Today’s reading: 1 Chron 1:1–54, 1 Tim 2:1–15, Ps 74:1–23
Today’s theme: Salvation for All Nations
Today’s reading is filled with references to the historical Adam and his very real descendants in all humanity. It refers to Jesus Christ, the actual descendant of Adam who is the only mediator between the sons of Adam and God. He desires that people from every nation (people group), tribe and tongue (language) be saved.
We are encouraged to pray for those who rule so the Gospel can spread to all people freely.
1 Chronicles 1:1–54
The historical Adam
Adam, Seth, Enosh; 1 Chronicles 1:1 (ESV)
Modern scholars, in a cowardly attempt to shoe horn the scriptures to fit into the story presented by the unproven naturalistic theory of evolution, have discounted Adam and Eve as either mythical figures or as the first ape-men that God specially selected from all the other Neanderthals… seriously… I know it just sounds crazy but that is what some are teaching in order to find acceptance in the worlds academies.
The bible actually teaches that Adam and Eve were the first ever created humans and that we are all descended from them. They were actual historical people as demonstrated by this and other biblical genealogies.
The historical person of Adam is so vital to the gospel message in terms of our bondage under sin and salvation in Jesus that Paul refers to Adam often. See Romans 5:14-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 for example.
The cursed descendants of Ham
Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. 1 Chronicles 1:13–16 (ESV)
It is of note that the descendants of Canaan did not populate Africa as many are led to believe. They in fact populated the land of Canaan in the Middle East.
1 Timothy 2:1–15
Pray for leaders
for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)
God wants us to pray for all people, not just an elect few who meet a certain criteria. Specifically we should pray for leaders so that the church and the gospel can flourish in freedom and peace. The reason for this is so that the message can spread to all peoples because God desires all types of people to be saved. We need to have the freedom to preach the message everywhere to all people.
Salvation for all people’s
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)
God doesn’t just want to save the Jews or those with the “secret knowledge” as the false teachers were proposing (see previous chapter). No, God wants salvation to be made available to all peoples for all nations, tribes and tongues.
This does not discount the fact that God chooses those that are saved as taught elsewhere. God’s desired will, as displayed here, and God’s decreed will, as seen in election, are two different things. God’s desired will is not enforced whereas God’s decreed will is.
Jesus the only Mediator
there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5–6 (ESV)
Jesus, not Mary is our mediator. Universalists take this scripture and twist it to say all have been ransomed. As mentioned before, the all cannot be interpreted as everyone who ever lived but all in terms of type. Christ died for people from every nation and station in life.
Leadership is male
For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 1 Timothy 2:13–14 (ESV)
More evidence of the historical Adam as we mentioned in our note on the Old Testament reading today. This is also Paul’s rationale for male eldership and leadership in the church.
It is getting harder to affirm the truth that leadership is male in today’s society but we must hold firm to the truthful teaching of the bible in spite of cultural moods.
Psalm 74:1–23
Jesus is King
Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Psalm 74:12 (ESV)
Our God is the true King, Jesus is the king of our salvation.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
Additional resources
Desiring God on 1 Timothy 2