ONE MEDIATOR

Passage: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Key verse: 5

NIV

Instructions on Worship

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,(A) intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority,(B) that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness(C) and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases(D) God our Savior,(E) 4 who wants(F) all people(G) to be saved(H) and to come to a knowledge of the truth.(I) 5 For there is one God(J) and one mediator(K) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,(L) 6 who gave himself as a ransom(M) for all people. This has now been witnessed to(N) at the proper time.(O) 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying(P)—and a true and faithful teacher(Q) of the Gentiles.(R)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Pray for All People

2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 (A)for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and (B)dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and (C)it is pleasing in the sight of (D)God our Savior, 4 who desires (E)all people to be saved and (F)to come to (G)the knowledge of the truth. 5 For (H)there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a] Christ Jesus, 6 (I)who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is (J)the testimony given (K)at the proper time. 7 (L)For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle ((M)I am telling the truth, I am not lying), (N)a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Timothy 2:5 men and man render the same Greek word that is translated people in verses 1 and 4
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul urges that prayers be made for all people, and he especially mentions kings and people in authority. It didn’t matter what their religious beliefs were or political ideology. Paul urges us to simply pray for them. When we pray, God can work out his will through them by his grace and power. Through our faithful prayers, God uses those in authority to instill peace and order that allows Christians to thrive, and the gospel to spread.

We should pray for others to meet Christ as their Mediator. This is the realm in which Christ displays his authority. Christ is our one and only Mediator, who opens the way for sinful, rebellious people to come back to God. We all are enemies of God, but through Christ our Mediator, we are forgiven. We receive mercy and pardon for all our sins, and we enter the glorious kingdom of God.

Through our prayers and service to the Lord, the entire world can be conquered by the gospel. While getting stoned to death, Stephen prayed for Saul’s forgiveness, and the Risen Christ himself visited Saul and called him to be his apostle, a light to the Gentiles. May we also be intercessors of prayer to lead the lost to our Mediator Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us Jesus to be our Mediator. Help us pray for others urgently.

One Word: Christ the Mediator saves all who come to him for mercy