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As I talk to people outside the church, the most common error I hear from them is the idea that everyone will be saved, everyone is going to heaven, no matter what religion they follow or even if they follow no religion at all. Unbelievers believe in an unlimited salvation.

As I talk to people inside the church, most of them will say that salvation is limited to those who put their trust in Christ. However, they often limit who hears that message. They may not say it out loud, but effectively they are saying, “There’s no point in telling certain kinds of people about the only way of salvation.” Believers believe in a limited audience for salvation.

What’s the Bible’s answer to unbelievers’ unlimited salvation and believers’ limited audience for salvation?

As we will see in 1 Timothy 2:5-7, the Apostle Paul teaches a limited salvation and an unlimited audience.

SALVATION IS LIMITED IN ITS MEANS

The “means” is the way something is accomplished. For example, a pipe is the means of transferring water from a reservoir to our faucets. The pipe is the means, the vehicle, the channel of getting water to us.

So, what’s the means of salvation? How is salvation accomplished? What’s the vehicle or the channel for getting saved? There’s only one way, one vehicle, and that’s Christ, who is here described in two ways.

Christ is the only Mediator

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (5).

A mediator is an intermediary, a person in the middle who reconciles two rival parties by resolving the reason for their dispute and alienation.

• Jesus is a necessary mediator: There’s an infinite gulf between us and a holy God and therefore we need someone to bridge the gap.
• Jesus is a two-sided mediator: There are problems on both sides. God has a problem with us, and we have a problem with God.
• Jesus is a qualified mediator: Qualified by his relation to both parties: he is God and man.
• Jesus is the only mediator: That’s the primary focus here. There is no other way to be saved. No other vehicle, no other channel, no other means of salvation.

Christ goes between us and God, to bridge the gap between us and God.

Christ is the only Ransom

“Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time” (5-6).

A ransom is a payment that purchases someone’s release from bondage, captivity, or slavery. In this case the payer becomes the payment. It’s a substitute ransom for those who could not pay it or be it.

God not only required a ransom, he paid the ransom, and even became the ransom.

Does this limited salvation limit our message?

SALVATION IS UNLIMITED IN ITS MESSAGE

“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” (7).

If there were many gods and many ways of salvation, there would not need to be a global offer of the Gospel.

The global offer of salvation through Christ is necessary because there is only one God, and Christ is the only mediator and the only ransom.

An exclusive faith (there is one God and one salvation) means an inclusive mission (all must hear).

That’s why God appointed Paul as an Apostle to the Gentiles. The Gospel had to be communicated beyond its Jewish beginnings to the whole world.

The uniqueness of Christ requires the universality of the gospel. The limited way of salvation demands an unlimited offer of salvation.

LIVING THE BIBLE

Let’s get convinced and clear about the limited means of salvation, so that we’ll be more convinced and clear in our unlimited message of salvation.

You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast on our new website or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.

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Do you want everyone to be saved? Are there certain people you don’t really want to know Christ and go to heaven? Do you regard some people as beyond the Gospel? Black people? White people? Hispanic people? Rich people? Poor people? Immoral people? Atheists? Muslims? Mormons?

If we’re honest, there are times when we do not equally desire the salvation of all kinds of people. That’s a problem because it’s contrary to God’s character and God’s will.

It was a problem for Timothy and the church he was pastoring. Perhaps because of fear, Timothy and his church were only interested in their kind of people. They only prayed for their kind of people. They only evangelized their kind of people.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Paul wrote against this spiritual bigotry and basically taught, “All lives matter,” not just the lives that are like ours. Let’s see how he does this.

WE PRAY TO AN “ALL LIVES MATTER” SAVIOR

We can sum up verses 1-2 as, we are to pray “all lives matter” prayers.

Why? Because we pray to an “all lives matter” Savior. “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior” (3).

Why should God’s people pray so globally, because God’s salvation is also global. He is God our Savior, but He wants to be more than our Savior.

God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

This is a difficult and controversial verse when taken out of context. The context is key and the context is “all lives matter.”

