Beliefs May Vary, But Truth Does Not

Truth exists.
Truth is eternal.
You can not change the truth.
Truth trumps your beliefs.

"I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, Seek me in vain. I the LORD speak the truth.  I declare what is right." Isaiah 45:19 ESV

"These are the things that you should do:  Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD." Zechariah 8:16-17 ESV

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32 ESV

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 ESV
Explanation of John 14:6 from The MacArthur Study Bible, page 1571.
"14:6  This is the sixth "I am" statement of Jesus in John (see 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 9; 10:11, 14; 11:25; 15:1, 5).  In response to Thomas's query (14:4), Jesus declared that he is the way to God because he is the truth of God (1:14) and the life of God (1:4; 3:15; 11:25).  In this verse , the exclusiveness of Jesus as the only approach to the Father is emphatic.  Only one way, not many ways, exist to God, i.e. Jesus Christ (10:7-9; cf. Matt. 7:13-14; Luke 13:24; Acts 4:12)."

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be know about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse. For although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal men and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in their lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen."  Romans 1:18-25 ESV

"to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you." Galations 2:5 ESV
Explanation for Galations 2:5 from The MacArthur Study Bible, page 1743.
"2:5 we did not yield.  Paul and Titus (v. 3) never budged from their position of salvation by grace alone through faith alone.  truth of the gospel.  The true gospel as opposed to the different (1:6-8) and false one propagated by the Judaizers (see note on Rom. 1:1)."

"and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved."  2 Thessalonians 2:10 ESV
Explanation for 2 Thessalonians from The MacArthur Study Bible, page 1807.
"2:10 those who are perishing.  His influence is limited to deceiving the unsaved, who will believe in his lies (cf. Matt. 24:24; John 8:41-44).  They perish in the deception because of Satan-imposed blindness to the truth of the saving gospel. Cf. John 3:19-20; 2 Cor. 4:4."

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus.  Thank You for the truth.  Thank You for Your gift of salvation.  I pray that those who read the Bible will see the truth.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Peter's Denial, Jesus's Death and Resurrection

"Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance.  And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.  Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, "This man also was with him."  But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him."  And a little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."  But Peter said, "Man, I am not."  And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean."  But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about."  And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.  And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times."  And he went out and wept bitterly."  Luke 22:54-62 ESV

"It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!"  And having said this he breathed his last.  Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"  And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.  And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things." 
Luke 23:44-49 ESV

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were preplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?"  He is not here, but has risen.  Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."  And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.  Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.  But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened."  Luke 24:1-12 ESV

"As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"  But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.  And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?  See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.  Touch me, and see.  For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."  And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.  And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"  They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.  But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.  While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.  And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God." 
Luke 24:36-53 ESV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You doesn't seem enough for what you did for us on the cross, but I will say a humble thank You!   You died and then rose from the dead.  Our hope and salvation is in Jesus alone.  I pray as we celebrate Easter that our eyes will be opened to the Scriptures from the Bible and that those who are struggling with unbelief will believe and be saved.   In Jesus' name, Amen.

HE IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!  HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL!

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By Faith Noah. . .

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exits and that he rewards those who seek him.  By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.  By this he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."
Hebrews 11:6-7 ESV

Explanation for  Hebrews 11:6-7 from The MacArthur Study Bible page 1867.
11:6  impossible to please.  Enoch pleased God because he had faith.  Without such faith is is not possible for anyone to "walk with God" or "please him" (cf. 10:38).  he exists.  The emphasis here is on "he," the true God.  Genuine faith does not simply believe that a divine being exists, but that the God of Scripture is the only real and true God who exists.  Not believing that God exists is equivalent to calling him a liar (cf. 1 John5:10). rewards. A person must believe not only that the true God exists, but also that he will reward men's faith in him with forgiveness and righeousness, because he has promised to do so (cf. Heb. 10:35; Gen. 15:1; Deut. 4:29; 1 Chron. 28:9; Ps. 58:11; Isa. 40:10).

