More reasons to pray for people who are hard to love. And also, did Jesus die for all people?

(5a) For there is one God…

Remember, this is in the context of Paul commanding pastors to lead churches in praying for their enemies – because it reflects the gospel – that Jesus Christ saves those who hate him.

And here he gives us further reason to pray. He’s already said that salvation comes to all types of people without distinguishing based on background. And now he says ‘for there is one God.’

Why? We sometimes take it for granted that there is one God, I think. We grew up in a very monotheistic culture. People may not be Christians, but they believe in one God. But back in the day, there were national gods. Gods for this, gods for that.

But there is one God, and he treats people the same way. Whenever Paul uses this expression, it’s similar to how he does it in Rom. 3:30: “God is one – who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.”

In other words, God treats all types of people the same. Justification, and thus, salvation, are offered to all types of people through faith. There aren’t different ‘requirements’ based on background.

So, God loves all types of people in similar fashion – salvation is by grace through faith alone – and we’re to love without distinction as well – and that should show up as we pray.

(5b) and there is one mediator between God and men…

Paul gives further argument for why God loves all types of people the same way. There’s only one mediator – Jesus. What’s that mean?

In Hebrews, especially chapters 8 and 9, we see Christ’s mediator role played out. He mediates between God and men based on his death for the sins of his people. His mediation is based on his blood and saves everyone for whom he mediates – because God’s wrath against them was satisfied in Jesus’ death.

In other words – people don’t get saved different ways – it’s all through the death of Jesus. It’s all through Jesus being the mediator for all types of people.

In other words – Jesus is our mediator. We’re sinners. We don’t deserve a mediator. But by God’s love, we have one. We should pray that Jesus mediates for all sorts of sinners.

(5c) …the man Christ Jesus

Paul identifies our mediator in 3 ways – as a human, as the Messiah, and the person Jesus. It’s significant that he was a human. Rom. 5:15 draws this out – through one man came condemnation; through another man, justification. Our mediator had to identify with us – and had to be human.

He’s the Messiah – the King. He reigns and he saves.

And it’s Jesus – the historical figure, who lived 2,000 years ago in Palestine.

Let us remember our mediator! He loves, he saves by his love and based on no goodness or worth in us. And so we pray for other sinners.

(6a) who gave himself as a ransom for all...

This man, this Messiah, this King, this Savior, this Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all. Again, though, we must see the word ‘all’ meaning ‘all types.’ All has meant this so far in the passage. And further, ‘all’ cannot mean ‘all without exception’ here because of the word ‘ransom.’

A ransom, or redemption price, is the thing exchanged for the freedom of another. In this case, it’s Jesus being exchanged for all types of people.

In that exchange, we get all the rewards that Jesus earned by being obedient to God. And he got all the punishment that we earned by being disobedient to God.

So Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all types of people, not all people without exception. Why? Three reasons.

First, the thrust of the passage is that we should love all types of people regardless of background and pray for them. It is silly to think we should pray for every individual on earth.

Second, the phrase ‘God is one’ is an indicator that Paul has types of people in mind – that God justifies all types by faith.

Third, Jesus does not mediate for all people. His mediation means that they will be saved. And here, his mediation is connected to his being a ransom.

Fourth, if an exchange has been made, then those for whom the exchange has been made are free. Are all free? No. But all types of people are.

Thus, because God doesn’t distinguish between types of people based on background – neither should we! We love because he loved us who hated him.

And more than that – we love and pray because Jesus DIED for all types of people. It is intrinsic to the gospel that we be patient, suffer wrong, and love others. Jesus did for us, and we should do so for others.

(6b) …the testimony given at the proper time

Jesus’ death here bears witness at a ‘proper time.’ This begs several questions.

What is Jesus’ death a witness to? And why was that the ‘proper time’?

First answer – Jesus death is for all types of people! It is no longer for Jews only – and so God bears witness to his saving of the whole world through faith in the work of Jesus the Messiah. (We see this in the next verse where Paul talks about his ministry – preaching to Gentiles!)

You want proof that God loves all without distinction based on what you may have done – based on your background – based on anything? Look to Jesus’ death. He has died in the places of all types of people – and they are all saved on one basis – not their works, but Jesus’ work alone.

And God did this at the ‘proper time’…

Second answer – I don’t really know. Perhaps we should just take note of the fact that in the all-wise God’s determination it was the right time.

I will say this – an alternate translation of the phrase would be that it was the testimony at its own time. The idea is that it happened as God determined it would. And when.

This reminds us that God acts in grace according to his own timetable. If the most important event in world history – Jesus’ death and resurrection – was something that happened when God wanted it to, how much more should we be patient on his timing for all things?

Regardless – at that time in world history God revealed his love for the world – Jesus died for people from every nation – and ransomed them. All are saved by grace mediated by the man Jesus Christ. So let us love. And let us pray.

In sum,

1) There is one God who treats people without distinction based on background.
2) There is one way of salvation for all people – the mediation of Jesus Christ.
3) The mediation of Jesus Christ works via his exchanging himself for people of every type.
4) Jesus’ death shows us that salvation is offered to all without distinction, since all are saved the same way.
5) And this has all happened according to God’s timetable.

Let’s pray –

God, this is the most important truth we could muster – that Jesus is our living mediator because he died, suffering the wrath we deserve. You’ve shown us that salvation is all grace – it’s not us, it’s you. It always was. And you rescue whoever will trust in your Son. And it doesn’t matter what’s in our pasts – your love isn’t based on us – but on your free will. Thank you!

Father, let these truths sink in so we can love people without judging them based on their background – let alone how they treat us.

Thank you, Father, for loving us. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for us. Thank you, Spirit, for converting us to faith and applying the benefits Jesus died for to us.

For Christ’s sake,
Amen.