For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man,

.... the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (1 Timothy 2:5, 6). A mediator is one who intervenes between two conflicting or waring parties, in this context to effect reconciliation. The conflict in question is between a holy and just God,  and sinful man. The Bible teaches that because of sin, and we all have sinned,  unsaved man is God's enemy (Romans 3:23; 5:10). And a holy and just God cannot simply overlook sin, that would not be just. Should unrepentant murderers be  released back into society to continue their carnage? I am not saying earthly justice is always righteous, but God's justice is!  A mediator, of course,  needs to understand the demands of the One, in this case  of a righteous God, and the needs of the other,  in this case mankind's need to be ransomed.

Only One who was both fully God and fully man could fulfill this role, for who could understand God but God. And who could understand man if not man?  Coming to the term ransom, it is the price paid  for setting something or someone free from some form of obligation or captivity. In our case our captivity is the slave market of sin (John 8:34).  The justice of God requires that a price must be paid for sin. Now the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). However,  the love and mercy of God allows for  the sinner to be ransomed. This morning verses tell us that the mediator himself became the ransom. And we are to understand that the demands of a Holy God requires the One who ransoms be both man and sinless. Only a sinless man could be the ransom. If He sinned He could only pay for His own sin. And the Man Christ Jesus Christ was the only man who never sinned.

Some see His being “a ransom for all,” as teaching that all will be saved.  But it is to those who receive Him, those who believe on His Name, not  those who reject Him,  that He gives right to be called the children of God (John 1:11, 12).  And we are to testify to all this (1 Timothy 2:6b), for now is the appointed time, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). And as an ambassador of Christ, if You who are reading this are not saved, I implore you on Christ's behalf to  be reconciled to God, because God made Him who knew no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:20, 21).    

Father, I want to thank You this morning for this incredible divine exchange. What it means is that Jesus took my sin, and He gave me His righteousness. Oh Lord,  how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3)? Let us never take any of this for granted Lord, but rather knowing that He died for all, so that those of us who live (those who receive salvation),  should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them (2 Corinthians 5:15). Forgive us Lord for those times when, even as Christians,  we have lived for ourselves. Thank You Father for Your forgiveness and cleansing,  and that You Lord Jesus,  ever live to make intercession for us. And we give You thanks and praise again this morning in Your precious Name Amen