One God, One Mediator
Text 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 Time 04 11 07 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
I want us to consider some verses this evening found in 1 Timothy 2:5, 6. These words
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time.
These verses lay down some very basic and fundamental truths, important truths that no-one is going to make very much progress without knowing.
The verses come in Paul's first letter to his son in the faith Timothy. Timothy is in Ephesus acting as Paul's deputy and successor. There are certain things that Paul wants him to know about how the life of the church is to be conducted and so he writs this letter.
At the beginning of what we call Chapter 2 Paul urges that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – all sorts of people, especially kings and all those in authority. The church, especially the men, are to be urged to pray that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, says Paul and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men ie all sorts of men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. God is not just interested in the poor but also in the rich, not just in the weak but also in the powerful. He wants all sorts of people to be saved and to know the truth. Paul goes on then to give three fairly obvious reasons as to why we must accept this. He doesn't argue for these reasons but rather asserts them as being fundamental. These reasons are very important for all of us to be absolutely clear on. So let's consider these things.
1. Realise that there is only one God
The first point is the most basic and incontrovertible For there is one God. We should pray for every sort of person because who ever they are, they are all under the one true God and who ever they are they can only be saved by the one true God. There is no other. We encourage the children to say – "How many gods are there? There is only one God." That's right! There is not one god for the rich and one for the poor. There is just one God. Rom 3:29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one - who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Now I know that some people object.
1. Some say that there is no God at all
They are a very, very small minority who even suggest this. Many more live as though there were no God but over 90% of people you are likely to meet will accept that there is a God. Those who disagree do in fact know that there is a God but the Bible tells us that they seek to suppress that truth. They try to push under all thoughts of God and some do it so well that they can even say they are sure there is no God. It creates great difficulties for them, of course, as it is impossible to prove there is no God and things like creation and providence and conscience and the Bible and the overwhelming majority who do believe in God keep pointing in the opposite direction.
2. There are also those who say that there are in fact many gods
2. There are also those who say that there are in fact many gods
Hindus for example will tell you about Lakshmi and Rama and Krishna and so on. They have as many as 30 million gods. And yet if you question them carefully you will find that they also believe in ion ultimate God. Even the most rabid idolater will usually have this idea in his mind too. From the Christian point of view Paul says (1 Cor 8) We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live. You can make a “god” of anything – your car, your wife, your religion, your traditions – Dagon, Baal, Rama, Krishna, etc. Such so-called gods are in fact idols. They have no power to change lives or to do anything. The OT prophets often pointed this out with some glee (Ps 115:3-8)
Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
3. But there is only one God
Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
3. But there is only one God
Now, when it comes to speaking of God in the proper sense – the God who made the world and who rules it, the God who has power over our lives to change them and who will one day judge us all. When it comes to those things there is only one God and there can only be one God. There cannot be two creators or two rulers or two judges. What confusion there would be if that were possible. Sometimes people who think about these questions put it in these terms. "'Believe in God' you tell me but which God – the God of the Christians, the God of the Muslims, the God of the Hindus, which God?" Well, let's be clear on this it has to be the one true God. It cannot be Allah, the god of the Muslims. If you read about Allah you will see that he is not the God of the Bible. Like the Samaritans the Muslims do not know who they are worshipping. It cannot be the god of the Jews either, the god whose name they will not use. Yes, they take many ideas from the Bible but others (especially those found in the New Testament) they refuse to accept and so they again worship a god they do not know.
No, there is in the end only one true God. There only can be one. It is something that it would seem Satan found out the hard way. He wanted to be equal with God but it cannot be. There can be only one God. This is something that we need to see if we are ever to come near to God. It is one of the barriers we face. We wan to rule our own lives. We want to be captain of our own ship, in charge of our own destiny. But there is only one God. There can only be one God.
Perhaps this is one of the clearest lessons in all the pages of the Bible. The sooner we learn it, the better for us all. To fail to realise this fundamental truth is a very big mistake indeed. There is only one God and if people seek other gods or no god at all then they are doomed. We must urge them to seek the one true God, the one and only God.
