{"id":3581,"date":"2021-06-27T19:44:11","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T01:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/?p=3581"},"modified":"2023-07-27T01:11:55","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T07:11:55","slug":"one-mediator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/one-mediator\/","title":{"rendered":"One Mediator, the man Jesus Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Overview:<\/h2>

The humanity of Christ is essential to the gospel. God is not a man, but the Messiah of prophecy is necessarily a human servant of God\u2014his anointed as Jesus is the Son of Man of the messianic prophecies. Adam was a type of the one who was to come, and Jesus is the last Adam. Atonement is through the flesh and blood of the human Messiah (Christ). Jesus, our high priest, mediates a better covenant with his own blood. Jesus is a servant of God who mediates for us. The one God and Father is the God and Father of Jesus. God our savior exalted Jesus at his right hand as leader and savior. The Son of Man is destined to judge the world in righteousness.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus<\/h2>

1 Timothy 2:5-6, summarizes the Gospel in one sentence, \u201cFor there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.\u201d It is this which Paul refers to as \u201cthe knowledge of the truth\u201d in verse 4 that God wants all people to come to and be saved by. It is for this very reason in verse 7 that Paul was appointed a preacher and an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.<\/p>

1 Timothy 2:3-7 (ESV)<\/h3>

3<\/sup> This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God<\/strong> our Savior<\/strong>, 4<\/sup> who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth<\/strong>. 5<\/sup> For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus<\/strong>, 6<\/sup> who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time<\/strong>. 7<\/sup> For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle<\/strong> (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
<\/p>

1 Tim 2:5-6 is framed as the truth of the Gospel. What is this core truth? It is summarized as follows:<\/p>

    1. There is one God (God is our Savior and desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth)<\/li>
    2. There is one mediator between God and men<\/li>
    3. The mediator is a man<\/li>
    4. The mediator is Christ (the Messiah) Jesus<\/li>
    5. The mediator gave himself up as a ransom for all<\/li>
    6. The testimony of the Messiah was given at the proper time. (i.e., according to God’s predestined plan)<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>

      All the points above are critical to our understanding of the identity of God and Jesus and the distinction between the two. Here, Jesus is distinguished from God in four ways:<\/p>

      1. Jesus is the mediator between God and men<\/li>
      2. Jesus is a man<\/li>
      3. Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all<\/li>
      4. Jesus is the Messiah of God’s plan<\/li><\/ol>

        These four aspects of who Jesus is affirming that the humanity of Jesus is core to the Gospel message. Corresponding to these criteria, Jesus cannot be God in a literal ontological sense:<\/p>

        1.\u00a0 A mediator between God and man is a separate party from the God and the men he mediates for. That is a mediator is a third party. There is only one God, so the mediator between God must have a separate ontological distinction from God.\u00a0<\/p>

        2. The mediator is a man. God is not and cannot become a man.\u00a0 God is infinite, man is finite. The infinite cannot be finite and remain infinite. Man is dependent on oxygen, food and water. God is dependent on nothing. Man is mortal, while God is immortal. God, who is immortal cannot die by definition. The ontological classifications of God vs man are categorical distinctions that cannot be crossed.<\/p>

        3. The mediator gave himself as a ransom for all. God cannot give himself as a ransom, as God is immutable and cannot die. Rather, it was necessary that the remedy for the sin of man be of a type of Adam\u2014a man who was made in the likeness of the first Adam\u2014a direct creation of God made without sin.\u00a0<\/p>

        4. The mediator is the Messiah (Christ) of God’s plan, foretold by the prophets. The Messiah of prophecy is a human agent of God\u2014the \u201cSon of Man\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        God is not a Man<\/h2>

        God is not a man, nor does he suffer the limitations of a man. The heavens cannot contain God, or a human body. Men are mortal, God is immortal.\u00a0<\/p>

        Scriptural references are ESV (English Standard Version)<\/p>

        Numbers 23:19-20, God is not a man or a son of man<\/h3>

        19<\/sup> God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind<\/strong>. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? 20<\/sup> Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.<\/p>

