For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Paul's instruction to Timothy is to be read and obeyed when dealing with falsehood, prejudice, and unreasonable and wicked men. It directs aggressive work on Bible principles with Christlike simplicity, patience, forbearance, and love, seeking to convince and not to condemn. It calls for uplifting Christ before those in error as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, exalting the law of God as binding on believers with Jesus Christ and on all who love Him and keep His commandments, and revealing love for souls for whom Christ died. It requires using spiritual weapons mighty to the pulling down of strongholds instead of retaliation and unchristlike attributes.
The “this” that is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour is making supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all people, the prayer and concern described in the surrounding verses. It is also good and acceptable to God our Saviour for people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, reflecting His will that all men be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. Salvation is offered to everyone with no one excluded by an unchangeable decree. Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all, and the Spirit is freely given to enable everyone to take hold of salvation, while people fail to receive it only by willfully refusing the gift of life.
This divine approval requires using every resource to enlarge God’s kingdom, laboring without idleness to widen the work until it encircles the world. Every believer is to join in earnest gospel invitations and wholehearted efforts to lead thirsty souls to life and salvation. The knowledge of God is eternal life, and learning to walk humbly with God, obey His commandments, and bear the cross daily gives knowledge that fits a person for this life and the life to come.
Paul's instruction to Timothy is to be read and obeyed when dealing with falsehood, prejudice, and unreasonable and wicked men. It directs aggressive work on Bible principles with Christlike simplicity, patience, forbearance, and love, seeking to convince and not to condemn. It calls for uplifting Christ before those in error as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, exalting the law of God as binding on believers with Jesus Christ and on all who love Him and keep His commandments, and revealing love for souls for whom Christ died. It requires using spiritual weapons mighty to the pulling down of strongholds instead of retaliation and unchristlike attributes.
The “this” that is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour is making supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all people, the prayer and concern described in the surrounding verses. It is also good and acceptable to God our Saviour for people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, reflecting His will that all men be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. Salvation is offered to everyone with no one excluded by an unchangeable decree. Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all, and the Spirit is freely given to enable everyone to take hold of salvation, while people fail to receive it only by willfully refusing the gift of life.
This divine approval requires using every resource to enlarge God’s kingdom, laboring without idleness to widen the work until it encircles the world. Every believer is to join in earnest gospel invitations and wholehearted efforts to lead thirsty souls to life and salvation. The knowledge of God is eternal life, and learning to walk humbly with God, obey His commandments, and bear the cross daily gives knowledge that fits a person for this life and the life to come.