Faithfully Living in the Household of God: Christ the Mediator

Introduction:

Story of Hosea and Gomer: use this as the setting of your sermon. Explaining that we are Gomer and God is Hosea seeking us out reconciling us to himself through the work of Mediation by the Son.

The High Priest of Reconciliation:

The way that Paul frames this section allows us to see into the heart of God. For the primary focus of this section is the proper function and focus of the local church. As the faith in Ephesus has been shipwrecked because of false teachers , it is Timothy’s role to restore the church to faithfulness; and that begins with prayer. For prayer is the motor that drives healthy Christian living, individually and corporately, for it leads us to leave ourselves behind, and seek to conform ourselves to the desires of God the Father.

Therefore, as we continue our adventure through 1 Timothy, the heart of God is displayed for us to meditate on. This morning our focus is on the man Christ Jesus, who is the mediator between God the Father and men, who in His work of reconciliation presented Himself as a ransom to God the Father for all, which is the testimony of life given to the world at the proper time as designed by God the Father.

But what is a mediator? To have or require a mediator means that there is a controversy or a disagreement taking place. And to have controversy or disagreement in the sense that actions or words have lead to fighting of some sort, means naturally that there is a separation in fellowship of two parties, the Bible calls this a wall of hostility. What a mediator does then is seeks to reconcile two opposing parties in an effort to restore fellowship.

As we talk here we need to accept the reality of Who the opposing parties are. Paul has shown us who the opposing parties are. He says in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions.”

Showing that “all classes people” including kings, rulers and those in high positions constitute one side. Just to make sure that we fully understand, Paul says “all” or “all people” 3 times and then uses the general term “men” to indicate that one side of the opposing parties is the human race.

That means all people stand together in opposition to God. The Bible is clear that all of humanity either currently or at one time where enemies of God, as in Romans 5:10 “For if while we where enemies;” or “alienated and hostile in mind doing evil deeds”, as Colossians 1:21 states. Therefore the opposition that humanity harbors has a single focus, God, and it is displayed in our actions. For our actions display where our heart is, just as out of the heart the mouth speaks, so out of the heart we act.

As Gomer continually left Hosea and sought out other men to commit adultery with, so humanity likewise continually leaves the house of God and seeks out other gods to worship, committing spiritual adultery. Which creates hostility between God and men, this is the heart of sin and why Satan tempted Eve to sin. For sin makes a quarrel between God and man.

For it does not matter what your sin is, weather willful sin like adultery, or fornication, homosexuality, lying, stealing, hatred, murder or a host of other possibilities, your sin causes an eternal separation from God the Father. Because to sin is to reject God, which is to rebel against the law of existence, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul.

God exclusively possesses the authority to define truth, justice, and righteousness, as He is the singular entity with a sovereign will as the Creator. Consequently, He retains complete rights and supremacy over all of creation, for His wisdom far surpasses ours, and He has decisively established truth through His divine wisdom and rightful governance.

Thus, our sin is an act of hostility against God, wherein we arrogantly assert a false right to be our own god. Gomer's mindset, exemplified by the declaration "I will do things my way," resonates with our own inclination to chart our paths independent of God.

In our pursuit of unrestricted freedom, we subject ourselves to bondage. This predicament arises from embracing Satan's lie that we can attain divinity. Unfortunately, by believing this lie, we surrender our will to Satan, who then binds our minds with chains through sin. This propels us into a downward spiral of growing sin and moral decay.

Thus, as the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, God the Father has enacted his master plan of salvation. God long ago, promised to Adam and Eve that he would raise up from the seed of the women, one who would free humanity by crushing the head of the serpent.

Thus we read in our passage 1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”

Jesus arrived to address the conflict between two opposing parties: one that had rebelled against their Creator, swayed by their sinful nature, and God who longed for all to embrace the truth and be saved. Thus, Jesus undertook the mission of reconciling us to God.

But as Gomer repeatedly strayed from Hosea, pursuing her own sinful desires, Hosea diligently pursued her, aiming to guide her back to her rightful place and restore fellowship. This situation brings to mind Proverbs 26:11, which compares someone repeating their folly to a dog returning to its vomit. Similarly, a person trapped in the bondage of sin repeats their mistakes. And despite being the offended party, Hosea took the initiative to seek out Gomer and initiate the process of reconciliation.

We find ourselves in the role of Gomer, often straying from our relationship with God, while He persistently seeks out those ensnared by sin. It is God who steps in as the mediator to bring an end to the conflict between us. Rather than waiting for humanity to independently recognize the truth, God takes action, recognizing that our sin blinds us and hinders our ability to perceive reality. Thus, understanding our limitations, God takes the initiative to pave the way for resolution and reconciliation.

Therefore, Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate Mediator. Through his life, death, and resurrection, he addresses the constraints of the initial covenant under the Law, which once bound us in bondage to sin and pronounced us condemned. In his redemptive work, he not only embodied the life we ought to have lived but also imparts his righteousness to us. Moreover, he ushers in a new covenant, anchored in his own blood, fundamentally transforming the nature of our relationship with God.

Consequently, Christ bridges the divide between God and humanity, addressing the very sin that gives rise to separation, while absorbing the righteous wrath of God the Father upon sinners.

Christ mediates new life in the Kingdom of God under a new covenant that is build on better promises.

Hebrews 8:6 ESV

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

Hebrews 9:15 ESV

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 12:24 ESV

and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Therefore, Christ in his role as the second person of the Trinity has negotiated reconciliation through His BLOOD, satisfying the wrath and justice of God.

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Ransom and Redemption:

In 1 Timothy 2:6 it describes for us how Jesus mediated the war, “who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” Therefore, in the work of mediation is Jesus giving himself as the ransom for all. Christ Jesus in his work as the mediator, presented himself as the ransom to purchase freedom for all kinds of people.

This is the gloriousness of God, as he looks upon the rebellious hearts of humanity knowing that in our rage, we will never of our own will lay our weapons down. Therefore, He does the unthinkable, and send the Son to take on flesh, for the purpose of living a sinless life, walking in perfect obedience to the Father. And then dying on a tree to absorb the wrath and fury of God the Father against sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Therefore, the one who had never known sin, willingly takes upon himself, as a representative of the human race , sin so that he could make atonement through his blood and usher in the new covenant. For the God-man Jesus Christ is the only mediator that could perform such a feat, and provide salvation to all who would trust in Him.

For in ransoming us from the wrath of God, removing the just condemnation due to us for our rebellion, Christ has restored us to fullness. For the idea of ransom or redemption is that of restoration. Thus, all who trust in Christ, have move from enemies to children, whom God the Son has purchased by his blood, so that we may walk in newness of life.

To Live Faithful in God’s Household:

Hence, living faithfully within the Household of God entails grasping the truth that we've been redeemed at a price. We are no longer independent entities but are the possession of the King, who is actively engaged in our restoration through the process of sanctification. Consequently, our joy in this newfound transformation motivates us to surrender all to Him and to align our lives with the will of God the Son, resulting in spiritual worship.

As believers, our pursuit is no longer conformity to the world. Instead, we engage in the reading of Scripture, steadfast prayer, and communal fellowship, striving for the renewal of our minds. This renewal equips us to be purposeful, healthy, and devoted members of God’s household. This transformation is a testament to our redemption.

Prayer:

Song:

Benediction: