Our Only Mediator

I Timothy 2:1-8

For whom should believers of Jesus pray for?  Of course we pray for our family and friends, but do we have any obligation to pray for others?  Sometimes there are just some people that we might not really care for. Should we be praying for them?  And how about our political leaders? Should we be praying for leaders that we disagree with, or those who are corrupt or even evil?  Some have wondered why we should even bother to pray, as doesn’t God know everyone’s needs anyway? The Apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy, has given us God’s Word in this matter.  Let’s look into this Epistle from the New Testament.

So why should we pray for people or needs we have when God knows all?  He doesn’t need us to inform Him about anything going on. Although God is all-powerful and all-knowing, He has chosen to let us help Him change the world through our prayers.  We are to pray for each other and for our leaders in government (vs. 1-4). Our earnest prayers will have powerful results (James 5:16). The Lord God wants us to pray for our leaders in government, that they will lead godly lives and make wise decisions according to the Word and the will of God.

One very important thing believers should pray for is for the salvation of the lost.  We should want people to come to a knowledge of Christ. In verse 4 we read that Paul says that God desires all men to be saved, and the Apostle Peter says the same in II Peter 3:9.  This does not mean that all will be saved.  The Bible makes it clear that many reject the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:13-14; John 12:44-50; Hebrews 10:26-29).  Though Jesus’ death was for all and His death was sufficient to cover the sins of all people, only some choose to accept it, thus only some are saved.  Believing that God will save unrepentant people who reject Christ means believing that God is lying about salvation in His Word.  His Word, the Bible, does not lie (Titus 1:2). There are many who reject Him, and hell for those who do.

Paul continues on in verse 5-6 by reinforcing the doctrine that there is only one God, as stated in Deuteronomy 6:4-5.  Jesus is not another deity, but is God Himself, who has also become our Mediator, one who brings two parties together in peace.  Humans are separated from God by sin. There is only one Person in all the universe who is our mediator between us and God, and can bring us together, and that is Jesus Christ.  He is both God and man. He did that through His sacrifice on the cross, giving His life a ransom for sin. There is no other way of salvation except through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).

A mediator is someone who intervenes between two parties to resolve a conflict or to ratify a covenant.  Jesus is the only one who can restore peace between God and sinners. He is the only One who is able to bridge the gap between man and God.  Jesus took the death we deserved. Only the perfect God-Man could bring God and man together. Through Jesus we can draw near with confidence to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).  Jesus will faithfully represent us and lead us in His way (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-15; 7:22-8:6). When we say “in Jesus’ Name” we are not just saying a Christian phrase to show we’re done praying.  We are taking hold of the Name that carries the power of the most precious Man and His sacred death.

As Paul wraps up this passage he reminds Timothy that he was appointed by God to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles (vs. 7).  And he reminds us that when praying, if we have anger, major doubts, or disputings, these can put a block between us, our prayers, and God (vs. 8).  We need to get those things taken care of before we seriously pray for others and ourselves.

In conclusion, let’s remember that God has called upon all of His children to pray for each other and for our leaders, both for their needs and for their salvation.  We also need to remember that Jesus is the only Mediator we have between ourselves and God. There is no one else.