Only One Right Answer
1 Timothy 2:3-6 NLT
3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For,
There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.
This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.
When I was in school, I appreciated multiple-choice tests. If I did not know exactly what the right answer was, I could possibly recognize it or have a twenty-five percent chance of guessing correctly. The world we live in likes to proclaim that there are many paths to God. There is Buddha, Hinduism, being a spiritual person with your own truth. But Paul makes it very clear in our passage for today that there is only one right answer. The man Christ Jesus.
There is only one God, not many. And only one who is the Mediator between God and humanity. Not many mediators, so pick one. Man is not his own mediator. Man has sinned, so it would take a sinless mediator to bridge the gap between God and man. Jesus was that sinless one who came as a man and then gave His life to purchase freedom for all. So does that mean everyone is saved? One right answer here as well. No.
God’s will is for all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. If that is God’s will, why isn’t everyone saved? Salvation has been purchased for all humanity by Christ Jesus. He was the perfect Mediator who paid a price none of us could pay. But it’s one thing to have salvation available and another to receive what is available. God’s love gave mankind a choice.
We can believe what Jesus has done for us and receive Him as our Savior and Lord. Or we can choose another path and refuse the salvation that has been provided. This is why Paul admonished Timothy to pray for all men and for those in authority. God wants all saved, so we are praying that they would see the truth and accept the salvation that is in Jesus.
Some still argue that Christianity is too exclusive; that other people and their beliefs should be respected. Although treating all with respect is certainly within our capacity, accepting their beliefs as truth is non-negotiable. There is only one right answer. One God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. We are not being harsh when we declare Jesus to be the only way to God. We love people and don’t want them choosing a wrong answer—because this is a test they can’t afford to fail.
Prayer
Father, I believe You are the only God. And I believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation and a union with You. Thank You for the simple truth and only one right choice.