There Is One Mediator—and It Is Not Mary – Christ Alone and Direct Access to God (KJV Bible Study Chart)

Description

There Is One Mediator—and It Is Not Mary is a detailed KJV Bible study chart presenting the plain teaching of 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” It explains why Jesus Christ alone possesses the divine qualifications, sacrificial work, eternal priesthood, and biblical authority required to stand between sinful mankind and a holy God.

The issue is not whether Mary should be respected as the earthly mother of Jesus. Scripture calls her blessed among women, records her humble submission to God, and preserves her important place in the history of Christ’s incarnation. The issue is whether the New Testament gives Mary a mediatorial office, instructs believers to pray to her, or presents her as an advocate through whom Christians should approach Jesus Christ. This chart demonstrates that it does not.

Christ’s mediation is unique because His Person and work are unique. He is God manifest in the flesh, fully divine and fully human, without sin, and perfectly qualified to represent both God and man. Mary was a faithful human servant who needed a Saviour, but Jesus Christ is the Saviour, the ransom, the Advocate, the Great High Priest, and the one Mediator appointed by God.

First Timothy 2:5 does not describe Christ as one mediator among several. It identifies one God and one Mediator. The following verse connects that office directly with Christ giving Himself “a ransom for all.” Biblical mediation is therefore grounded in sacrifice. Jesus shed His blood, bore sin, died, rose again, ascended to heaven, and now lives forever to make intercession. Mary performed none of those redemptive works.

The chart gathers the Bible’s plain testimony concerning direct access through Christ. Hebrews invites believers to come boldly to the throne of grace. Access to the holiest is opened by the blood of Jesus. John 14:6 declares that no man comes to the Father except through Christ. Ephesians 2:18 teaches that believers have access to the Father through Him by one Spirit. First John 2:1 identifies Jesus Christ the righteous as the believer’s Advocate.

A central comparison contrasts Scripture and Christ alone with the later Roman Marian system. Scripture presents one Mediator, while Marian devotion assigns an additional mediating role to Mary. Scripture tells believers to come boldly through Christ, while the Marian system encourages them to seek help through Mary. Christ gave Himself as the ransom; Mary did not. Christ’s blood opens the way; no devotional detour is required.

The chart also examines Mary’s place in the New Testament after Christ’s birth. There is no command to pray to Mary, no verse naming her as mediatrix, no example of the apostles preaching Marian devotion, no instruction to approach Christ through her, and no recorded scene of Mary receiving the prayers of believers. Acts 1:14 instead presents Mary praying with the disciples, not receiving prayer from them.

Common claims are answered from Scripture. The idea that Mary merely helps Christians reach Jesus is answered by Christ’s declaration that He Himself is the way. Comparing prayer to Mary with asking living believers to pray ignores the biblical difference between fellowship among living Christians and invoking departed saints. The claim that Mary is more tender than Christ diminishes the sympathy of the Great High Priest who was touched with the feeling of our infirmities.

Mary’s own words direct glory toward God. In Luke 1, she magnifies the Lord and rejoices in “God my Saviour.” At the marriage in Cana, her final recorded command in Scripture points away from herself and toward Christ: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Biblical honour for Mary therefore receives the testimony Scripture gives without assigning her titles, powers, prayers, or offices that Scripture never gives.

The chart’s key warning is that any devotion placing a creature within Christ’s mediatorial office obscures the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. No saint, priest, pope, angel, religious institution, or departed believer can add to the access secured by His blood. The finished work of Christ does not need a softer intermediary, additional advocate, or heavenly assistant.

Jesus Christ’s priesthood is complete and eternal. He is seated at the right hand of God, ever lives to make intercession, and is able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him. His mediation cannot be transferred, supplemented, improved, or shared with another creature.

This chart does not encourage contempt toward Catholics or careless disrespect toward Mary. It calls believers to test doctrine by Scripture, preach Christ clearly, and direct sinners to the only Mediator who paid their debt. Christian love tells the truth about salvation and refuses to place religious tradition above the written Word.

The bottom line is simple: believe the plain words “one mediator,” come directly to God through Jesus Christ, rest in His blood and eternal priesthood, honour Mary according to Scripture, and trust Christ alone. The Bible does not send sinners to Mary. It sends them to Jesus Christ.

This resource is ideal for personal Bible study, Christian apologetics, Roman Catholic doctrine comparisons, evangelism, discipleship, Sunday school, homeschool Bible curriculum, Bible institutes, pastoral teaching, sermon preparation, and anyone studying the unique mediatorial office of the Lord Jesus Christ.