What kind of salvation are you working for? Hoping and waiting for? I’m serious. What kind of
salvation do you really want? What is salvation to you? Is salvation finally graduating from high
school and moving out of mom and dad’s home? Is salvation making it to the weekend so you
can escape from the crazy busy-ness of the workweek? Would it be salvation to you if you finally
found that special person to spend your life with? Or if you finally had the child you’ve been waiting
for? Or if you got your license back after how many DUIs? If a cure was found for whatever disease
or disorder plagues you? Or you dug yourself out of debt? Or your child made straight A’s? Or got
into the right college? What is your salvation?
You and I need to be saved in such a bigger way than all of that. Some of these things might be
huge to you. Might be one of the only things in your focus right now. But you need a bigger, better
salvation than all of that. And you know what? That salvation is already yours. God wants you, God
wants all people, to be saved. So bad.
huge to you. Might be one of the only things in your focus right now. But you need a bigger, better
salvation than all of that. And you know what? That salvation is already yours. God wants you, God
wants all people, to be saved. So bad.
Read 1 Timothy 2:1-8 2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our
Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For
there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who
gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am
not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our
Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For
there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who
gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am
not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
God’s salvation is so much more than the other “salvations” that usually end up front and center in
our focus. God’s salvation is this...All people have replaced the truth of God with a lie. The lie is that
we can be our own Saviors. Or perhaps that we don’t need a Savior. Either way, we can make our
own destiny. Live by our own rules and desires. Isn’t that what Eve wanted when she reached for the
fruit on the tree God told her not to touch? Did she not believe the serpent’s lie that she could be “like
God, knowing good and evil?” She believed the lie because of what it offered...Perhaps God was
hiding something from her. Perhaps life could be better if she could be exactly like God, on his level.
And Adam fell for the lie and the “what ifs” too. He joined in with her. So, what was on the other side
of what God had forbidden???
our focus. God’s salvation is this...All people have replaced the truth of God with a lie. The lie is that
we can be our own Saviors. Or perhaps that we don’t need a Savior. Either way, we can make our
own destiny. Live by our own rules and desires. Isn’t that what Eve wanted when she reached for the
fruit on the tree God told her not to touch? Did she not believe the serpent’s lie that she could be “like
God, knowing good and evil?” She believed the lie because of what it offered...Perhaps God was
hiding something from her. Perhaps life could be better if she could be exactly like God, on his level.
And Adam fell for the lie and the “what ifs” too. He joined in with her. So, what was on the other side
of what God had forbidden???
Hell. Absolute hell was on the other side of that decision to try and make a better future for
themselves than what God had planned for them in his perfect world. Their marriage fell apart
instantly as they pointed the finger of blame and were ashamed to be seen. They were too
embarrassed to be known for who they really were now as they hid behind the bushes.
themselves than what God had planned for them in his perfect world. Their marriage fell apart
instantly as they pointed the finger of blame and were ashamed to be seen. They were too
embarrassed to be known for who they really were now as they hid behind the bushes.
They were looking for freedom to do what they wanted...but they found slavery instead. Now
Adam would be a slave to the ground, his work, and trying to take care of a family in a fallen world.
Now Eve would have pain and frustration in child-bearing. They would struggle mightily to raise kids
together. To be one unified team in marriage. They would age painfully and die. Their body would
be ripped apart from their soul. Their bodies would decay. Their souls would be separated from the
God who made them, which is hell.
Adam would be a slave to the ground, his work, and trying to take care of a family in a fallen world.
Now Eve would have pain and frustration in child-bearing. They would struggle mightily to raise kids
together. To be one unified team in marriage. They would age painfully and die. Their body would
be ripped apart from their soul. Their bodies would decay. Their souls would be separated from the
God who made them, which is hell.
They were looking for a better life, but they found death...and they would die in every way. “But
you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it
you will certainly die.” Die, they would, in every way. Their enjoyment of work would die as they
pulled weeds. Their enjoyment of each other would die as they bickered and gave the silent
treatment. Their enjoyment of their children would die as they were caught up in power struggles
with stubborn toddlers and testy teenagers. Their enjoyment of life itself would die...why does life
suck so much, so much of the time???
you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it
you will certainly die.” Die, they would, in every way. Their enjoyment of work would die as they
pulled weeds. Their enjoyment of each other would die as they bickered and gave the silent
treatment. Their enjoyment of their children would die as they were caught up in power struggles
with stubborn toddlers and testy teenagers. Their enjoyment of life itself would die...why does life
suck so much, so much of the time???
God was so deeply saddened and depressed by all of this. The creatures he valued most, man and
woman, walked away from life with him by trying to live life on their own terms. But here comes
salvation...the mediator, the go-between Paul told us about. A one-of-a kind man who lived life as
God intended. Who lived in that Garden of Eden-like relationship with God, despite living in a world
of death and hurt and sin. He knew God was good and worthy of all of his trust and obedience.
