Our Only Mediator

1 Tim 2:5-6

There is One God

In contrast to the pantheon

In a pantheon, a competition among the gods, each god emphasized a trait or characteristic, flawed and striving, competing, contrasting with each other

Leading to moral ambivalence

The God of the Jews was something different - one, holy, perfect, unchanging

Deut 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one…

Is 45:5 I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,

Even today

There is one God to be reckoned with

My truth, your truth - our gods are in political, social, economic causes

Still leads to moral ambivalence

There is One God -

The righteous one - all have fallen short

There is One Mediator

We need a mediator

Now a mediator is a go-between.

The reason human beings need a mediator is our sin. We are alienated from God. We cannot go to him directly. He is too holy for us to bear, too transcendent.

The call from Noah - with Hannah

We need someone to represent Man before God - To plead our case, to settle our account, to satisfy God’s justice on our behalf

We need someone to represent God for us - Someone who will change our hearts, show us God, and how we can be made right with him

The question of Job, “who will intercede for me with God?”

Job 9:32–33 For God is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together. There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.

Many have tried

The false ways

False mediators -

Roman Catholics - Mary and the Saints are Co-Redeemers

False hopes

I’ll take my chances and get God to bend to my will… Woman who refused to repent of her sins - If it is a sin, I’ll take it with me to God.

The Priests - someone to represent us to God…

They made sacrifices for the people - but this was to point to something greater that was coming -

Heb 9:7 - they entered the holy of holies, only after first making sacrifice for their own sin

Heb 10:4 - they had to keep making sacrifices - because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The Prophets - someone to represent God to us

They spoke as they were led by the Holy Spirit, but they themselves needed first to hear from God, and often struggled in their faith (Elijah, Jeremiah, Jonah).

The Kings - someone to live as an example of God and Man together

Everyone one of them sinned, even the best of kings, and none could reign forever.

There is Only One: Jesus Christ

Fully Man

Hodge - He must be a man - born under the law which we had broken; that He should fulfill all righteousness; that He should suffer and die; that He should be able to sympathize in all the infirmities of his people, and that He should be united with them in a common nature.

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Fully God

Hodge - The blood of no mere creature could take away sin; only He who has an eternal Spirit can forever perfect those who believe; none but the divine can destroy the power of Satan and deliver souls from captivity; none but the almighty could control all events to the final consumption of the plan of redemption; none but God would be the source of life for the redeemed.

Col 1:19–20 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Fully God and Fully Man

Must be man, only man can pay the debt; but must also be God, because only God could make such a payment

The obedience must come from man, but to be sufficient for all men must come from God

Jesus Christ is the arbitrator Job was looking for. He is fully God. Therefore, he is able to meet God’s standards. But as “the man Christ Jesus,” to quote what Paul said to Timothy, he is also fully human. Therefore, Jesus is able to meet our obligations.

As the Puritans loved to say, Jesus Christ is able to strike hands on both sides of the covenant of grace.

The true prophet priest and King

Priest - Heb 9:26 - But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Prophet - Not only does He speak to us the words of God, but He is the very Word of God made flesh. He not only teaches us the wise way in which to live, but He is the incarnation of God’s wisdom.

King - WSC - He subdues us to himself, He rules over us, and defends us, and in restrains and conquers all his and our enemies.

There is One Work

He gave himself -

Not sheep or bulls

Heb 10:12–14 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

He gave himself as a ransom

To satisfy God’s wrath and righteous demand

God’s justice required a death for sin

The curse of sin - there must be a death; the gift of God, there is life in Christ

To purchase and set free

1 Pe 1:18–19 you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Tt 2:14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

There is no other way to the Father than through the Son

PCUSA Pastor who taught that God is like a light through a stained glass window, and that all the world’s religions were like the panels of glass. They all showed the light, just in different colors - all ways lead to God.

There is one mediator - Jn 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

He gave himself as a ransom for all

All in Paul - Jew, Gentile, Slave, Free, Rich, Poor, Male and Female

Regardless of who you are in this world, Christ is able, by His death and resurrection, to save all who come to him.

Christianity is exclusive: there is only one God, one Savior, and one salvation. But Christianity is also inclusive; it is open to everyone.

There is One Response

This is the testimony given at the proper time - that you may believe and know salvation

There is One God - to whom you must give an account of your life…

There is only One Mediator - one through whom you have assess to God

He has given his life to ransom and redeem you - believe in Him.