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Theologies - Clover

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286<br />

Who is the Mediator?<br />

1 Timothy 2:5 (NASB)<br />

"For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."<br />

Romans 8:26 (NASB)<br />

"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should,<br />

but the Spirit Himself intercedes (mediates?) for us with groanings too deep for words".<br />

Romans 8:26 - Is the Holy Spirit our mediator or is Christ?<br />

Problem: First Timothy 2:5 asserts that "there is one… mediator between God<br />

and men, the Man Christ Jesus." But Romans 8:26 informs us that the Holy<br />

Spirit interceded for us to God "with groaning which cannot be uttered." How<br />

can Christ be the only mediator and the Holy Spirit also mediates?<br />

Solution: Christ is the only mediator; the Holy Spirit is only an intercessor. Christ alone<br />

died for our sins (Heb. 1:1-2), making reconciliation with God possible (2 Cor. 5:19).<br />

The Holy Spirit did not die for our sins; He prays to the Father on our behalf, based<br />

on the redeeming work of Christ. Further, the intercession of the Holy Spirit is not<br />

in heaven, as Christ's work is (1 John 2:1-2). Rather, it is in us. The indwelling Spirit<br />

pleads in us to the Father on the grounds of the mediating work of the Son.<br />

(Geisler and Howe, When Critics Ask, 443)

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