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| Chapter 8 - Of Christ
the Mediator |
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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, to be the mediator between God
and man; the prophet, priest, and king; head and saviour of the church,
the heir of all things, and judge of the world; unto whom he did from all
eternity give a people to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed,
called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
Isaiah 42:1; 1 Peter 1:19, 20; Acts
3:22; Hebrews 5:5, 6; Psalms 2:6; Luke 1:33; Ephesians 1:22, 23; Hebrews
1:2; Acts 17:31; Isaiah 53:10; John 17:6; Romans 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 upon him man's nature, with all the essential
properties and common infirmities thereof, yet 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; and 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 Christ, the
only mediator between God and man.
John 1:14; Galatians 4;4; Romans
8:3; Hebrews 2:14, 16, 17; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 1:22, 23; Luke 1:27, 31,
35; Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 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 with the Holy Spirit above measure, having in Him all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all
fullness should dwell, to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled,
and full of grace and truth, he might be throughly furnished to execute
the office of mediator and surety; which office he took not upon himself,
but was thereunto called by his Father; who also put all power and judgement
in his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.
Psalms 45:7; Acts 10:38; John 3:34;
Colossians 2:3; Colossians 1:19; Hebrews 7:26; John 1:14; Hebrews 7:22;
Hebrews 5:5; John 5:22, 27; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36
4. This office the Lord Jesus
did most willingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made
under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it, and underwent the punishment
due to us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made sin and
a curse for us; enduring most grievous sorrows in his soul, and most painful
sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, and remained in the state
of the dead, yet saw no corruption: on the third day he arose from the
dead with the same body in which he suffered, with which he also ascended
into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession,
and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.
Psalms 40:7, 8; Hebrews 10:5-10;
John 10:18; Gal 4:4; Matthew 3:15; Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter
3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 26:37, 38; Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46;
Acts 13:37; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; John 20:25, 27; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11;
Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24; Acts 10:42; Romans 14:9, 10; Acts 1:11; 2 Peter
2:4
5. The Lord Jesus, by his perfect
obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit
once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of God, procured
reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom
of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him.
Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:14; Romans
3:25, 26; John 17:2; Hebrews 9:15
6. Although the price of redemption
was not actually paid by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue,
efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the elect in all ages,
successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises,
types, and sacrifices wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the
seed which should bruise the serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world, being the same yesterday, and to-day and for ever.
1 Corinthians 4:10; Hebrews 4:2;
1 Peter 1:10, 11; Revelation 13:8; Hebrews 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 denominated
by the other nature.
John 3:13; Acts 20:28
8. To all those for whom Christ
hath obtained eternal redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply
and communicate the same, making intercession for them; uniting them to
himself by his Spirit, revealing unto them, in and by his Word, the mystery
of salvation, persuading them to believe and obey, governing their hearts
by his Word and Spirit, and overcoming all their enemies by his almighty
power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his
wonderful and unsearchable dispensation; and all of free and absolute grace,
without any condition foreseen in them to procure it.
John 6:37; John 10:15, 16; John 17:9;
Romans 5:10; John 17:6; Ephesians 1:9; 1 John 5:20; Romans 8:9, 14; Psalms
110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25, 26; John 3:8; Ephesians 1:8
9. This office of mediator
between God and man is proper only 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.
1 Timothy 2:5
10. This number and order of
offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need
of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and
imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to
reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our
averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and
security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince,
subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.
John 1:18; Colossians 1:21; Galatians
5:17; John 16:8; Psalms 110:3; Luke 1:74, 75 |