…God our Savior, ⁴  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2:3-4).

I am acutely aware that today’s chapter contains matters that some probably find confusing or perhaps even controversial (such as the doctrine of election and the role of women in public worship). But as way of reminder, The Planting Place was never meant to engage in an exegetical study of the Scriptures.

Over these last two and a half years, and for the remainder of our three-year journey reading through every page of the Bible, our goal remains the same: that we might seek the glorious privilege of seeing Him increase in every chapter. So, we will leave subjects that raise questions or disputes to the scholars, or whoever else feels so inclined to dig in that realm. But for us, we ask that the words of John the Baptist continue to guide the steps of our quest.

“He must increase, but I must decrease,” (John 3:30).

Now, back to our focus for today.

…God our Savior, ⁴  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2:3-4).

In the Greek, when Paul wrote, “God our Savior… desires all people” that is exactly what he meant.

From Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

Desire: “2309. θέλω thélō; fut. thelḗsō. To will, wish, desire, implying active volition and purpose.”

All: “3956. πάς pás; fem. pása, neut. pán, masc. gen. pantós, fem. gen. pásēs, neut. gen. pantós. All... Includes the idea of oneness, a totality or the whole, the same as hólos (3650), the whole.”

People: “444. ἄνθρωπος ánthrōpos; gen. anthrṓpou, masc., fem. noun. Man, a generic name in distinction from gods and the animals.”

And because All Scripture is God breathed, All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), then this has to be exactly what God meant as well.

So we will leave discussions of His election, calling, and choosing, and discussions of women’s roles in church assemblies behind, to consider His Desire for All People.

Consider His Desire for All People

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time, (2:3-6).

• He Desires for All People to be saved.
  • …God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved…

• He Desires for All People to come to the Knowledge of the Truth:
  • …and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
    • He Desires for All People to Know Truth: there is One God.
      • For there is one God…
    • He Desires for All People to Know Truth: there is One Mediator between God and mankind.
      • …and one mediator also between God and mankind…
    • He Desires for All People to Know Truth: the man Christ Jesus is that One Mediator.
      •  the man Christ Jesus…
    • He Desires for All People to Know Truth: the man Christ Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for All.
      • who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
    • He Desires for All People to know Truth: there is salvation in no other name.
      • “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12).

How do we respond to His Desire for All People?

Aren’t you thankful for His Desire for All People? For when we have been ransomed, saved, and raised to new life in Christ, it is because we have responded in faith to the Father’s Desire that drew us to the Son.

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day, (John 6:44).

And if we have come to know Him as our Father, it is because we have responded to His Desire that we would be saved through faith in the Only Way, the Only Truth, the Only Life, His Only Son.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” (John 16:4).

And if we have come to new life through the Truth of the Gospel, it is because we have responded in faith and repentance to His Desire that we be washed and renewed by the Holy Spirit and justified by His grace.

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life, (Titus 3:5-7).

Oh, how very much we have to be thankful for. And when we are truly thankful, when we realize that we are a part of His Kingdom because of His Desire for All People, how can we possibly hoard that blessing?

Let us pray that He will give us His Desire for All People, that we would pray for His will for our government and all those in authority.

First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, ² for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity, (2:2).

Let us pray that He will give us His Desire for All People, that we would carry the light of the gospel that brings salvation wherever we go.

“For so the Lord has commanded us,
‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles,
That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth,’” (Acts 13:47).

And oh, let us pray that He will give us His Desire for All People that we would love Him with all that we are so that we can then love our neighbor as He has loved us.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-50).

Oh, that we would find our greatest joy and delight in knowing and loving Him with all our heart and soul and mind, that the desires of our heart would become His Desire for All People.

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart, (Psalm 37:4).

Let’s Grow Together!