This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 

                                                                                                      1 Timothy 2:3-6

This week, we have been looking at what it means to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge. This knowledge is relational, as opposed to merely being intellectual. It is knowing that mankind is justified through faith in Jesus and not by works of the Law. It is having a zeal for God but in accordance with the understanding that experiencing God’s love is through faith. And this knowledge, that salvation, forgiveness, and spiritual freedom are available by faith in Jesus, is to be proclaimed to everyone (Mark 16:15). Our passage today tells us that God desires all mankind to be saved and to come to this life giving, saving knowledge. The word being used in this passage for “men” can be translated mankind and literally means “humans.” The idea being conveyed is, literally, that God is willing for all mankind to be saved. For God didn’t send Jesus for the condemnation of the world, rather that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:17). So just as sin came to all mankind through the one act of disobedience in Adam, the one act of righteousness by Jesus on the cross brings justification of life to all mankind (Romans 5:18). So why doesn’t everyone receive salvation through Jesus? The Bible informs us of two things that prohibit this transformation. (1) Our spiritual enemy is working against the gospel by trying to conceal it from humanity (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Jesus teaches this same concept in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:19, Mark 4:15, Luke 8:12). The “god of this world” is referring to Satan (who is our adversary) and is also described as the evil one and the devil (slanderer). Scripture tells us that he works to keep the gospel out of the hearts of the unsaved so that they will not come to the knowledge of the truth. No wonder he stirs up so many divisions in the church, knowing that it is the church’s (every born again believer) main mission to preach and teach the good news. (2) There is a second obstacle to salvation, mankind himself. When the gospel is preached, it is often ignored or resisted simply because the hearer prefers to live life on his/her own terms. Light (Jesus) has come into the world but mankind loves darkness (their sin) more than they love the Light (John 3:19). Many refuse to come because they do not want to give an account to anyone about how they live their lives. Ironically, they will anyway. As believers it is our responsibility to share the love of Jesus with everyone that we can. We should care for our neighbor’s salvation as much as we care for our own. God desires all mankind to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. Why not spread that knowledge today!