Considering Christ Our Mediator

Still working through the Westminster Confession of Faith.  Here are the sections on the Covenant and Christ our Mediator.

Chapter VII: Of God’s Covenant with Man

80. What is a covenant (in terms of God’s relationship with man)?  It is a bond sealed in blood by which God has redeemed His people, and outlines how we are to live as His people.

81. What is meant by the “covenant of works” (or, “of life”)? Does it have a present validity?  It was the covenant under which Adam lived in the Garden.  It is the covenant under which we all fell into sin with him.  All who are in Adam remain in the covenant of works and shall experience the just condemnation due them.

82. What is meant by the “covenant of grace”?  It is covenant in which Jesus is offered as our Redeemer who perfectly obeyed in our place  that we might receive covenant blessings, and died in our place suffering the penalty for our sins committed under the covenant of works.

83. Explain the statement that there is one unified covenant of grace with various administrations. Distinguish from dispensations. The revelation of that covenant was progressive and expansive.  Each successive covenant provided greater clarity and blessing rather than replace previous covenants.  In dispensationalism, each successive dispensation replaces the previous dispensation.

84. What are the signs and seals of the covenant? Circumcision and Passover in the OT; Baptism & the Lord’s Table in the NT

85. Are you personally committed to covenant theology? Yes.

 

Chapter VIII: Of Christ the Mediator

86. Why is the office of Christ as Mediator necessary for the salvation of God’s elect?  Apart from the work of a Mediator, we perish in our sins.  God is just and he can’t just wipe the slate clean.  Someone must be punished for our sins, and we need real obedience to receive covenant blessings.

87. Could God have pardoned sin without Christ’s sacrifice?  No, for no mere man is able to perfectly obey God but sin each day in thought, word and deed.  God is just and must punish sin.  No other substitute was available.

88. What does Christ accomplish in His mediatorial office?  He perfectly obeyed God’s law on our behalf (active obedience) and endured the wrath of God toward sin on our behalf (passive obedience), he was raised from the dead granting us eternal life and now sits at God’s right hand ruling on our behalf and sending his Spirit to apply the salvation he purchased.

89. Explain the person and work of Jesus Christ in relation to His three offices. As our Prophet he reveals the will of God for our salvation; as our Priest he offered himself as a sacrifice to reconcile us to God and intercedes for us; as our King he subdues our sinful nature

90. How many natures does Christ have? 2 natures united in one person without confusion or mixture.

91. Discuss the controversies which arose in the early church regarding the natures of Christ associated with the following men:

 

Arius – Arius argued that Christ was the first Creature, denying the eternal deity of the Son.  Athanasius refuted Arius at the Council of Nicea which resulted in Arius’ views being condemned.

Nestorius – believed that 2 natures required 2 distinct persons.  His views were condemned at the Council of Ephesius

Apollinarius – held to Adoptionism, Jesus was a man who was adopted as God’s Son and our Mediator.  It denies the eternality and divinity of the Son.

Eutyches. – Essentially fused the 2 natures of Christ to teach a divinized man or humanized God.  The one person of Christ had one hybrid nature.  His views were condemned at  the Council of Chalcedon.

 

92. What is the relationship between the Deity of Christ and His human nature? Why was it necessary that the mediator be fully human as well as fully divine?  They are forever united but remain distinct such that there is no mixture or confusion between them.  He acts as one person that which is proper to each nature.  It was necessary for him to be fully man that he might die for our sin.  It was necessary for him to be fully God to rise from the death and live eternally for our salvation.

93. Was the death of Christ, among other things a satisfaction of divine justice?  Yes, Christ died as our penal substitute to satisfy God’s justice.  He removed God’s wrath (propitiation) and our sin (expiation).

94. Support biblically the contention that Christ shed His blood and truly accomplished redemption only for the elect. Isaiah 53 => 1 Peter 2 & 4; John 10 (for His sheep); Eph. 5 (for the church)

95. Are you personally committed to the doctrine of particular redemption? Relate this to the doctrine of assurance.  Yes.  Jesus actually redeemed people, rather than accomplishing a potential redemption.  My assurance is grounded in Christ’s work, not my faith.

96. Do you believe in the free offer of the Gospel? Yes, we know not whether a person is elect.  We are commanded to preach the Gospel, to declare that “God has commanded all men everywhere to repent.”  All people are under the obligation to repent and believe- so we preach it freely as the means by which God will apply the salvation Christ as accomplished to the elect.

97. Why does the chapter on Christ the mediator follow upon the chapter which deals with God’s covenant with man?  We can’t really understand Christ’s work as mediator apart from understanding God’s covenant with man.

98. Distinguish between the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. What is the kenosis theory?  His humiliation consists of his incarnation, in a low condition, under the law, experiencing the miseries of this life and the wrath of God, being under the power of death for 3 days.  His exaltation exists in his rising again from the dead, ascending into heaven and sitting on the right hand of the Father, and to return to judge the living and the dead.  The kenosis theory is that the Son emptied himself in the Incarnation.  Acceptable versions have Jesus emptying himself of his divine rights.  Unbiblical versions have him emptying himself of his essence, or qualities essential to that essence.  

99. Discuss the active and passive obedience of Christ.  The active obedience of Christ is his perfect fulfillment of the law on our behalf, meriting the spiritual blessings of the gospel.  The passive obedience of Christ is his bearing the wrath of God on our behalf to remove the curses of the covenant from us.

100. Describe what the death of Christ accomplished. It accomplished the elect’s reconciliation with God.  In union with Christ, we died with him such that our sinful nature has been judged and condemned (Gal. 2).  He also triumphed over his enemies, reconciling all of creation to God (Col. 1).

101.Discuss the ascension of Christ. What is Christ’s “glorified body”?  Jesus has been exalted in his return to heaven where he sits as vice-regent.  He sends his Spirit to apply his redemption to the elect.  His human nature has been relieved of the effects of sin and the curse in perfect union with his divine nature.