Study Guide: One Mediator
Quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB); please check each one in your own Bible.
The Big Idea
The big idea: There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5), and through him every believer draws near to God himself (Hebrews 10:22).
Read Aloud
I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony at the proper time,
— 1 Timothy 2:1–6
Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a great priest over God’s house, let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water,
— Hebrews 10:19–22
Where We Stand
Scripture says
- There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all (1 Timothy 2:5–6).
- No one comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6).
- Believers are to draw near to God themselves, with boldness, through the new and living way he opened (Hebrews 10:19–22).
- We may draw near with boldness to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
- Christ Jesus makes intercession for us at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34), and he lives forever to make intercession for those who draw near to God through him (Hebrews 7:25).
- If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).
- Believers are commanded to make intercessions for all people, and to pray for one another (1 Timothy 2:1; James 5:16).
- The leaders to be remembered are those who spoke the word of God, and one is our teacher, and all of us are brothers (Hebrews 13:7; Matthew 23:8).
We conclude
- Our conclusion: mediation of access belongs to Christ alone. The intercession believers owe one another is commanded in the same passage that names one mediator, and it does not add a second (1 Timothy 2:1, 5).
- Our conclusion: no priesthood, no departed saint, and no organization stands between the believer and God (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 10:19–22).
- Our conclusion: the faithful and wise servant of Matthew 24 is a charge to every servant's faithfulness, not the charter of a channel (Matthew 24:42–51; Luke 12:41–48).
- Our conclusion: leaders have real authority to teach, shepherd and correct, and it is bounded by Scripture (Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Corinthians 4:6).
The Hard Questions
- Doesn't James 5:16 show that believers intercede for one another, so intercession is not Christ's alone? See The strongest objection under One God and One Mediator.
- Didn't Jesus set his sent ones between himself and the hearer (Luke 10:16)? See The strongest objection under No One Comes to the Father Except Through Him.
- Don't the elders and the angel carry the saints' prayers in heaven (Revelation 5:8; 8:3–4)? See The strongest objection under He Always Lives to Intercede.
- Doesn't Hebrews 13:17 place leaders over believers' souls, so that submission to them is how we deal with God? See The strongest objection under Leaders Serve the Flock.
- How is the teaching stated by those who hold it — Mary and the saints, and the faithful servant as a channel? See The Teaching We Differ From.
- How much authority do church leaders and teachers have? See The authority of church leaders and teachers under Questions Answered.
- Does teaching handed down outside Scripture bind a believer? See Teaching handed down outside Scripture under Questions Answered.
- Does salvation depend on settling this question? See Whether salvation depends on these questions under Questions Answered.
Discussion Questions
- When you pray, to whom do you speak, and through whom do you come to God?
- In 1 Timothy 2, what is to be made for all people, and who alone is named as mediator? (See One God and One Mediator.)
- What does Hebrews tell believers themselves to do, and with what boldness? (See No One Comes to the Father Except Through Him.)
- By what mark does Hebrews tell us to know the leaders we are to remember and imitate? (See Leaders Serve the Flock.)
- How does Peter's question in Luke 12:41 bear on who the faithful servant is? (See The Teaching We Differ From.)
- What does it mean for you that “the Father himself loves you” (John 16:27)? (See Hope.)
Hope
Paul writes: “Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:1–2). Jesus said of his disciples: “the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.” (John 16:27).
For the Leader
Allow about 40 minutes for one session. Read 1 Timothy 2:1–6 first, then Hebrews 10:19–22. Invite everyone to open and check each verse in their own Bible.
© 2026 Elvis Lucas, Open the Text. Original: https://openthetext.com/series/test-the-teaching/01-one-mediator-study-guide/
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