Westminster Confession of Faith Adult Sunday School Chapter 8

1. Theology of the
Westminster Confession
Adult Sunday School
2017

2. Christ the Mediator
Sin and the Savior
WCF
8

3. Of Christ the Mediator
God was pleased, in his eternal purpose,
to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his
only begotten Son, to be the mediator
between God and man. As the mediator,
he is the prophet, priest, and king, the
Head and Savior of the church, the heir of
all things, and the judge of the world.
God gave to him, from all eternity, a
people to be his seed and to be by him, in
time, redeemed, called, justified,
sanctified, and glorified. [WCF, 8.1, MESV]
WCF
8.1
Sin and the Savior

4. The Mediator
• The doctrine of Christ the mediator is deep and
mysterious, but always remember the simplicity of
the gospel
For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16)
• The Christ was known in part from the beginning
(Gen 3:15; Isa 42:1)
• The Christ is clearly revealed in these last days for
our sake (1 Pet 1:20)
• How could it be that the Christ was ordained from
the creation of the world? Because Christ the
mediator was the Son of God himself!
WCF
8.1
Sin and the Savior

5. Prophet - Priest - King
• Promoted as a prophet greater than Moses (Acts 3:22)
• Declared the eternal high priest (Heb 5:5-6)
• Crowned unending king of Zion (Ps 2:6; Lk 1:33)
• Functions of Christ’s three-fold office
1. As Prophet he is our teacher
2. As Priest he is our mediator and only hope
3. As King he is our defender and ruler
• Implications of this office
• Source of all wisdom and knowledge
• Savior from death and judgment
• Head of the church; Lord of the nations
• Heir of all things
WCF
8.1
Sin and the Savior

6. The gift
• Christians make much of Jesus as our
greatest treasure. This is right, true, and
good.
• But the Bible says God gave Christ his
greatest treasure: the Church!
• Think of it: we are Christ’s beloved
treasure, a precious gift received from God.
As unlovable as we can be, he still treasures
us.
God’s people are Christ’s gift from God, and
we are most precious to him
WCF
8.1
Sin and the Savior

7. Of Christ the Mediator
The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity,
being truly and eternally God, of one substance and
equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of
time had come, take upon himself man's nature,
with all its essential properties and common
frailties, yet without sin. He was conceived by the
power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin
Mary and of her substance. In this way, two whole
natures, the divine and the human, perfect and
distinct, were inseparably joined together in one
person without being changed, mixed, or confused.
This person is truly God and truly man, yet one
Christ, the only mediator between God and man.
[WCF, 8.2, MESV]
WCF
8.2
Sin and the Savior

8. God and man
• Christ the mediator is God
• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God.(Jn 1:1)
• And we know that the Son of God has come and has
given us understanding, so that we may know him who
is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus
Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 Jn 5:20)
• Christ the mediator is also man
• And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and
we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from
the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn 1:14)
• But when the fullness of time had come, God sent
forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law(Gal
4:4)
WCF
8.2
Sin and the Savior

9. Substance and equality
• In Christ, God became man. Man did not become
God (this is impossible)!
• WCF wisely employs ancient creedal language
• The Son of God was “of the same substance” as God the
Father. Jesus Christ is really, truly divine.
• The Son of God was of the same substance as Mary his
mother. Jesus Christ is really, truly human.
• Jesus Christ is one person with two natures (divine
and human)
• There is no confusion, conversion, or composition
between the human and divine natures of Christ
Jesus, who is our one Christ, is one person who is
very God and very man
WCF
8.2
Sin and the Savior

10. Of Christ the Mediator
In his human nature, united to the divine
nature, the Lord Jesus was set apart and
anointed with the Holy Spirit beyond measure,
having in him all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge. In him the Father was pleased to
have all fullness dwell, so that—being holy,
blameless, and undefiled, full of grace and
truth—he might be completely equipped to
fulfill the office of a mediator and guarantor.
He did not take this office to himself but was
called to it by his Father, who put all power
and judgment into his hand and commanded
him to execute it. [WCF, 8.3, MESV]
WCF
8.3
Sin and the Savior

11. The Holy Spirit
• The uniqueness of Christ is not only tied to his
divine nature. His human nature is unparalleled.
• Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit. As a man he is one
of a kind—sanctified and anointed like no other.
• For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for
he gives the Spirit without measure.(Jn 3:34)
• For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
(Col 1:19)
Jesus is filled with the Spirit for the purpose of
being equipped for the office of covenant mediator
WCF
8.3
Sin and the Savior