2. Realise that there is only one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus
So there is only one God. Many would agree. But look how Paul goes on and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. Back in 1 Corinthians 8 he says yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. The point in both verses is the same. Let's focus on the way he puts it in 1 Timothy. We need to start with the word Mediator. What is a mediator? A mediator is a middle man, a go-between. When there is conflict then a mediator or an arbitrator, an umpire, what used to be called a daysman, is needed.
So for example some while ago the then shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram was calling on the then Prime Minister Tony Blair 'to mediate in the row between some EU member states and the Americans over Iraqi reconstruction contracts'. He was suggesting that 'Britain is perfectly placed to act as a mediator in any dispute.'
I found on the internet The Centre for Employee Mediation. Their slogan is 'Conflict at work? Don't hesitate - Mediate!'
There are some who see no need for a mediator because they do not think there is a dispute between man and God. Yet clearly the difference between God and man is vast and down through the ages men have generally felt the need for a mediator, an arbitrator, a go between. Remember Job's words (9:32-34) He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. When we reckon with man's animosity to God and the fact that God is angry with man then we see that a mediator is absolutely vital.
Many think that this mediation can come about in various ways. You know, they say, different people come to God in different ways. Some find him in the quietness of Buddhism or Quakerism, others come to him through Islam or some other religion. Some think that the saints, people like Mary and Joseph and Peter and Paul, can be mediators with God. Most organised religions have some place for a priesthood. The idea is that through the priests you come to God.
In fact, the Bible is clear on two things
Firstly, just as there is only one God so there is only one Mediator between God and men. There are not many mediators but only one. It is stated here and it is implied in other places too. Jesus himself, as we were reminding ourselves the other week, says I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.Secondly, that one Mediator is the Man Christ Jesus. He alone is able to act as the go between. Why? Because he is man. He is fully human and so on the manward side he fully understand us and enters into our world. Yet he is also Christ. He is the Messiah. He is God come in the flesh. No other Mediator therefore can bridge the gap between God and man as he does. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the staircase or ladder that reaches form earth to heaven and from heaven to earth. He is described to us as the great High Priest who is able to bring us to God. That is why we need no other priest if he is our mediator.
If there was more than one mediator it could be very confusing. And if the mediator is not both God and man then there is going to be a problem on one side or the other. How can God so condescend? How can any man attain to such a height? Jesus Christ is uniquely able to be our Saviour and Mediator that is why we must look to him.
Do you realise then that you need a mediator? Do you realise that only one will do? Do you realise that there is only one anyway and he is the man Christ Jesus? Look to him then. Come to the Father through the Son and find forgiveness and life in him.
3. Realise that Jesus Christ gave himself as a ransom for all sorts of people
Paul adds some explanation as to how Jesus acts as Mediator. He calls him the one who gave himself a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time. Three things then
1. A ransom
No, there is in the end only one true God. There only can be one. It is something that it would seem Satan found out the hard way. He wanted to be equal with God but it cannot be. There can be only one God. This is something that we need to see if we are ever to come near to God. It is one of the barriers we face. We wan to rule our own lives. We want to be captain of our own ship, in charge of our own destiny. But there is only one God. There can only be one God.
Perhaps this is one of the clearest lessons in all the pages of the Bible. The sooner we learn it, the better for us all. To fail to realise this fundamental truth is a very big mistake indeed. There is only one God and if people seek other gods or no god at all then they are doomed. We must urge them to seek the one true God, the one and only God.
2. Realise that there is only one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus
So there is only one God. Many would agree. But look how Paul goes on and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. Back in 1 Corinthians 8 he says yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. The point in both verses is the same. Let's focus on the way he puts it in 1 Timothy. We need to start with the word Mediator. What is a mediator? A mediator is a middle man, a go-between. When there is conflict then a mediator or an arbitrator, an umpire, what used to be called a daysman, is needed.
So for example some while ago the then shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram was calling on the then Prime Minister Tony Blair 'to mediate in the row between some EU member states and the Americans over Iraqi reconstruction contracts'. He was suggesting that 'Britain is perfectly placed to act as a mediator in any dispute.'
I found on the internet The Centre for Employee Mediation. Their slogan is 'Conflict at work? Don't hesitate - Mediate!'
