Mediator

1. Mediator For whom?

2. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all 1 Timothy 2:5,6

3. Overview “Likewise, the Greater Moses, Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members.” Worldwide Security Under the "Prince of Peace" PP.11 TheWaytoEnjoyPeaceWithGod Para 16.

4. Mediator (Insight Book) One who interposes between two parties at variance to reconcile them; an intercessor; an intermediary agent, or go-between. In the Scriptures the term is applied to Moses and Jesus, the mediators respectively of the Law covenant and the new covenant.— Ga 3:19; 1Ti 2:5 Those for Whom Christ Is Mediator The apostle Paul declares that there is “one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all”—for both Jews and Gentiles. (1Ti 2:5, 6) He mediates the new covenant between God and those taken into the new covenant, the congregation of spiritual Israel. (Heb 8:10-13; 12:24; Eph 5:25-27) Christ became Mediator in order that the ones called “might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance” (Heb 9:15); he assists, not the angels, but “Abraham’s seed.” (Heb 2:16) He assists those who are to be brought into the new covenant to be ‘adopted’ into Jehovah’s household of spiritual sons; these eventually will be in heaven as Christ’s brothers, becoming a part with him of the seed of Abraham. (Ro 8:15-17, 23-25; Ga 3:29) He has transmitted to them the promised holy spirit, with which spirit they are sealed and are given a token of what is to come, their heavenly inheritance. (2Co 5:5; Eph 1:13, 14) The total number of those who are finally and permanently sealed is revealed in Revelation 7:4-8 as 144,000. Insight Vol 2 P. 362

5. Is this what the Bible means? In effect we split this scripture in half, suggesting it refers to two groups: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all / Men here, we believe, is the 144,000 only But ‘all’ means all mankind

6. Is this what the Bible means? For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all Mesités Strong’s Concordance mesités: an arbitrator, a mediator Original Word: μεσίτης, ου, Part of Speech: Noun, MasculineTransliteration: mesitésPhonetic Spelling: (mes-ee'-tace)Short Definition: a mediator, go-betweenDefinition: (a) a mediator, intermediary, (b) a go-between, arbiter, agent of something good 3316mesítēs (from 3319/mésos, "in the middle") – properly, an arbitrator ("mediator"), guaranteeing the performance of all the terms stipulated in a covenant (agreement). 3316/mesítēs (a "mediator") intervenes to restore peace between two parties, especially as it fulfils a compact or ratifies a covenant.

7. Is this what the Bible means? For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all Anthropos Anthropos conveys no sense of a small unique group (a little flock) or a priesthood. It means a man, human, mankind. The NIV translates 1 Tim 2:5: For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus The New Living Translation translates Tim 2:5: For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus. Strong’s Concordance anthrópos: a man, human, mankind Original Word: ἄνθρωπος, ου,Part of Speech: Noun, MasculineTransliteration: anthróposPhonetic Spelling: (anth'-ro-pos)Short Definition: a man, one of the human raceDefinition: a man, one of the human race

8. Is this what the Bible means? For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all Panton Strong’s Concordance pas: all, everyOriginal Word: πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶνPart of Speech: AdjectiveTransliteration: pasPhonetic Spelling: (pas)Short Definition: all, the whole, every kind ofDefinition: all, the whole, every kind of. 3956pás – each, every; each "part(s) of a totality" (L & N, 1, 59.24). 3956 /pás ("each, every") means "all" in the sense of "each (every) part that applies." The emphasis of the total picture then is on "one piece at a time." 365 (ananeóō) then focuses on the part(s) making up the whole – viewing the whole in terms of the individual parts.

9. Conclusion 1/2 • The use of the word men is from the Greek word Anthropos. This word means ‘men’ or ‘mankind’ • There is no suggestion that this means a small group • Therefore it makes no sense to split this scripture up, applying the first half to the anointed only, and the second half to ‘all’ (Panton) men

10. Law Covenant vs. Old Covenant Mediator

11. Law Covenant Israel Under the law covenant both natural Israelites and the alien residents had access to he arrangement of High Priest and Mediator to obtain forgiveness of sins. Moses Mediator High Priest Aaron Priesthood Tribe of Levi The alien resident who had become a circumcised worshiper was bound to one law with the Israelites, that is, to obey all the terms of the Law covenant. (Le 24:22) A few examples are: …He could offer sacrifices (Nu 15:14) and had to do so in the same manner as prescribed for the natural Israelite. Alien Resident – Insight Vol 1 P.73 Israel Alien Residents

12. New Covenant Israel Mediator High Priest Other names: Little flock Remnant Anointed Spiritual Israel (aka Priesthood) Great Crowd(aka Alien Residents) Other names: Other sheep But under the new covenant the mediator is removed for the Great Crowd.

