I’ll attempt to answer the second question first. Paul’s instructions to Timothy have centered around three main goals: (1) Oppose false teachers, (2) Train people to be faithful students of Jesus, and (3) install faithful ministers. Paul is very clear in 1Tim 4:1—some people are departing the faith. Why are they departing? Some of the false teachers are teaching “deceitful spirits” and “teachings of demons.” In verse 2, Paul calls these false teachers insincere liars whose consciences are seared. If that’s true of these false teachers, that can only lead to one of two outcomes: either people believe them and are deceived and led in a self-destructive direction, or they begin to see through the deception and leave the faith altogether out of disillusionment.
So what does Paul want Timothy to do about it? He wants him to teach. Teach truth. Verse 6, “If you put these things before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ.” Verse 11, “Command and teach these things.” Verse 15, “Practice these things…. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Paul wants Timothy to teach about Jesus, to study Jesus, to imitate Jesus. He wants Timothy to explain how the scriptures speak about Jesus. This goal—that sinners would find hope in Jesus—is what motivates Timothy to teach; it's what motivates Timothy (and Paul) to toil and strive. Jesus, the Living God, is our only hope.
Now to the first question. How is it true that Jesus is the savior of all, and especially to those who believe? Jesus is the Savior of all because he complete re-frames the question about salvation. All of the false teachers in 1Timothy teach what Paul calls irreverent, silly myths. They forbid some things. The require abstinence from other things. For these people, salvation is earned by some kind of elaborate performance. Salvation is for insiders—those who have the right knowledge or the right pedigree or those who can keep the rules the best. According to Paul, Jesus turns this upside down. For Jesus, salvation is for outsiders. In Mark 2, Jesus speaks to a tax collector named Levi, calling him to become a disciple. The religious leaders murmured about Jesus, saying he eats with sinners! But Jesus said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” The irony is that we are all sinners—even (perhaps especially) those who think they are righteous.
Salvation cannot be earned. It can only be received. That’s why Paul says in verse 10, “to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God.” We can only realize hope in the living God when we recognize our need of him, and turn away from sin and self-orientation. Jesus is the savior of all because he purchased this salvation when he humbled himself to be born as a human in low circumstances, when he died at the hands of unjust men, and when he victoriously rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus is the savior of all people, because he has said he came to save sinners.
But the reality that shakes us to our core is that we are all sinners. One of the effects of the fall is that we tend to think our biggest problem is that we are just a little dirty—our solution is to clean ourselves up. Perhaps we are a little sick, and we need to see a doctor to help us recover. The Bible says, though, we are dead in our trespasses. There is no hope for us except in a resurrection—we need new life. Thanks be to God that our Savior rose from the dead. To be joined with that Savior through faith and repentance requires a work of the Holy Spirit by means of preaching the Gospel. That is why Timothy strives in the work of the ministry—because he has a gospel that can raise the dead, and he has a savior who keeps his promises. He is the savior especially (or particularly) of those who believe, because those are the people who effectively realize the hope he offers.
Are you a sinner? The Bible says you are. Far from an insult, the Bible simply highlights something that we all know is true down deep in our hearts. Good news, friends. If you are a sinner, then Jesus came to save you. Look to him today and find hope.
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