Paul had been urging Timothy to pray for the community leaders that they would allow space for the Gospel to be shared and believed (1 Timothy 2:1-4).  In a culture of competing religious ideas, the Gospel of Jesus was, and is, radical.  Paul reminded Timothy that God is not one of many gods; there is only one God.  No other god has a living personality characterised by patient holiness, abundant love and power to bless; they are inventions of the human mind and have no substance.  

The desire to find God is a universal human quest; and in Jesus that quest finds its fulfilment.  Jesus Christ, God in a human body, is the only mediator between God who is holy, and human beings who are unholy.  Ever since people first disobeyed God (Genesis 3:1-7), the human race has been held captive by sin and Satan.  When Jesus died, His own life blood was the ransom price to rescue sinners from eternal condemnation.  Those who believe in Him are released from their spiritual bondage and receive eternal life (John 3:16-18).  

Paul knew his job.  He knew that God had appointed him to tell the Gentiles (Galatians 2:8), people who had no knowledge of the only true God, that Jesus is the only way to be reconciled to Him (John 14:6).  Paul urged his assistant Timothy to keep proclaiming the same Gospel.

The message remains potent today.  It shows the only way by which sinners can be set free from guilt and shame as they discover that they have a friend in Jesus and become children of God.  If you know Jesus as your friend, then tell somebody else!  The message has life-changing and eternity-changing consequences; it is far too important to hide away.  Its truth enables people everywhere to burst through religious fog into the sunshine of God’s presence (www.crosscheck.org.uk).