Remember, in chapter 1, Paul urged Timothy to fight against false Jewish teachers. These were elitists, men who specialized in complicated speculative interpretations of Old Testament genealogies. They regarded themselves as a higher spiritual class. They prided themselves on secret insight and special knowledge that few others had. They spent all their days in idle and pointless debate. In other words, they were an exclusive club that few were in and no one was invited to join.

Paul is contrasting this inward-looking, introverted, selfish mindset with God’s global heart and worldview. He is contrasting their “few lives matter” approach with God’s “all lives matter” approach.

Calvin says this verse is simply saying that “no nation of the earth and no rank of society is excluded from salvation, since God wills to offer the Gospel to all without exception.”

“All lives matter” prayer is to be offered to an “all lives matter” Savior.

WE’RE TO BE AN “ALL LIVES MATTER” PEOPLE

This verse is partly about the heart and will of God, but it’s mainly about the heart and will of God’s people. It’s dealing a hammer blow to racism, nationalism, denominationalism, classism, parochialism, etc.

If all lives matter to God then all lives must be given the truth so that they can be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Don’t hold back your prayers from anyone, don’t hold back your heart from anyone, don’t hold back the truth from anyone.

Pray “all lives matter” prayers with “all lives matter” hearts as you witness with an “all lives matter” Gospel.

LIVING THE BIBLE

Worship the “all lives matter” Savior and become an “all lives matter” people.

You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast on our new website or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.

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I remember reading about a time pastor and author F. B. Meyer was sharing a room with A. B. Simpson (founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance) at a missionary conference. One morning Meyer woke up to discover Simpson weeping in prayer as he clutched a globe. Prayer turned him to God and prayer turned him to people.

Timid Timothy, on the other hand, was cowering behind the walls of the church, fearful of venturing forth. He had a small heart, a scared heart, and a selfish heart. He was focused on himself and his fears.

Paul’s remedy was prayer. Im 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul was effectively saying, “Timothy, turn your heart from self to God, and he will turn your heart to people. He’ll give you a big heart, a fearless heart, and a loving heart.” Let’s use 1 Timothy 2:1-2 and to make a prayerful pivot from self to God and from self to people.

PRAYER PIVOTS OUR HEARTS TO GOD

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made…”

There are small differences between these different prayer words:

• Supplications: This kind of prayer arises from a sense of need and makes specific requests for specific needs.
• Prayers: A catch-all word for prayer but with an emphasis on bringing requests to God in a worshipful spirit.
• Intercessions: Bold pleas on the behalf of others, involves advocacy and empathy.
• Thanksgivings: Prayer is not just about getting but also about giving.

He’s not saying, “Check off these different kinds of prayer,” but, “Pray lots of prayers.” Prayer is not about working through a checklist but pouring out our hearts to God.

Prayer is not a checklist, it’s a heartcheck.

What happens when we pivot to God in prayer?

PRAYER PIVOTS OUR HEARTS TO PEOPLE

“…for all people, kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

When we pour out our hearts to God, God pours our his heart in us, so that we pour out our hearts for people.

• For all people: Let there be all kinds of prayer for all kinds of people. Lots of prayer for lots of people.

• For world leaders: The church was facing increasing persecution, but Paul’s solution was not to run away from these leaders, but run to God in prayer for them.

• For world peace: Peace and quiet are the best conditions for practicing, commending, and spreading the Gospel. We’re not asking for much, just to be given the freedom and peace to live a godly and dignified life.

For this (all these prayers for all these people) is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.

When we pivot our hearts to God, God pivots our hearts towards people.

LIVING THE BIBLE

Turn your heart to God and he’ll turn your heart to people. We see that perfectly in Jesus whose heart was perfectly turned to God and therefore perfectly turned to people.

Bring your small, scared, and self-centered heart to God and he will give you his heart for people: big, courageous, and loving.

You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast on our new website or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.

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I remember watching a documentary about the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. It focused on a small company of American soldiers who were situated on an outpost on the top of a mountain. It was 2015, and therefore the war was in its 14^th year.