11:7 Noah.  See Gen. 5:28-9:29; Ezek. 14:14.  unseen. See notes on Heb. 11:1,6.  The world had not seen anything resembling the great flood (not even rain; see notes on Gen. 7:11), yet Noah spent 120 years (Gen.6:3) fulfilling God's command to build the massive ark (Gen. 6:13-22).  reverent.  Noah treated God's message with great respect and awe (cf. 5:7).  His faith was expressed in obedience (cf. Gen 6:22; 7:5).  condemned.  Noah warned the people of his time about God's impending judgment (cf. 1 Pet. 3:20), and is called "a herald of righeousness" (2 Pet. 2:5).  heir of the righteousness.  See notes on Heb. 6:12; 9:15.  He who was a herald of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5) also became an heir of righteousness.  He believed the message he preached.  Like Enoch before him (see notes on Heb. 11:5), Noah walked with God in faith and obedience (Gen. 6:9).

"because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water."
1 Peter 3:20, ESV

Explanation for 1 Peter 3:20 from The MacArthur Study Bible page 1894
3:20 did not obey. . . in the days of Noah.  Peter further explains that the abyss is inhabited by bound demons who have been there since the time of Noah, and who were sent there because they severely overstepped the bounds of God's tolerance with their wickedness.  The demons of Noah's day were running riot through the earth, filling the world with their wicked, vile, anti-God activity, including sexual sin, so that even 120 years of Noah's preaching, while the ark was being built, could not convince any of the human race beyond the eight people in Noah's family to believe in God (see notes on 2 Pet. 2:4-5; Jude 6-7; cf. Gen. 6:1-8).  Thus God bound these demons permanently in the abyss until their final sentencing.  safely through water.  They had been rescued in spite of the water, not because of the water.  Here, water was the agent of God's judgment, not the means of salvation (see note on Acts 2:38).

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I ask that the truth found in the Bible will be made known, and that the false gods people worship will be exposed as false.  I pray for the unsaved--especially those who beleive they are saved, but in fact are not, but are deceived by the world and their church leaders. I pray for those questioning Your existence--that they will have the courage to ask You to show them the truth.   I ask that Your favor, protection and blessing will be on Your people and I also ask that they will never be deceived and lead away from You. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

One more thing...I know that this is not a painting of Noah's Ark, but it is the only "boat" I have ever painted and is meant to symbolize an ark for this post.   Have a blessed day!

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Once For All

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons were brought safely through water.  Baptism which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him."  1 Peter 3:18-22 (ESV)

Explanation for 1 Peter 3:18-22 from The MacArthur Study Bible, page 1894-1895.

"3:18 For Christ also suffered.  Peter wished to encourage his readers in their suffering by again reminding them that even Christ suffered unjustly because it was God's will (v. 17).  Ultimately, however, Christ was marvelously triumphant to the point of being exalted to the right hand of God while all of those demon beings who were behind his suffering were made forever subject to him (v.22).  God also caused Peter's suffering readers to triumph.   once for sins. Under the Old Covenant, the Jewish people offered sacrifice after sacrifice, and then repeated it all the next year, especially at the Passover.  But Christ's one sacrifice for sins was of such perpetual validity that it was sufficient for all and would never need to be repeated (see notes on Heb. 7:27; 9:26-28).  the righteous for the unrighteous.  This is another statement of the sinlessness of Jesus (cf. Heb 7:26) and of his substitutionary and vicarious atonement.  He, who personally never sinned and had no sin nature, took the place of sinners (cf. 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21) in so doing, Christ satisfied God's just penalty for sin required by the law and opened the way to God for all who repentantly believe (cf John 14:6; Acts 4:12).  bring us to God.  In this life spiritually, and in the next life, wholly (cf. Mark 15:38).  put to death in the flesh.  A violent physical execution that terminated his earthly life (cf. Heb. 5:7).  alive in the spirit.  This is not a reference to the Holy Spirit, but to Jesus' true inner life, his own spirit.  Contrasted with his flesh (humanness), which was dead for three days, his spirit (deity) was alive, lit., "in spirit" (cf. Luke 23:46).

3:19 proclaimed.  Between Christ's death and resurrection, his living spirit went to the demon spirits bound in the abyss and proclaimed that, in spite of his death, he had triumphed over them (see notes on Col. 2:14-15).  spirits in prison.  This refers to fallen angels (demons), who were permanently bound because of heinous wickedness.  The demons who are not so bound resist such a sentence (cf. Luke 8:31).  In the end, they will all be sent to the eternal lake of fire (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

3:20 did not obey. . . in the days of Noah.  Peter further explains that the abyss is inhabited by bound demons who have been there since the time of Noah, and who were sent there because they severely overstepped the bounds of God's tolerance with their wickedness.  The demons of Noah's day were running riot through the earth, filling the world with their wicked, vile, anti-God activity, including sexual sin, so that even 120 years of Noah's preaching, while the ark was being built, could not convince any of the human race beyond the eight people in Noah's family to believe in God (see notes on 2 Pet. 2:4-5; Jude 6-7; cf. Gen. 6:1-8).  Thus God bound these demons permanently in the abyss until their final sentencing.   safely through water.  They had been rescued in spite of the water, not because of the water.  Here, water was the agent of God's judgment, not the means of salvation (see note on Acts 2:38).

