First Timothy, part 3

"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time." (1 Timothy 2:3-6, NIV)

Universalism is a popular theological theory. It is the idea that God it too loving to consign human beings to hell, so He opts instead to save everyone. It's popular because most people (myself included) don't like the notion of people suffering eternally in hell. It's comforting to think that God will give everyone a divine "do-over" in the afterlife. Universalism may be popular, but is it Biblical? Universalism seems to get a Biblical endorsement from a verse in this passage: [God] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Some proponents of universalism use this verse to support their thinking. If God wants all men (people) to be saved, then there really is nothing that can stop God from getting what He wants, right? However, as we shall see, the very next verse in this passage refutes the very notion of universalism.

A little context to set this passage in the proper light. Paul just finished giving Timothy the instruction to pray for everyone, especially our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). In verse 3, Paul gives the real motivation behind the instruction: This is good, and pleases God our Savior. Praying to God--bringing to Him our cares and our concerns--is pleasing to Him. One of the prayer requests God likes the most are prayers for the salvation of lost people. How do I know this? This is answered in the very next verse (the one universalists like to use): [God] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Our corporate prayers as a church for individuals pleases God because He wants everyone to be saved.

The tricky part in deciphering what this verse teaches is in the word "wants." The word "wants" (Gk. thelo) can be translated as "wishes" or "desires." Does God desire the salvation of everyone? Yes. In Ezekiel 18:23 (and also Ezekiel 18:31-32; 33:11), the prophet declares: "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" God wants, or desires, that sinful mankind repent and be saved. But, does God wanting something necessarily make it so? The Biblical answer is no. Just because God wants everybody to be saved doesn't mean, necessarily, that everyone will be saved. The Ten Commandments are a concise list of things God wants us to do. The very fact that no one is in perfect compliance with the Ten Commandments should serve as adequate proof that God wanting something doesn't mean it will come to pass.

Theologians have often distinguished between God's revealed will and God's secret will. The terms "revealed" and "secret" should be self-explanatory. God's revealed will is in the Bible and made known to everyone. These are the things that God wants us to do (or not to do). Compliance with God's revealed will brings blessing and reward, while non-compliance brings cursing and punishment. God's secret will is the private counsel within the Trinity where God governs every aspect of the universe. God's revealed can, and often is, defied and not followed. God's secret will always is carried out ("In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will" Ephesians 1:11).

Now, here is why universalism is invalid; the very next verse in the passage: For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. If universalism were true, then Jesus Christ was not necessary; He didn't need to come to earth; He didn't need to die! Paul writes that Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and man. A mediator is someone whose job is to reconcile two sides in a dispute; in this case the two opposing parties are God and man. What separates the two parties is sin ("For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:32). Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, condescended and took on a human form (cf. Hebrews 2:17) in order that He could represent both parties as mediator.

Jesus mediated by taking our sin and bearing God's full wrath for it on the cross: who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. Jesus Christ is that ransom for all men given in its proper time. Again, we have that phrase "all men" in this verse. Did Jesus Christ ransom everybody? Did He pay for the sins of all mankind? Yes! The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is completely sufficient to save everyone. However, that sacrifice, that ransom, only becomes efficacious if we exercise saving faith.

Universalism is not true. As much as God desires all men to be saved, He has provided the method, or means, to salvation. It is the only way to be saved. In order for God's love to flow abundantly in our lives, God's justice must be satisfied. God's justice can be satisfied in only one of two ways: (1) By laying our sins at the foot of the cross in humble submission; or (2) by an eternity in hell. The choice is yours.

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