1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984
A few decades ago there was this movie that I really liked and watched over and over. This movie had a really cool line in it that I've quoted hundreds of times; "There can be only one!" This of course was always in reference to myself and some aspect of victory or superiority that I would hold over someone. Wow, seeing that typed out reminds me of what a fool I was!
Nevertheless, that was then and this is now and though it's been a very, very long time since I've declared "There can be only one" I am happy to proclaim today that "THERE IS ONLY ONE!" Fortunately, this has nothing to do with my own prowess or ability and speaks only of the nature of Jesus Christ.
My study verse today states it plainly and without obfuscation; "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..." Within this passage there are two ONE'S which are of course still one.
In the first fragment of this passage, Paul declares that 'there is one God'. This is an important and life-changing truth; one that came as quite a shock to me. Before everything there was God and from the nothingness, God spoke and created everything. His action didn't stop there and he has persisted across the ages, persists today and will persist forever yet. But like many, I balked at the concept of 'one God' and moved from altar to altar worshiping may gods. All had one thing in common; they were false. So when finally, I came to understand the truth that 'there is one God' it was a real eye-opener for me.
The second fragment of this passage declares by implication that there is some need for men to be reconciled to God and that there is only one way person capable of that task. "and one mediator between God and men" is the song that this passage sings. Not only is there one God, we have been separated from him by our sin (Isaiah 59:2 / Romans 3:23) but there is only one road that we may travel that brings back into fellowship with God and that is revealed in the third fragment of this passage.
"the man Christ Jesus" is revealed to be the only ONE that is capable of reconciling us to God. It never occurred to me till just this moment that Jesus is the original mediator. Neither works nor piety nor service nor anything else will reconcile us to God. Only Jesus THE Christ has the power to reconcile us to God. And the lengths to which he went to accomplish the task simply boggle the mind.
For those of you who may be searching, ever searching and not finding, let me help you out. There is only one God and there is only one path to Him and that is by and through Jesus Christ. To know Jesus is to know God. There is only one to reconcile us.
Peace,
Carl
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