13. Scenario Illustrating the problem

14. Scenario A man walks down the the street and trips over. He swears. After calming down he wants to approach God to apologise. How can I do this?

15. Scenario Can a man approach God directly? No – he is imperfect. He can not approach God.

16. Scenario Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten son, died once so that mankind's sins could be forgiven. Thus Jesus becomes the High Priest for all mankind His death pays the needed ransom from sin. 20 where a forerunner has entered in our behalf, Jesus, who has become a high priest according to the manner of Melchizedek forever. Hebrew 6:20

17. Scenario So how can this man avail himself of the ransom value of Jesus’s sacrifice..?

18. Praying through Jesus Prayer The Hearer of Prayer The article APPROACH TO GOD considers the position of Christ Jesus as the one through whom prayer is directed. Through Jesus’ blood, offered to God in sacrifice, “we have boldness for the way of entry into the holy place,” that is, boldness to approach God’s presence in prayer, approaching “with true hearts in the full assurance of faith.” (Heb 10:19-22) Jesus Christ is therefore the one and only “way” of reconciliation with God and approach to God in prayer.—Joh 14:6; 15:16; 16:23, 24; 1Co 1:2; Eph 2:18; Insight into the Scriptures 2 P.668

19. Praying through Jesus Approach to God Basis for Approach Under New Covenant. As the sole Mediator of that new covenant, Christ Jesus became “the way.” He said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Joh 14:6, 13, 14) The barrier separating the Jews from the uncircumcised Gentile nations outside God’s national covenant with Israel was removed by means of Christ’s death, so that “through him we, both peoples, have the approach to the Father by one spirit.” (Eph 2:11-19; Ac 10:35) Faith in God as “the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him” and in the ransom is the prerequisite for peaceful approach and a kindly reception by God through Jesus Christ. (Heb 11:6; 1Pe 3:18) Those approaching through Christ Jesus as their High Priest and Intercessor know that “he is always alive to plead for them” (Heb 7:25), and they can confidently “approach with freeness of speech to the throne of undeserved kindness.” Insight into the Scriptures 1 P.137 Prayer The Hearer of Prayer The article APPROACH TO GOD considers the position of Christ Jesus as the one through whom prayer is directed. Through Jesus’ blood, offered to God in sacrifice, “we have boldness for the way of entry into the holy place,” that is, boldness to approach God’s presence in prayer, approaching “with true hearts in the full assurance of faith.” (Heb 10:19-22) Jesus Christ is therefore the one and only “way” of reconciliation with God and approach to God in prayer.—Joh 14:6; 15:16; 16:23, 24; 1Co 1:2; Eph 2:18; Insight into the Scriptures 2 P.668

20. The Society’s Conundrum Intercessor is another name for Mediator… So is Jesus the mediator for the Great Crowd? What is an Intercessor? No – only for the 144,000 Jesus is both High Priest and Intercessor When a man (of the Great Crowd) sins he must ask for forgiveness. How can he do this ? Why? He must approach God through Jesus Christ. Approach God through prayer So how can he approach God?

21. Conclusion 2/2 • Under the Old Covenant, the alien residents (who foreshadow the Great Crowd) had full access to the Mediator and High Priest arrangement • Under the New Covenant, the Bible only has one way listed of approaching God – which is through Jesus as a mediator • This is needed to make use of the value of Jesus’s ransom sacrifice • But as we believe that the new covenant only applies to the anointed this creates a problem • So we have to create an ‘Intercessor’ role which allows the Great Crowd access Jesus’s sacrifice. • This creates a problem as this is not actually what the Bible says Worryingly, there is no Scriptural precedent to support the idea that the Mediator can be for a different group than that of the High Priest, or that the High Priest atoned for people not under covenant. Rock lifted – problem found…