Go! And Trust the Only Mediator
1 Timothy 2:5–6 (NLT): “For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”
Introduction:
Imagine standing before a great chasm—a canyon so wide, so deep, that no human could ever leap across it. On one side stands humanity, broken by sin, desperate for peace, longing for hope. On the other side stands God, holy and righteous, perfect in every way. No bridge built by man could ever span the distance. Religion cannot cross it. Good works cannot cross it. Our best efforts fall short.
But then, at just the right time, a bridge was laid down. Not a bridge of wood or stone, but a bridge made of flesh and blood—the cross of Jesus Christ. He alone is the Mediator. He alone brings us back to God.
Today, as part of our “Go! And…” series, we turn to Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2:5–6 to discover the glory of Christ as our one and only Mediator.
Point 1: There Is One God
“For there is one God…” (1 Timothy 2:5a, NLT)
Paul begins with the foundational truth: there is one God. In a world filled with idols, philosophies, and false gods, this statement was—and still is—radical.
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, his young protégé, shepherding the church in Ephesus. The city was filled with pagan temples, the most famous being the temple of Artemis. The people worshipped many gods, yet Paul declares boldly: There is one God.
The Greek word used here is “heis”—meaning one, single, unique. This affirms the exclusive nature of God. He is not one among many; He is the only one.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (NLT): “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.”
The Shema, recited daily by faithful Jews, proclaimed monotheism in a polytheistic culture.
Isaiah 45:5 (NLT): “I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me.”
In our 21st-century world, idols may not look like stone statues. They look like money, fame, power, or self. Yet Paul reminds us: there is only one true God who deserves our worship.
John Piper once said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
That means if God is truly the one God, our hearts should not run after substitutes. He is not just a part of life; He is the source of life.
Point 2: There Is One Mediator
“…and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5b, NLT)
The Greek word “mesites” is used here for Mediator. It means one who stands between two parties to bring peace, to reconcile. Jesus is not merely a messenger; He is the Mediator—the only one who brings us back into fellowship with God.
Notice Paul’s emphasis: the man Christ Jesus. Why? Because Jesus, though fully God, also became fully man. Only as man could He represent us. Only as God could He reconcile us.
John 14:6 (NLT): “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
There is not “one of many ways”; there is one way—Christ.
Hebrews 9:15 (NLT): “That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them.”
We live in a pluralistic culture that says, “All roads lead to God.” But Paul declares otherwise. There are not many mediators, only one. That one is Jesus Christ.
R.T. Kendall wrote, “The greatest tragedy is not the sin we commit but the Saviour we reject.”
If Jesus is the only Mediator, then rejecting Him leaves us with no hope of reconciliation.
Point 3: There Is One Sacrifice
“He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.” (1 Timothy 2:6a, NLT)
The phrase “gave his life” points us directly to the cross. The Greek word here is “antilutron”—meaning a ransom paid instead of another. Jesus’ death was substitutionary. He paid the price we could not pay.
Mark 10:45 (NLT): “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Romans 5:8 (NLT): “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Think of a prisoner of war, chained and hopeless, waiting for execution. Suddenly, a rescuer steps forward and says, “Take me instead.” That is what Christ has done for us—He gave His life to purchase our freedom.
Sin enslaves. But the ransom of Christ frees us. Freedom in Christ is not freedom to live as we please, but freedom to live as God pleases.
Charles Stanley said, “Jesus did not die to improve us; He died to transform us.”
That transformation is the result of His sacrifice—it is not self-improvement; it is new life in Him.
Point 4: There Is One Gospel
Text: “This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” (1 Timothy 2:6b, NLT)
The phrase “at just the right time” echoes Galatians 4:4 (NLT): “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.”
History is not random. God sent Jesus at the perfect moment—when Roman roads and Greek language united the world, preparing for the spread of the Gospel.
In our lives too, God acts at the right time. You may be waiting for an answer, a breakthrough, or a change. Remember: God’s timing is always perfect.
Max Lucado once wrote, “God never says ‘oops.’ He never says, ‘I never saw that coming.’”
The Gospel came at the right time in history, and it comes at the right time for you—today.
Gospel Presentation:
Friends, the heart of the Gospel is this:
Christ died for our sins. He bore the punishment we deserve.
He was buried. His death was real, final, complete.
He rose again on the third day. His resurrection proves He has conquered sin and death.
Without Him, we are separated from God. With Him, we are reconciled, forgiven, set free.
Call to Action:
For the believer: Go and live as people reconciled to God. Stop running after false gods, stop living in compromise. Live free because Christ has set you free.
For the unbeliever: Do not delay. The bridge has been built. The ransom has been paid. The Mediator is calling you. Repent of your sin. Trust in Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Invitation to Salvation:
Today, if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Mediator, I urge you—place your faith in Him now. Confess your need of Him. Believe that He died and rose again for you. Call upon Him, and you will be saved.
A missionary once told of a tribe that built rope bridges across rivers. One day, as the missionary crossed, a rope snapped, and he fell. But a villager jumped in, tied the rope around himself, and allowed himself to be pulled under so that the missionary could climb on his back and live.
That is what Christ has done for us. He gave Himself, so we could live.
So, Church, Go! And trust the only Mediator.
Benediction:
May the Lord who reconciles sinners through His Son fill you with peace, courage, and boldness. Go this week in the assurance that there is one God, one Mediator, one sacrifice, and one Gospel. And may your life point others to Jesus Christ, the only way, the only truth, the only life. Amen.
