1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; I. THAT GOD HATH APPOINTED BUT ONE MEDIATOR, OR ADVOCATE, OR INTERCESSOR IN HEAVEN FOR US, in whose name, and by whose intercession, we are to offer up all our prayers and services to God. Besides that it is expressly said here in the text, "there is but one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," and that the Scripture nowhere mentions any other: I say, besides this, we are constantly directed offer up our prayers and thanksgivings, and to perform all acts of worship in His name, and no other; and with a promise, that the prayers and services which we offer up in His name will be graciously answered and accepted (John 14:13, 14; John 16:23; 24). St. Paul likewise commands Christians to perform all acts of religious worship in the name of Christ (Colossians 3:16, 17). And indeed, considering how frequently the Scripture speaks of Christ as "our only way to God, and by whom alone we have access to the throne of grace," we cannot doubt but that God hath constituted Him our only mediator and intercessor, by whom we are to address all our requests to God (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18). And we have no need of any other, as the apostle to the Hebrews reasons (Hebrews 7:24, 25). "But this person (speaking of Christ) because He continueth for ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood," "since He abides for ever, is able to save to the uttermost all those that come to God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for us." II. I proceed to show THAT THIS DOCTRINE OR PRINCIPLE OF ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, IS MOST AGREEABLE TO ONE MAIN END AND DESIGN OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, AND OF OUR SAVIOUR'S COMING INTO THE WORLD, which was to destroy idolatry out of the world; which St. John calls "the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). III. IT IS LIKEWISE EVIDENT FROM THE NATURE AND REASON OF THE THING ITSELF, THAT THERE IS BUT ONE MEDIATOR AND INTERCESSOR IN HEAVEN, WHO OFFERS UP OUR PRAYERS TO GOD, AND THAT THERE CAN BE NO MORE. Because under the gospel there being but one high priest, and but one sacrifice once offered for sin; and intercession for sinners being founded in the merit and virtue of the sacrifice, by which expiation for sin is made, there can be no other mediator of intercession, but He who hath made expiation of sin, by a sacrifice offered to God for that purpose; and this Jesus Christ only hath done. He is both our high priest and our sacrifice; and therefore He only, in the merit and virtue of that sacrifice, which He offered upon earth, can intercede in heaven for us, and offer up our prayers to God. (J. Tillotson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;WEB: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, |
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