Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt (Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland 
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org

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1 TIMOTHY 2:1-15: TEXT: v3-8 [SERIES 7]

Context: Paul calls upon Timothy (and by extension: us) to pray for all men and especially those who are in authority
This serious call was not merely to give Timothy something to do and to keep him out of trouble, but it was a means to an end
What was this end?
That we might do that which is good/acceptable in God’s sight by living lives that are quiet and peaceable in all godliness/honesty
One of the biggest hindrances to this requirement is interference from those who are in authority

We see a classic case of this in the life/Paul himself
Although by/large the laws of the Roman Empire were utilised for the quick spread of the gospel by the Apostles, yet we see evidences of corruption that positively hindered the gospel
When Paul preached to Felix and caused him to tremble:
Felix hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.  (Acts 24:26)

Here we have bribery in the very echelons of the Government
Had he not have been so greedy/corrupt, then Paul would’ve been released from prison earlier and been out/streets witnessing
The best way to keep the door open for gospel preaching is to pray for those who are in authority over us
Pray that they might positively rule well in the sight of God
Pray that (at least) they would not rule corruptly in His sight
Of course, we can vote them out if we want and get enough votes
But we must pray for those who are in authority over us
Pray that the door will always stay open for the preaching/gospel
Paul returns to this thought/praying again in v8
The word “therefore” shows that he is summing up
We have a neat rounded little section here on this matter

We must ask/question: On what basis do we so pray?
Evidently, because we are here commanded to
Evidently because there is a noble end in view (as seen)
But also, because Paul here gives us 3 very solid reasons:

1) WE PRAY BECAUSE OF THE PURPOSE/PLAN OF GOD:

A/ What is the purpose and plan of God as revealed here?
That all men might be saved and come/knowledge of the truth (v4)

B/ These are controversial verses, although we should not let that controversy rob us of their impact
Key words: “Who will” and “all men”
Issue centres round the power/force of the words “will” and “all”

[i] Does God will (to the point of carrying it through) the salvation of every last son/daughter of Adam’s fallen race?
If so, then such will be saved and none will be lost (Universalism)
We know that this is not the case – Bible teaches of a broad road where many will be lost: Matthew 7:13

So we must either limit the force of “will” (reducing it to a desire not followed through) or the force of “all”  i.e. whereby it means “all without distinction” rather than all without exception
Most Reformed commentators/preachers limit the “all men” to “all kinds of men” and keep the force of the desire to save so
that all kinds of men are eventually saved:
We know this to be the case: Answers to experience
All kinds of men: Rich/poor – Jew/Gentile etc., are saved

CHS, almost against the tide, placed the emphasis the other way
He argued that “all men” meant “all without exception” but kept himself out of the mire/Universalism by lessening the force/ "will” i.e. a passive desire rather than an active decree

C/ Having stated the controversy, we may safely pass on
Sufficient from these verses ( or from other ones if your emphasis here does not quite match) to see that God has genuine feelings of love towards all men without exception
This love towards the entire human race is not compromised if it is not followed through by the force of a decree

Although we are informed that there is a decree and that this decree is eternal and followed through in time, yet we are not guided by it when we come to pray for all men
Our guiding star is the revealed word/god i.e. the Bible
There we read of the free offer of the Gospel
It is not wrong for us to pray for our rulers even as individuals
As far as we are concerned…all men are potentially elect
We know that this will not prove to be the case
Heads of State etc., have died in atheism and false religion
They lived and died as very ungodly men with no evidence that they ever came to Christ as those elected do
But those who prayed for their salvation are not to be blamed
We have but displayed the same heart as God who is merciful to all his creatures and showers them with many kind gifts

D/ So pray kindly prayers for those who are authority
History shows that the gospel prospers especially well when those who godly are in authority:

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.  (Proverbs 29:2)

England under the governance of the young and godly Edward VI saw great strides in gospel preaching
Queen Elizabeth I was not godly in the Evangelical sense/word, but nevertheless she showed great toleration towards the Protestant religion - kept Rome at bay and the gospel prospered

E/ What fuel we have in these verses for our prayers
We can plead with God: Lord, do you really want Communism or Islam or Political Correction to take over this country and shut down gospel preaching?
If so – how does this square with your declaration that you would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge/the truth?