3:21  corresponds to this, now saves you.  Peter is teaching that the fact that eight people were in an ark and went through the whole judgment, and yet were unharmed, is analogous to the Christian's experience in salvation by being in Christ, the ark of one's salvation.    Baptism. . . through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Peter is not at all referring to water baptism here, but rather a figurative immersion into union with Christ as an ark of safety from the judgment of God.  The resurrection of Christ demonstrates God's acceptance of Christ's substitutionary death for the sins of those who believe (Acts 2:30-31; Rom. 1:4).  Judgment fell on Christ just as the judgment of the flood waters fell on the ark.  The believer who is in Christ is thus in the ark of safety that will sail over the waters of judgment into eternal glory (cf. Rom. 6:1-4).   not as a removal of dirt from the body.  To be sure he is not misunderstood, Peter clearly says he is not speaking of water baptism.  In Noah's flood, they were kept out of the water while those who went into the water were destroyed.  Being in the ark and thus saved from God's judgment on the world prefigures being in Christ and thus saved from eternal damnation.   an appeal to God for a good conscience.  The word for "appeal" has the idea of a pledge, agreeing to certain conditions of a covenant (the New Covenant) with God.  What saves a person plagued by sin and a guilty conscience is not some external rite, but the agreement with God to get in the ark of safety, the Lord Jesus, by faith in his death and resurrection (cf. Rom. 10:9-10; Heb. 9:14; 10:22).

3:22 right hand of God.  After Jesus accomplished his cross work and was raised from the dead, he was exalted to the place of prominence, honor, majesty, authority, and power (cf. Rom. 8:34; Eph.1:20-21; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:3-9; 6:20; 8:1; 12:2).  The point of application to Peter's readers is that suffering can be the context for one's greatest triumph, as seen in the example of the Lord Jesus."

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your suffering for us.  Your sacrifice is everything to me.  I want to lift up to You those who are reading this today and are suffering.  I pray that You will comfort those who are suffering and deliver them from their suffering.  I pray for healing for those who need Your healing.  I pray for those who are unsaved and those who think they do not need saving.  I pray for their salvation so they too may be in that "ark of safety" because of what You, our Lord Jesus Christ, did for us.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Confess

"But what does it say?  The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:8-10 ESV

Explanation for Romans 10:8-10 from the MacArthur Study Bible, page 1668.

"10:8 The word is near you.  Quoted from Deut. 30:14.  The journey of Rom. 10:6-7 is unnecessary because God has clearly revealed the way of salvation: it is by faith.  word of faith.  The message of faith is the way to God.

10:9 Confess. . .Jesus is Lord.  Not a simple acknowledgment that he is God and the Lord of the universe, since even demons acknowledge that to be true (James 2:19).  This is the deep personal conviction, without reservation, that Jesus is that person's own master or sovereign.  This phrase includes repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus for salvation, and submitting to him as Lord.  This is the volitional element of faith (see note on Rom. 1:16) believe in your heart.  See note on 1:16.  God raised him from the dead.  Christ's resurrection was the supreme validation of his ministry (cf. John 2:18-21).  Belief in it is necessary for salvation because it proved that Christ is who he claimed to be and that the Father had accepted his sacrifice in the place of sinners (Rom. 4:24; cf. Acts 13:32-33; 1Peter 1:3-4).  Without the resurrection, there is no salvation (1 Cor. 15:14-17). See note on Rom. 1:4. will be saved. See note on 1:16

10:10 confesses.  This Greek word basically means to say the same thing or to be in agreement with someone.  The person who confesses Jesus as Lord (v.9) agrees with the Father's declaration that Jesus is Savior and Lord."

