One Mediator Between God and Men – 1 Timothy 2:1-7

A mediator brings two alienated parties together, reconciled.  God and humanity were alienated, but God took the initiative to provide a mediator to bring reconciliation with humanity.  Jesus did this by taking on human nature in addition to his divine nature, coming to earth to proclaim this reconciliation, and died a sacrificial death to cover our sins and make it possible for us to be forgiven.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For 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. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.  (1 Timothy 2:1-7 ESV)

Paul wants Timothy to discharge his responsibility to counter false teaching by first of all urging all church members to pray consistently for people of every station of life who are in authority, including kings.  The goal of these prayers is that the Christian community might lead peaceful lives without, presumably, persecution.  This is not so they can be comfortable but so they can proclaim the gospel.

God desires all kinds of people to be saved, including those in authority.  The false teachers may have been suggesting something different.  But the fact that Jesus is the only middle man between God and humanity means he is the only way of salvation.  Everyone must come to the knowledge of that truth if they are going to be rescued.  The way Jesus has become our mediator with God is by giving himself as a ransom.  He paid the price for our release from the penalty of sin that we could not pay ourselves without doing so in eternal separation from God.

This was the task Paul was given, to preach this message and to preach it to all kinds of people, even and especially Gentiles, non-Jews.  The false teachers, who are enamored with the law of Moses, were making this less likely since they were requiring adherence to the Jewish law.  We proclaim the gospel of Christ that is available to all peoples and puts the law in its proper place, not as a means to salvation and not with the old restrictions of diet and ritual.