“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)

The office of Mediator is here being considered. The Apostle Paul describes this office work of Christ (Ephesians 2:13-18). This office work is performed within the overall work of redemption, but has a special significance for each of us as Children of God. A mediator is one who stands ‘in the middle,’ between two parties who are in conflict. He reconciles two parties who are opposed to each other. This perfectly describes the relationship between the natural man and God.

The Bible reveals the natural sinfulness of the human race. God created the first man, Adam, in a state of innocence, but with the ability to choose. Adam’s wife, Eve, was tricked into eating fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which God had expressly forbidden. Eve took the fruit and gave it to Adam. He was not fooled or tricked, but knew exactly what he was doing as he defied the Word of God. Because of that sinful act, they were cast into a state of sin, so that all who are born of Adam’s seed would have the nature to sin.

Within a few generations after Adam, the world was populated with those who cared nothing about God.

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)

By nature, people are sinful and will follow that sinful way. People are sinners both by nature and by choice. But God is perfectly holy, just, and righteous. He cannot abide the presence of sin. Because of His holy, righteous, and just nature, God must judge sin wherever it is found.

The natural consequence of fallen man’s sinfulness is the enmity existing between God and the human race. Man is sinful and God must judge sin. The two are in radical opposition to one another. They are enemies. People are separated from God by the “… wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14). The sinfulness of fallen humanity – the enmity between God and humans – is a dividing wall that separates us from God. God’s holiness shows us that we deserve His righteous judgment. Here we are faced with the need for someone to stand in-between a holy God and sinful humanity; someone to bridge the gap between the two. This is the work of a Mediator.

Because of our natural sinfulness, human beings cannot plead their own case with God. Our fallen nature is hostile toward God so that, in our total depravity, we do not want to be reconciled to God. In spite of this open and avowed (confirmed) hostility, God was willing to provide the means by which people could have peace with Him. (To ‘reconcile’ is to make peace.) How can that peace be had? God made provision for our sins to be atoned for. This is available to us through the Mediator who stands between God and mankind.

The only one who qualifies to be the perfect sin offering, and so has the right and ability to serve in the office of Mediator, is Jesus Christ. Peace with God is offered on the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He was and is the only perfect and pure and sinless Sacrifice for sin. And He is the only One capable of satisfying the holy, righteous, and just demands of God. This is important, because Christ doesn’t just make forgiveness possible, He actually paid the sin debt in full by suffering the eternal wrath of God for our sin.

This truth is one that gives us great hope. On the cross, Jesus Christ willingly offered His Life so that we may have peace with God. He thereby removed the enmity of sin. Where there was natural hostility, Christ has made peace. He accomplished what we could not do ourselves; and He stands as our Mediator, our go-between with God. Not only does He atone for our sin in redemption, but He also performs the reconciliation work of presenting all believers to God as having the right to an audience with the Father.