“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,” – 1 Timothy 2:5-6
This past Lord’s Day morning during the sermon on Matthew 14:13-21, we considered two important questions, “Did the multitude that followed Jesus and was later fed by Him know who He is? Did they know, trust, and rest in Him by faith unto salvation?” It’s true that the answer for many was sadly, No. (John 6:14,26-27) And yet, as you seek to be faithful in reading and studying your Bible, seeking to know, remember, and be more and more refreshed about your God and Savior and His gracious works, an important one about your Lord Jesus Christ is His being the one and only Mediator between God and man. He is the only mediator of the Covenant of Grace. (Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), Chapter 8, Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC) 36, 1 Timothy 2:5, John 14:6, Acts 4:12)
Though much ink has been spilled on this subject, it’s good and healthy for you to ponder and have a clear and strong stand in the details of biblical truth regarding the deity, humanity, and mediatorial work of Christ for you. For such stands in sharp contrast to doctrine pressing Mary as a mediatrix, along with all others that deny the exclusivity of Christ as the only Mediator, either by addition or substitution (i.e. saints, angels, self, works, religion).
When you consider senses of the word “mediator” in Scripture, what do you find?
- A mediator serves as a messenger between parties, explaining the will and performing the commands of one or both of them. Moses is a good example of this as the mediator of the old covenant. (Exodus 20:19-22, Galatians 3:19) Moses, of course, points you to Christ, who is better than Moses and mediates a better covenant that was established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6).
- A mediator serves as an advocate or intercessor between parties. The Apostle John teaches you that this is wonderfully true of Christ in 1 John 2:1-2.
- A mediator is also an effective peace-maker. Jesus, to whom all power and authority in Heaven and earth has been given, effectively and fully reconciled you to the Father. (Colossians 1:20-21)
Thinking about this great work of mediation, Jesus’ incarnation was essential to carrying it out. He had to become the God-man. Westminster Larger Catechism 38-39 helpfully teach you the reasons why:
- Q. 38. Why was it requisite that the mediator should be God?A. It was requisite that the mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death; give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession; and to satisfy God’s justice, procure his favor, purchase a peculiar people, give his Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation.
- Q. 39. Why was it requisite that the mediator should be man?A. It was requisite that the mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, perform obedience to the law, suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, have a fellow-feeling of our infirmities; that we might receive the adoption of sons, and have comfort and access with boldness unto the throne of grace.
Now, as you study and stand on these truths in Scripture, you can better defend the faith against Trinitarian and Christological heresies that challenge the two natures of Christ, and therefore challenge His unique role as mediator. Such heresies are nothing new and have been refuted and denied in history. Further, they must continue to be stood against and kept out of the church in their various forms today. Some examples of them are:
- Arianism- The belief that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were lesser, created beings and not persons of the Godhead.
- Docetism- The belief that Jesus was divine but only seemed to be human.
- Eutychianism- The belief that Jesus’ finite human nature is swallowed up in His infinite divine nature.
- Nestorianism- The belief that Jesus was two persons.
- Modalism- The belief that the members of the Trinity are not three distinct persons but three different aspects of the same person.
- Monophysitism- The belief that Jesus had only one nature: divine.
In his Outlines of Theology, A.A. Hodge succinctly defends the teaching of Scripture as he answers the question: “What diversity of opinion exists as to whether Christ acts as Mediator in one or both natures?
- The Romanists hold that Christ was Mediator only in His human nature, arguing that it is impossible that God could mediate between man and Himself.
- The very opposite has been maintained, viz. that Christ was Mediator only in His divine nature.
- The doctrine of the Bible is, that Christ was Mediator as the God-man, in both natures.” (Hodge, 392)
I’ll leave you with the biblical teaching of the hypostatic union, rightly summarized in WCF, Chapter 8.1-2. (Of Christ the Mediator)
- It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and Savior of his church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom he did from all eternity give a people, to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
- The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.
Know your God, Beloved. Know your Savior. Know why and how He came out of deep love for you. Know Him, proclaim Him, and defend His truth to the end!
Blessings to you in Christ,
Pastor Miller
Works Cited:
– Hodge, A.A. Outlines of Theology. Banner of Truth Trust, 1999. pg. 392.