Monday Devo
Scripture:
1 Timothy 2
There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 7 And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.
There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 7 And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.
Commentary:
2:5 For. Verses 5–6 provide the theological basis for the preceding statement that God wants people to be saved. There is only one God, therefore this God seeks “all people” (v. 4; cf. Rom. 3:29–30; Gal. 3:20). Various people groups do not each have their own gods, though they may imagine they do; all must come to the one true God for salvation. This means that Jesus, God’s incarnate Son, Israel’s Messiah, is the one and only mediator, the only way to salvation (cf. Acts 4:12). Furthermore, this verse allows no place for intermediaries between people and Jesus, such as saints or human priests. See Overview of the Bible.
2:6 Ransom (Gk. antilytron) refers to purchasing someone’s release and describes a common Pauline and NT understanding of Christ’s work as redemptive (cf. Gal. 1:4; 2:20; Eph. 5:2; and related NT concepts of “redemption” [Luke 1:68; 2:38; 24:21; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18] and “ransom” [Matt. 20:28 par.; cf. Rev. 5:9]). This language also reflects Jesus’ words, “the Son of Man came … to give his life as a ransom [Gk. lytron] for many” (Mark 10:45). Since Jesus gave himself as this “ransom,” the idea of substitution (dying on behalf of sinners) is also included.
2:7 Paul defends his mission to the Gentiles on the basis of God’s desire that all be saved (cf. v. 4).
2:6 Ransom (Gk. antilytron) refers to purchasing someone’s release and describes a common Pauline and NT understanding of Christ’s work as redemptive (cf. Gal. 1:4; 2:20; Eph. 5:2; and related NT concepts of “redemption” [Luke 1:68; 2:38; 24:21; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18] and “ransom” [Matt. 20:28 par.; cf. Rev. 5:9]). This language also reflects Jesus’ words, “the Son of Man came … to give his life as a ransom [Gk. lytron] for many” (Mark 10:45). Since Jesus gave himself as this “ransom,” the idea of substitution (dying on behalf of sinners) is also included.
2:7 Paul defends his mission to the Gentiles on the basis of God’s desire that all be saved (cf. v. 4).
Questions:
- This week we dove into the age of christendom, or medieval Christianity. In this age, we saw a number of growing issues and corruption in the Roman Catholic church. They began to err in some pretty substantial ways, one of which being their believe in transubstantiation and sacramentalism. Transubstantiation is the belief the the elements of bread and wine in communion, after being prayed over by the priest, become the LITERAL blood and body of Jesus. And sacramentalism is the belief that the sacraments, like communion and baptism, are necessary for salvation. This puts the priest in quite the position as it comes to people's faith in God. In fact, it was believed (and still is in the Catholic church) that priests were the mediators between God and man. Why don't we, as Christians, NEED a mediator between us and God (the answer is... because JESUS already did that for us:)? What are the dangers in elevating a human being to this position in our lives?
- Another major issue of the age of christendom was the church's belief in purgatory. This is believed to be a place of purification or punishment after death that souls pass through before entering heaven. And people that are still living can perform "indulgences" for themselves or for loved ones believed to be in purgatory, which are good works or a financial gift given in order to reduce the punishment for sins while IN purgatory. But these beliefs are completely contradicted by Scripture. If we are to believe the Bible, which clearly teaches that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, and that Jesus died once and for all to pay the penalty for our sin, how does this whole concept of purgatory begin to create some issues? What are the dangers involved in believing we can do good works to benefit ourselves or even loved ones that are deceased?
Pray:
- That God would remind you that Jesus is all you need.
- That you would remember that you are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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