12. Christ as “surety”
• As our Spirit-filled mediator, he functions as our
“surety”
• What is a surety?
“A person who undertakes some specific responsibility on
behalf of someone else. The surety is the guarantor, the
person who makes himself liable for the default or
miscarriage of another—no matter what the cost.” ~ Van
Dixhoorn, CTF, 114
• As the mediator between God and man, Jesus knew
the cost (sacrificial death) of guaranteeing the
payment for perpetual covenant breakers. And yet
he still willingly and joyful paid that price!
WCF
8.3
Sin and the Savior

13. Of Christ the Mediator
This office the Lord Jesus most willingly undertook,
and in order to discharge its obligations he was
born under the law and perfectly fulfilled it. He
endured most grievous torments in his soul and
most painful sufferings in his body; he was
crucified, died, and was buried; he remained under
the power of death, yet his body did not undergo
decay; and he arose from the dead on the third day
with the same body in which he had suffered. In
this body he ascended into heaven, where he sits at
the right hand of his Father, making intercession,
and he shall return to judge men and angels at the
end of the age. [WCF, 8.4, MESV]
WCF
8.4
Sin and the Savior

14. A willing mediator
• Christ is not a self-appointed mediator, rather he
was called to this office and accepted it
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay
down my life that I may take it up again. No one
takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.
I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority
to take it up again. This charge I have received from
my Father." (Jn 10:17-18)
• God the Son willingly submitted himself to and
perfectly fulfilled:
• God’s moral law
• God’s ceremonial law
• God’s sacrificial law
WCF
8.4
Sin and the Savior

15. Torments of the soul, suffering
of the body
• Jesus endured the sufferings of crucifixion to death
• Jesus endured the torments of his descent into Hell
• The agony in his soul must have been the worst that
Jesus endured, but it was not the most obvious
• "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.
Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." And there
appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his
sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the
ground. (Lk 22:42-44)
• And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mt 27:46)
WCF
8.4
Sin and the Savior

16. A risen Savior
• Our mediator did not remain in the grave—
Hallelujah!
• Matters of “first importance” (1 Cor 15:3-4)
• He died for our sins
• He was buried
• He was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures
• God knew the story of Christ’s resurrection is
nearly unbelievable
• God provided us eyewitness testimonies
• God provided “Doubting Thomas” with indisputable
evidence
WCF
8.4
Sin and the Savior

17. Resurrection evidence for
skeptics
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But
he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the
nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and
place my hand into his side, I will never believe." Eight days
later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with
them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to
Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put
out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve,
but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen
me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have
believed.“
Jn 20:25-29
WCF
8.4
Sin and the Savior

18. An ascended Savior
• Jesus ascended to heaven in his same
body. He is still alive!
• Jesus is still in heaven as our active,
embodied mediator
• Jesus is busy reigning and building his
Church around the world and throughout
the ages
• Giving his people gifts and graces
• Defending his people from his and our
enemies
• Guiding his people into truth and holiness
WCF
8.4
Sin and the Savior

19. The return of the king
• One day Christ will return to judge men
and angels
• That day is Judgment Day
• Glorious for the grace-covered Church
• Dreadful for all others who are exposed to
God’s justice
• We will all stand before the judgment
seat of God. So take heed to:
• Not be busy judging one another
• Prepare ourselves for the return of Christ our
mediator
WCF
8.4
Sin and the Savior

20. Of Christ the Mediator
The Lord Jesus, by his perfect
obedience and sacrifice of himself—
which he through the eternal Spirit
once offered up to God—has fully
satisfied the justice of his Father. He
purchased not only reconciliation but
also an everlasting inheritance in the
kingdom of heaven for all those
whom the Father has given to him.
[WCF, 8.5, MESV]
WCF
8.5
Sin and the Savior

21. Fully satisfied justice
• What did Christ purchase by his obedience and
sacrifice?
• The only high priest to offer his own perfect obedience
• The sacrificial atonement for sin is not an animal, but
himself. He is our perfect substitute sacrifice.
• This perfect sacrifice is an offering of infinite merit
and worth
• It accomplished the propitiation (averting) and
expiation (atoning) of God’s wrath due to us for our
sin. For the Christian: “My sin!”
• The answer: God’s grace and mercy in love,
forgiveness, and acceptance toward his beloved
sinful people
WCF
8.5
Sin and the Savior

22. Of Christ the Mediator
Although the work of redemption was not
actually accomplished by Christ until after his
incarnation, yet the power, efficacy, and
benefits of it were applied to the elect in all
ages successively from the beginning of the
world, in and by those promises, types, and
sacrifices by which Christ was revealed and
signified to be the seed of the woman who
would bruise the serpent's head, and to be
the Lamb slain from the beginning of the
world. He is the same yesterday, today, and
forever. [WCF, 8.6, MESV]
WCF
8.6
Sin and the Savior

