VIII. Of Christ the Mediator
1. It pleased God in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son, according to the Covenant made between them both, ato be the Mediator between God and Man; the bProphet, cPriest and dKing; Head and Savior of his Church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world: Unto whom he did from all Eternity egive a people to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
aIsa. 42:1; 1 Pet. 1:19–20 bActs 3:22 cHeb. 5:5–6 dPs. 2:6; Luke 1:33;
Eph. 1:22–23; Heb. 1:2; Acts 17:31 eIsa. 53:10; John 17:6; Rom. 8:30
2. The Son of God, the second Person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father’s glory, of one substance and equal with him: who made the World, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made: did when the fullness of time was come take unto him aman’s nature, with all the Essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, byet without sin: being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her, and the power of the most High overshadowing her, cand so was made of a Woman, of the Tribe of Judah, of the Seed of Abraham, and David according to the Scriptures: So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, were inseparably joined together in one Person: without conversion, composition, or confusion: which Person is very God, and very Man; yet one dChrist, the only Mediator between God and Man.
aJohn 1:1, 14; Gal. 4:4 bRom. 8:3; Heb. 2:14, 16–17; Heb. 4:15 cLuke 1:27, 31, 35 dRom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 2:5
3. The Lord Jesus in his human nature thus united to the divine, in the Person of the Son, was sanctified, and anointed awith the Holy Spirit, above measure; having in him ball the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that call fullness should dwell: To the end that being dholy, harmless, undefiled, and full eof Grace, and Truth, he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the Office of a Mediator, and fSurety; which Office he took not upon himself, but was thereunto gcalled by his Father; who also put hall power and judgment in his hand, and gave him Commandment to execute the same.
aPs. 45:7; Acts 10:38; John 3:34 bCol. 2:3 cCol. 1:19 dHeb. 7:26 eJohn 1:14 fHeb. 7:22 gHeb. 5:5 hJohn 5:22, 27; Matt. 28:18; Acts 2:36
4. This Office the Lord Jesus did most awillingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made under the Law, band did perfectly fulfill it, and underwent the cpunishment due to us, which we should have born and suffered, being made dSin and a Curse for us: enduring most grievous sorrows ein his Soul; and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead; yet saw no fcorruption: on the gthird day he arose from the dead, with the same hbody in which he suffered; with which he also iascended into heaven: and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father, jmak ing intercession; and shall kreturn to judge Men and Angels, at the end of the World.
aPs. 40:7–8; Heb. 10:5–11; John 10:18 bGal. 4:4; Matt. 3:15 cGal. 3:13; Isa. 53:6; 1 Pet. 3:18 d2 Cor. 5:21 eMatt. 26:37–38; Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46 fActs 13:37 g1 Cor. 15:3–4 hJohn 20:25, 27 iMark 16:19; Acts 1:9–11 jRom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24 kActs 10:42; Rom. 14:9–10; Acts 1:11
5. The Lord Jesus by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the Eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, ahath fully satisfied the Justice of God, procured reconciliation, and pur chased an Everlasting inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven, bfor all those whom the Father hath given unto him.
aHeb. 9:14; Heb. 10:14; Rom. 3:25–26 bJohn 17:2; Heb. 9:15
6. Although the price of Redemption was not actually paid by Christ, till after his Incarnation, ayet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the Elect in all ages successively, from the be ginning of the World, in and by those Promises, Types, and Sacrifices, wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the Seed of the Woman, which should bruise the Serpent’s head; band the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World: cBeing the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
a1 Cor. 4:10; Heb. 4:2; 1 Pet. 1:10–11 bRev. 13:8 cHeb. 13:8
7. Christ in the work of Mediation acteth according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the Unity of the Person, that which is proper to one nature, is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the Person adenominated by the other nature.
aJohn 3:13; Acts 20:28
8. To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption, he doth certainly, and effectually aapply, and communicate the same; making intercession for them, uniting them to himself by his spirit, brevealing unto them, in and by the word, the mystery of salvation; persuading them to believe, and obey; cgoverning their hearts by his word and spirit, and dovercoming all their enemies by his Almighty power, and wisdom; in such manner, and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful, and eunsearchable dispensation; and all of free, and absolute Grace, without any condition foreseen in them, to procure it.
aJohn 6:37; John 10:15–16; John 17:9; Rom. 5:10 bJohn 17:6, Eph. 1:9; 1 John 5:20 cRom. 8:9, 14 dPs. 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:25–26 eJohn 3:8; Eph. 1:8
9. This Office of Mediator between God and Man, is proper aonly to Christ, who is the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof transferred from him to any other.
a1 Tim. 2:5
10. This number and order of Offices is necessary; for in respect of our aignorance, we stand in need of his Prophetical Office; and in respect of our alienation from God, band imperfection of the best of our services, we need his Priestly Office, to reconcile us, and present us acceptable unto God: and in respect of our averseness, and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue, and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his Kingly Office, cto convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdom.
aJohn 1:18 bCol. 1:21; Gal. 5:17 cJohn 16:8; Ps. 110:3; Luke 1:74–75