What is his name? The man, Christ Jesus. That name “Jesus” means “he saves”, after all. His name
is salvation.
woman, walked away from life with him by trying to live life on their own terms. But here comes
salvation...the mediator, the go-between Paul told us about. A one-of-a kind man who lived life as
God intended. Who lived in that Garden of Eden-like relationship with God, despite living in a world
of death and hurt and sin. He knew God was good and worthy of all of his trust and obedience.
What is his name? The man, Christ Jesus. That name “Jesus” means “he saves”, after all. His name
is salvation.
But he died too, you say. Yes, he died, too! As the ransom for all people! From what did we need to
be ransomed from? By what were we held hostage by? By God’s death sentence that we had put
ourselves under! “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when
you eat from it you will certainly die.” And here came one who only knew good and did good and
said good to all kinds of people. One who knew the wreckage of evil so well that he wouldn’t have
anything to do with it. And he died on another tree by the hands of evil people like us...he died on the
cross. He certainly died! And oh how glad we are he died! Because when he died, he paid our
ransom! God released us from our death sentence, from our hell-sentence. And instead proclaimed,
“this One died so YOU can live!” THIS IS SALVATION!!!
be ransomed from? By what were we held hostage by? By God’s death sentence that we had put
ourselves under! “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when
you eat from it you will certainly die.” And here came one who only knew good and did good and
said good to all kinds of people. One who knew the wreckage of evil so well that he wouldn’t have
anything to do with it. And he died on another tree by the hands of evil people like us...he died on the
cross. He certainly died! And oh how glad we are he died! Because when he died, he paid our
ransom! God released us from our death sentence, from our hell-sentence. And instead proclaimed,
“this One died so YOU can live!” THIS IS SALVATION!!!
Now look at what happens according to Paul when we stand firm in God’s salvation, when God’s
desire to save ALL people, all people who are exactly like us, is front and center in our focus. We
learn to ask questions like, “how is what I’m doing right now preaching Christ?” “How can I show the
people around me that God wants all people to be saved, especially in my daily interactions?”
desire to save ALL people, all people who are exactly like us, is front and center in our focus. We
learn to ask questions like, “how is what I’m doing right now preaching Christ?” “How can I show the
people around me that God wants all people to be saved, especially in my daily interactions?”
Standing firm in God’s salvation, his desire to save all people, helps us live prayerfully. We can
replace our hate-filled comments on social media towards political figures with prayers. We can
replace our secret emails and texts about someone else with prayers.
replace our hate-filled comments on social media towards political figures with prayers. We can
replace our secret emails and texts about someone else with prayers.
What kind of prayers and requests? All kinds! Paul uses a word we’re not used to...Intercessions.
Jesus became the mediator, the go-between, the intercessor between us and God. In Jesus’ name,
we can ask God to have mercy on any of these people, just like he’s had mercy on us. To bring them
to a knowledge of the truth just like he’s brought us to that knowledge. To save them just like he’s
saved us! That’s a whole lot more Christ-like than praying they’ll get hit by a truck. Because notice,
if you pray that about someone, you logically need to pray that about yourself. Because deep down,
you need Jesus’ ransom from God’s death sentence just as much as they do.
Jesus became the mediator, the go-between, the intercessor between us and God. In Jesus’ name,
we can ask God to have mercy on any of these people, just like he’s had mercy on us. To bring them
to a knowledge of the truth just like he’s brought us to that knowledge. To save them just like he’s
saved us! That’s a whole lot more Christ-like than praying they’ll get hit by a truck. Because notice,
if you pray that about someone, you logically need to pray that about yourself. Because deep down,
you need Jesus’ ransom from God’s death sentence just as much as they do.
Paul also encourages us to pray “thanksgivings” for everyone. When it comes to our political leaders,
thank God that someone wants to do that job! There would be chaos without! Thank God for the
beneficial things they are doing for society. The same goes for people we have differences with in
our workplace and families.
thank God that someone wants to do that job! There would be chaos without! Thank God for the
beneficial things they are doing for society. The same goes for people we have differences with in
our workplace and families.
Standing firm in God’s salvation also helps us live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and
holiness. We know where all this is heading. We know that having salvation means that we get to
live forever in God’s perfect kingdom. We know that God wants to save everyone else as much as
he wants to save us. He wants to free all people from the death sentence hanging over our heads.
How? Through faith in the once-for-all ransom payment that Jesus made.
holiness. We know where all this is heading. We know that having salvation means that we get to
live forever in God’s perfect kingdom. We know that God wants to save everyone else as much as
he wants to save us. He wants to free all people from the death sentence hanging over our heads.
How? Through faith in the once-for-all ransom payment that Jesus made.
