One of the first and best things to do when we come to any part of the Bible is to ask such questions as—
  1.  What words or themes are in the text?
  2.  What should I learn about those things from this text?
Let us use 1 Timothy 2:3-6 as a sample passage in order to learn some things about sin and salvation.  And, let us do this with reference to the author (Paul: What was he telling Timothy?) and reader (Timothy: What was he supposed to learn?).
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
In answer to the question, “What words or themes are in the text?” there are at least three answers: God, Man, and the Solution to the problem between God and man.
In answer to the question, “What should I learn about these things from this text?” there are several significant answers.  Let us now examine them in order.
I.  What Should I learn About God from this Text?
The first thing to learn about God is that there are some things that are good and acceptable in His sight (v. 3a).  This point was made by Paul immediately after giving an outline of what would constitute acceptable prayer (vv. 1,2).  The lesson is obvious: Since there are things that are good and acceptable to Him, I ought to be finding out what they are and then I ought to do those things (and I ought not to do anything else!).
The second thing to learn about God is that there is a sense in which He can be my Savior.  Usually when we think of this word, we link it to Jesus (which is what the name “Jesus” means!).  But in this sentence, Paul used it to refer to the Father.  Salvation, therefore, finds its roots and ultimate meaning in Him and in His plan.  His ability to save us spiritually extends to all men.
The third thing to learn about God is that it is His desire (will) for all to be saved.  If anyone is lost, God wants him to be saved.  But we are all lost (Romans 3:9,10), so He wants us all to be saved.  He wants no one to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  So He has made it possible for “whosoever will” to be redeemed (Revelation 22:17).
II.  What Should I Learn About Man from this Text?
The first answer overlaps with the point just made: Man needs to be saved!  How many people in this world of six billion think that they need to be saved?  How many in our country of 300 million think that they need to be saved?  How many in our own community think that they need to be saved?  How many in our families think that they need to be saved?  Do I appreciate and understand my own need for salvation?
Sin is the word that opens up the door to let us get this point.  We need to understand what sin is, how God feels about it, what it does to us, where it will send us, what it cost Jesus...
Once we see sin for what it is—and that we have indeed all sinned—once we see that we will see that we all need to be saved.
The second answer helps to establish the link between sin and the solution: Sinners MUST come to the knowledge of the truth!  We must come out of the circle of ignorance and into the circle of knowledge.  The way to do this is to learn THE TRUTH—and the only way to do any of this is to use the Bible correctly (2 Timothy 2:15).
III.  What Should I Learn About the Solution from this Text?
The short answer to this question is that I need to learn about one mediator, one man, one ransom, and one testimony.  All of these words point me to one person:  Jesus Christ.
He is the one mediator (the go-between, the reconciler, the “umpire,” the advocate) who stands between us and God!  It is on His terms (as He received them from God; John 7:16,17), that we can be saved.
He is the one man (who was also God; John 1:1-18) Who can identify perfectly with everything that every person ever encounters (Hebrews 2:17,18; 4:14-16).
He is the one ransom who is valuable enough to redeem every single one of us from our sin and its eternal consequences.  And when He functions as our ransom—giving Himself up—He ends up with us anyway for He will conquer the enemy in every way! 
Finally, He is the One around whom all of the testimony revolves.  Through hundreds of prophecies, promises, and figures, the O.T. points us to Him.  Through hundreds of miracles, teachings, and tests, the life He lived testifies of His worthiness.  And through the confirmed word that lies open before us even now, we still can see Him as the one answer to every need.
In light of these facts, will you now apply the truth to yourself—coming to Jesus in faith, repentance, confession, and baptism in order to be saved?
In the first century, Paul, Timothy, and countless others learned and embraced these things—and they never looked back.  Today is the time for you and me to do the same.  Let us learn and embrace the themes of this text and be as useful in the kingdom today as they were then.
    — Skip Andrews
 
 

This psalm is quoted in Hebrews 10:5-7 as having its fulfillment in the earthly life of Jesus.  The section of Hebrews in which it is quoted is a lesson about the many differences between the sacrifice of Christ for sin and the sacrifices of the old law.  The quotation in Hebrews is directly from verses 6-8 of this psalm.  There are surely many applications that we can all make of this poem to ourselves as we note these four natural divisions:
I. God deserves praise (40:1-5).
II. God deserves obedience (40:6-8).
III. God deserves to have His story told  (40:9,10).
IV. God deserves to be called upon (40:11-17).

