The Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter 8 - Of Christ the Mediator
- It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the
Mediator between God and man; the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and Saviour of His 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.
- The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with
the Father, did, when the fulness 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 power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of
the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood,
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.
- The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, 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
fulness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, He might be
thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a mediator and surety. Which office He took not unto Himself, but
was thereunto called by His Father, who put all power and judgment into His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute
the same.
- 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, endured most grievous torments immediately in His soul, and most painful sufferings
in His body; was crucified, and died; was buried, and remained under the power of death; yet saw no corruption.
On the third day He arose from the dead, with the same body in which He suffered, with which also he 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.
- 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 His Father; and purchased, not only reconciliation, but
an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him.
- Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue,
efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto 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
of the woman which should bruise the serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world: being
yesterday and today the same, and for ever.
- 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.
- To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, He doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate
the same, making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation,
effectually persuading them by His Spirit to believe and obey, and governing their hearts by His Word and Spirit,
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.
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