Christ, Our Mediator
1. Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and men. There is no man, group of men, church, or organization that can take His place as Mediator.
Jesus said at John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”
The Apostle Paul said at 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one Mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Jesus said at John 10:9: “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
Hebrews 12:22-24 states: “22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”
Born Again, of Water and Spirit
2. A Christian must be born again of water and Spirit in order to enter or see the kingdom of God.
Jesus said at John 3:3: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus said at John 3:5: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Jesus said at John 3:7: “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
At Acts 2:38, the Apostle Peter exhorted all of those at the festival of Pentecost to: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
All early Christians were baptized in water and Holy Spirit or born again!
The Apostle Paul at 1 Corinthians 12:13 wrote: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
The Apostle Peter at Acts 2:38 exhorted believers to: “. . . Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Titus 3:5-6 states: “5 He saved us, not by deeds done in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration (the laver of regeneration, the bathing of a new birth, through the water of rebirth, by washing away our sins), and renewal of Holy Spirit (renewing power of the Holy Spirit), 6 which He (God) poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.
The Apostle Paul at Galatians 3:27 stated: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
At Acts 1:5, Jesus told His disciples: “For John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
The Eucharist or Communion
3. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.” (Communion or Eucharist)
Jesus said at John 6:53-54: “53 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Jesus made a covenant with His disciples; that they would be granted a kingdom, and that they would eat and drink with Him in that kingdom, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 26:26-29 tells us: “26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’” (See also Mark 14:22-25)
Luke 22:17-20 states: “17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.’ 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’”
Jesus said at Luke 22:28-30: “28 You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; 29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
All early Christians partook of the blood and body of Jesus Christ. In this way, early believers became one body, in Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 states: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”
Early Christians partook of the Lord’s evening meal, in commemoration of Christ’s death and ransom sacrifice. By doing this, they proclaimed the death of the Lord until He comes again.
Jesus said at Luke 12:19: “. . . do this in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:26 states: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
- The bread is a representation of Christ’s flesh.
- The wine is a representation of Christ’s blood.
- The partaking of the wine and bread establishes a covenant with Christ and the believer; to receive forgiveness for their sins, and to eat and drink with Christ in His kingdom. The saints (who are partakers) receive both enthronement and power of judging, in the kingdom of God.
- Those who partake of the wine (the blood) and the bread (the flesh) of Christ, become one body, in Christ.