September 12, 2021
Sermon Series: Going Through Adversity
Book of Job
Sermon # 4
WE NEED A MEDIATOR
Job 9:32-35
Introduction: In 1970, Arizonan lawyer, Russell T. Tansie, filed a suit against God on behalf of his secretary, Betty Penrose, seeking 100,000 in damages. Penrose blamed God for his “negligence”, allowing a lightning bolt to strike her house. This heated indictment included the mismanagement of the weather. Her attorney said he would try to collect the money by attaching a claim to some property that had been deeded to a Christian group. She claimed that the money should come to her if God failed to show up in court.
In the U.S. state of Nebraska, State Senator Ernie Chambers filed a suit in 2008 against God, seeking a permanent injunction (ruling) against God’s harmful activities, as an effort to publicize the issue of public access to the court system. The suit was dismissed because God could not be properly notified, not having a fixed address.
Job had a similar intention in mind, since he also wanted to take God to court. He believed that he could present his case of innocence and have the divine charges against him reversed. Job charged God with mismanagement of the universe, specifically his own life. He wanted his day in court to present his case before God and prove himself right. If the facts were brought out, Job reasoned, God would see the injustices in his life and reverse the charges against him.
Pain can distort even the best minds, causing them to draw exaggerated conclusions that are far removed from reality. Such was the case with Job. In the midst of his agony, he pressed for his day in court with God. He longed to have the opportunity to prove his own integrity. Perhaps God had mistaken him for someone else. Or maybe the wrong sentence had been assigned to him. Whatever the case, Job began to express his demand to appear in court before God and to plead his case with the Almighty.
Job had a strong wish or desire to appear in court and present his case before God in order to prove his innocence. Yet inwardly Job doubted that he could argue his case convincingly before heaven’s Judge. He felt that he would only condemn himself, so he wanted a MEDIATOR, UMPIRE, REFEREE to represent him before God.
Job seeks to defend himself against Bildad by proving himself right before God.
In this setting, Job was not looking for someone to forgive him but for one to speak about his innocence.
Job feels he cannot prove his innocence to such an infinite, mighty God.
We have two movements that will be looked at and explained why we need a MEDIATOR in Job 9:32-35!
I.
THE PROBLEM:
WE DESPERATELY NEED A SPIRITUAL MEDIATOR
v. 32
A. The great God and Judge is not a mere man: He cannot be taken to a human court to debate. Job says God is not a man like him. God is eternal; we are finite creatures. He cannot be taken to court and debated, nor His judgments questioned. No creature can legitimately question its Creator; the clay cannot debate its Potter. This is the reason Job desired a mediator, someone to plead his case before God.
B. Every person has a need for God’s mercy. No matter who we are-----rich or poor, famous or unknown, educated or illiterate, an executive or a drifter--- we are still nothing compared to the awesome God who created this world. Not one of us can stand in the presence of the Almighty and declare his or her innocence. Indeed, a person would need God’s mercy just to stand in His presence without being consumed by His blazing holiness. We think we are as good as or better than the next person. What we fail to realize is that, next to God, our “righteousness [is] as filthy rags” (Ish. 64:6).
C. Our sin nature is what separates us from God.
D. We cannot relate to God without a qualified mediator. In the midst of his pain and suffering Job cries out that he needed a GO- BETWEEN, a mediator, to stand between him and God v. 33-35.
Too many people think they don’t need this spiritual mediator. They think they can find God on their own. But if you’ve ever committed one sinful act, or had one sinful thought in your life, you have disqualified yourself from being a mediator with God. We need someone who is qualified to arbitrate for us. Which brings me to my next movement.
1. The Problem: We Desperately Need A Spiritual Mediator
II.
THE SOLUTION:
GOD HAS GIVEN US A SPIRITUAL MEDIATOR
Job expressed the central problem we all face in our lives. How can we, as sinful creatures, relates to a holy, perfect God? God has already provided the solution. Religion is man reaching out for God; Christianity is God reaching out to man in the Person of Jesus Christ. We have a spiritual mediator in the Person of Jesus Christ. The Bible says: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all men” (1 Tim. 2:5-6).
There are two important aspects of what it means for Jesus to be our mediator.
1. Jesus is the exclusive mediator. 1 Timothy 2:5 makes it clear there is only “one God and one mediator.” When someone has exclusive rights to something, it means nobody else qualifies. Jesus is the exclusive mediator. Jesus is the exclusive mediator, because He is the only way to God.
2. Jesus is the expensive mediator. 1 Timothy 2:6 says Jesus “gave himself as a ransom.” A ransom is a price paid to purchase someone’s freedom. Notice 1 Timothy 2:6 again. It doesn’t say Jesus gave his life as a ransom for a chosen few. He gave His life as a ransom for ALL men-even if they don’t accept the free gift of eternal life He offers.
Responsive Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-6