There are some who see no need for a mediator because they do not think there is a dispute between man and God. Yet clearly the difference between God and man is vast and down through the ages men have generally felt the need for a mediator, an arbitrator, a go between. Remember Job's words (9:32-34) He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. When we reckon with man's animosity to God and the fact that God is angry with man then we see that a mediator is absolutely vital.
Many think that this mediation can come about in various ways. You know, they say, different people come to God in different ways. Some find him in the quietness of Buddhism or Quakerism, others come to him through Islam or some other religion. Some think that the saints, people like Mary and Joseph and Peter and Paul, can be mediators with God. Most organised religions have some place for a priesthood. The idea is that through the priests you come to God.
In fact, the Bible is clear on two things
Firstly, just as there is only one God so there is only one Mediator between God and men. There are not many mediators but only one. It is stated here and it is implied in other places too. Jesus himself, as we were reminding ourselves the other week, says I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.Secondly, that one Mediator is the Man Christ Jesus. He alone is able to act as the go between. Why? Because he is man. He is fully human and so on the manward side he fully understand us and enters into our world. Yet he is also Christ. He is the Messiah. He is God come in the flesh. No other Mediator therefore can bridge the gap between God and man as he does. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the staircase or ladder that reaches form earth to heaven and from heaven to earth. He is described to us as the great High Priest who is able to bring us to God. That is why we need no other priest if he is our mediator.
If there was more than one mediator it could be very confusing. And if the mediator is not both God and man then there is going to be a problem on one side or the other. How can God so condescend? How can any man attain to such a height? Jesus Christ is uniquely able to be our Saviour and Mediator that is why we must look to him.
Do you realise then that you need a mediator? Do you realise that only one will do? Do you realise that there is only one anyway and he is the man Christ Jesus? Look to him then. Come to the Father through the Son and find forgiveness and life in him.
3. Realise that Jesus Christ gave himself as a ransom for all sorts of people
Paul adds some explanation as to how Jesus acts as Mediator. He calls him the one who gave himself a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time. Three things then
1. A ransom
We are used to the word ransom in connection with kidnaps, for example. Earlier this year the BBC reporter Alan Johnson was kidnapped in Palestine, on the Gaza Strip. The kidnappers were at least at first demanding payment of a ransom price for his release. The word was also used for the payment of a price to release any prisoner or slave. The ideas of exchange and of payment are both there. So when Paul speaks of Jesus as a ransom, echoing Jesus's own words about himself – the son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many – he is saying that Jesus has paid a price in order to bring about an exchange of prisoners or slaves. He is referring, of course, to his death, his death on the cross. That death was a ransom payment, a substitutionary death on behalf of others to bring them near to God.
2. For all men
2. For all men
At first blush that would seem like Jesus died for everyone and that is certainly what many Christians believe. But we must be careful with that word all. When Paul says (Acts 22:15) he was told you will be a witness for him to all men it is clear that there must be some sort of limit to that all men. I think that a closer examination of the various New Testament texts would show that we are wiser to say that Jesus died for his people. He died not to make salvation possible but to actually save specific people. It is sometimes called limited atonement but particular atonement is a better word (hence the labels Particular and General Baptists). Paul's point here is that those people are of all sorts. It is part of the point that he is making about praying for all sorts of people. Christ died both for Jews and for Gentiles, for religious and irreligious, young and old, rich and poor, etc. All sorts.
Remember that Jesus died for all sorts of people. We can never assume that doesn't include me or you or him.
3. The testimony given in its proper time
Remember that Jesus died for all sorts of people. We can never assume that doesn't include me or you or him.
3. The testimony given in its proper time
There is only one way to be saved. There always has been only one way to be saved. However, the actual act that saves - the death of Christ as a ransom for many – took place in time and so some lived before that event and some, like us, lived after it. God planned exactly when in time the testimony should be given. In one sense it doesn't matter whether we lived before or after. The important thing is that the testimony has now been given and all must hear it and take note. Are you paying heed to it? Are you taking note? The ransom has been paid and there is forgiveness for all the redeemed, for all who trust in the Saviour, in the one Mediator between God and man. Trust in him today.