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up to You those reading this devotional today.  Thank You Lord for saving us.  I pray that those who are unsaved will confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, and accept the loving gift of salvation.  I say this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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False Prophets and Judgment

"If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams.  For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk.  So you shall purge the evil from your midst."  Deuteronomy 13:1-5 ESV

"For what have I to do with judging outsiders?  Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?  God judges those outside.  Purge the evil person from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 ESV

"For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" 1 Peter 4:17 ESV

Explanation for Deuteronomy 13:1-4 from The MacArthur Study Bible, page 267.

13:1-18  After the general prohibition of involvement in Canaanite worship (12:29-31).  Moses discussed three ways in which the temptation to idolatry was likely to come to Israel: 1) through a false prophet (13:1-5); 2) through a family member (vv. 6-11); or 3) through apostates in some Canaanite city (vv. 12-18).

13:2 the sign or wonder. . .comes to pass.  Miraculous signs alone were never meant to be a test of truth (cf. Pharaoh's magicians in Ex. 7-10).  A prophet or a dreamer's prediction may come true, but if his message contradicted God's commands, the people were to trust God and his word rather than such experience.  Let us go after other gods.  The explicit temptation was to renounce allegiance to the Lord and go after other gods.  The result of this apostacy would be the serving of these false gods by worshiping them, which would be in direct contradiction to the first commandment (Deut. 5:7).

13:3 The LORD your God is testing you.  God, in his sovereignty, allowed the false prophets to entice the people to apostasy to test the true disposition of the hearts of the Israelites.  And while the temptation was dangerous, the overcoming of that temptation would strengthen the people in their love for God and obedience to his commandments. Cf. 6:5.

13:5  purge the evil from your midst.  The object of the severe penalty was not only the punishment of the evildoer, but also the preservation of the community.  Paul must have had this text in mind when he gave a similar command to the Corinthian church (cf. 1 Cor. 5:13; also Deut. 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 24:7).

Explanation for 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 from The MacArthur Study Bible, page 1690.

5:12-13  outsiders.  Paul never intended himself or the church to be judges of unbelievers outside the church, but to judge those inside (cf. 1 Pet. 4:17).  Those on the outside are for God to judge and believers to evangelize.  Those who sin on the inside, the church is to put out.  First Corinthians 5:13 is quoted from Deut. 17:7.

Explanation for 1 Peter 4:17 from The MacArthur Study Bible, page 1896.

4:17  judgment. . .household of God.  Not condemnation, but the purging, chastening, and purifying of the church by the loving hand of God.  It is far better and more important to kingdom work to endure suffering as the Lord purges and strengthens the church, than to endure the eternal sufferings of the unbeliever in the lake of fire.  And, if God so strongly and painfully judges his church, which he loves, what will be his fury on the ungodly?

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus,  I lift up those reading this to You today.  I pray that You will protect our hearts and our minds so that we will not be deceived by false prophets or false gospels.  I pray that the truth of the Bible will be made evident to all.  I say these things in Jesus' name.  Amen.

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Quiet Prayers

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."  I Timothy 2:1-6 ESV

"Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear--but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."  1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV

Explanation for  I Timothy 2:1-6 from The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, page1814-1815.

2:1-8, The Ephesian church had evidently stopped praying for the lost, since Paul urged Timothy to make it a priority again.  The Judaistic false teachers in Ephesus, by a perverted gospel and the teaching that salvation was only for Jews and Gentile proselytes to Judiasm, would have certainly restricted evangelistic praying.  Religious exclusivism (salvation only for the elite) would preclude the need for prayer for the lost.

2:1 supplications.  The Greek word is from a root that means "to lack", "to be deprived", or "to be without."  Thus this kind of prayer occurs because of a need.  The lost have a great need for salvation, and believers should always be asking God to meet that need.  intercessions.  This word comes from a root meaning "to fall in with someone," or "to draw near so as to speak intimately."  The verb from which this word derives is used of Christ's and the Spirit's intercession for believers (Rom. 8:26; Heb. 7:25).  Paul's desire is for the Ephesian Christians to have compassion for the lost, to understand the depths of their pain and misery, and to come intimately to God pleading for their salvation.  See notes on Titus 3:3-4.  all people. The lost in general, not the elect only.  God's decree of election is secret--believers have no way of knowing who is elect until they respond.  The scope of God's evangelistic efforts is broader than election (Matt. 22:14; John 17:21, 23; see note on 1 Tim. 2:4)

