Our scripture reading comes to us from the first epistle of Paul to Timothy, and we'll read from chapter 1 through chapter 2, verse 7. Chapter 1, verse 11, or 12, rather, through 2, verse 7. As we read this letter together, remember that Paul is writing to Timothy, and it might just sound like two people, but you have to realize it's a very aged Paul in prison, writing to Timothy, who's a very young pastor. And he doesn't write in a condescending way, but he writes as an encouraging way, pointing even this young man to very primary things. 1 Timothy 1 verse 12. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me For that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious. But I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. How be it for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, which some, having put away concerning faith, have made shipwreck, of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time, whereof I am ordained a preacher and an apostle. I speak the truth in Christ and lie not, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. Disagreements and conflicts keep society from flourishing, keep people from flourishing. And sometimes in a conflict there seems to be such severity that there is no way resolutions is possible. At the same time, there can be a desire, at least on the party of one or another, to come to some kind of solution. The reasons for wanting resolution can be many. But instead of letting conflict simmer, there's four types of resolution. One is just, we would say, practical and relational. You work things out. But if it comes down to official conflict resolution, there's three types of things that can happen. There's litigation. If you sue somebody, go to court before a judge, every single thing becomes public record. Everything that gets brought up is officially written down. When it comes to lawsuits on earth, people are often very petty, right? Some of the most infamous have, well, they're almost embarrassing, right? The person who sued McDonald's because of hot coffee. Just this past week, someone sued Starbucks because the tea was too hot, and they won $50 million. Or the lady who sued Jelly Belly, like the candy company, because the jelly beans contained more sugar than she thought they should. So, lawsuits reveal a selfishness that we should shake our heads at. And there's Christians who sue each other. Paul says in Corinthians, it's an utter failure for you to go to lawsuits against one another. But that's only one, right? There's litigation. There's also arbitration. Two opposing parties present their case and it's a neutral third party that makes a decision. Everything in arbitration is confidential. Right? It's not public record. It's confidential. But whatever this neutral third party decides, it's binding. Both parties, by agreeing to even come to arbitration, say they will follow through with whatever decision is made. And you might recall, you know, sports players asking for arbitration about their salaries. That might seem way out of our league, but people who are trying to get their money back for canceled flights or delayed vacations with airlines, it often happens through arbitration. You present your case, neutral third party decides it, and you have to live with whatever the result is. Litigation, arbitration, and the third way to resolve conflict is mediation. Right? It's where the third party talks to both sides in the dispute and it's not confidential. It's an exploration of what are the possible solutions. And the goal and result is a settlement that satisfies everybody that both parties agree to. And this is Not just what we have to do as we walk away, but this is what we agree is best as we walk away. Now, mediation is also used for what in one sense could be called the biggest conflict of all time. The conflict between God and sinful humanity. Right? We have God as the perfect and holy king, creator. And we have humanity as the proud, rebellious, arrogant, selfish, petty creation. Not because God made humanity that way, but because that's what they've chosen to be. listening to Satan rather than God, choosing sin and death instead of righteousness. And the chasm between God and humanity, as we've considered in recent weeks, is not just large and heavy, but it's deeper and it's always seeming to get bigger, and there's nothing that people can do. Right, the amount of sin increases, the reason for the chasm, the separation grows. From humanity's side, the disrespect for God grows. From God's side, His wrath against sin grows. And how can there be resolution? From humanity's standpoint, there's no internal solution. Right? We can't just say, okay, let's work things out because no, it's growing. It's getting worse. There's no neutral third party who can come and say, I'm over both parties here and whatever I decide has to happen. There's no place for arbitration. But it's into this that God reveals Jesus Christ as the mediator. Jesus acts as a mediator, not in the legal sense of 21st century Canada, but he acts as the mediator, as the go-between, one who brings possible peace between God and humanity. Paul declares this explicitly to Timothy in our text, 1 Timothy 2 verse 5, there's one mediator between God and man. the man Christ Jesus. And what does that mean to you this morning? That there's one mediator. Right, we want to see three things. The first is that this mediator is sent by God. Right, even though the separation or the chasm or the conflict is real and growing God desires the salvation of people. He desires that they would come to reconciliation with Him. Right, this is the same God who remains holy and righteous and perfect and He cannot regard evil. He promises He will punish the wicked. But, as He stands as one party here, He doesn't desire that. He's no delight in the death of the wicked. What does Paul say in verse 4? God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. And