Instructions about Worship
|
Key Verse: “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Selected Scripture: |
WE SHOULD SEE AN immediate point of Truth being made in this scripture from I Timothy 2:5. ‘There is one God,’ shows to us that the only true and living God is just and merciful, and that he was able to provide salvation from sin and death though his son, Christ Jesus.
We are also being given an assurance that only our Lord Jesus is fully able to deliver all from the curse of sin and death. He is able to save mankind from the grave, from all weaknesses of heredity, and from all of the instruments of sin that are upon us. “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (I Cor. 15:21,22) The original sinner was Adam, and his children have shared his penalty. We read in Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Another scripture that comes to mind along this line reads, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”—vs. 23
The reality of these scriptures leads us to the reference made to ‘one mediator,’ as used in our Key Verse. “There was no man, and … there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him.” (Isa. 59:16)
The man “who gave himself” (I Tim. 2:6), seems to be the particular point that we need to focus on next. The anointed Jesus, who ‘gave himself’ at Calvary, is the ‘mediator between God and men.’ The merit, and the value, all proceeded from the one man. Recall that the foundation of the ransom is that all of mankind was included in one man’s sentence, to the intent that in God’s due time the penalty of sin could be paid by one sacrifice. It would take Jesus, who would willingly come down from heaven to pay the price of redemption and serve as ‘intercessor.’ An intercessor is one who pleads for, or makes a request on behalf of, another or for others, for the purpose of producing an agreement or to mediate (Webster’s Dictionary).
Included in our lesson is a special consideration for the footstep followers of our Lord Jesus. Our Lord made a sacrifice that he presented to the Father to make atonement for the church class. (Heb. 9:24) Jesus has been placed in a position, throughout the Gospel Age, of being the great High Priest and Advocate for his people. This makes it possible for them to no longer be strangers from God, but “accepted in the beloved.” (Eph. 1:6) They now have a standing before God and, as members of the body of Christ, may ask for help and guidance. (Rom. 5:1,2) These dear ones have no standing before God on their own—“No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) We must be first accepted by the Father, and then daily show our devotion to righteousness by making an effort towards holiness. It is because we recognize Jesus as our Advocate that we may be taught of God, and may come to the throne of grace. Our Lord continues to supply and apply his sacrifice until we, being made perfect, have no further need of it.—Eph. 4:12
Let us strive to be a supporter of the Truth, acting as pillars now, so that we can one day be the foundation and agency of God’s Truth during his kingdom.—I Tim. 3:15