For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be
saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1 Tim 2:3-4 (KJV)
It is good and acceptable that we
pray the way we Paul mentions in verses 1-2 of chapter 2. “Because God would
have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God
desires ALL to come to Christ, yet He has given them a free will to choose
Christ. God knows that “few find the narrow gate that leads to life” yet He
desires (wishes, hopes, a feeling/longing of the heart) “that none would
perish” in Hell. God wants people to be saved, He sacrificed is Son for
everyone to prove that and offers them a free gift of salvation that is simply
received by acknowledging our sin by confessing that we are sinners and that
Jesus Christ is our Savior who died and rose again (Romans 10). Sadly, many
never accept that gift and the empowerment to live a life of following the Lord.
Because the simple truth that we don’t even have the strength, dedication, and
willpower to follow the Lord all of our days, No, it is God who must give us
that strength, and He does as we depend on Him day by day. That is why we are
to “deny ourselves daily and take up our cross and follow Him.” This is the
Gospel—the Good News!
God desires that all come to a knowledge of
the truth. While it does not list what that truth is here, in light of the
whole context of Scripture, the following Scriptural truths come to my mind: an
eternal Heaven and Hell, Salvation in Christ, a coming judgment day, mankind’s
depravity (sinfulness), forgiveness in Christ, new life in Christ,
reconciliation with God and an intimate relationship with Him, new power for
living and witnessing in the Holy Spirit, and God’s sovereign and awesome power
over everything.