we can't split God into two gods and say there's an angry God for some people and a loving God for other people. No, there's one God. Right, the same God holds together righteousness and justice and kindness and mercy. You can think of all the Old Testament verses that say over and over to Israel, hear, O Israel, the Lord, our God is one. There's no other God beside him. He is a just God and a savior. It's Isaiah 45. Or as Paul says to the Corinthians, There's one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things. Right, there's one God on this side, and though the conflict is great, He doesn't desire that the conflict would continue, and He doesn't desire that the conflict would get bigger. He desires that all would come to reconciliation. But what's the other party doing, right? Humanity's turning its back on God and walking away and saying, we're not interested. But this is the gospel then that God, on his part, calls out to the opposing party that's walking away and saying, I'm offering a mediator, come back. There's no other way you can turn around. There's no other way you can live peaceably. This is what Paul is illustrating in some of the personal aspects of the chapter, right? He takes himself as an example. I was the blasphemer. I was the persecutor. I was rude. I was arrogant. I was a violent man. I was the chief of sinners. I was walking away, going the opposite direction of what God called me to do. But I obtained mercy, and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant." Right? Paul knows, and this is his point to Timothy, he knows that the conflict's great by nature. But he wants to point out it's mercy, it's mercy, it's mercy that's calling out to you. There is a mediator. But what happens, right? If God's holy and perfect and just, And humanity sinning and walking away. And some of us in humanity feel the burden, and we know the guilt, and we know we're adding things. And it's hard to imagine that God actually is calling out and saying, there's a mediator. Because we're walking further away. And who can bridge this gap? Even Job wrestled with this. His friends accused him being too great a sinner. And what was Job's response? God's not a man as I am, that I may answer him, or that we should go to court together. Nor is there a mediator between us who may lay his hand on us both. Do not let dread of him terrify me. Right? Job's feeling his own burden. He doesn't need someone saying God's against you and the conflict's too big. You're never going to be reconciled to him. Should remind us right away, really. There's two lies we can fall into so easily. Right? The first lie is that there's no gap. There's no separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. And the lie then is there's no gap, everything's good, you can just keep on living and God's gonna embrace you no matter what you do. That's a lie. There's a chasm here, an unending conflict, deep and wide. between God and sinful humanity. But the second lie is this. The conflict and the separation is so big that there's nothing but dread and terror through life, and no matter what even God says, I don't know that I can trust him or believe him. Right, is there a way back? Maybe I should just be terrified my whole life. That's a lie. Right? What does Hebrews say? Hebrews 1. God in these last days has spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom he made the worlds, who, this is Jesus, being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty at hand. Right? This is the message of Hebrews. God has said to you, there is a mediator in Christ Jesus, and he purged, and he went back to God, and he sat down as the intercessor, not for himself because he was holy, but for those who would believe in him. You see, this morning, we need to be clear on this one thing. God knows how deep and large the conflict is. He knows it better than you do. But he's calling out, and he's saying, I have sent the mediator, the man Christ Jesus. Right, this mediator spoken of God through many signs, by the prophets, through the Old Testament ceremonies, but ultimately, The mediator is seen in his humanity. All right, that's the second thing we need to see from this text. God sent his son into the world that the world through him might believe. But God sent his son, as it were, to be the mediator between God and sinful humanity, that there might be reconciliation. It was pointed at all Old Testament. But when Jesus comes on earth, people are to see that more than anything else. He came innocent, right? We recite this as part of the creed. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He took a real physical body with bones and blood and muscles. God's eternal Son, yet the very nature of man, that he might be the true seed of David, like unto his brothers in all things, sin accepted. But right as he comes and ministers, he doesn't just come and say, God has sent me to be the mediator. No, he comes and he takes sin on him, reconciling all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And I wonder if, as you think about even the church calendar year, do you realize that this is God sending Christ to humanity as a man? Yes, that he might bear the sins, but as a token, a sign of his desire for reconciliation. What does Charles Wesley say in The Christmas Carol? Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King, peace on earth and mercy mild. God and sinners reconciled. Right? It's because of this. He's the mediator. He comes as the mediator. He's innocent. He is perfect. He is holy. in the sight of God, the dearly beloved. But he comes so that the sins of humanity over here can be placed on him and he carries them. Right? And we need to see Jesus as the mediator between God and man. Yes, God's declaring he's the one, but as he comes, it's not just, oh, here's a word of promise. No, here's the actual real thing. The mediators come. The conflict between you and God does not have to continue on. Because Jesus Christ is the mediator. Now, right? Put yourself over here again with sinful humanity. And you hear God say this, and God sends His Son. And yes, we live hundreds of years after that Son, but you know very well God has sent His Son. And he's not just historical Jesus, he's the mediator. But what happens? So often we're here and we look at what God has said and what God has sent and we say, is that enough? Either we don't believe it or we see the chasm is too big, the conflict's too real. God's solution doesn't seem satisfactory. Because what's the urge? Humanity over here. We'd rather try and make our own bridge across. We talk together, right? Is there anything we can do to get back to God? What if we do this? What if we follow this way? What if? Jesus seems too easy. That's easy believism. You might even hear that. Right? Talking about Jesus like this, it's too human. Or, He seems so weak and gentle compared to a holy God that even the Israelites were terrified of. Isn't there a conflict between God and humanity? Doesn't that conflict have to keep on going? Is God not about exacting justice? Is God not separate from His creation? Is God not angry with the wicked every day? All those things are, well, some of those things are true. But God says Jesus is the mediator. He's the only one. He's the only mediator. He's the only one who's been sent. He's the only one who's been promised. He's the only one who's been declared. You see, rather than being part of humanity and looking at Jesus as a solution, or a weak solution, or maybe not the greatest solution, we need to see He's the only solution. Right? We need to consider what God says. Right? And we don't have to be part of humanity over here saying, God's angry with every day. I have to make God less angry before I can go to Jesus. It's not going to work. Right? He is the mediator. You can't make God less angry at you before you come to Jesus. Consider what Jesus himself said, Matthew 11. And keep this picture in mind as Jesus says this. You think the conflicts between God and humanity. Jesus says, all things are delivered unto me of my Father, given to me. No man knoweth the Son, but the Father. Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son. and he to whom the son will reveal the father. Right, Jesus knows he's standing in between. And it's after that that he says, come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Jesus knows he's the go-between, and that's why he says the invitation. Come to me. I'll give you rest. You might think, well, that was part of his time on earth. But what if I'm part of sinful humanity? What happened to Jesus next? Did He just die? Was He on the cross and then buried? Right? No, this is why the church calendar year continues. Because He rose again. And not only that, He ascended into heaven. And where is He? In glory. He's seated again with the Father. And does that mean the invitation stops? No, it means the invitation comes with more authority. Right, this is what Hebrews is saying over and over. You need to understand Jesus Christ is superior to all the other signs, all the other prophets, all the other methods that people have tried to be reconciled to God with. Jesus is superior to the angels. Jesus is superior to the sacrifices. Jesus is superior to the prophets. Jesus is superior to Moses. Jesus is superior to all the priests. who made offerings day after day after day after day. And Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, and what is he saying? I'm coming back one day. And every year and season that passes is one more year closer to his returning. And to be then one of those who, Yes, here's all this, but says, I'm going to stay over here. Why? Why would you? Because he's going to come back and he's going to say, I came as the mediator, I was sent as the mediator, I was preached as the mediator. And why would you turn your back on God and His mediator in the biggest conflict of your life and walk away? Sometimes we think, well, the argument I had last week, that's the biggest conflict in my life. It's nothing compared to this. Well, if you're not convinced the mediator is good, consider these benefits. The mediator comes, he's the only one who can bring forth these benefits. And what are they? Well, first, there's the benefit of reconciliation. The God of all glory, the God of eternity, the God who made you and said, I've made you to serve and enjoy me. But some of you are just like Paul was. Well, why did we read Colossians? It's a call to worship. You who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, he is reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in his sight, if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and steadfast and are not moved away. Right? Reconciliation with God's a benefit because no longer do you have to be here confined or feel like you're getting pushed away or walk away because you're offended. No, but God comes and he says, come to me. This is a beautiful saying and worthy of acceptance by all. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering. Paul's giving himself as an example because he's not hiding the fact that I used to persecute sinners. I was chasing them down. I was killing them. I was reporting on them. I was a snitch of snitches. But God showed me mercy, that I might be an example. This makes the good news so good, and it's not just Paul. You know others who've been saved from horrid situations, from horrid lives of rebellion and ignorance, and they've been made one, united to Christ, reconciled to God. No more conflict. The second benefit is a blessed life. This blessed life includes a number of things. Paul says to Timothy here, by this command you may wage a good warfare, having faith and a good conscience. You want to live with a good conscience? A hope that endures, right? It's based on reconciliation first. The conflict between God and you is over. And what happens when