ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN
“WHY GO THROUGH ANOTHER MEDIATOR WHEN CHRIST IS ENOUGH?”
Main Text: 1 Timothy 2:5 KJV
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
Key Pauline Texts: 1 Timothy 2:5–6; Romans 5:1–2; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12; Colossians 1:13–14; 2 Corinthians 11:3
🔰 INTRODUCTION — CHRIST IS ENOUGH
The issue raised by the image is ultimately not about attacking Catholics as people. We should speak the truth “in love” (Ephesians 4:15). The doctrinal question is much more important:
WHO STANDS BETWEEN GOD AND THE SINNER?
According to Paul's revelation, the answer is unmistakable:
JESUS CHRIST ALONE.
Paul does not say there are many mediators. He says:
“ONE mediator between God and men.”
— 1 Timothy 2:5
Roman Catholic theology itself distinguishes adoration of God from asking Mary and the saints for intercession. So it is more accurate not to say Catholics officially teach that Mary replaces Christ as Redeemer. The biblical question we should examine is whether Christians need heavenly intercessors in addition to Christ.
From a Dispensational position, our answer is no.
The believer has complete access to God in Christ.
Our five alliterated truths are:
MEDIATOR — MERIT — MESSAGE — MEMBERSHIP — MANNER
1️⃣ THE MEDIATOR IS ONE
📖 1 Timothy 2:5–6; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 2:18
Paul establishes the foundation:
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
A. ONE MEDIATOR is DECLARED
📖 1 Timothy 2:5
Paul's wording is exclusive:
ONE GOD.
ONE MEDIATOR.
CHRIST JESUS.
A mediator is one who stands between parties.
Sin separated mankind from God, but Christ accomplished the reconciliation necessary to bring sinners to God.
B. ONE MEDIATOR is DESERVING
📖 1 Timothy 2:6
“Who gave himself a ransom for all...”
Why is Christ uniquely qualified?
Because Christ gave Himself.
Mary did not die for our sins.
Peter did not die for our sins.
Paul did not die for our sins.
No saint paid our ransom.
CHRIST DID.
C. ONE MEDIATOR gives DIRECT ACCESS
📖 Ephesians 2:18
“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
Notice:
THROUGH HIM.
Our access to the Father is through Christ by the Spirit.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
IF CHRIST IS THE ONE MEDIATOR, I DON'T NEED ANOTHER MEDIATOR TO GET ME TO THE MEDIATOR.
2️⃣ THE MERIT IS CHRIST'S ALONE
📖 Romans 3:24–26; Romans 5:1–2; Colossians 1:13–14
Our standing before God does not depend upon religious institutions, ceremonies, saints, or our personal worthiness.
It depends upon Christ.
A. HIS BLOOD provides REDEMPTION
📖 Colossians 1:14
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
Our redemption is in Christ.
We don't obtain forgiveness because another saint persuades God to be merciful toward us.
Our forgiveness rests upon Christ's finished work.
B. HIS CROSS provides RECONCILIATION
📖 Romans 5:10
“...we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son...”
The fundamental problem is sin.
The solution is not another religious intermediary.
The solution is the Cross.
📖 2 Corinthians 5:19
“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself...”
C. HIS GRACE provides ACCESS
📖 Romans 5:2
“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand...”
We stand before God in grace.
Not because we deserve access.
But because Christ provided access.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
WE DON'T APPROACH GOD ON THE MERIT OF MARY, A SAINT, A PRIEST, OR OURSELVES—WE APPROACH GOD ON THE MERIT OF CHRIST.
3️⃣ THE MESSAGE MUST REMAIN PURE
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Galatians 1:6–9; 2 Corinthians 11:3–4
Dispensationalism emphasizes that our doctrine for this present Dispensation of Grace is found especially in the revelation committed to Paul.
A. THE MESSAGE was REVEALED TO PAUL
📖 Galatians 1:11–12
Paul says his gospel was:
“...by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Paul was made the apostle of the Gentiles.
📖 Romans 11:13
Therefore, we must understand God's present dealings with mankind through the Pauline revelation.
B. THE MESSAGE centers upon CHRIST
📖 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
The Gospel is:
Christ died for our sins.
He was buried.
He rose again the third day.
Salvation today is not:
Christ + Mary.
Christ + sacraments.
Christ + religious works.
Christ + church membership.
Christ + water baptism.
It is trusting what Christ accomplished.
C. THE MESSAGE must not be CORRUPTED
📖 2 Corinthians 11:3
Paul warned:
“...lest by any means... your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
There is beautiful simplicity in grace:
CHRIST IS ENOUGH.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
RELIGION MAKES THE WAY TO GOD COMPLICATED; GRACE POINTS THE SINNER TO THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST.
