SUPPORT GSPS |
The Gold, Silver, Precious Stones team appreciates your contributions in support of this work. Please send your correspondence to:
Gold, Silver, Precious Stones
P.O. Box 240
Harvest, AL 35749
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Questions and Answers
AUTHOR(S): | Hassell, Sylvester
Pittman, R. H. |
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Views on Scripture Requested
A brother in Georgia requests the Editor's opinion on the following scripture, especially verses 3, 4 and 5:
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (I Tim. 2:1-5.)
Who will have all men to be saved?:
All men agreeable to the context, kings and peasants, rich and poor, bond and free, young and old, all classes and conditions of sinners. Therefore all are to be prayed for. God has a people, an elect people, among all nations, races and peoples. Jesus said, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." Jesus also said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." God, by his all-mighty power, draws to the Son all classes and conditions of men given to Him. He draws from death in sin to a life in Christ, from nature to grace. He cannot fail. If He gave all the race of men to Jesus, then all the race of men will be saved. God's ordaining, purposing and determining will, can never be resisted so as to be frustrated, but is always accomplished. Election is true: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world." All the race became sinners: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned." (Rom. 5:12). God could have left all the race in sin, saved none, and remained just. But through mercy, some are saved. How many, we know not. But we do believe that as many of all the race as God gave the Son, will come to Him. And all who are saved, God wills they should be saved.
Our brother also asks what is meant by I Tim. 5:9, which reads:
"Let not a widow be taken into the number under three score years old, having been the wife of one man."
This has reference to widows who should be maintained by the church. It would seem that widows under sixty years of age were supposed to be capable of labor, or might marry, and therefore not be desolate or dependent upon the care of the church. Widows above that age became a care upon their brethren and sisters if they had no way of support or others to care for them, and if they had "been the wife of one man," that is, one at a time. Other evidences were also necessary for such aged widows to become worthy charges to the church. They must have been, "Well reported for good works; if she have brought up children, of she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work." If aged widows have a good report by both the members of the church and those that are without, and if they have done such good works as mentioned - all of which are private duties - then they should receive help from their brethren and sisters when they are in need.
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