Why Scripture Directs Us to the Father Through Christ Alone
Humanity has always wrestled with death. Beneath much of human fear, religion, spiritual curiosity, and the search for meaning lies the same question that has followed humanity since Eden: What happens after death, and how do we remain connected to life?
That struggle often produces a desire for additional mediators between humanity and God. Some seek hidden spiritual knowledge. Others seek comfort through departed loved ones, saints, angels, or spiritual intermediaries. Yet throughout Scripture, God continually redirects His people away from alternative sources of spiritual access and back toward covenant dependence upon Him alone.
This pattern appears early in Israel’s history. Deuteronomy 18:9–12 (CSB) warns Israel not to imitate the surrounding nations through divination, spiritism, mediums, or attempts to consult the dead. These practices were not merely condemned because they were spiritually dangerous, but because they reflected a deeper covenant fracture. Humanity repeatedly attempts to seek wisdom, guidance, security, and spiritual access apart from direct trust in God.
The story of King Saul reveals this tragedy clearly.
After years of rebellion, fear, and partial obedience, Saul found himself abandoned in judgment. First Samuel 28 records Saul seeking out a medium at Endor in order to contact Samuel after Samuel’s death. Saul had already removed mediums and spiritists from the land according to God’s command, yet in desperation he turned toward the very practice God had forbidden.
The issue was larger than curiosity about the dead.
Saul no longer trusted God. Rather than humbling himself in repentance before the Lord, he sought forbidden spiritual mediation. The fracture revealed in Eden resurfaced once again: humanity attempting to secure life, wisdom, and stability apart from covenant trust in God.
This same pattern continues throughout history.
Human beings still seek additional spiritual mediators when fear, uncertainty, suffering, and death feel overwhelming. Yet the New Testament consistently redirects believers toward direct covenant access to the Father through Jesus Christ.
First Timothy 2:5 (CSB) declares: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 4:16 (CSB) likewise says: “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”
The emphasis of the New Covenant is not increased dependence upon additional heavenly intermediaries, but confident access to the Father through the Son.
This becomes important when discussing prayers directed toward angels, saints, apostles, or departed believers. Scripture does not contain a direct command stating, “You shall not pray to angels or saints.” However, the biblical pattern consistently directs worship, prayer, supplication, confession, and covenant dependence toward God Himself.
Even angels refuse misplaced devotion. In Revelation 22:8–9 (CSB), when John fell before the angel, the angel responded: “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
Likewise, while some Christian traditions distinguish between worship given to God and requests for intercession directed toward saints, the New Testament never presents believers seeking communication with departed saints or directing prayers toward them. Instead, believers are continually directed toward direct fellowship with the Father through Christ by the Holy Spirit.
This raises deeper questions surrounding death itself.
Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43, CSB). Paul likewise expressed the desire “to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23, CSB), and he described believers as being “at home with the Lord” when absent from the body (2 Corinthians 5:8, CSB).
Yet Scripture also repeatedly describes death as sleep.
When Lazarus died, Jesus told His disciples: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep” (John 11:11, CSB). Lazarus remained in the tomb four days until Christ raised him. Paul also emphasizes future resurrection throughout 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, declaring that the dead will be raised when Christ returns.
At first glance, these passages may appear difficult to reconcile. Are believers immediately with Christ after death? Or do the dead remain asleep awaiting resurrection?
Scripture appears to hold both realities together without contradiction.
Believers who die remain secure in Christ and await no condemnation. Yet the final biblical hope is not merely disembodied existence somewhere beyond creation. The Christian hope is resurrection. God’s redemptive purpose does not end with souls escaping death, but with the restoration of life itself through Christ’s victory over death.
This is why resurrection remains central throughout the New Testament.
First Corinthians 15:17–18 (CSB) states: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished.”
Paul does not treat resurrection as symbolic language. The resurrection of Christ guarantees the future resurrection of His people. Death itself will ultimately be undone.
This matters because Scripture continually directs believers away from fear-driven spirituality and back toward covenant trust in God.
Human beings often seek additional mediators because death still feels terrifying and unresolved. The desire to contact departed loved ones, seek hidden spiritual insight, or depend upon heavenly intermediaries often emerges from the same underlying human anxiety: fear of separation, fear of uncertainty, and fear of death itself.
Yet the gospel announces something radically different.
Through Christ, humanity is invited directly into covenant life with the Father. Jesus did not merely provide religious instruction. He entered death itself, overcame it through resurrection, and now stands as the living mediator between God and humanity.
The New Covenant therefore redirects believers away from spiritual dependency upon intermediaries and back toward direct covenant fellowship with God through Christ.
This does not diminish the reality of the communion of believers, nor the future resurrection of the saints, nor the continuity of God’s covenant people across generations. Rather, it preserves the centrality of Christ Himself.
The same God who warned Israel not to seek the dead now invites believers to approach Him boldly through the Son.
The same God who confronted Saul’s forbidden search for mediation now provides perfect mediation through Jesus Christ. And the same God who raised Lazarus from the grave promises final resurrection and restoration through Christ for all who belong to Him.
The biblical story, therefore, consistently moves in one direction: away from fear-driven attempts to secure spiritual access apart from God, and back toward covenant trust in the Father through Jesus Christ.
Death remains an enemy, but it is no longer sovereign. Christ alone holds the keys to death and Hades. And because of Him, the hope of covenant life extends beyond the grave itself.
©️May 2026 Covenant Light Publishing
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