Christ as the Mediator of Redemption in Theology
Christ as Mediator of Redemption
The concept of Christ as the Mediator of redemption is rooted in biblical teachings, emphasizing Jesus Christ's role in reconciling humanity with God. The biblical foundation for this doctrine is found in passages such as 1 Timothy 2:5, which states, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" [1]. This verse underscores Christ's unique position as the intermediary between God and humanity.
The term "mediator" signifies one who intervenes between two parties to reconcile them. In the biblical context, Christ's mediation is not merely an act of intervention but is deeply connected to his atoning work. Hebrews 9:15 highlights this, stating that "Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant" [2]. This emphasizes Christ's role in establishing a new covenant through his sacrificial death.
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, underscores the uniqueness of Christ's mediation, arguing that there can be no other mediator between God and humanity [4]. This perspective is grounded in the understanding that Christ's mediation is not limited to his earthly ministry but extends to all people across all time, including those who lived before his coming.
The mediation of Christ is multifaceted, encompassing his roles as prophet, priest, and king. Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that Christ's office as mediator includes these three functions, which are not separate offices but aspects of his singular mediatorial role [3]. As the mediator, Christ executes his kingship over his Church and all things on behalf of his Church.
The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as seen in John Gill's commentary, further elaborates on Christ's mediatorial role, emphasizing his work as a propitiation and his role in the new covenant [5, 7]. According to Gill, Christ's mediation involves his sacrifice for the redemption of transgressions under the first covenant, thereby securing an eternal inheritance for those called by God.
The Wesleyan/Methodist perspective, represented by Adam Clarke, highlights the significance of Christ's mediation in the context of reconciliation, noting that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself [6]. This underscores the divine initiative in Christ's mediatorial work.
Sources
- 1 Timothy “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, -- 1 Timothy 2:5”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 9:15 (BSB) — Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kingly office of Christ — One of the three special relations in which Christ stands to his people. Christ's office as mediator comprehends three different functions, viz., those of a prophet, priest, and king. These are not three distinct offices, but three functions of the one office of mediator. Christ is King and sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18; 2:19). He executes this mediatorial kingship in his Church, and over his Church, and over all things in behalf of his Church. This royalty differs from that whic”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 10.2: of man, so there is but one Mediator for men. As God is the God of all that died before Christ came, as well as of those that died after; so Christ is the Mediator of all that died before his coming, as well as of those that saw his day. They had Christ for their Mediator, or some other; some other they could not have, because there is but one. They might as well have had another Creator besides God, as another Mediator besides the man Christ Jesus. In regard of the antiquity of his mediation, from the foundation of the world, h”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 9:15: And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament,.... See Gill on Heb 7:22, See Gill on Heb 8:6, See Gill on Heb 8:8. This may refer both to what goes before, and what follows after; for Christ, that he might offer himself to God, and by his blood purge the consciences of his people from dead works, that so they might serve the living God, became the Mediator of the New Testament, or covenant; and also he took upon him this character and office, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they whic”
- 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 5:19: That God was in Christ - This is the doctrine which this ministry of reconciliation holds out, and the doctrine which it uses to bring about the reconciliation itself. God was in Christ: 1. Christ is the same as Messiah, the Anointed One, who was to be prophet, priest, and king, to the human race; not to the Jews only, but also to the Gentiles. There had been prophets, priests, and kings, among the Jews and their ancestors; and some who had been priest and prophet, king and priest, and king and prophet; but none have ever sustained in his own person the three”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 3:21: Whom God had set forth to be a propitiation,.... Redemption by Christ is here further explained, by his being "a propitiation": which word may design either Christ the propitiator, the author of peace and reconciliation; or the propitiatory sacrifice, by which he is so; and both in allusion to the mercy seat, which was a type of him as such. The apostle here uses the same word, which the Septuagint often render "the mercy seat", by; and Philo the Jew calls it by the same name, and says it was a symbol, "of the propitious power of God" (b). Christ is the propitiation t”