4️⃣ OUR MEMBERSHIP IS COMPLETE IN CHRIST
📖 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 2:10; Ephesians 1:13–14
The moment a sinner believes the Gospel, God does something far greater than enrolling that person into a denomination.
The Holy Spirit places that believer into the Body of Christ.
A. PLACED into CHRIST
📖 1 Corinthians 12:13
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...”
This is the one baptism emphasized in Pauline doctrine.
📖 Ephesians 4:5
Our spiritual identity is found in Christ.
B. COMPLETE in CHRIST
📖 Colossians 2:10
“And ye are complete in him...”
This is devastating to every religious system that teaches believers must continually seek spiritual completeness somewhere outside Christ.
Paul says:
YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM.
C. SEALED in CHRIST
📖 Ephesians 1:13
After believing the Gospel:
“...ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
Our security does not depend upon another human or heavenly intercessor keeping us accepted before God.
Our standing is in Christ.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
IF I AM COMPLETE IN CHRIST, I DON'T NEED RELIGION TO COMPLETE WHAT CHRIST ALREADY COMPLETED.
5️⃣ OUR MANNER MUST MAGNIFY CHRIST
📖 Philippians 1:20–21; Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31
This doctrine should not merely give us arguments against another denomination.
It should transform our own lives.
A. MAGNIFY CHRIST
📖 Philippians 1:20
Paul desired:
“...Christ shall be magnified in my body...”
The goal isn't:
“Make Baptists look great.”
The goal isn't:
“Make Mid-Acts believers look superior.”
The goal is:
MAGNIFY CHRIST.
B. MINISTER THE TRUTH IN LOVE
📖 Ephesians 4:15
“But speaking the truth in love...”
We can disagree strongly with Catholic doctrines without mocking Catholics.
A lost Catholic needs the Gospel.
But so does a lost Baptist.
A religious label saves nobody.
C. MAKE CHRIST THE CENTER
📖 Colossians 1:18
“...that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Not Mary.
Not Peter.
Not Paul.
Not a pope.
Not a pastor.
Not a denomination.
CHRIST GETS THE PREEMINENCE.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
DON'T REPLACE MARY WITH YOUR PASTOR, YOUR DENOMINATION, OR EVEN PAUL—PAUL HIMSELF POINTS US TO CHRIST.
🏁 CONCLUSION — WHY SEEK ANOTHER?
The central question is simple:
If Christ has already given us access to the Father...
If Christ already paid for our sins...
If Christ already reconciled us...
If Christ already made us accepted...
If Christ already made us complete...
WHY SEEK ANOTHER MEDIATOR?
📖 1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
We respect Mary as the earthly mother of Jesus according to the flesh and as a woman blessed in her historical role.
But blessing Mary does not require making her our heavenly mediator.
Our confidence rests in:
CHRIST ALONE.
📣 CALL TO ACTION
1. BELIEVE THE GOSPEL
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
Stop trusting religion, ceremonies, personal goodness, or human intermediaries for salvation.
Trust Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
2. REST IN CHRIST
📖 Colossians 2:10
Stop searching for spiritual completeness outside the One in whom God says you are already complete.
3. APPROACH GOD THROUGH CHRIST
📖 Ephesians 2:18
You have access to the Father through Christ by the Spirit.
4. RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD
📖 2 Timothy 2:15
Know God's program for Israel and His present revelation concerning the Body of Christ.
5. PREACH CHRIST, NOT DENOMINATION
📖 2 Corinthians 4:5
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord...”
💎 FINAL THOUGHTS
1️⃣ MEDIATOR — There is one Mediator, Jesus Christ.
📖 1 Timothy 2:5
2️⃣ MERIT — Our acceptance rests upon Christ's finished work.
📖 Romans 5:1–2
3️⃣ MESSAGE — The Gospel today is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
4️⃣ MEMBERSHIP — The believer is placed into the one Body and complete in Christ.
📖 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:10
5️⃣ MANNER — Our ministry must magnify Christ above every person and institution.
📖 Colossians 1:18
🔥 MARY WAS BLESSED—BUT CHRIST IS THE MEDIATOR.
PAUL WAS AN APOSTLE—BUT CHRIST IS THE MEDIATOR.
PASTORS ARE SERVANTS—BUT CHRIST IS THE MEDIATOR.
ONE GOD.
ONE MEDIATOR.
ONE FINISHED WORK.
ONE SAVIOUR—JESUS CHRIST.
📖 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
— 1 TIMOTHY 2:5 KJV
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