1689 8.1

8.1. Of Christ the Mediator

It pleased God in his eternal purpose, to chuse 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 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.

Proof texts

• Isaiah 42:1 — [1] Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
• 1 Peter 1:19, 20 — [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. [20] He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
• Acts 3:22 — [22] Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
• Hebrews 5:5, 6 — [5] So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; [6] as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
• Psalms 2:6 — [6] “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
• Luke 1:33 — [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
• Ephesians 1:22, 23 — [22] And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
• Hebrews 1:2 — [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
• Acts 17:31 — [31] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
• Isaiah 53:10 — [10] Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
• John 17:6 — [6] “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
• Romans 8:30 — [30] And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Isaiah 42:1 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 12 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q21 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WLC Q36 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q21 · WLC Q36 · WCF 8.1 · HC Q29 · HC Q37 · BC 5.2 · BC 5.3 · BC 5.4 · BC 5.5 · BC 5.6 · CD 2.1 · SD 8.1