Answering Those Who Say There Is Only One Mediator

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 08-20-15 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

Answering Those Who Say There Is Only One Mediator

Msgr. Charles Pope • August 20, 2015 •

There is a common Protestant claim that there is one (sole) mediator between God and Man—Jesus. Therefore, they say, asking the saints to pray for us is useless, wrong, and maybe even sinful. Those who object, usually cite some of the following texts:

• For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all (1 Timothy 2:5).
• Come to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24).
• For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant (Hebrews 9:15).

To this claim, we should first answer that we do not teach a substitutional mediation in invoking the saints, as if we were trying to go to the Father apart from Jesus’ mediation.

Rather, we speak of a subordinate mediation, in which we seek the prayers of the saints, or of one another. For indeed we could have no communion with them or one another if it were not for Jesus Christ, who as the Head of the Body, the Church, unites all His members and facilitates our communion with one another.

Objectors seem to speak of there being one mediator in an absolute sense, excluding any other possible interaction or any subordinate mediation. But consider that if there is only one mediator in an absolute sense, then no one ought to ask ANYONE to pray for him; and neither should the objectors attend any church, read any book, listen to any sermon, or even read the Bible (since the Bible mediates Jesus’ words to you).

A “mediator” is someone or something that acts as a “go-between,” acting to facilitate our relationship with Jesus. And though Jesus mediates our relationship to the Father, He also asked Apostles, preachers, and teachers to mediate, to facilitate His relationship with us.

Thus Jesus sent Apostles out to draw others to him. St. Paul says, How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ (Rom 10:14-15, 17).

And thus Jesus has His relationship with us mediated through His Word and through the Apostles and others who announce that Word and draw us to Him.

But since some Protestants say that there is absolutely only ONE mediator, and no subordinate or deputed mediators, there is therefore no need to ask ANYONE or ANYTHING to mediate. So should they not burn their Bibles, stop asking anyone to pray for them, and seek no advice, since NO ONE can mediate a single thing? No one can do this because there is, as they say in an absolutely unqualified sense, only ONE mediator—one and only one.

But for those of us who see that there is a subordinated mediation in service of Christ’s supreme mediation, the prayers of others, preaching, and teaching all make sense. And just as the Bible can mediate His presence and will, or as a preacher can mediate His word, so too can the prayers of others (including the Saints) convey my prayers to Him. And Jesus can mediate my prayers to the Father and give graces to me by mediating them through others.

Consider the analogy of the body, since the Church is Christ’s Body. Jesus has one Body and all the parts are connected through the Head, who is Jesus. Now consider your own body. All the members of your body have communion and unity through your head, your mind. There are different ways to have interaction with others. Perhaps someone will reach you through your ears by speaking, or through the sense of touch by tapping you on the shoulder, or visually by waving. Various members of your body facilitate (mediate) interaction with others in different ways, but it is all facilitated through the head of your body, your mind. So, too, do I confidently expect to reach Jesus in different ways: directly, or through one of His members (realizing that He Himself facilitates it).

And thus for us Catholics, our relationship with Jesus is a rich tapestry of relationships with all the members of His body, those who are with us here and now as well as those who have gone on before us but remain members of the one Body, the Church, with Christ our Head.

[Syncro]

“Is He the mediator between myself and Him (?)”

No. The scriptures show that Jesus is the only mediator between man and God the Father.

No mediator is needed between you and Jesus.

We can boldy go to the throne of grace and express our concerns and requests directly to Jesus.

Using a “mediator” such as Mary or long passed saints isn’t necessary or even possible.

Using a common sense knowledge (with wisdom supplied by the Holy Spirit) of the Bible will show how true and scriptural it is to go directly to Jesus without the stumblind blocks of uneeded entities.

[Syncro]

LOL give it a rest.

That post only pointed the statement in the correct direction.

If you don’t believe that scroll up and see the list of body parts saved by your belief system and treated as holy.