you live with a reconciled life, good conscience? Well, what does Paul say in chapter two? I exhort, therefore, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men that we may live a godly and peaceable life. Quiet and peaceable life in all godliness. Right? There's no more striving. There's no more manipulating to come up with this plan back to God. There's no more, I need to make it happen. I can live in light of God, reconciled, with a good conscience, peaceable life. I can trust Him. I can pray to Him. I can seek opportunity to live quietly. Right? And it comes with keeping God's commands. It comes with loving each other. It comes when we realize the things of earth are so minor compared to glory, compared to eternity, compared to reconciliation with God. The third benefit then is communion. Right? Because if there is reconciliation and if there is blessing in living, what does that lead to? Unity. Right? The wall of separation is set elsewhere. The wall of separation is torn down. And there's unity. communion with God. Right? The communion grows through life. It goes up and down through seasons of life. But it is to be a confident hope because you should never doubt this relationship again. To summarize Hebrews 8, we have a high priest in the heavens who has a more excellent ministry as he's the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises than the promises of the old covenant. Behold, the days come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant. I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their heart. I will be a God to them. They shall be to me a people. They shall know me. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more." Here's not just an invitation to reconciliation or even an invitation to a blessed life here. Here's God who says to those who used to be enemies, I will make you my people. You're mine. And I will bless you. I will be merciful to your unrighteousness. Your iniquities I will remember no more. And I will say to you and to others, I am their God and they are my people." Right? And then to live in light of that is communion. Right, communion is not a service that we have four times a year. Communion is a relationship with God that gets expressed four times a year before others. But communion is knowing while the truth of the hymn, from sin your mercy drew us, would not leave our souls alone. Gracious Lord, you did renew us. In Christ's death, we are your own. Through the mercy of your leading, each short step along our way now becomes a path to guide us to the land of endless day. Though swift time keeps marching onward, it will not decide our end. You will always be our Father, loving God, eternal friend. When life's dangers overwhelm us, you will ever be our stay through your Son, You are our Father, always changeless, come what may. Communion. Now, as you prepare for the Lord's Supper, what should you see? not a service that's held four times a year. You need to consider God, humanity, and the one only mediator, Christ Jesus. And if you're still over here and you're thinking it's impossible for me, it's not clear to me, I don't know, Maybe you're thinking it's impossible for me because this pastor is new and he doesn't know what I've done in my life. It's not about the pastor either. It's not about the service. It's God and you. And the mediator, Christ Jesus. So in closing, I want to use an image from John Calvin. This is his picture. He says, what should you see as you think about the mediator? You need to see a hand coming towards you. Oh, let's go this way. A hand coming towards you. It's the hand of the mediator. And the hand is offering an end to the conflict between you and God. It's a hand that's offering reconciliation. It's a hand that's offering to bring you into blessing and life. And the hand comes to you making an offer. Now you can't see God. But you need to know in Christ Jesus, that hand is extended to you. If you're over here still, you can't sue God for reconciliation. Why? Oh, because your sins are growing every day? You're the guilty party here. Right? You can't... in any way threaten the Holy God. Nor can you demand arbitration. Right? He's already gracious. He's already extending to you everything. It's you who's walking in the other direction. Right? No, but you need to see this hand offering mediation and blessing. Calvin says, if you see this hand coming to you offering such mediation and you reject it, what are you going to see the hand do? You're going to see the hand come with a lawsuit. It's coming from God against you. And the lawsuit is going to be public record. It's going to declare every single sin you've ever done. It's going to call for punishment and justice more than you could ever pay. Right? And the lawsuit will be handed down to you on judgment day. And there will be no human to intercede for you. Because the hand's going to come down with a full record. And the only thing that's going to be said on your behalf is, He rejected the mediator. And Kelvin again, if you reject the mediator and you get the lawsuit delivered to you, you're going to see this hand again. And it's going to be the hand of a gavel, smashing the gavel down and saying, Your opportunities are over, depart from me. You need to see the hand of the mediator offering, saying, my brother, my sister, Don't stumble over your weak humanity. Don't think the chasm's too big. Allow me to raise you up to heaven, to reconcile you to your Creator and Lord. Don't second guess. There's no other pathway to heaven. But take the hand, let it lead you home, and find the Father who says to you, My prodigal, welcome home. Here's a robe and a ring and a feast. Come into my dwelling place. Abide with me forever. Welcome home. Right, and what a blessing that is then. to rest in the mediator who is Christ Jesus, God and sinner reconciled. It's the only way to approach communion. And may it be a week of reconciliation. Let's pray.