JESUS,THE MEDIATOR

Sons Training Monday, February 13, 2017,

How to Study and Teach the Bible Lesson 9 JESUS, THE MEDIATOR

Hebrews 9:15

And for this cause, he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Through the scripture, Paul teaches a very powerful point. He terms Jesus as the mediator of the New Testament.

MEDIATE - Occupying a middle position.

MEDIATOR - One who mediates; especially: one who mediates between parties at variance.

Per Webster’s Dictionary, a mediator is one who occupies a middle stance and seeks to resolve issues between two parties. With that said, Jesus is the mediator of the New Testament. It would mean; therefore, that Jesus sits as a middle man to set at peace two parties at variance. He is the peacemaker. Who then would be the two parties?

Genesis 6:6

6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

I hope we can see the variance at hand; all men on the earth and the Lord. All who came from Adam were born in sin and shaped in iniquity. The scripture says sin multiplied upon the face of the earth, and the evil of man grew exceedingly. God’s heart was grieved at this. He grieved that He could no longer fellowship with His beloved man.

Acts 17:29-30

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

God had long-suffered throughout the millenniums. However, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to settle the issues between Him and His beloved man. Jesus is the avenue through whom repentance is possible. God had winked throughout the generations but now He commands men everywhere to believe on His Son. How, therefore, is Jesus the mediator?

Romans 5:10

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

MEDIATOR THROUGH DEATH

Jesus died for the sins of the entire world. Consider the great love of the mediator (and peacemaker) Jesus Christ. In dealing with the great odds between God and man, He decided to give His own life for the sins of man, having confidence that His Father loved Him and would raise Him from the dead. After all, He was His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. By the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the entire world was given access to God. This allowed each individual the opportunity to personally repent to God through prayer. Jesus’ mediation through death, caused the entire world to be reconciled to God. Whether Jew or Gentile, every man, woman and child now has personal access to the true and living God; that is, we can all repent before Him.

It is important to note that a mediator must be on good terms with both sides. There must be a neutral stance. Jesus could relate to God, because He was the Word from the beginning, however, He could relate to man because He was touched with the feeling of their infirmity. He loved both. Therefore, seeing that Jesus never sinned against God nor did He sin against man, this left Him in right standing with both.

MEDIATOR THROUGH LIFE/PROMISE

Hebrews 9:15

- …they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

It is clear the death of Jesus Christ caused all humanity to be reconciled to God. This is likened unto the sacrifice of the animals which was made in the dedication of the law. Though the sacrifice was made, the Israelites were now enjoined to the covenant as they were sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice (Hebs 9:19-20).

Likewise, Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of the world, but our heart must be sprinkled with His blood for the remission of sin. This is a spiritual operation. The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus is done by way of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 9:14

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Romans 5:11

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Though Jesus died for the entire world, this does not mean everyone has received the atonement. In other words, when you receive Jesus Christ you have also received the atonement. This atonement causes an eradication of sin, rather than a covering. It allows you to be baptized into the death of Christ and risen in His life.

This brings us to a very important aspect of Jesus’ mediation. Jesus as the mediator between God and man, decided to die on the behalf of men; and as mentioned earlier. He knew God loved Him, because He did no sin. This brought Him confidence that He would be resurrected even though He decided to die for the world. Moreover, it was promised to Him because God had a great testimony of Him. Consider it.

Matthew 3:17

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Therefore, in fulfilling the plan of mediation, after His death and resurrection He would then place mankind in the Himself. The gift of salvation is an opportunity for them to be baptized into the mediator, to live through Him, and be saved by His life.

1 John 4:9

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him

Therefore, the flesh of Jesus Christ is that mediator, or that new and living way to God. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5)

The “man Jesus” refers to His flesh, which was given to us that we may live through. If you are not baptized into His flesh, you have no fellowship with the Father; in fact, the scripture says, you are none of His.

Consider Moses. He was also a mediator. He stood between God and Israel.

Galatians 3:19-20

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

He received the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments for Israel. Therein, we can clearly see three separate parties: God, Israel and the mediator Moses. However, Paul makes a distinction, with the mediation of the Spirit, saying “but God is one.” This makes a distinction between natural mediation and the mediation of the Spirit. In order to be a partaker of the mediation of Jesus Christ, you must be baptized into Christ. This therefore means, Jesus, in His mediation, makes all three parties one.

1 Corinthians 6:17

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Our lives before salvation caused us to be enemies of God. However, the life of Christ has always been well pleasing to the Father. The plan was therefore to make us, who were once His enemies, one with the mediator. Now when He looks at us, He sees His mediator, and when He looks at His mediator He sees us. We are one in Christ. However, we are only saved by His life. If we refuse to allow the mediator’s life through us, we will once again be manifest enemies of the cross and Grace (life) of Jesus Christ. We would have refused the peace that Jesus sought to make between God and man. We will be rebelling against God and seeing that we refuse to submit to the mediation provided, God will simply destroy us. It is best for us all to agree with the Lord, through submission to His will, so He may receive glory by us, and we may be saved in the end.

REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

Hebrews 8:6

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Hebrews 12:24

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Hebrews 9:27-28

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.