- God desires all men to be saved: (2:3-4): God desires that all human beings to have a genuine response to His calling. He will not automatically save people. He gave free will to all human beings. That’s why God wants us to be evangelists, Missionaries to witness before all human beings. “How, then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? (Rom.10:14-15). God doesn’t want anyone to perish. The Lord is delaying His judgement so that more and more sinners may come to know Him. We must count His patience as our salvation (2 Pet.3:15a). The Salvation depends on knowledge of the truth. There are so many people yet to hear the Gospel. At the same time, some people rejected the Gospel even after hearing. We cannot explain the mystery of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility.
- One God and one Mediator: (2:5): Christ is the only mediator and the only way. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn.14:6). Many people live honest lives and think that they can get to God. Unless they come to Christ and accept the free gift of salvation, they cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Pro.14:12).
- Christ Jesus gave Himself as a ransom: (2:6): Jesus Christ gave His life as a ransom to our sin. A ransom is paid to liberate us from sin. He stood as a mediator and exchanged His life for our life. By His death He paid our penalty of our sin. God could have sent His arch angel or someone else to die in His place. Because He loved us so much that He gave Himself as a ransom for us so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. This is very difficult to comprehend for human understanding.
- Paul appointed as a herald and an apostle: (2:7): Paul began his ministry with an equal emphasis to both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 13), but because of continued rejection by Jews, Paul began to emphasize his ministry to the Gentiles. Paul was an eye-witness of the risen Christ, whereas the other apostles saw Christ in flesh. Initially he was Saul persecuting the church and the Christians all over. But God had shown His abounding grace to bring Paul back into one of His strong witnesses through Damascus
- Our attitude in prayer: (2:8): Paul says that “men should lift up holy hands in prayer without anger or disputing.” In the first century, both men and women prayed in the early church (1 Cor.11:4-5). It was common to find women’s prayer meetings (Acts 16:13). But Paul is emphasizing on men’s prayer meetings. It was customary for Jewish men to pray lifting their hands to There are many prayer postures found in the Bible, viz.
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- Standing with outstretched arms: (1 Ki. 8:22). (Solomon’s dedication prayer)
- Kneeling down: (Dan. 6:10). (Daniel prayed 3-times a day).
- Standing: (Lk. 18:11, Neh.2:4) (Pharisee’s prayer).
- Sitting: (2 Sam. 7:18) – David’s prayer before becoming a king.
- Bowing head: (Gen. 24:26) – Nahor’s prayer after meeting Rebeka for Isaac’s alliance after knowing God’s clear guidance.
- Lifting the eyes: (Jn.17:1). – Jesus looked towards the heaven and prayed “Father the hour has come..
- Falling to the ground: (Gen. 17:3). – Abraham fell face down and God said to him. “As for me this is My Covenant…
The important thing is not the posture of the body but the posture of the heart. But whatever may the posture, when we pray we must have 2-conditions fulfilled for an effective prayer. They are
- Holy hands: This means the clean hands or clean heart. Every believer must come to prayer with a pure heart, lest his prayers will not be answered or even heard. He must lead a blameless life. David asks God: “Search me O God, and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps.139:23-24)
- Without anger or dispute: A believer who is in dispute or in anger with someone cannot pray meaningfully. A person who is a trouble maker cannot live in peace with in the society or in the church. His prayers will be un answered.
Effective prayer requires right relationship with God and as well as with our brethren.