        1 Samuel 15:28-29, He (YHWH) is not a man<\/h3>

        28<\/sup> And Samuel said to him, \u201cThe LORD<\/strong> has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29<\/sup> And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man<\/strong>, that he should have regret.\u201d<\/p>

        Hosea 11:9, \u201cI am God and not a man\u201d<\/h3>

        9<\/sup> I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man<\/strong>, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.<\/p>

        Psalms 118:8-9, Better to take refuge in the LORD (YHWH) than to trust in man<\/h3>

        8<\/sup> It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man<\/strong>. 9<\/sup> It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.<\/p>

        1 Kings 8:27, Heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you<\/h3>

        27<\/sup> \u201cBut will God indeed dwell on the earth<\/strong>? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you<\/strong>; how much less this house that I have built<\/strong>!<\/p>

        Acts 7:48-50, The Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands<\/h3>

        48<\/sup> Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands<\/strong>, as the prophet says, 49<\/sup> \u201c\u2018Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?50<\/sup> Did not my hand make all these things?\u2019<\/p>

        Romans 1:22-23, Immortal God – mortal man<\/h3>

        22<\/sup> Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23<\/sup> and exchanged the glory of the immortal God<\/strong> for images resembling mortal man<\/strong> and birds and animals and creeping things.<\/p>

        1 Timothy 1:17, Immortal only God<\/h3>

        17<\/sup> To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God<\/strong>, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.<\/p>

        1 Timothy 6:16, Who Alone has immortality<\/h3>

        16<\/sup> who alone has immortality<\/strong>, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        The Messiah of prophecy is a human servant of God – His anointed<\/h2>

        The Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament (Tanakh) describe the coming Son of Man as an agent of God through whom God will establish an everlasting priesthood and kingdom.\u00a0<\/p>

        Deuteronomy 18:15-19 (ESV), \u201cGod will raise up for you a prophet – I will put my words in his mouth\u201d<\/h3>

        15<\/sup> \u201cThe LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers\u2014it is to him you shall listen<\/strong>\u2014 16<\/sup> just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, \u2018Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.\u2019 17<\/sup> And the LORD said to me, \u2018They are right in what they have spoken. 18<\/sup> I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.<\/strong> 19<\/sup> And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.<\/p>

        Psalms 2 (KJV), The kings of the earth set themselves against the LORD and against his anointed<\/h3>

        1<\/sup> Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2<\/sup> The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed<\/strong>, saying, 3<\/sup> Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4<\/sup> He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh:\u00a0 the Lord shall have them in derision. 5<\/sup> Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6<\/sup> Yet have I set my king <\/strong>upon my holy hill of Zion<\/strong>. 7<\/sup> I will declare the decree: <\/strong>the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee<\/strong>. 8<\/sup> Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9<\/sup> Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10<\/sup> Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11<\/sup> Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12<\/sup> Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him<\/strong>.<\/p>

        Psalms 8:4-6 (ESV), \u201cYou have given him dominion over the works of your hands\u201d<\/h3>

        4<\/sup> what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man<\/strong> that you care for him 5<\/sup> Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6<\/sup> You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet<\/strong>,<\/p>

        Psalms 110:1-6 (ESV), \u201cThe LORD says to my Lord\u201d<\/h3>

        1<\/sup> The LORD says to my Lord: <\/strong>\u201cSit at my right hand, <\/strong>until I make your enemies your footstool<\/strong>.\u201d 2<\/sup> The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3<\/sup> Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. 4<\/sup> The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, \u201cYou are a priest forever <\/strong>after the order of Melchizedek.\u201d 5<\/sup> The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6<\/sup> He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth.<\/p>

        Psalms 110:1 (LSV), YHWH to my Lord<\/h3>

        A PSALM OF DAVID. A declaration of YHWH to my Lord<\/strong>: \u201cSit at My right hand<\/strong>, || Until I make Your enemies Your footstool.\u201d<\/p>

        Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV), \u201cTo us a child is born, to us a son is given\u201d<\/h3>

        6<\/sup> For to us a child is born, to us a son is given<\/strong>; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7<\/sup> Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this<\/strong>.<\/p>