Here is another reason why we lift up our holy hands to pray for those who are in authority:

2) THE PERSON AND THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST:

A/ It may be another reason, but it flows from the first reason

In the first reason, we see: God has a desire that all men/saved
Our lack/inside information does not prevent us from praying
Paul does not mention reprobation here and need not either
We have enough information to fuel good positive prayers

B/ When God desired to save sinners, He also provided a Saviour
Sinful man could not save himself and it cannot be that the sovereign plan/God to have an elect people perish for the want of a Saviour/Redeemer
So God provided His own Saviour: Jesus Christ (v5)

C/ There is no other Saviour/Mediator but Christ
Christ declared Himself to be the only way to God on several occasions: John 14:6/John 10:9 etc.,
Peter emphasised it during one of his sermons: Acts 4:12

Worth saying here (seeing we live in a RC country) that we do not need a mediator to reach the mediator
There is no warrant to come to Jesus via Mary or Padre Pio etc.,
There is no need to come to Jesus via Mary or Padre Pio etc.,
Mary etc., is not kinder than Jesus Christ nor more powerful
Jesus Christ is not Mary’s little Lamb
To pray to/through (subtle though impractical difference) Mary to get to Jesus insults the worth of Jesus Christ
So when we pray for those in authority, we must come through Jesus Christ and no one else

D/ Furthermore, we come not merely through Christ’s person, but (more particularly) through His finished work/Cross
v6 carefully registers Christ’s sacrifice

Again, v6 is a controversial verse because of the word “all”
Did Christ die/atone for the sins of all men without exception?
If we answer this positively, then we are back into Universalism
There is no sin that can put a man in hell, because (according to those who teach Universal atonement) the price has already been paid for that and indeed every sin – including that of unbelief

E/ To harmonise v6/rest of the Bible I take the “all men” to refer to “all men without distinction” – an apt description of the make up of the elect/God
Again: let us not dwell on the controversy, but on the encouragement to pray for those who govern over us

F/ When we come to the Cross/Christ, we read that Christ’s sacrifice for sin is sufficient to atone in its substance for each and every man ever born
If the number of the elect were either diminished or increased by one more then Christ would not have suffered more or less
The worth/merit of His suffering is infinite
We need not fear when we point people to the Cross as to whether or not there is sufficient merit in the atonement
It’s atoning value is infinite therefore if a whole generation of people were converted, then it would  make no hole in the supply  
The word infinite cannot admit of any lack

G/ Therefore when you pray for those in authority, plead the merits of Christ’s Infinite Person and Work
Make this your main argument in prayer
Prayer is coming to God with great arguments
Job: I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.  (23:4)
These are not the arguments of doubt/rebellion but of positive reasoning, based on an acceptance of what God Himself declares 

So far: Here are two good spurs to praying for our rulers etc.,
[i] The purpose and plan of God who would have all men saved
[ii] The person/work of Christ who offered an infinite atonement
Here is a third reason inherent in the passage;

3) THE CALL AND EVANGELISM OF THE CHRISTIAN:

This is another logical step which we cannot but appreciate
[i] God planned salvation
[ii] God sent Christ to secure it by His own blood and then
[iii] God sent His people to announce it

A/ Paul speaks here of his own ministry in this regard (v7)
Two ways we can take this up in the matter at hand

[i] |We can plead this too in prayer before God
Why has God raised up Apostles (at least in a past day) and in our day, has and continues to raise up pastors and evangelists etc., if He is not going to save?

Why are the printing presses running with millions of gospel tracts and Bibles etc., if there is no intention to save?
Why is the sower still going out with the good seed if there is to be no harvest?
What ammunition we have here for prayer!

B/ Think of Paul in this regard and the rulers
We mentioned earlier his abuse at the hands/Felix
Felix was in authority – he was the Governor/Judea
Suddenly (in the providence/God) and because he was truly an apostle and missionary, Paul finds himself in his august presence
So what does Paul do? Grovel for his freedom?
Employ the black arts of the diplomat and play word games?
Does he drop a few vaguely evangelical hints?
I love this! Listen to Luke tell the story:
And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.  (Acts 24:25)
Paul did his bit for the evangelical cause
There is no evidence that Felix (or Festus or any of the other leaders which Paul met ever got saved) but that’s not the point
Perhaps the Last Day will reveal a different story

When Paul was called to be an Apostle, the instruction was very specific: Ananias who was called upon to convey the call was told:
Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (9:15)
 
C/ Who knows who is bearing the good news to those who are in power over us and for whom we must ever pray?
Some of God’s people are in high positions of power
Others, though in lower positions, still have access to such
Nehemiah was the king’s cup bearer
Daniel was a slave
Joseph was taken from a prison cell and became PM overnight
Pilate’s wife sent a strange message to her tormented husband

A wealth/truth lies in that little verse (30:28) re: the spider
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

D/ Although some of these things are unique to Paul, yet other things are not unique and we can apply them/ourselves
We too are to bear witness wherever we go for Christ
Where we cannot go, let us lift up holy hands in prayer
Pray not only for those in authority, but pray for all men
The insignificant as well as the great and do so in the way set forth: with holy hands and without wrath/doubting
And see God answer your prayers according to His merciful will

THE END
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