2:2 kings and all who are in high postions.  Because so many powerful and influential political rulers are hostile to God, they are often the targets of bitterness and animosity.  But Paul urges believers to pray that these leaders might repent of their sins and embrace the gospel, which meant that the Ephesians were even to pray for the salvation of the Roman emperor, Nero, a cruel and vicious blasphemer and persecutor of the faith.  a peaceful and quiet life.  "Quiet" refers to the absence of external disturbances; "peaceful" refers to the absence of internal ones.  While it remains uncompromising in it commitment to the truth, the church is not to agitate of disrupt the national life.  When it manifests love and goodness to all and prays passionately for the lost, including rulers, the church may experience a certain amount of religious freedom.  Persecution should only be the result of righteous living, not civil disobedience (see notes on Titus 3:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-23)  godly and dignified. "Godly" is a key word in this letter (I Tim. 3:16; 4:7-8; 6:3, 5-6, 11: cf. 2 Tim. 3:5; Titus 1:1), indicating that there needed to be a call back to holy living, which had been negatively affected by the false doctrine.  Godliness refers to having the proper attitude and conduct before God in everything, "dignified" can be translated "moral earnestness," and refers to holy behavior before men.

2:4 desires all people to be saved.  The Greek word for "desires" is not that which normally expresses God's will of decree (his eternal purpose), but God's will of desire.  There is a distinction between God's desire and his eternal saving purpose, which must transcend his desires.  God does not want men to sin.  He hates sin with all his being (Ps. 5:4; 45:7); thus, he hates its consequences--eternal wickedness in hell.  God does not want people to remain wicked forever in eternal remorse and hatred of himself.  Yet, God, for his own glory, and to manifest that glory in wrath, chose to endure "vessels. . .prepared  for destruction" for the supreme fulfillment of his will (Rom. 9:22).  In his eternal purpose he chose only the elect out of the world (John 17:6) and passed over the rest, leaving them to the consequence of their sin, unbelief, and rejection of Christ (cf. Rom. 1:18-32).  Ultimately, God's choices are determined by his sovereign, eternal purpose, not his desires.  See note on 2 Pet. 3:9.  the knowledge of the truth.  Meaning "to be saved." See note on 2 Tim. 3:7

2:5 there is one God.  There is no other way of salvation (Acts 4:12); hence there is the need to pray for the lost to come to know the one true God (cf. Deut. 4:35, 39; 6:4; Isa. 43:10; 44:6; 45:5-6, 21, 22; 46:9; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6)  mediator.  This refers to someone who intervenes between two parties to resolve a conflict or ratify a covenant Jesus Christ is the only "mediator" who can restore peace between God and sinners (Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24).  the man Christ Jesus.  The absence of the article before "man" in the Greek suggests the translation, "Christ Jesus, himself a man."  Only the perfect God-Man could bring God and man together. Cf. Job 9:32-33.

2:6 a ransom.  This describes the result of Christ's substitutionary death for believers, which he did voluntarily (John 10:17-18), and reminds one of Christ's own statement in Matt. 20:28, "a ransom for many."  The "all" is qualified by the "many."  Not all will be ransomed  (though his death would be sufficient), but only the many who believe by the work of the Holy Spirit and for whom the actual atonement was made.  See note on 2 Pet. 3:9.  Christ did not pay a ransom only; he became the object of God's just wrath in the believer's place--he died his death and bore his sin (cf 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24).   for all. This should be taken in two sensees: 1) there are temporal benefits of the atonement that accrue to all people universally (see note on 1 Tim. 4:10), and 2) Christ's death was sufficient to cover the sins of all people.  Yet the subsitutionary aspect of his death is applied to the elect alone (see above and notes on 2 Cor. 5:14-21).  Christ's death is therefore unlimited in its sufficiency, but limited in its application.  Because Christ's expiation of sin is indivisible, inexhaustible, and sufficient to cover the guilt of all the sins that will ever be committed, God can clearly offer it to all.  Yet only the elect will respond and be saved, according to his eternal purpose (cf. John17:12). 
at the proper time.  At the appropriate time in God's redemptive plan (see note on Gal. 4:4).

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus I lift up everyone who is reading your Word today.  I pray that You will open their eyes to the truth of the one and only Gospel found in the Bible.  I pray for the unsaved that they will hear with their ears and see with their eyes the truth of salvation in Jesus Christ.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

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