There is One God. Period.

Paul in his letter to young Pastor Timothy notes that it is God who "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:4).

We must know that there are two desires mentioned in the Scriptures. First is what we may call God's desired will. This is what God would want and desire. It is the Greek word thelo meaning "I wish or desire." This is the word used here in 1 Tim 2:4. Second, there is God's determinative will. This is what God determines and there is nothing that can ever thwart his purposes. This is the Greek word boulamai meaning "I determine or desire."

It is here when Paul says that God desires (thelei) all men to be saved. In God's grace, mercy and loyal love, he would want all men to be saved an to come to the knowledge of the truth of the Gospel. Yet, because of the justice of God, he must punish sin. Furthermore, his desirous will is that all humans would be saved and not perish in hell forevermore. However, his determinative will is that his justice be displayed with absolute perfection. Thus, those who do not come to a knowledge of the truth are, in essence, rejecting Christ even now and forfeiting their own souls to the horrific torments of hell forevermore.

But following this, Paul gives the best news that anyone could ever hear. Namely...

1 Timothy 2:5-6 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time.

It is at this perfect place that Paul makes known that there is only one God and one Mediator between the Righteous God and sinful human beings. I want you to know that the "one" is emphatic in both phrases. It could literally read as follows: One God, there is...one mediator between God and men.

Notice that there is only one mediator between God and men, and that mediator is the man Christ Jesus. This is emphasizing the humanity of our Savior. The only redeemer for mankind is a man. Yet He is no ordinary man, He is the God-Man. This is vital to our faith.

Furthermore, notice there is only one Mediator. There is no priest required. No Mary. No Muhammad. No Buddah. No good works. No Peter or Paul or James or any other Saint. Rather, Jesus Christ Himself is the only mediator.

Hear it from his own lips:

John 14:6 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

Notice the last phrase. This is the key of the verse. He is the way, truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through ME. This is plain and simple. If Jesus is not the only mediator, then there is no partaking of the salvivic grace of God. We are called to take joy in the fact that we have a mediator who gave himself as a ransom for many. In other words, Christ was given in exchange for another as the price of his redemption. What a sacrifice! What a love! He paid it all.