[Grateful2God]

"... convinced an earthly... priest can in a ritual bring Jesus The Christ down from His Throne...in Heaven, to be the continually sacrificed upon the catholic (sic) altar, to be eaten in a wafer, body, blood, soul, and divinity, every time the catholic (sic) Mass is carried out!"

Convinced?! WE BELIEVE, and honey, we shout it from the housetops!

At each Mass, after God's Word is read; intentions offered to Him, Jesus' Sacrifice on Calvary is once again given as His Last Supper is reenacted by the priest, " in persona Christi" Whatever the state of the priest's soul, Jesus, in His Infinite Love which cannot be fully understood-for men are finite and created beings, condescends to come to the Altar. When the Words from the Gospel are prayed over the bread and wine, they become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, because He wills it to be so! It is not magical: it is as real as the Words "THIS IS MY BODY! THIS IS MY BLOOD!" and as real as the TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN Who first spoke those anointed Words! He stated He would remain with us always, even unto the end of the world: yet He ascended into Heaven, that the Holy Spirit would come. HE REMAINS IN THIS WORLD as long as there is a Particle of a Consecrated Host; a Drop of His Precious Blood, He is there, here, with us, more certainly than anything we can see- and He allows us to receive Him! AMEN!! ALLELUIA!! PRAISE YOU, JESUS!! THANK YOU, JESUS!!

[Grateful2God]

Good advice FRiend. Works both ways. Give it a rest.

[Grateful2God]

PRAISE JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT PING!!!

[Iscool]

Perhaps a more through understanding of the Bible would help.

In asking saints in heaven to pray for us we follow Paul’s instructions: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,” for “this is good and pleasing to God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1–4).

You couldn't possibly find anyone in heaven in those verses...Paul is addressing live bodies with soul and spirit intact, standing in front of him...

Christians who are in heaven or who, before entering heaven, are being purified in purgatory by God’s love (1 Cor. 3:12–15)

1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Where's the purgatory??? Do you see anyone enduring a fire here??? Of course you don't...Can you point to a verse or phrase that says someone is getting burned??? No one gets burned...No purgatory...

Mary’s prayers are especially effective on our behalf because of her relationship with her Son (John 2:1–11).

Joh 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

God gave Mary a special role (CCC 490–511, 963– 975). He saved her from all sin (Luke 1:28, 47)

Luk 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

That's not what the verse says, or implies...In fact, even John the Baptist was greater than Mary...

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:

and made her a model for all Christians (Luke 1:48).

There is absolutely nothing in verse 48 that suggests Mary would be a model for all Christians...She was blest because she was the carrier of God in the flesh...

At the end of her life he took her, body and soul, into heaven—an image of our own resurrection at the end of the world (Rev. 12:1–2)

Nothing more than pagan mythology...

Perhaps a more through understanding of the Bible would help.

You would be wise to heed your own advice...

[MHGinTN]

"When the Words from the Gospel are prayed over the bread and wine, they become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ" ... ahh yes, the hallmark of a mystery religion, a pagan rite in which an earthy person (priest or priestess) says the incantation and voila, the pagan god is available for eating to get the god's life in the eater.

Jesus told Catholics to eat BREAD and drink WINE IN REMEMBRANCE, just as The Passover included the foreshadowing of the Messiah's deliverance, not in a pagan rite to ingest the actual body, blood, soul and Divinity of God. Keep performing this blasphemy and watch the Rapture happen without Catholics included. FRiend, ONLY God puts His life, in the person of The Holy Spirit, in one born from above. You cannot strive and earn that Life. An earthy priest or priestess cannot cajole that Life into another. You cannot do enough to be worthy of God's Life in you, including rites and rituals with mysterious incantations said over bread and wine. God does the work when He finds the broken and contrite spirit calling out to Him for Salvation in Christ Jesus. Try Real Christianity, and you will be born from above and leave the religion of catholiciism.

[Syncro]

There is no rest and no reason to rest for those of us that are bringing the Gospel message to those who are obsessed with macabre un-Biblical practices.

Read the gospel of John after praying to the Holy Spirit for understanding.

