Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Paul is writing to Timothy here, and in this section he's writing about prayer. He's going to give him some insight on how to pray. Before he helps him understand more about how to pray, he's going to help him understand first how we're even able to pray. Because listen—it is a miracle. It is an amazing thing that the Christian is able to approach God in prayer.
There Is One Mediator
How is it that we're able to approach and commune with God? The answer is right here in our text, and it's these words: "There is one Mediator." That mediator between you and God, between me and God, is not your favorite saint. It is not a priest. It is the one mediator who is Jesus Christ. To mediate is to stand in the middle. A mediator represents two sides. We're told that Jesus is the mediator between us and God—between sinners like you and me and a holy God. Jesus stands in between us. He is fully God and He is fully human. He is able to make peace between a holy God and sinful people through the good news of the gospel and what He has done. Thomas Watson wrote, "As there is but one sun in the world, so there is but one mediator."
From Barrier to Access
Before Jesus—and you can read about this in the Old Testament of your Bible—there were these intermediaries. People were going through priests, through temples, through various rituals to get to God. But that all changed when Jesus rose from the dead. Because He lives, we have access to God. There was a barrier between us and God, and it was our sin. You could even see it in the temple. The temple had these two rooms—the Most Holy Place, where the presence of God was, and the Holy Place. In between them was this veil.
When Jesus died, that veil was torn from top to bottom. That was representing the fact and the reality that through Christ, man was given access to God. Today, if you're a Christian, you can go directly to God in prayer. Why? Because He lives. Because we have a mediator. Jesus Christ came. He lived, He suffered, He died, He rose from the dead—in the place of sinners like you and me—so that sinners like you and me could be reconciled to God. This is an amazing thing, that we have access to God. We don't need another mediator. Jesus Christ is all we need so that we can access God and come boldly before His throne.
Access Granted
Imagine—before Jesus, there was a sign posted on heaven that said, No Access. We were not given access to God. Now, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the sign to those of us who are believers reads: Access Granted. Maybe some of you today need to remember this and be encouraged by it. You need to stop trying to earn favor with God through extra prayers, good works, or religiosity—whatever that might be for you. If you're a Christian, know and remember that Jesus has already done what needs to be done. Now you can come directly to God the Father. You have access to Him in prayer because of your mediator, Jesus Christ.
