Christ the Mediator: what changed
From Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647) to Westminster Larger Catechism (1648). 21 of 21 sections differ.
Struck through is in WSC only;
underlined is in WLC only.
Punctuation and capitalisation are ignored — they were modernised freely, and
would otherwise bury the substantive edits.
Who is the Redeemer Mediator of God's elect? the covenant of grace? The only Redeemer Mediator of God's elect the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Father, in the fulness of time became man, and so was and continueth continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, forever.
How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? Christ the Son of God became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance, and born of her, yet without sin.
What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth Why was it requisite that the offices Mediator should be God? It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death; give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession; and to satisfy God's justice, procure his favor, purchase a prophet, of a priest, peculiar people, give his Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.bring them to everlasting salvation.
How doth Christ execute Why was it requisite that the office Mediator should be man? It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, perform obedience to the law, suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, have a fellow feeling of a prophet? Christ executeth our infirmities; that we might receive the office adoption of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word sons, and Spirit have comfort and access with boldness unto the will throne of God for our salvation.grace.
How doth Christ execute Why was it requisite that the office of a priest? Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to Mediator should be God and man in making continual intercession one person ? It was requisite that the Mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should himself be both God and man, and this in one person, that the proper works of each nature might be accepted of God for us, and relied on by us, as the works of the whole person.
How doth Christ execute the office of a king? Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all Why was our Mediator called Jesus? Our Mediator was called Jesus, because he saveth his and our enemies.people from their sins.
Wherein did Christ's Why was our Mediator called Christ? Our Mediator was called Christ, because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost above measure; and so set apart, and fully furnished with all authority and ability, to execute the offices of prophet, priest, and king of his church, in the estate both of his humiliation consist? Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.exaltation.
Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation? Christ's exaltation consisteth How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in his rising again from revealing to the dead on church, in all ages, by his Spirit and word, in divers ways of administration, the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand whole will of God, the Father, in all things concerning their edification and in coming to judge the world at the last day.salvation.
WSC — none → WLC 44
1% changedHow doth Christ execute the office of a priest? Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, to be a reconciliation for the sins of his people; and in making continual intercession for them.
WSC — none → WLC 45
1% changedHow doth Christ execute the office of a king? Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them; in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good; and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.
WSC — none → WLC 46
1% changedWhat was the estate of Christ's humiliation? The estate of Christ's humiliation was that low condition, wherein he for our sakes, emptying himself of his glory, took upon him the form of a servant, in his conception and birth, life, death, and after his death, until his resurrection.
WSC — none → WLC 47
1% changedHow did Christ humble himself in his conception and birth? Christ humbled himself in his conception and birth, in that, being from all eternity the Son of God, in the bosom of the Father, he was pleased in the fulness of time to become the son of man, made of a woman of low estate, and to be born of her; with divers circumstances of more than ordinary abasement.
WSC — none → WLC 48
1% changedHow did Christ humble himself in his life? Christ humbled himself in his life, by subjecting himself to the law, which he perfectly fulfilled; and by conflicting with the indignities of the world, temptations of Satan, and infirmities in his flesh, whether common to the nature of man, or particularly accompanying that his low condition.
WSC — none → WLC 49
1% changedHow did Christ humble himself in his death? Christ humbled himself in his death, in that having been betrayed by Judas, forsaken by his disciples, scorned and rejected by the world, condemned by Pilate, and tormented by his persecutors; having also conflicted with the terrors of death, and the powers of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God's wrath, he laid down his life an offering for sin, enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed death of the cross.
WSC — none → WLC 50
1% changedWherein consisted Christ's humiliation after his death? Christ's humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried, and continuing in the state of the dead, and under the power of death till the third day; which hath been otherwise expressed in these words, he descended into hell.
WSC — none → WLC 51
1% changedWhat was the estate of Christ's exaltation? The estate of Christ's exaltation comprehendeth his resurrection, ascension, sitting at the right hand of the Father, and his coming again to judge the world.
WSC — none → WLC 52
1% changedHow was Christ exalted in his resurrection? Christ was exalted in his resurrection, in that, not having seen corruption in death (of which it was not possible for him to be held), and having the very same body in which he suffered, with the essential properties thereof (but without mortality, and other common infirmities belonging to this life), really united to his soul, he rose again from the dead the third day by his own power; whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God, to have satisfied divine justice, to have vanquished death, and him that had the power of it, and to be Lord of quick and dead: all which he did as a public person, the head of his church, for their justification, quickening in grace, support against enemies, and to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at the last day.
WSC — none → WLC 53
1% changedHow was Christ exalted in his ascension? Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with his apostles, speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, and giving them commission to preach the gospel to all nations, forty days after his resurrection, he, in our nature, and as our head, triumphing over enemies, visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men, to raise up our affections thither, and to prepare a place for us, where himself is, and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the world.
WSC — none → WLC 54
1% changedHow is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God? Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father, with all fulness of joy, glory, and power over all things in heaven and earth; and doth gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces, and maketh intercession for them.
WSC — none → WLC 55
1% changedHow doth Christ make intercession? Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven, in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth, declaring his will to have it applied to all believers; answering all accusations against them, and procuring for them quiet of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings, access with boldness to the throne of grace, and acceptance of their persons and services.
WSC — none → WLC 56
1% changedHow is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world? Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men, shall come again at the last day in great power, and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, to judge the world in righteousness.