-17;  Titus 2:11-12.

          3.       What about passages that say God draws us?( John 6:4-45).

III.    CHRIST IS OUR MEDIATOR - THE RANSOM FOR ALL MEN

        ( vs. 5-7 ).

A.      CONSIDER THE DUEL NATURE OF CHRIST:

          1.       God ( John 1:1 ).

          2.       Man ( 1 Tim. 2:5 ).

B.      THE POSSESSED FULLY OF GODHOOD ( Col. 2:9 ).

          -- EMPTIED HIMSELF TO GLORIFY GOD ( Phil. 2:5-8;  Heb. 10:7 ).

C.      AS MAN HE SUFFERED ALL THAT WE SUFFER ( Heb. 4:15 ).

D.      HE UNDERSTANDS AND OFFERS HELP ( Heb. 4:16;  7:25 ).

E.      HIS GREATEST INTERCESSION WAS ON THE CROSS ( 1 Pet. 2:21-24 ).

          1.       Our fate for sin (Eph.2:1, 12 ).

          2.       His cry of agony ( Matt. 27:46 ).

F. HIS MOTIVE ( John 15:13 ).

G. LOVE’S DEMAND ( John 14:15;  2 Cor. 5:14-15 ).

CONCLUSION: HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE?