The Gospel Brings Us to Christ

We have been building the Gospel one truth at a time.

We have seen:

• We need salvation.
• Salvation is by grace through faith.
• We are justified by faith apart from works.
• Faith receives Christ.
• Christ completed the work of salvation on the cross.

Today we come to another foundational truth:

There is one God and one Mediator between God and humanity — Christ Jesus.

The word mediator describes someone who stands between two parties to bring reconciliation.

Because sin separated humanity from God, we need reconciliation.

And God has provided the Mediator.

Jesus Christ.

Not many mediators.

Not several ways to God.

Not human intermediaries who can replace Christ.

One Mediator.

We Need a Mediator

Why do we need a mediator?

Because there is a separation between holy God and sinful humanity.

Isaiah says:

“Your iniquities have separated you from your God.”

Sin created a problem that humanity could not solve.

We needed someone who could bring reconciliation between God and humanity.

But that Mediator could not simply be another sinner.

We needed someone uniquely qualified to represent humanity and reconcile us to God.

We needed Jesus Christ.

There Is One God

Paul begins with:

“There is one God.”

The Gospel begins with God.

There is one Creator.

One Lord.

One source of life.

One ultimate authority.

And because there is one God, salvation is not something humanity gets to redesign according to personal preference.

God Himself has revealed the way of reconciliation.

And that way is through Jesus Christ.

There Is One Mediator

Then Paul says:

“And one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”

Notice the word:

One.

Paul does not say there are many mediators.

He says there is one Mediator.

Jesus is not one mediator among many.

He is the unique Mediator God has provided between Himself and humanity.

This is not a minor detail of Christian theology.

It is central to the Gospel.

If humanity is separated from God by sin, and God has provided one Mediator, then our hope must be centred upon that Mediator.

Christ is our Mediator.

Jesus Is the Way to the Father

Jesus made an extraordinary statement:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

These words are direct.

Jesus did not say:

“I am one way.”

He said:

“I am the way.”

The Gospel therefore does not present Jesus merely as a teacher showing us one possible route toward God.

The way to the Father is through Christ.

Why Not Many Paths?

The world often tells us:

“Every spiritual path ultimately leads to God.”

But the Gospel does not say that.

The Gospel says that humanity has a sin problem and that God has provided a specific solution:

Jesus Christ.

If there were many equally effective ways of salvation, the cross would not be necessary.

But Christ came because humanity needed a Saviour.

The Christian Gospel is therefore not:

“Find whatever path works for you.”

It is:

“Come to Christ.”

This is not about arrogance.

It is about believing what God has revealed.

Christ Gave Himself as a Ransom

Paul continues:

“Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people.”

This explains why Jesus can be our Mediator.

He did not merely speak about reconciliation.

He accomplished it.

He gave Himself.

The cross was the price.

The innocent One gave His life for sinners.

The righteous One died for the guilty.

The Lamb of God gave Himself.

Christ bore our sin and gave Himself as the ransom.

The cross is therefore central to His role as Mediator.

He did not simply stand between God and humanity and ask both sides to try harder.

He gave Himself to accomplish the work necessary for reconciliation.

The Cross Made Reconciliation Possible

At the cross, Jesus dealt with the barrier created by sin.

Paul says in Colossians:

“God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things.”

Reconciliation means relationship restored.

Through Christ, sinners can be reconciled to God.

This is why the cross is at the centre of the Gospel.

The Gospel is not simply:

“Try to get closer to God.”

It is:

“God has provided reconciliation through Jesus Christ.”

Christ has done what we could never do.

We Do Not Need Another Mediator

If Scripture says there is one Mediator, then we must take that seriously.

No human being can take Christ’s unique place.

No church leader can become another mediator of salvation.

No religious figure can replace Christ.

No saint can become another mediator between God and humanity.

No tradition can become another mediator.

No ceremony can become another mediator.

Jesus Christ alone occupies this unique position.

This does not mean that Christians cannot ask other believers to pray for them.

We can pray for one another.

We can encourage one another.

We can seek godly counsel.

We can learn from faithful teachers.

But none of these people replaces Christ as the Mediator between God and humanity.

Prayer Through Christ

This truth also changes the way we understand prayer.

Because Christ is our Mediator, believers can come directly to God through Him.

Hebrews says:

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.”

Why can we approach?

Because Jesus has opened the way to the Father through His finished work.

We do not need to find another person who can make us acceptable to God.

We come through Christ.

We pray in His name.

We trust His righteousness.

We depend upon His grace.

Christ gives us access to the Father.

The Danger of Replacing Christ

Whenever human tradition places another person or practice between the believer and Christ, we must return to Scripture.

The question should always be:

What does God’s Word say?

If Scripture says there is one Mediator, then we must keep Christ at the centre.

This is not about attacking people.

It is about protecting the Gospel.

Christ is our Mediator.

Christ is our Advocate.

Christ is our Saviour.

Christ Is Enough

This is the beautiful simplicity of the Gospel.

We need salvation.

Christ saves.

We need forgiveness.

Christ forgives.

We need reconciliation.

Christ reconciles.

We need access to God.

Christ gives us access.

We need a Mediator.

Christ is our Mediator.

We need a Saviour.

Christ is our Saviour.

Nothing needs to be added to Him.

His finished work is sufficient.

His grace is sufficient.

His righteousness is sufficient.

Christ is enough.

Christ Does Not Point Us Away From Himself

Some religious systems can place enormous emphasis upon human intermediaries.

But Jesus continually calls people to Himself.

He said:

“Come to Me.”

He does not direct us to another person who can take His place.

He calls us to Himself.

The Gospel brings us to Christ.

And when we come to Christ, we find the One who gave Himself for us, who rose again, who lives, and who intercedes for His people.

The Gospel points us only to Jesus.

The Invitation

Perhaps you have spent years surrounded by Christianity but have never personally placed your trust in Christ.

Or you have depended upon religious practices, traditions, ceremonies, family heritage, or the approval of other people.

Maybe you have felt that you need another person to make you acceptable to God.

Today, Scripture brings you back to the simplicity of the Gospel.

There is one God.

There is one Mediator.

There is one Saviour.

His name is Jesus Christ.

You do not need to earn your way to Him.

You do not need to make yourself worthy before coming to Him.

Come in repentance and faith.

Trust Him.

You do not need another mediator to make you acceptable to God. Christ Himself is sufficient.

For those who already trust Christ, this truth is a call to keep Him at the centre.

Do not allow anything or anyone to take the place that belongs uniquely to Jesus.