[Grateful2God]

" At first I thought you were referring to Tabor Avenue, in Fairfield, California. "

Lol, like living near Bethlehem, PA!!
That was a real stroke of genius, putting the little guys in the posts! I have to use my phone a lot, and a fingerprint or two can throw a whole post right off! I found a great app called "Twilight" that changes the tone of the screen so that it's easier on the eyes. By gosh, it works! Not only are my eyes less sore, but I no longer end my day looking like this: 🐼 Lol!

Funny, no matter who it is in forum, we basically all want the same things: to go to Heaven; help others get there; see God and all the people- especially the ones we miss like crazy now!
No kidding, above the crowd will be a hand waving, and a voice booming my name, heard over all the others' -and it will be my Dad's voice, and his hand waving: the other hand will be holding my Mom's (I used to tease her and call her Zaccheus because she was such a little peanut)... At least that's the way my little human mind can picture it! And it brings joy and hope, and well, a few tears- but someday, God's going to dry them all!

Take care, friend! God bless you!
Grateful 😀

PS: IT'S THE WAVE! 🙇☺😐😝🙆😋😐☺🙇

[Iscool]

Please also note that Our Lord Himself, as man, along with the Apostles, disciples and even St. Paul, were not instructed in the Jewish Faith sola scriptura, but by Talmudic Tradition as well.

Jesus never taught anything from the Talmudic tradition...Fact is, he condemned it...

[Iscool]

From experience- try not to overthink things

I am not overthinking things but some are under thinking things...Like, 'how can Jesus be the one mediator between man and God when Jesus IS God'...

Can you answer that???

[Iscool]

At each Mass, after God's Word is read; intentions offered to Him, Jesus' Sacrifice on Calvary is once again given as His Last Supper is reenacted by the priest,

A lot of reenactment going on there...Thought it was an actual participation...

Little confusing...The Last Supper is not the Sacrifice with the shedding of blood that you claim you are drinking...

Actually the Last Supper was but a symbol of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus that was yet to take place...

The Last Supper is not the sacrifice and the sacrifice is not the Last Supper...How do you run them together???

[MHGinTN]

“The Last Supper is not the sacrifice and the sacrifice is not the Last Supper...How do you run them together???” Magic Thinking! It is the hallmark of mystery religions ... they’re mystery religions because how the twists and magic rituals get things done remains a mystery only the magicsteeringthem can know.

[Iscool]

they’re mystery religions because how the twists and magic rituals get things done remains a mystery only the magicsteeringthem can know.

And they're not telling anybody...HaHaHaHa...

[Syncro]

Excellent analysis and question.

The clarity shown of the separation of the two is exceptional.

[Grateful2God]

Thank you for your concern, but read my page and you'll see: I left once; came home, and have never looked back. I'm Catholic and I pray I'll die Catholic. And I don't believe in the rapture.

G-d ♡ bless you!
Grateful ✟ ✡

[Grateful2God]

St. John's Gospel, the only one Luther thought had any doctrinal value? Thank you for your concern, FRiend. Today is Sunday and I'm going to be with my Lord!

G-d ♡ bless you!
Grateful ✟ ✡

[MHGinTN]

Pax vobiscum

[Syncro]

St. John's Gospel, the only one Luther thought had any doctrinal value?

Your problem with Luther is of no concern to me. (The Holy Spirit brought us the Gospels.) Does that mean that you won't read the Gospel of John to bring you a good understanding of salvation? Your choice.

Thank you for your concern

You are welcome.

I have great concern for those that need direction to having a personal relationship with Jesus

Today is Sunday and I'm going to be with my Lord!

Ah, so you are not familiar with the Gospel of John?

Christians do not have to go anywhere to be with Jesus. He is always in us and us in Him.

God speed for you being with your Lord.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

I’m not twisting anything.

These are your words:
“instead the Word is misinterpreted contrary to the Truth”.

Whatever truth there is can be found in Christ only. He said it Himself many times. I stand by the Truth found in Him only.

John 14:6
John 18:37