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.  Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered (vv. 1-5).

In the first five verses, the author presents four things that demonstrate the worthiness of Jehovah to receive praise. In verse one, David refers to the fact that since God hears (and answers) the cries of the distressed, He deserves to be praised.  In verse two, he tells his readers of the fact that God had brought him up out of his distress and placed him back on a firm foundation.  In verses three and four, his point is that God deserves praise because “He gave me a song!”  And in verse five, he uses the very frequent Old Testament theme of the “works” of God as reason enough to give Him the praise that He deserves.  In all of these points, it should be very easy for us to identify with David, with events in the life of Christ, in the lives of many people we have known, and in our own multitude of experiences.  Let us learn to properly use the situations of life as reasons to turn to Jehovah God and honor Him with thoughts and words of praise.

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart" (vv. 6-8). 

The second section of Psalm 40 teaches that God deserves obedience.  This is the section that is quoted in Hebrews 10 in reference to the obedience of Christ to all things that His Father had for Him to do (see John 4:34; 6:38; 8:29; 17:4; 19:30).  It does not teach that God has no desire for sacrifice, for it is in a section of Hebrews where the sacrifice of Christ is shown to be absolutely essential if our salvation is to be possible.  What it does teach is that if sacrifice is going to be accepted by God, it has to come from a person who has heard the whole will of God with “responsive ears” (Berkeley Version).  This section also teaches that the only kind of obedience that is acceptable is obedience that is willing to do WHATEVER God says we must do!  This clear teaching must sound strange to the many people who teach that “commandment keeping” is not anything more than “Phariseeism.”

I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly (vv. 9,10). 

The next section of this psalm contains the lesson that “His story” deserves to be told—and it deserves the widest audience possible (the whole congregation needs to hear).  His story is wrapped up in several key words, all of which point the person with responsive ears to the element of history, time, responsibility, priority, and eternity that INCLUDES God rather than excluding Him.  The words that are used here are “righteousness”, “faithfulness”, “salvation”, “loving-kindness”, and “truth”.  Let us remember to think of these words and their relation to God.  Let us interpret the Bible, and live our lives in light of these great Bible words so that we are not guilty of wasting the one life we have.

Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; Therefore my heart fails me. 
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me! Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who seek to destroy my life; Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor Who wish me evil. Let them be confounded because of their shame, Who say to me, "Aha, aha!" 
Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!" But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God (vv. 11-17). 

The final section of our study gives five points that emphasize that God deserves to be called upon (and let us also learn from this that He WANTS to be called upon; Acts 22:16).  The first of the points is that He provides (v.11).  He provides tender mercies and lovingkindness for our preservation.  If we abide in mercies and kindnesses, that preservation is continual.  The second of the points is about sin (vv.12, 13).  David’s personal experiences with the “surrounding” and “overtaking” powers of sin are brought out here to make the point that even in the circumstances when we have given in to temptation, Jehovah is accessible.  So, we should call—and it should be without delay!  The third of the points is that there are enemies to be faced by every person who tries to do that which is right (vv.14, 15).  At least some of those enemies will have ME as their target.  They will have confidence that they can overcome me (maybe because of previous victories over me!).  But I need to know that the “God Who can be called upon” is ready, willing, and able to get me through (see verses 1-5 again).  The fourth of the points is that there are other true seekers who call upon Him (v.16).  David’s holy desire is for their well being, joy and that they too will praise Him.  The fifth of the points is a personal statement of humility, praise, and need (v.17).  Let us learn to make these personal applications to Him, too.

How true it is that God deserves all of this from all of us for all of our lives!  How good it is that we know what He deserves and wants!  How urgent it is that we be about the business of offering Him that which He deserves!  And how wonderful it is that we have been offered the opportunity to be in an eternal home where we shall offer Him our praises forever!

  — Skip Andrews