23. Redemption accomplished and
applied
• The difference between redemption accomplished
and applied. How to answer the question: “When
were you saved?”
1. Accomplished: When Jesus died on the cross
2. Applied: When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior
• Both answers are true, from different perspectives
• Both answers are absolutely necessary for a person
to be redeemed. Jesus had to die and you must
believe.
• OT believers were saved looking forward to redemption
being historically accomplished
• NT believers are saved looking backward to redemption
already historically accomplished
WCF
8.6
Sin and the Savior

24. Of Christ the Mediator
In the work of mediation, Christ acts
according to both natures. Each
nature does what is proper to itself;
yet, by reason of the unity of his
person, that which is proper to one
nature is in Scripture sometimes
attributed to the person designated
by the other nature. [WCF, 8.7,
MESV]
WCF
8.7
Sin and the Savior

25. We are saved by a person, not a
nature
• Jesus the God-man (one person) mediates our
salvation according to his two natures
• Each nature does what is proper to itself
• His human nature died, but his divine nature did not
• Communication of Christ’s attributes
• What can be said of the humanity of Christ can be said of
his person
• What can be said of the divinity of Christ can be said of
his person
• But what can be said of one nature is not necessarily true
of the other nature
WCF
8.7
Sin and the Savior

26. An unusual use of biblical
language
• Sometimes the humanity of Christ is expressed
using divine categories
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the
flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to care for the church of God, which he
obtained with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)
• Sometimes the divinity of Christ is expressed
using human categories
No one has ascended into heaven except he who
descended from heaven, the Son of Man. (Jn 3:13)
• The communication of divine and human
categories is hard to understand, but it helps
keep us from oversimplifying biblical language
WCF
8.7
Sin and the Savior
The Second
Person of
the Trinity
came to
save us

27. Of Christ the Mediator
To all those for whom Christ purchased
redemption, he certainly and effectually
applies and communicates it. He makes
intercession for them and reveals to them, in
and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation.
He effectually persuades them by his Spirit to
believe and obey, and governs their hearts by
his Word and Spirit. He overcomes all their
enemies by his almighty power and wisdom in
such a manner, and by such ways, as are most
agreeable to his wonderful and unsearchable
administration. [WCF, 8.8, MESV]
WCF
8.8
Sin and the Savior

28. The continual work of Christ our
mediator
• Christ’s mediatorial work is certain and effective
for us
• Intercession of prayer
• Revelation of salvation’s mysteries
• Persuasion to believe and obey
• Heart government by Word and Spirit
• Overcomes all enemies by his power and wisdom
• Christ works all these for us in ways that agree with
his wonderful and unsearchable administration as
Lord and mediator of the covenant of grace
WCF
8.8
Sin and the Savior

29. Summary of key points
• Christ is our Prophet (teacher), Priest (mediator
and only hope), and King (defender and ruler)
• God’s people are Christ’s gift from God, and we
are most precious to him
WCF
8
Sin and the Savior
• Jesus, who is our one Christ, is one person who is very
God and very man
• Jesus is filled with the Spirit for the purpose of being
equipped for the office of covenant mediator
• Christ is not a self-appointed mediator, rather he was
called to this office and accepted it
• One day Christ will return to judge men and angels
• OT believers were saved looking forward to
redemption being historically accomplished

30. Consider and discuss
1. What is your favorite hymn or song about
Jesus? Why?
2. How has Jesus personally worked in your life to
be your Prophet? Your Priest? Your King?
3. How would you summarize the work of Christ
the mediator for a friend who asks, “What’s
the big deal about Jesus?”
4. Someone argues, “It’s arrogant and narrow
minded for Christians to say Jesus is the only
way.” Discuss how to give a true and gracious
response.
WCF
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Sin and the Savior

31. Memorize
For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal
life. For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn
the world, but in order that the
world might be saved through
him.
John 3:16-17
WCF
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Sin and the Savior

32. Going deeper
Books
• Willson, Sandy. Christ’s Redemption. (Beginner)
• Sproul, R.C. Who is Jesus? (Intermediate)
• Stott, John. The Cross of Christ. (Advanced)
Articles
• Riddlebarger, Kim. The Triple Cure: Jesus Christ – Our
Prophet, Priest and King.
• Packer, J.I. Saved by His Precious Blood.
• Articles on Jesus Christ at Monergism.com.
WCF
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Sin and the Savior