The soldiers were under daily attack from Taliban snipers and rockets, but could never see where it was all coming from. They were regularly losing their buddies in these attacks but were making no progress. They were sitting ducks and were totally demoralized by it all. Although they fired back at times, it was half-hearted as they had no hope of accomplishing anything.

It’s easy for us to get into the same defeatist mindset as Christians, especially when we’re in a long war. How do we maintain a fighting spirit?

Let’s see how Paul encouraged Timid Timothy, in 1 Timothy 1:18-20, to maintain a fighting spirit when he was losing heart for the battle.

WE HAVE A GOOD COMMISSION

“This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you.”

This charge: This is the command, the duty, Paul laid upon Timothy in verse 3, which was to confront the false teachers.

The prophecies: Paul reminded Timothy of his wider call to the ministry which he received by direct prophecy.

The call of God and the confirmation of that call by God’s people is a powerful motivator and encourager in difficult times.

If we forget our call to fight, we’ll forget to fight when we’re called.

So what’s the cause?

WE HAVE A GOOD CAUSE

“…that by them you may wage the good warfare.”

“Timid Timothy, this is worth fighting for, worth suffering for. You cannot remain neutral. You’ve got to get into this fight and go all in. War is war, it’s all or nothing, do or die, life or death. The eternal destiny of souls and the glory of God rests on the outcome.”

Fight with all your worth because this is a cause worth fighting for.

What weapons do I have?

WE HAVE GOOD WEAPONS

“…holding faith and a good conscience. “By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith.”

Hold faith: Keep clinging to the truth of the Gospel and keep believing in the Gospel especially in the midst of war.

Hold a good conscience: Conscience is like the rudder on a boat. But some have discarded the rudder in the storm. Their hulls hit the rocks and now their lives and cargo are strewn across the water.

A good Christian must be a good soldier and a good sailor. A good sailor has a good rudder, a good conscience that is informed by God’s Word, sensitive and responsive to the Spirit’s promptings.

Ignoring your conscience in the storm is throwing your rudder overboard.  

What’s the purpose?

WE HAVE A GOOD AIM

“…among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

I delivered to Satan

This is one of the most solemn and serious lines in the whole Bible. “Delivered” involves the idea of the removal of protection and the exposure to great hazard and danger. No protection or shelter from Satan.

This is the final step of church discipline of a church member. It’s excommunication, disassociated from God’s people and their privileges and protections. It must be made clear that they are no longer part of the family.

To be turned over to Satan then is to take that believer or that unbeliever who is in the family of the redeemed, at least outwardly, and push them out into the full fury of Satan’s world (Macarthur).

That they may learn not to blaspheme.

Here is the good aim at the end of this awesome process. The end is not damnation but reclamation. It’s chastisement with a view to correction. Paul wanted his discipline to have a saving effect. He wanted to rescue the ship-wrecked.

The aim of church discipline is to rescue the shipwrecked, not to sink their ships.

LIVING THE BIBLE

We will lose heart for the battle if we forget our orders, if we forget what we’re fighting for, if we forget our weapons, or if we forget the ultimate purpose of it all.

We have a good commission, a good cause, good weapons, and a good aim.

Remember God’s good call, and use good weapons to wage a good war with a good aim

You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast on our new website or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.

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“I’ve sinned too much to be saved.” “I’ve sinned too much to serve.” Ever had these fears? I have. The first fear, “I’ve sinned too much to be saved,” makes me feel hopeless. The second fear, “I’ve sinned too much to serve,” makes me feel useless. Hopeless and useless are paralyzing feelings. I’m sure you’ve felt one or both of these paralyzing feelings before.

In 1 Timothy 1:13-17, Paul encourages us by encouraging Timid Timothy that great sin is no barrier to salvation or service.

GREAT SIN IS NO BARRIER TO SALVATION (13-14)

Overflowing sin (13)

“Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.”

Paul had been speaking of what God had made him, but he never forgets what he once was. His past life further magnifies God’s grace in putting him into the ministry.