Godliness is having an accurate, true view of God. God tells us that he wants all people to be saved,
including us. God tells us what Jesus Christ has done to accomplish that salvation. God tells us that
faith in Jesus Christ, the ransom for all people, is the one way to God. Believe this! Live as if you
have salvation...because you do! Live as if God wants to demonstrate through you that he wants all
people to be saved...because he does!
including us. God tells us what Jesus Christ has done to accomplish that salvation. God tells us that
faith in Jesus Christ, the ransom for all people, is the one way to God. Believe this! Live as if you
have salvation...because you do! Live as if God wants to demonstrate through you that he wants all
people to be saved...because he does!
Holiness is being in God’s circle. You are allowed to live in God’s circle. Now and forever. You
wouldn’t be allowed in God’s circle if that death-sentence still was hanging over your head. Think of
how bizarre it is that you and I are so much like Adam and Eve, living life on our own terms, so much
of the time. And still, God says you are holy! Special. Able to be in God’s circle of holiness because
he’s not holding your sins over your head! Believe that God has made you holy! Live a holy, special,
Christ-like life...because God has made you holy! You are holy!
wouldn’t be allowed in God’s circle if that death-sentence still was hanging over your head. Think of
how bizarre it is that you and I are so much like Adam and Eve, living life on our own terms, so much
of the time. And still, God says you are holy! Special. Able to be in God’s circle of holiness because
he’s not holding your sins over your head! Believe that God has made you holy! Live a holy, special,
Christ-like life...because God has made you holy! You are holy!
God saved us from an ungodly, unholy life to live a godly, holy life. Leave ungodly, unholy ways
behind just like that death-sentence that is no longer hanging over your head.
behind just like that death-sentence that is no longer hanging over your head.
Standing firm in God’s salvation helps us preach and teach the true faith to all. “I’m no preacher,
I’m no teacher,” you say. Our world doesn’t only need more preachers and teachers, my friends. It
needs parents, spouses, bosses, coworkers, friends and neighbors who want all people to be saved
as much as God does. Who are willing to pray for others, who are willing to mediate...get in the
trenches with suffering, hurting, ungodly, unholy people who are just like us. Not everyone listened to
Jesus when he preached and taught. When he was willing to mediate...when he got in the trenches
with the suffering, the hurting, the ungodly and unholy. But some did. And either way, he was showing
them what God was really like...how badly God wanted to save them. How crazy about them God was.
If you learn one thing from me in my entire time here...let it be this...God wants all to be saved,
including you.
I’m no teacher,” you say. Our world doesn’t only need more preachers and teachers, my friends. It
needs parents, spouses, bosses, coworkers, friends and neighbors who want all people to be saved
as much as God does. Who are willing to pray for others, who are willing to mediate...get in the
trenches with suffering, hurting, ungodly, unholy people who are just like us. Not everyone listened to
Jesus when he preached and taught. When he was willing to mediate...when he got in the trenches
with the suffering, the hurting, the ungodly and unholy. But some did. And either way, he was showing
them what God was really like...how badly God wanted to save them. How crazy about them God was.
If you learn one thing from me in my entire time here...let it be this...God wants all to be saved,
including you.
Standing firm in God’s salvation helps us set aside anger and disputing and lift up our thankful
and needy hands in prayer. If we are standing firm together in God’s salvation, in God’s desire for
all to be saved, then we stop arguing and bickering about stuff that has nothing to do with that. We
start asking, “what does what we’re doing have to do with saving souls? With mediating between
people and God? With preaching and teaching Jesus as the ransom for all people? How could we
focus more on that, exclusively on that?”
and needy hands in prayer. If we are standing firm together in God’s salvation, in God’s desire for
all to be saved, then we stop arguing and bickering about stuff that has nothing to do with that. We
start asking, “what does what we’re doing have to do with saving souls? With mediating between
people and God? With preaching and teaching Jesus as the ransom for all people? How could we
focus more on that, exclusively on that?”
You see, people who truly believe God wants all to be saved as much as he wants us to be saved...
people who truly believe that there is one way for that to happen...faith in the mediator, ransom-payer,
Jesus Christ...people who truly believe that will set aside anger and disputing and lift our thankful and
needy hands up in prayer together. Thankful that salvation is ours and it’s ours to give away to all!
Needy because we know that God will always take care of the rest of our needs in such a way that
salvation will still be ours when we die.
people who truly believe that there is one way for that to happen...faith in the mediator, ransom-payer,
Jesus Christ...people who truly believe that will set aside anger and disputing and lift our thankful and
needy hands up in prayer together. Thankful that salvation is ours and it’s ours to give away to all!
Needy because we know that God will always take care of the rest of our needs in such a way that
salvation will still be ours when we die.
We pray: “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. Your kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is
trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. Amen!”
They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. Your kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is
trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. Amen!”
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