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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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CHRIST’S
MANIFESTATION AS MEDIATOR (Jb 9:33; 1Ti 2:5-6; He 8:6; 9:15; 12:24)
12/16/12 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE CONCEPT OF A MEDIATOR A. Regarding 1Ti 2:5, the Greek word for
“mediator” is mesi,tęs and comes from the Greek word me,sos, which literally means middle
or in the middle. So mesi,tęs refers to one who is in the middle between two sides.
Thus we define it with words such as mediator, arbitrator, reconciler, or
simply go-between.” B. The definition of a mediator is one who
goes between two parties to unite or restore a relationship. It can also
carry the technical idea of someone who forms and guarantees the contract or
covenant between two parties (Ga 3:19-20). C. Christ is a mediator who fits both of
these descriptions. He has gone between two parties (God and man) to unite or
restore their relationship (1Ti 2:5). In addition, He guarantees the contract
or covenant between God and man (He 12:22-24). II. THE NECESSITY FOR A MEDIATOR A. When God created Adam and Eve, He created them
not only in His image (Ge 1:27) but also innocent (Ge 1:30) and upright (Ec
7:29). But when they disobeyed in the garden they sinned (Ge 3:6), became
sinful in nature (Ro 3:23; Ep 2:3), were separated from fellowship with God
(Ge 3:8, 22-23; 1Jn 1:3, 6), and received the punishment of physical (Ge
3:19) and spiritual death (Ep 2:1; Jn 11:25). B. How was all this to be rectified?
Certainly not by man himself, because the Scripture tells us that we can do
nothing for forgiveness and eternal life (Is 64:6; Ro 3:10; Ep 2:8-9). C. Man was in desperate need for not only a
mediator but also a way of mediation (contract or covenant).Christ became not
only the Mediator, but also through His death on the cross became the basis
for our forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God (Ro 5:6-11; 2Co
5:18-21). D. Explanation of Reconciliation between God
and Man 1. Man - When man chose sin, he became an
enemy of God. It was man who moved away from God, not God away from man (Ro
5:10). 2. God - God’s fellowship with man was
barred by man’s sin. Sin had to be removed before God could fellowship with
man. Furthermore, it was God who initiated reconciliation with man through
the death of Christ. 3. Reconciliation - When we think of
reconciliation between God and man, we must understand that it was not the
reconciling of two sinful and disgruntled parties, but of God reconciling
sinful man to Himself by removing the barrier of sin. III. CHRIST’S MEDIATION IN THE FLESH A. A mediator represents two parties not just
one (cp. Ga 3:19-20). The mediator comes to the arbitration table as a
representative of each party. B. We certainly understand from Scripture
that being God, the second person of the Trinity, Christ is a God’s
representative (Jn 1:1 - “the Word” - o, lo,gos -
expression and revelation of God, cp. Col 1:15; He 1:1-2). C. From man’s perspective, Job rightly
stated, “There is no mediator
between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.” Job stated man’s plight until Christ came in the
flesh, until His incarnation (Jn 1:14). By taking on humanity, Christ became
man’s representative at the arbitration table. He
did not merely become man’s example; He became man’s arbitrator, advocate,
mediator, and guarantor by becoming human. D. Though Christ never ceased being God, the
Scriptures teach that He became perfectly human, but without sin. 1. The last phrase in 1Ti 2:5 could very
well be translated, “(For there is)…one mediator also between God and men, “Christ Jesus, Himself
human.” “Man” (anthrōpos) is anarthrous (without an
article) showing Christ’s quality (human) rather than identity. 2. Christ had a human birth (Lk 2:5-7; Ga
4:4). 3. Christ had a human body (Lk 2:42, 52). 4. Christ had a human soul and spirit (Mt
26:38; Lk 23:46). 5. Christ had human characteristics (Mt 4:2;
9:36; Mk 4:38; Jn 4:6; 11:35; 19:28). 6. Christ had human a name, titles, and a
lineage (Mt 1:21 cp. 1Ti 2:5; Mt 8:20; Mt 1:1 - Joseph’s lineage; Lk 3:23 -
Mary’s lineage). IV. CHRIST’S SOLE AND SURE MEDIATION A. When Job claimed there was no mediator
between God and man, he was correct in the sense that there was no one or no
thing that could mediate for man before God. There was no one righteous to be
the mediator and there was no work he could do to approach God. B. When Christ became flesh and mediator, He
became the “one” (hei,s - cardinal number one) and only mediator between God and man.
There could only be one who could fit all the criteria as a man and mediator
as well as accomplish redemption for the one God. 1. He was perfectly human and called the Son
of Man as well as the Son of God (Jn 12:34; Mt 9:6; Mt 10:23; 12:40; 16:27;
18:11; 20:18). 2. He was a righteous and sinless man (1Jn
2:1; 2Co 5:21). 3. He was sent forth by God to be born of a
woman to redeem man (Ga 4:4-5). C. Christ Himself was not only the mediator
but also became the guarantor of the new covenant as our permanent high
priest (He 7:22-24). 1. Christ Himself is the “guarantee of a better covenant” (He 7:22). 2. The priests under the old covenant were
sinful and temporary (He 7:23). 3. Christ on the other hand, having been
God’s sole righteous and perfect atonement, has been raised from the dead
forever (He 7:24a-27). 4. Christ is our permanent priest (He
7:25b). 5. Therefore, as Mediator, Sacrifice, and
Priest, He is able to save forever those who believe (He 7:25). 6. Also as Mediator, Sacrifice, and Priest
he makes intercession for believers (He 7:25; 1Jn 2:1). V. CONCLUSION A. The birth of the Son of God was more than
a mere birth; it was the birth of the only Mediator between God and man.
Christ identified with sinful man in the flesh, took man’s sin and
punishment, and is offering forgiveness and reconciliation. This was the view
of the early church towards the birth of Christ. B. If we celebrate Christmas in the biblical
sense, we have a tremendous opportunity as ambassadors to tell everyone the
true reason for Christ’s birth. It is an opportunity to tell man he has a
perfect mediator and plead with them to be reconciled with God. It was for
this reason He was born and became a man. C. Rightly, do we reproach the world for its
faulty view and celebration of Christmas. But what is our (believers) view of
Christ and His birth? Let us assign the meaning of Christmas as message of
imploring men to be reconciled to God through the man Christ Jesus, lest we
fall under the same reproach. |
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