Overflowing grace (13-14)

“But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief.”

The biblical principle behind this statement is “Less knowledge is less responsibility.” In contrast to the false teachers who knew Christian truth and had made a Christian profession, Paul did not know the Gospel and had not professed faith when he did what he did.

“And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

This is what it took to save Paul – superabundant grace, exceedingly abundant grace, torrential grace, overflowing grace. That’s not all, because grace of Christ brings two bonuses: faith in Christ and love for Christ.

God drowns us in grace to save us from drowning in guilt.

“That’s wonderful that my great sin is no barrier to salvation. But it’s too great to be permitted to serve Christ.”

GREAT SIN IS NO BARRIER TO SERVICE (15-16)

A Faithful Saying: This was a catchphrase, a soundbite, a Tweet, a short pithy saying that helped people remember some of the most important teachings of Paul. Faithful means “reliable, granite rock.”

An Acceptable Saying: All should accept all of this with all confidence – No doubt or reserve or qualifications or reserve.

An Astonishing Saying: He didn’t come just to set an example, to show he cared, to help sinners but to save sinners. That he came into the world is amazing; to save, even more amazing; to save sinners is past amazing.

A Proven Saying: Paul’s Gospel CV: Least of the apostles, less than least of all saints, and greatest sinner of all the sinners saved by God’s grace.

An Exemplary Saying: ”Given my bio, you might think that it was impossible that someone like me should be saved, but Jesus had a special aim in saving me. I am a pattern, specimen, prototype, exhibit of who God saves, how God saves, and why God saves. The ultimate sinner became the ultimate saint. The chief sinner became the chief apostle.

God can use our great sin to motivate great service.

LIVING THE BIBLE

Great sin can make us feel hopeless and useless. Great sin is no barrier to great salvation. Great sin is no barrier to great service. Indeed, God uses great sinners to show his great salvation and to do great service. Great sin qualifies us for great salvation and great service. It’s no wonder that this great salvation and great service leads him to great praise (17). Take Paul’s encouragement here to banish all sense of hopelessness and uselessness. Give God great praise for his great salvation and great service despite our great sin.

You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast on our new website or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.

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CHRIST ENTRUSTS US WITH GOSPEL SERVICE (11)

• A massive message: “The gospel of the glory of the blessed God.”
• A massive trust: “With which I have been entrusted.”

Christ trusts the untrustworthy with his trustworthy Gospel.

How can I carry this massive trust?

CHRIST STRENGTHENS US FOR GOSPEL SERVICE (12A)

• A massive strengthening: Christ Jesus our Lord gave me strength for this
• A massive thanksgiving: I have constant gratitude to God for this strengthening

The best way to experience Christ’s strength is to experience our own weakness.

But will I keep going?

CHRIST KEEPS US IN GOSPEL SERVICE

“Because he judged me faithful.”

• Christ will keep me faithful: This cannot mean that God saved or called Paul because of his past or future faithfulness. The whole context is emphasizing Paul’s gratitude for God’s sovereign intervention in his life. This is about what God would make him become by his grace. God entrusted him with the Gospel and God made him trustworthy.

• Christ re-directs my single-mindedness: God saw some natural characteristics in Paul that he knew he could re-direct and refine for the sake of the Gospel – that fiery, intense, zeal that had been dedicated to the destruction of the Church could be used in the service of the church.

Natural gifts that we abuse can be turned to spiritual gifts God can use.

But what if people doubt my calling? But what If I doubt my calling?

CHRIST APPOINTS US TO GOSPEL SERVICE

“Christ appointed me to his service.”

When Paul or anyone else doubted Paul’s responsibility or abilities, this was where Paul would point to God’s appointment. When people point to our disappointments, let’s point ourselves to God’s appointment.

Christ’s appointment keep us going through disappointments.

LIVING THE BIBLE

When I’m feeling timid about serving Christ, I will use Christ’s trust, Christ’s strengthening, Christ’s keeping, and Christ’s appointment to encourage myself.

You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast on our new website or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.